In 1980s South Korea, amidst political unrest, two high school friends, Lee Du Hak and Choi Cheol Ung, bond with O Jeong Sin, a transfer student from Seoul. As they grow closer, both boys fall for her, igniting a love rivalry. Tragedy strikes when Lee Du Hak's family is caught in an incident, leading him down a path of violence and revenge. With political turmoil escalating, can love help heal the rift between the friends?
The Sandglass is a story of two men whose friendship is tested through the 1970s and 1980s, one of Korea's politically tumultuous periods. Park Tae Soo, tough and loyal, grows up to become a gangster, and Kang Woo Suk, smart with firm moral values, becomes a prosecutor. Yoon Hye Rin, a beautiful and spirited daughter of a very wealthy casino owner, is a classmate of Woo Suk in college. Hye Rin is introduced to Tae Soo via Woo Suk and subsequently, falls in love.
Set in the early 1980's in Heongseong, South Korea, Young Sook is the feared leader of a female gang at her high school. Although she is known for her toughness, she secretly has a crush on Joong Gil. Joong Gil is the school's playboy, and he attempts to woo all the girls in school with the exception of Young Sook. That's because Gwang Shik, the feared leader of a rival school's male gang, views Young Sook as his woman.
Drama series is set within the turbulent period between the Japanese colonial era and the division of Korea into North and South. Kang San is from a poor family. He struggles to get away from poverty. Through the game of basketball, he becomes successful and meets a girl from the upper class. He dreams of their love overcoming the disparity in their social standing Edit Translation
Nostalgia at the Heart
Both A Hundred Memories and 20th Century Girl are rooted in nostalgia. A Hundred Memories takes us to the 1980s, while 20th Century Girl is set in 1999, right at the turn of the millennium. Despite the different decades, both dramas recreate the feel of their eras with vivid detail — from school uniforms and old music to analog friendships and innocent first love. The setting isn’t just background; it shapes the characters’ lives and brings a strong wave of longing for a simpler time.
Youth, Friendship, and First Love
At their core, both stories explore youth through the lens of heartfelt friendship and quiet romance. In A Hundred Memories, the relationship between Go Young-rye and Seo Jong-hee is central — two girls chasing dreams, working hard, and finding their place in the world. Similarly, 20th Century Girl tells the story of Na Bo-ra and her selfless friendship, even as she navigates young love and heartbreak. Both works show how friendships during youth can be beautiful, messy, and unforgettable.
Emotional Honesty and Bittersweet Vibes
Neither drama is overly dramatic or flashy — instead, they rely on sincere storytelling. The emotions are raw but grounded: the ache of longing, the joy of small moments, the sting of missed chances. 20th Century Girl hits you with an emotional twist that reframes everything, and A Hundred Memories hints at deeper stories and pain beneath the surface, making you want to keep watching. Both remind us that youth is fleeting, but its memories stay with us forever.
Ordinary Girls, Quiet Strength
Young-rye and Bo-ra aren’t perfect heroines. They’re regular girls—sometimes bold, sometimes unsure, but always real. They carry family burdens, navigate emotional dilemmas, and face hard choices, all while holding onto their dreams. Their quiet strength is what makes them unforgettable.
Both A Hundred Memories and 20th Century Girl are rooted in nostalgia. A Hundred Memories takes us to the 1980s, while 20th Century Girl is set in 1999, right at the turn of the millennium. Despite the different decades, both dramas recreate the feel of their eras with vivid detail — from school uniforms and old music to analog friendships and innocent first love. The setting isn’t just background; it shapes the characters’ lives and brings a strong wave of longing for a simpler time.
Youth, Friendship, and First Love
At their core, both stories explore youth through the lens of heartfelt friendship and quiet romance. In A Hundred Memories, the relationship between Go Young-rye and Seo Jong-hee is central — two girls chasing dreams, working hard, and finding their place in the world. Similarly, 20th Century Girl tells the story of Na Bo-ra and her selfless friendship, even as she navigates young love and heartbreak. Both works show how friendships during youth can be beautiful, messy, and unforgettable.
Emotional Honesty and Bittersweet Vibes
Neither drama is overly dramatic or flashy — instead, they rely on sincere storytelling. The emotions are raw but grounded: the ache of longing, the joy of small moments, the sting of missed chances. 20th Century Girl hits you with an emotional twist that reframes everything, and A Hundred Memories hints at deeper stories and pain beneath the surface, making you want to keep watching. Both remind us that youth is fleeting, but its memories stay with us forever.
Ordinary Girls, Quiet Strength
Young-rye and Bo-ra aren’t perfect heroines. They’re regular girls—sometimes bold, sometimes unsure, but always real. They carry family burdens, navigate emotional dilemmas, and face hard choices, all while holding onto their dreams. Their quiet strength is what makes them unforgettable.
A Hundred Memories and Our Beloved Summer share several similarities in theme, tone, and emotional storytelling. Here are the key points of similarity in sentence format:
1. Both explore the lingering feelings of first love. The central characters in both series deal with unresolved emotions from a past relationship, navigating how time, distance, and personal growth affect love that never quite faded.
2. They use a past-vs-present narrative structure. The stories jump between past and present timelines, allowing viewers to see how the characters’ youthful innocence contrasts with their matured, more complicated adult selves.
3. They emphasize emotional realism. Instead of relying on melodrama, both shows highlight small, quiet moments of heartbreak, longing, and reconnection, making the emotions feel deeply authentic and relatable.
4. The protagonists are flawed but deeply human. Both shows portray characters who are imperfect—misunderstandings, pride, and emotional baggage create the obstacles they must overcome to grow and reconnect.
5. Art and creativity play central roles. In Our Beloved Summer, the characters are tied by a documentary and illustration; in A Hundred Memories, themes of photography, music, or other creative expression often carry emotional weight, showcasing how art reflects personal history.
6. They are visually soft and introspective. Both series use warm, nostalgic cinematography with a subtle and aesthetic approach to capture mood and memory, enhancing the emotional undertones of the story.
7. The stories revolve around healing and second chances. At their core, both shows are about how time changes people and how love can evolve or be rediscovered when both individuals have grown.
1. Both explore the lingering feelings of first love. The central characters in both series deal with unresolved emotions from a past relationship, navigating how time, distance, and personal growth affect love that never quite faded.
2. They use a past-vs-present narrative structure. The stories jump between past and present timelines, allowing viewers to see how the characters’ youthful innocence contrasts with their matured, more complicated adult selves.
3. They emphasize emotional realism. Instead of relying on melodrama, both shows highlight small, quiet moments of heartbreak, longing, and reconnection, making the emotions feel deeply authentic and relatable.
4. The protagonists are flawed but deeply human. Both shows portray characters who are imperfect—misunderstandings, pride, and emotional baggage create the obstacles they must overcome to grow and reconnect.
5. Art and creativity play central roles. In Our Beloved Summer, the characters are tied by a documentary and illustration; in A Hundred Memories, themes of photography, music, or other creative expression often carry emotional weight, showcasing how art reflects personal history.
6. They are visually soft and introspective. Both series use warm, nostalgic cinematography with a subtle and aesthetic approach to capture mood and memory, enhancing the emotional undertones of the story.
7. The stories revolve around healing and second chances. At their core, both shows are about how time changes people and how love can evolve or be rediscovered when both individuals have grown.
