Travel Back to the '90s with These 7 Coming-Of-Age K-Dramas

Today, we are obsessed with all things nostalgic. Old shows and movies get remakes and sequels, fashions from past decades make a comeback, and we are constantly on the lookout for a vibe that will remind us of the good old days, or – if you are still in your teens or early twenties – a feel-good atmosphere that will transport you back to a time when life was simpler and the grass was greener.

The best way to get that feeling is to watch shows with the right ambience and settings. For example, here are seven top-notch K-dramas that will take you back to the 1990s, an era of dial-up Internet, Tamagotchis, and boy bands.

20th Century Girl (2022)

IMDb rating: 7.3/10

Where to stream: Netflix

Set in 1999, this show follows 17-year-old Na Bo-ra, who makes a promise to her best friend before she leaves the country for surgery. Bo-ra agrees to keep an eye on her friend's school crush. To get closer to him, Bo-ra joins the school's broadcasting club and ends up falling in love with another member. When her friend returns, drama ensues.

Reply 1994 (2015)

IMDb rating: 7.7/10

Where to stream: Prime Video, Viki, Tubi, iQIYI, WeTV, Pluto TV

Jumping back and forth between the present and the past, this show follows the lives of six college students from different regions who all live in the same boarding house. Along with the characters, viewers experience iconic moments from Korean pop culture and sports in the 1990s, as well as a significant tragic event, the collapse of the Sampoong department store.

Reply 1997 (2012)

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

Where to stream: Prime Video, Viki, Tubi, iQIYI, Pluto TV, K-DRAMA

Sung Shi-won and her high school friends reunite after 15 years to reminisce about their teenage years over a celebratory dinner. Back then, Shi-won was fixated on a boy band while her friends faced their own adolescent challenges. The series offers a great insight into the intense Korean fan culture that emerged in the 1990s.

Go Back Couple (2017)

IMDb rating: 8.2/10

Where to stream: Prime Video, Viki, Kocowa, iQIYI

A married couple in their thirties, teetering on the brink of divorce, suddenly find themselves transported back to the 1990s as 20-year-old college students. With no idea how or why this happened, or how long it will last, they decide to make the most of this second chance and aim to reshape their futures.

Twenty-five Twenty-one (2022)

IMDb rating: 8.6/10

Where to stream: Netflix, TVING

Set at the turn of the millennium, this series takes us back to the days of pay phones, beepers, and dial-up internet. What could be more nostalgic than that? The story centers on the romance between a fencing prodigy and the son of a financially struggling chaebol family.

Twinkling Watermelon (2023)

IMDb rating: 8.9/10

Where to stream: Viki, TVING

Ha Eun-gyeol, who grew up in a family of deaf people, secretly dreams of becoming a professional musician. One day, he finds himself transported back to 1995, where he meets his own teenage parents and discovers they have more in common than he ever imagined.

Reply 1988 (2015)

IMDb rating: 9.1/10

Where to stream: Netflix, Prime Video, Viki, Tubi

The third installment of the Reply series is widely considered to be the best. Set in the late '80s and early '90s, it follows five teens from the same Seoul neighborhood who have been close friends for years. The story delves into their families, relationships, coming-of-age challenges, and, of course, the pursuit of dreams.