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Retro Beauties: The Best Throwback Looks From Korean Dramas And Films

Get inspired by these nostalgic Korean titles and their characters’ chic looks!

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Elaine Carag-Calderon

<p>With Twenty Five Twenty One and 20th Century Girl being some of the most beloved (despite being the most heartbreaking) releases of 2022, the nostalgic turn Korean entertainment has taken of late has us looking to the past with a lot of callbacks to the vibrant decades of our youth.</p><div><br/></div><p>Watching these dramas and films onscreen reminds us how the world was rife with challenges (which we were somewhat oblivious of), but they were also filled with the best memories—including the fashion and beauty trends that defined the generation!</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/beauty/makeup/4th-generation-k-pop-girl-group-visuals/33969" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Breathtaking Visuals Of 4th Generation K-pop Idols</a></div><p>As the ’80s and ’90s have heavily influenced today’s style, we couldn’t help but spot the best we’ve seen in Korean dramas and films. Here, we run down some of the characters who got us reminiscing about our own teenage style! Which one is your favorite? Swipe through the gallery for some awesome throwback looks!</p><div><br/></div><div class="article-content" itemProp="articleBody"><div class="media-content"><div class="slider-for"><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/39f9f406-bbf4-4716-8df6-c08d23f18029_galleryretrokdrama.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/d967d3d7-ebd2-4fb7-8cd9-b1ed09843983_hancinema_reply 1997-1.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/18c45d25-97ac-4b96-b47c-1b24944b16e2_hancinema_reply 1994-1.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/fa8e16ab-914f-4e60-bf7e-e46bf61368ce_hancinema_reply 1988-1.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/5d8c47a0-5df7-4c05-9da6-119dd6aa3a52_hancinema_reply 1988-2.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/4218d454-fc8f-46ed-977d-37bcf84f97d0_hancinema_couple on the backtrack-1.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/8276f18d-81ac-4eb1-ab16-96391261d2c0_hancinema_youth of may.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/0d198b95-b233-4969-93c4-16d42f08dee0_hancinema_snowdrop-1.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/59d8ee87-ec44-43de-a6d5-b142c1ee0fbb_hancinema_snowdrop-1.5.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/e6855c97-845e-446c-bb18-a4fe6136bcee_hancinema_snowdrop-2.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/7cbf2686-1317-45b3-993f-97170c01ca9b_hancinema_snowdrop-3.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/fee24ed7-36c9-44ec-836c-d0833e2ad53e_hancinema_twenty five twenty one-1.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/61a2b185-c8cd-4114-b5fa-fd4f0cf96bce_hancinema_twenty five twenty one-2.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/909197a0-9f16-4235-975d-282aba47dfff_hancinema_twenty five twenty one-3.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/5dfe7323-befa-4ebf-9504-b09f7a53081e_hancinema_unforgettable-1.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/46d9917d-9714-4198-8ce1-1712815cb3c1_hancinema_unforgettable-2.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/374265a0-28a0-4fd9-8a81-1442a08acd54_hancinema_tune in for love-1.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/753a03f8-85ef-47ee-bddf-ea128e26d0dd_hancinema_miracle letters to the president-1.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/d36db75d-d78e-4dd1-962c-39e2bea658e0_hancinema_miracle letters to the president-2.jpeg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/d9d74acb-6de8-4bd9-9f25-9d69141b0a55_imdb_20th century girl-1.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div><div><img loading="lazy" src="https://assets-metrostyle.abs-cbn.com/prod/metrostyle/attachments/9f4d349f-1543-4070-81f9-2c36421e80a7_imdb_20th century girl-2.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii"/></div></div><div class="media-content slider-desc"><div class="item-desc"><div></div></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Shi-won in Reply 1997 (2012) - It’s only fitting we start this trip down memory lane with the darlings of the ‘Reply’ series, starting with Shi-won played by Apink’s Eunji and her signature fringe. You can tell the H.O.T. stan from a mile away with her long straight hair and perfect arched bangs!