Kim Da-mi and Shin Ye-eun Star in JTBC's 'A Hundred Memories', a Fresh Romance Set in the 1980s

JTBC's new weekend drama 〈A Hundred Memories〉 is drawing viewers' attention by showcasing the unique romantic sentiment of the 1980s.

Kim Da-mi said at the production presentation held on the 11th at The Link Hotel in Guro-gu, Seoul, "In the drama, I hand over a note, and I feel heartbroken wondering if it gets delivered to the other person or not. The feeling of cherishing a single note is something we don't really understand now. There is romance in that," she said.

She added, "Back then, the feeling of first love felt enormous," and "I tried to act out the emotions in line with the era." Director Kim Sang-ho also explained, "These days, we can quickly contact each other through texts or DMs, but in the 1980s, there was a freshness to it."

〈A Hundred Memories〉 tells the story of two bus guides' first love while collecting fares and assisting passengers on and off the bus. Kim Da-mi plays Go Young-rae, who starts working as a bus guide to support her older brother but dreams of going to college, while Shin Ye-eun plays Seo Jong-hee, a new bus guide who dreams of becoming Miss Korea.

The production team put considerable effort into realistically recreating the appearance of Korea 40 years ago. They even found an old bus that was in operation at that time, cleaned it inside and out, and used it as a prop.

Shin Ye-eun said, "When I go to the filming location, there are (1980s) signs, buildings, street food, and even places selling cassette tapes, which is fascinating," and added, "I often chew bubble gum in the drama, and the packaging captures the feel of that era perfectly." She expressed her hope that those who experienced that time would feel nostalgia and healing.

30-year-old Kim Da-mi, 27-year-old Shin Ye-eun, and 32-year-old Heo Nam-jun, who plays the role of first love Han Jae-pil, all appear as high school students in the early to mid-part of the drama. Heo Nam-jun said, "I thank the director for giving me the opportunity to wear a school uniform," and added with a smile, "There’s nothing else I can do, so I tried to keep my heart young."

Director Kim Sang-ho explained, "When I looked for past materials, even those in their 20s looked mature like people in their 30s now," and added, "We cast the actors in line with the era." He also revealed that the three characters will show a more mature side in the latter part of the drama.

Just as first love is important, another significant aspect of this drama is the friendship between Young-rae and Jong-hee. Like their characters, Kim Da-mi and Shin Ye-eun reportedly showed great chemistry on set. Kim Da-mi evaluated, "Ye-eun is a friend with a passion for acting," and Shin Ye-eun responded, "Da-mi is an amazing person and a very dear and precious sister."

〈A Hundred Memories〉 will premiere on the 13th at 10:40 PM.