A Hilarious Tale of Korean High School Students in the 1980s: The Drama 'Boyhood'

There's a comedy drama set in the Korean countryside during the 1980s. It's the Korean drama “Boyhood”.

The drama “Boyhood” is a Coupang Play original series, set in Buyeo, Chungcheongnam-do in 1989. It's a drama that comically depicts the friendships and romances of high school students in a rural area, as well as the past culture where students used physical strength to determine their hierarchy.

The main character, ‘Jang Byeong-tae’, transfers from Onyang, Chungcheongnam-do to Buyeo. He's a high school student nicknamed ‘Onyang Loser’ whose life goal is to avoid getting into fights. One day, he unexpectedly transfers to a school in a neighboring town and vows never to get into a fight at his new school. Surprisingly, the students at his new school mistakenly believe he's the legendary fighter ‘Asan Baekho’. Since avoiding fights is his goal, Jang Byeong-tae takes this opportunity and starts pretending to be ‘Asan Baekho’ at school.

Actor Im Si-wan plays the role of Jang Byeong-tae. Im Si-wan debuted as a member of the idol group ‘ZE:A’ in 2010 and began his acting career with “Moon Embracing the Sun”. He later showcased his exceptional acting skills in dramas like “Misaeng” and “The Attorney”, breaking the prejudice that idols cannot act and establishing himself as a professional actor. In this drama, “Boyhood”, he delivers a comedic performance.

Park Ji-young, known as ‘Buyeo Black Widow’, is the most skilled fighter among the girls at a high school near Jang Byeong-tae’s new school. She hides her fighting prowess and punishes local bullies. Knowing that Jang Byeong-tae, who was her childhood friend, is not good at fighting, she finds it amusing to watch him pretend to be ‘Asan Baekho’ and becomes his supporter.

Actress Lee Sun-bin plays Park Ji-young. While filming the drama “38 Task Force”, she appeared on the Korean singing variety show ‘King of Mask Singer 3’ and gained recognition for her outstanding singing abilities. She has been actively involved in acting, including a starring role in the well-received drama “Work Later, Drink Now”. Notably, in “Boyhood”, she flawlessly executed action scenes, leading some to believe she had martial arts experience.

Meanwhile, the true identity of ‘Asan Baekho’, whom Jang Byeong-tae is impersonating, ‘Jeong Gyeong-tae’, transfers to the same school as Jang Byeong-tae. However, he gets into an accident right before his transfer, resulting in memory loss, including forgetting that he's the famous fighter ‘Asan Baekho’. Seeing Jeong Gyeong-tae in this state, Jang Byeong-tae hopes that his memory never returns.

Known as ‘Buyeo Sophie Marceau’, Kang Seon-hwa is considered the most beautiful girl in Buyeo and is adored by all the boys in the area. Jang Byeong-tae falls for her at first sight, and Kang Seon-hwa is attracted to his quirky personality. However, Jeong Gyeong-tae’s appearance brings a new wave of change to their budding romance.

As the drama “Boyhood” is set in the countryside during the 1980s, it features a retro aesthetic. The unique regional dialect and directing contribute to the comedy, earning positive reviews. Although it received a rating of not suitable for viewers under 19 due to its content, including violence and drinking, it also gained popularity through YouTube Shorts videos that compiled funny scenes. Furthermore, it resonated with people who experienced that era, as it contained elements that evoked nostalgia, leading to positive feedback from those around the same age as the characters.

Following the positive reception of the drama, director Lee Myeong-woo hinted at the possibility of a season 2, creating anticipation. In 2019, director Lee Myeong-woo expressed a positive outlook for a sequel to the highly-rated drama “The Fiery Priest”. Ultimately, “The Fiery Priest Season 2” was confirmed to air in 2024, leading the public to believe that “Boyhood” also has a high chance of getting a second season.

You can watch the Korean drama “Boyhood” on Coupang Play, friDayVideo, LINE TV, and LiTV.