‘See you on Aug. 15, 2025’ — 10-year-old KBS docuseries moment stirs renewed interest
KBS2’s “Documentary Three Days,” which ended in 2022, is drawing renewed attention for a promise by two traveling students to meet again in 10 years at Andong Station. Captured from YouTube
KBS2 program “Documentary Three Days,” which ended in 2022, is unexpectedly back in the spotlight. A segment from an episode that aired in August 2015 has captured the public’s imagination in 2025, thanks to a simple promise made between two students and a cameraman.
The episode, titled “Youth on the Road — 72 Hours of Naeilro Train Travel,” followed young people in their 20s traveling by train across Korea, from solo journeys to trips with friends or partners. It explored not only the fun of travel but also the struggles of Korean youth.
In one scene, after filming two students in Andong, North Gyeongsang Province, the cameraman asked how they might look back on the trip in the future. One student replied with a smile, “It would be nice to follow the exact same route in 10 years. It would leave a lot of memories.”
The other added, “Film a documentary again in 10 years.” When the cameraman wondered aloud if he would still be working, the student suggested, “Let’s meet here on Aug. 15, 2025,” sealing a promise among the three.
Two students promise to meet again in 10 years in this “Documentary Three Days” episode aired in August 2015. Courtesy of KBS
KBS recently re-edited and uploaded the clip to its official YouTube channel, where it has drawn an enthusiastic response, surpassing 160,000 views in just 13 days.
Comments praised the warmth of the exchange, with viewers writing, “This is the true positive side of social media. It brings back the romance and nostalgia of that time,” and “This kind of sentiment is exactly what we need today.”
The cameraman also remembered the moment, posting on his social media: “The day we promised 10 years ago is coming. Should I go or not?” His post drew significant attention online.
The appeal of the clip lies not just in revisiting an old broadcast, but in the sincerity of making a promise to meet again a decade later — and actually remembering and intending to keep it.
The Andong episode has reminded viewers of the essence of “Documentary Three Days,” which focused on ordinary people and their everyday lives, capturing the density of life over 72 hours without relying on major events or extraordinary figures.
Though the program ended in 2022 during the COVID-19 pandemic after 15 years on air, the renewed attention underscores the lasting impact of its understated, heartfelt storytelling.
On the program’s official Instagram account, KBS wrote, “The Aug. 15, 2015 promise — ‘Let’s meet here on Aug. 15, 2025.’ So we decided to go there.”
Now, a brief, unassuming moment on camera is resonating with audiences across time, raising the question: Will those who made the promise meet again this summer?
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.