<p>When asking any <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/k-drama/”>K-drama</a> fan about the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/6-best-slice-of-life-k-dramas-binge-watch-when-feeling-down.html/”>most popular ‘Slice of Life’ storylines</a>, <em>Reply 1997</em> is on the list. Created by Shin Won-ho, <em>Reply 1997 </em>was the first installment of his <em>Reply</em> K-drama franchise in 2012. Its cast consisted of some of South Korea’s most well-recognized actors on TV today. Each installment focused on a new group of characters, but director Shin gave fans hope for a <em>Reply 1997</em> sequel. </p>
<figure class=”wp-block-image size-custom-image-1200″><img decoding=”async” loading=”lazy” width=”2000″ height=”1080″ src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-cast-of-Reply-1997-in-2012.jpg?w=1200″ alt=”The cast of ‘Reply 1997’ in 2012.” class=”wp-image-3436013″ srcset=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-cast-of-Reply-1997-in-2012.jpg 2000w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-cast-of-Reply-1997-in-2012.jpg?w=640&h=346 640w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-cast-of-Reply-1997-in-2012.jpg?w=768&h=415 768w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-cast-of-Reply-1997-in-2012.jpg?w=1024&h=553 1024w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-cast-of-Reply-1997-in-2012.jpg?w=1536&h=829 1536w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-cast-of-Reply-1997-in-2012.jpg?w=1200&h=648 1200w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-cast-of-Reply-1997-in-2012.jpg?w=111&h=60 111w, https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/The-cast-of-Reply-1997-in-2012.jpg?w=150&h=81 150w” sizes=”(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px”><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>The cast of ‘Reply 1997’ in 2012. | via tvN</figcaption></figure>
<h2 id=”h-reply-1997-k-drama-focuses-on-six-close-friends-from-busan”>‘Reply 1997’ K-drama focuses on six close friends from Busan </h2>
<p>The 2012 K-drama was one of the highest-rated series on cable television thanks to its heartwarming storyline of six best friends and their daily lives. <em>Reply 1997</em> focuses on a female teen named Sung Shi-won, played by actor Jung Eun-ji. Fans could relate to her as she is obsessed with the male K-Pop group H.O.T. and dreams of marrying one of its members. </p>
<p>But Shi-won is not the brightest in class and is a bit sassy. Like any good <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/5-best-teen-romance-k-dramas-watch-summer-2022.html/”>teen romance K-drama</a>, there is a secret crush involved. Shi-won’s best friend is Yoo Yoon-jae, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/deaths-game-k-drama-cast-lineup-every-fans-dream-heres-everything-know.html/”>played by Seo In-guk</a>. He is the opposite of Shi-won, with a more quiet and timid personality. Having lost his parents, he spends a lot of time with her. To add some fun, Yoon-jae is one of the most handsome boys at school, but he keeps his crush on his best friend a secret. </p>
<p>Hoya stars as Kang Joon-hee. He is also Yoon-jae’s best friend, but he is secretly in love with him and has another secret. Mo Yoo-jung, played by Shin So-yul, is Shin-won’s female best friend and likes a rival K-Pop group. Eun Ji-won played the role of Do Hak-chan. He loves sports and is a bit lewd at times. But he has trouble talking to girls and falls in love with a close friend.</p>
<p>Bang Sung-jae, played by Lee Si-eon, is the rumor mill of the friend group. The beauty of <em>Reply 1997</em> is that fans are watching the teenage characters as their adult versions reminisce about the past at their high school reunion. <em>Reply 1997</em> is almost a classic for K-drama fans. But they have always wanted more.</p>
<h2>Shin Won-ho revealed a ‘Reply 1997’ sequel could happen as he misses the characters</h2>
<p>Ten years after the premiere of <em>Reply 1997</em>, the K-drama cast got together with the director for a reunion special on the <a href=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgI2vBvWQHI&t=640s” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Youtube</a> channel @sieonschool. Only the male cast members were in attendance, like Seo In-guk. Seeing as they once played teenagers, they wore classic high school uniforms. While they reminisced over the K-drama, a general question was asked if there would be a <em>Reply 1997 </em>sequel. </p>
<p>Lee Si-eon explained, “<em>Reply 1997</em> was a really good memory for me, so I wanna do a sequel.” Seo agreed, and director Shin gave them a hopeful answer. “I didn’t know the feeling of missing the old characters that I had made before. But when I invited you guys to <em>Reply 1994 </em>shooting and filmed that bus scene, I realized I was missing my old character,” explained Shin.</p>
<figure class=”wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio”><div class=”wp-block-embed__wrapper”>
<div class=”jetpack-video-wrapper”><iframe loading=”lazy” title=”[ENG SUB] 1-1 What is the coupon that Jung Eunji gave Seo Inguk as a birthday present? #Reply1997″ width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/rPV9FW5dp7U?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
</div></figure>
<p>He explained that seeing them return was emotional, and he suddenly realized how fans felt. But is he willing to work on a Reply 1997 sequel? “Woo-jung and I often think about making just one episode for <em>Reply 1997 </em>sequel,” he revealed. </p>
<p>Fans got a glimmer of hope as Shin is open to the idea, and the cast is eager to return to their beloved characters. Lee was teased that he hoped for a more extended project, maybe 15 episodes. In return, Seo joked it was because Lee’s actor fees increased. </p>
<h2>Fans are also hoping for a new ‘Hospital Playlist’ K-drama season </h2>
<p>The <em>Reply</em> franchise is not the only ‘Slice of Life’ storyline that Shin is known for. After the last installment, <em>Reply 1988 </em>in 2015, Shin premiered a new K-drama in 2020. The medical K-drama <em>Hospital Playlist </em>was another groundbreaking success for Shin and became well-loved by fans. </p>
<p>Like his other work, <em>Hospital Playlist</em> focused on a group of friends who met in medical school and grew up to work in their respective fields at the same hospital. The K-drama has two seasons, with the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/hospital-playlist-2-main-characters-finish-k-drama-singing-butterfly-loveholics.html/”><em>Hospital Playlist </em>Season 2 finale having premiered in September 2021</a>. But the storyline left a lot to explore as some characters embarked on new ventures and romances. </p>
<figure class=”wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio”><div class=”wp-block-embed__wrapper”>
<div class=”jetpack-video-wrapper”><iframe loading=”lazy” title=”Hospital Playlist Season 1 | Main Trailer | Netflix” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/QdqdgF7Z5gs?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
</div></figure>
<div class=”related-article related-article–complex”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
<img src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Go-Min-si-as-Eun-yoo-for-Sweet-Home-Season-2.jpg?w=240&h=180&crop=1″ alt=”‘Sweet Home’ Actor Go Min-si Officially Wraps Filming Seasons 2 and 3″>
<p class=”related-article__title”>
<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/sweet-home-actor-go-min-si-officially-wraps-filming-seasons-2-and-3.html/”>
‘Sweet Home’ Actor Go Min-si Officially Wraps Filming Seasons 2 and 3 </a>
</p>
</div>
<p>Like the cast of <em>Reply 1997</em>, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/hospital-playlist-season-3-actor-jeon-mi-do-explains-we-want-it.html/”>the cast of <em>Hospital Playlist</em> is more than open to returning for a third season</a>. But after the second season finale, director Shin explained that <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/hospital-playlist-pd-shin-won-ho-reveals-season-3-not-easy-decision.html/”>deciding to create a <em>Hospital Playlist </em>Season 3 is not easy</a>. Fans were teased with the possibility when the cast shared photos of themselves as their characters on Instagram. Instead of a third season announcement, the cast was filming a Blu-ray special. </p>