Park Jin-hai primarily focuses on K-dramas, entertainment shows and actor interviews. Beyond that, she also pens articles covering the broader arts scene, with a particular emphasis on classical music, dance and various aspects of lifestyle. Since joining The Korea Times in 2013, she has made significant contributions in the realms of hallyu (Korean wave), industry news and international affairs.
Classic K-dramas turn into reunion shows
Gong Yoo, right, Kim Go-eun, second from right, and other cast members of the 2016 hit series "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" reunite for a special show that is a spin-off of the original drama. Courtesy of CJ ENM
By Park Jin-hai
Iconic K-dramas from the mid-2010s are returning to small screen, but not as reruns or a retrospective. Instead, they're coming back as show spin-offs.
Networks tvN and KBS2 announced upcoming 10th-anniversaryspecials for their 2016 hit series "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God" and "Love in the Moonlight." The announement reflects TV networks leveraging legacy intellectual property to capture both nostalgic older fans and younger streaming audiences.
Local broadcaster tvN will premiere "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God – 10th Anniversary" on July 4. For the event, original cast members Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook and Yoo In-na reunite and revisit the show's famous filming locations, including Jumunjin Breakwater in Gangneung, Gangwon Province.
Teasers showed the actors returning to the seaside with original props from the show, including the drama's signature red scarf.
"It was the most brilliant winter for me," actor Gong, who took the role of a cursed 939-year-old goblin who is looking for his bride so that he can stop being immortal, said in a promotional clip, reminiscing about the fantasy-romance series that reached a peak 20.5 percent nationwide viewership rating during its original run.
A poster for epic romance drama "Love in the Moonlight" (2016) / Courtesy of KBS
The show promises fans familiar drama scenes reimagined as a reunion show. Even a decade later, its filming sites, iconic dialogue and the cast's chemistry are still widely celebrated. The Jumunjin Breakwater, in particular, remains a popular photo spot for the drama fans.
KBS is planning a similar anniversary special for its hit historical romance "Love in the Moonlight." Core cast members Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung are in talks to appear. with filming scheduled to begin in early August.
"The production is confirmed, and we are currently finalizing the lineup with the cast," a KBS official said, adding that the broadcast schedule remains undecided. The original series, centered on a palace romance between a crown prince and a young woman disguised as a eunuch, peaked at a 23.3 percent viewership rating in 2016.
Evolution of legacy content
The upcoming specials highlight a major shift in how television hits are consumed. Previously, successful dramas were typically only able to return as reruns, clip compilations or brief retrospective specials. In the current model, legacy titles are expanding into spin-offs like reunion shows.
Driven by streaming platforms and short-form media where classic shows are continuously rediscovered, a decade-old drama now has plenty of touchpoints to stay relevant with modern audiences.
Reuniting iconic on-screen couples under the banner of their original series is a surefire way to generate buzz. There is a distinct thrill for long-time fans in watching their favorite actors share behind-the-scenes secrets and present-day reflections. For networks and production companies, leveraging this kind of proven intellectual property is a safe bet for audience engagement.
However, it takes more than just a trip down memory lane for a decade-old drama to make a meaningful comeback — the real key ingredient is novelty. To keep today's viewers hooked, the content has to offer something fresh rather than just rehashing old ground.
"From a producer's standpoint, it’s a relatively easy way to drum up buzz because you’re starting with built-in brand recognition. We can expect this to remain a go-to strategy for content creation," critic Ha Jae-keun said.
However, he emphasized that the real test is how to reshape the past success for today’s audience. “Since it’s about a drama that was popular years ago, nostalgia is naturally going to be the foundation. But you can't just rely on old stories and talk-show chatter. If you frame it around a new format — like a travel reality show — it stops being just a walk down memory lane," he said. "It has to stand on its own feet as a quality entertainment show. When you bring fresh visuals, organic chemistry and the genuine fun that comes from people reuniting after all this time, it will become something truly compelling.”