Last year's Twinkling Watermelon was a heartwarming story about a boy who travels to the 1990s and forms a music band with his teenage father. The show proved that coming-of-age and young adult K-dramas set in the past have the potential to become favorites for audiences of different ages.
For those still in their teens or early twenties, such stories offer relatable characters and lessons in history. For those who grew up in the time period in which the shows are set, they serve as an enjoyable trip down memory lane.
1
If you feel like Twinkling Watermelon is right up your alley, here are seven other K-dramas with similar vibes.
Girls Generation 1979 (2017)
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Viki, Kocowa, iQIYI
Set against the backdrop of 1970s Daegu, the story revolves around a female high school student, her social life, and her growing bond with a new classmate. On the darker side, it outlines the reality of life under dictatorship and the issue of sexual assault that haunts the city.
20th Century Girl (2022)
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Where to stream: Netflix
Set in 1999, the show tells the story of 17-year-old Na Bo-ra. When her best friend leaves the country for an operation, Bo-ra promises her to follow her school crush, one of the popular boys, and report back. To get closer to the boy, Bo-ra joins his broadcasting club and eventually falls in love with another member. But when her friend returns, drama ensues.
Reply 1994 (2015)
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
Where to stream: Prime Video, Disney+ Viki, Tubi, iQIYI, WeTV
Jumping back and forth between present and past, the story follows six college students from different parts of the country living in the same boarding house. The characters (and viewers) witness some interesting events in the Korean pop culture and sports scene of the 1990s, as well as a major tragic event.
Reply 1997 (2012)
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10
Where to stream: Prime Video, Disney+ Viki, Tubi, iQIYI
Sung Shi-won and her school friends reunite after 15 years and during the celebratory dinner they remember their high school years, when Shi-won was obsessed with a boy band and others were dealing with their teenage challenges. It is an excellent overview of an extreme Korean fan culture, which emerged during the 1990's.
Go Back Couple (2017)
IMDb Rating: 8.2/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Viki, Kocowa, iQIYI
A married couple in their thirties, on the verge of divorce, go back in time (to the 1990s) and wake up as 20-year-old college students. They don't know why or how they got here or how long it will last, but they decide to enjoy it and change their lives.
Twenty-five Twenty-one (2022)
IMDb Rating: 8.6/10
Where to stream: Netflix, TVING
Set at the turn of the millennium, the series features characters who communicate via pay phone, beeper, and dial-up internet. Talk about getting nostalgic! It focuses on the relationship between a fencing prodigy and the son of a broke chaebol family.
Reply 1988 (2015)
IMDb Rating: 9.1/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, Viki, Tubi
The third installment of the Reply series is arguably the best. Set in the late 80s-early 90s, it revolves around five teenagers who all live in the same Seoul neighborhood and have been friends for years. The focus is on their families, relationships, coming-of-age struggles, and, of course, the inspiring journey towards dreams.