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| Director Shin Won-ho of tvN's cable drama series "Reply 1988" talks during a press conference on Nov. 5 in Yeouido, Seoul. / Courtesy of CJ E&M |
Director unconcerned about popularity of his third tvN series
By Kim Jae-heun
The third season of tvN's hit television drama "Reply 1988" got off to a smooth start Nov. 6, garnering an 8.6 percent viewership, according to Nielson Korea.
The coming-of-age drama series was successful in its first and second seasons that set the highest viewing rate for a Korean cable drama at the time. The entertainment network expects its third to do the same.
However, director Shin Won-ho is skeptical of renewing his previous records this time.
"No third season in film or television drama has ever been successful, so I am less burdened about achieving a high viewing rate," said Shin during a press conference on Nov. 5 at the Bibigo Building in Yeouido, Seoul. "I think Reply 1988 will fail, so I am comfortable to tell the story that I want to," Shin said.
The first series, "Reply 1997," created a sensation in 2012 by depicting six friends' nostalgic memories of their teenage life back in Busan in 1997. It drew scenes of extreme fan culture for K-pop that was just blooming. The popular songs of boy bands in the ‘90s like H.O.T and Sechs Kies went viral again to create a retro trend in Korea. The last episode from the first season recorded the highest viewing rate of 9.47 percent.
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| A poster for tvN's cable drama series "Reply 1988" / Courtesy of CJ E&M |
The second series, "Reply 1994," aired in 2013, and followed pop culture events including the legendary boy group Seo Taiji and Boys as well as the Korean Basketball League that was in its heyday. The last episode of the second season also ended with a then an all-time high record of an average viewership rating of 11.9 percent.
"Reply 1988" is different from its two preceding seasons in that the plot is focused on the story of five families living in the Dobong District of Northern Seoul.
"Honestly, I wanted to do a family drama before I produced the Reply series, but I had no chance. I decided to make my wish come true this time, thinking that it would be good to bring one drama that is set in an old and rural background to the television screen in such a complex world that we are living in now," Shin said.
The director revealed that he picked the year 1988 as a background setting in the sequel because his production crew and he grew up in 1980s when people were more generous and caring, which formed a greater bond between neighbors.
"We wanted to draw normal life in 1988, not the rich nor the poor. Also, there were many events that happened in 1988 such as the Seoul Olympics," Shin added.
Lee Hyeri of girl band Girls Day and actors Ryu Jun-yeol, Go Kyung-pyo, Park Bo-gum and Lee Dong-hwi stars in the television series.
"Reply 1988" is aired every Friday and Saturday at 7:50 p.m. through tvN cable channel.
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