Zauda B.

Abdurasid

FS201

International Organizations & Political and Economic Geography

Mr. Jumel Estrañero

REPLY 1988: A TRIP DOWN TO MEMORY LANE

I. Executive Summary

The Reply 1988 korean television series was aired on November 2015. The series
was about the five friends and their families living in the same neighbourhood beginning in
the year 1988. The main characters were Deok-sun (Lee Hye-ri), Choi Taek (Park Bo-gum),
Sun-woo (Go Kyung-pyo), Jung-hwan (Ryu Jun-yeol), and Dong-ryong (Lee Dong-hwi).
Reply 1988 is set in Ssangmun-dong, a small Seoul neighborhood, and portrays the lives of
a group of five friends. When they were 18 and 19, the majority of the series focused on their
hardships and unforgettable occasions. The story begins in 1988, continues through 1989,
and then jumps to 1994 and 1995. It also includes scenes from 2016, in which Deok Sun
(Lee Hye Ri) is interviewed with her husband, the identity of whom is revealed later in the
plot. Deok Sun, the middle child, lives in a half-basement with her two siblings and parents.
Jung Hwan (Ryu Jun Yeol) and his family live above them, unlike Deok Sun’s poor family,
who became rich overnight. Choi Taek (Park Bo Gum), on the other hand, lives with his
widowed father and has never had a financial problem. His greatest challenge was winning
baduk tournaments, and he became known throughout Asia as a genius player. The other
neighbors of the first three are Sun Woo (Go Kyung Pyo) and Dong Ryong (Lee Dong Hwi)
and their respective families. During mealtimes, the five of them frequently gather in Taek's
room and share food. No matter how much trouble they get themselves into, these childhood
buddies have each other's backs. Their parents have become close as neighbors and rely
on one another. The different characters went through various stages of life, from difficult
school years through maturity, which is physically, psychologically, and financially
exhausting. Friendship, family, and first loves are all depicted well in this series. It depicts
the ups and downs, as well as the struggles that Koreans in Seoul went through in the late
1980s and early 1990s.
 II. ANALYSIS
1. Favorite Character and Why?

My favorite character in the series is Sun-woo (Go Kyung-pyo) because he was a

student model at school, he was a good son and a good brother to his younger sister Jin-joo.
For me, he was a Perfect son-material and the fact that he was raised by a single parent
was also a plus point and he also stands as a father figure due to the absence of their father
that made them struggle financially.

2. Most impactful episode and scene and why?

The most impactful episode and scene for me was in episode 2 wherein Sung Dong
Il (Deok-sun’s father) and Taek (Park Bo-gum) talked about how much they missed their
mothers everyday. You can clearly see from their eyes the feeling of longingness for their
late mothers. I find the meaning of this scene very deep, it will make us realize that we
should love and appreciate our mothers/parents more while they are still here with us
because it is more painful if we realize it when they are already gone.

3. Criticize the production

This classic Kdrama series was still a hit even after five years because aside from its
storyline with timely relevant issues about family and friends, they were also able to make
the 80’s came back to life through the set designs all the way to the outfits of the characters.
Every episode has a lesson to learn, I also love that there were no protagonist or antagonist
in the story it was just purely family and friendship issues. The visual aesthetics really caught
my attention and I believe that it was really the foundation of the series because it gives a
nostalgic feeling that will definitely make you go on a trip down to memory lane. This show
will definitely make you feel like you wanted to meet your old friends and visit your old
neighbourhood again.

4. The substance of the entire series

For me, the story line of the entire series was very solid even its cast
members each of them portrayed every role perfectly, they gave justice to
every characters in the story. The characters has their own characteristics
 which makes the series enjoyable to watch, each character will make you cry,
laugh, feeling in love, and most importantly, the lessons each characters will
taught you. The series really made me feel how it’s like living in the year
1980s to 1990s because I wasn’t even alive at that time. The challenges that
were shown in the series really happens in real life especially the challenges
that every family in the series experienced like financial problems, alcoholic
spouse, the fights between siblings, etc.

5. Relation to the subjects/course

In terms of academic, this classic Korean drama depicts the economic
standing of South Korea in the year 1980s. As I’ve watched the series, I
noticed the rich culture, economy and I believe that it was at the peak of
South Korea’s Economic prosperity since 1945-1970s. You can see from the
series that they also held the Seoul Olympic games where Deok Sun was
also a part of picket girl for Madagascar at the Seoul 1988 Olympics. Since
the middle of 1980s, the economic growth rate of Korea returned to a high
level and even their economic policies were completely transformed. And as
of today, Korea still improves their economic standing.

6. Message/ life lessons you have got

Honestly, I really don’t have an idea that this kind of a good Kdrama series
exists because I’m not really a fan of series but, I’m really glad that our prof
made us watched it and I’m surprised that it has a lot of life lessons in every
episode. The life lesson that I got here in this series were:
 There is no such thing as “Perfect Parents” because like us,
they are still learning and that they make mistakes too but, one
thing is for sure, all parents will do their very best for their child.
 The pain of losing someone. This series taught me that no
matter what we do, there will come a time that we will lose the
ones we love. Yes, it will hurt a lot because we will miss them
every single day of our lives, the pain will always be there but,
as time go by we will all learn to endure it and must move
forward.
 Surely money is everything but, we can also lose someone
because of “Money”
 No matter how old you are, you will always need your mom.
  If you love someone, tell them before it’s too late.
 It’s okay if you still don’t know what to do with your life in your
20s. Don’t pressure yourself because life is not a race and
your time will come.
 And lastly, It’s a great feeling to look back on the days when
you are still young and innocent. Those times should be
cherished because those days were the ones that helped you
become the person you are today especially the people who
are with you throughout your journey.

7. CONCLUSION
The reply 1988 series will surely have you reminisce the most wonderful
times of your life; your youth. This will remind us the days we spent with our
friends and family and everything that you went through together that also
made you all grew to be a matured adult people. As I have finished watching
the series, I realized that the thing that made the series very popular to the
Filipino people is because it upholds the same Filipino Values that we have
when it comes to our family because the Reply 1988 series was all about
treating your family and friends as part of your family too.