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Na-jung in Reply 1994 (2013) - Next in the series is Go Ara’s Na-jung from ‘Reply 1994’—a country bumpkin attending university in Seoul who favored the ’90s shaggy bob with bangs. <cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Duk-seon in Reply 1988 (2015) - (1/2) Of course, we can’t forget ‘Reply’ darling Deok-sun played by Girls Day’s Hyeri. In the first episode, she talks about how her “bangs are so wavy, you could surf through them.” We can’t get over that sleek bob, too!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p> - (2/2) Lest we forget she also raided her older sister’s makeup stash one time and went crazy. This look is peak 1980s: strong eyebrows, sparkly eyeshadow, and bold lips!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Jin-joo in Couple on the Backtrack (2017) - When this romantic comedy drama takes us back to 1999, Jang Na-ra’s Jin-joo is a fresh-faced 20-year-old attending university. Her long layered hair is complemented by feathered bangs. So cute and so chic!</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Myung-hee in Youth of May (2021) - A tragic tale set during the turbulent Gwangju Uprising in South Korea, this melodrama starred Go Min-si as Myung-hee—a spirited nurse caught in the throes of love and </p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Yeong-ro in Snowdrop (2021) - Everyone knows BLACKPINK Jisoo’s Yeong-ro, a gorgeous freshman attending university during the June 1987 Democracy Movement in South Korea. A gentle, wide-eyed beauty, she wore her long, wavy hair down, half up, and in a ponytail throughout the series and looked absolutely beautiful in whatever style.<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p> - (2/2)<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Chung-ya in Snowdrop (2021) - Yoo In-na’s Chung-ya is a surgeon, explaining her penchant for a no-nonsense look. The thin wire-framed glasses and wispy bangs add a touch of cool femininity to her otherwise<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Bun-ok in Snowdrop (2021) - Despite being an antagonist in the series, Kim Hye-yoon’s Bun-ok turned heads with her amazing style. We’re particularly drawn to this very ’80s ensemble—complete with curly bangs and voluptuous hair topped off with a pretty red beret!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Hee-do in Twenty Five Twenty One (2022) - Another favorite this year, Kim Tae-ri’s Hee-do is an adorable tomboy whose dreams of becoming a top fencer defined her teenage life. She appears to care more about her sport and less about her looks—and despite her bangs being choppy and uneven in a too-cool-for-school sort of way, Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk) will still fall for that smile every time!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p> - (2/2) One episode also featured Hee-do raiding her eomma’s closet and makeup vanity to go to a club, giving us this uber retro look: the scrunchie and the dark lip are so ’90s!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Hee-do and Yu-rim in Twenty Five Twenty One (2022) - On their way to a “school trip,” Hee-do and Bona’s Yu-rim remind us of our own youth. Sunnies as a hair accessory? Check. Colorful clips? Check. Bandana? Check. Pigtails? Check, check, check!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Soo-ok in Unforgettable (2016) - A tale of young love in summertime, this romance drama featured an ensemble cast led by Do Kyung-soo and Kim Soo-hyun where the latter’s Soo-ok favored every girl’s go-to style: straight long hair with full bangs in a half ponytail.<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Gil-ja in Unforgettable (2016) - One of the second leads in the film, Joo A-reum’s Gil-ja also dressed up her short bob and full bangs with a thick headband—another recognizable ’90s look.<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Mi-soo in Tune in for Love (2019) - Set between 1994 and 2000, the romantic film starring Kim Go-eun and Jung Hae-in featured a lot of references to past trends—including Mi-soo’s bob with baby bangs, a favorite cut in the ’90s!</p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Ra-hee in Miracle: Letters to the President (2021) - The year was 1988 in this romantic film headlined by Girls Generation’s Yoona as Ra-hee, and we can’t get over the effortless curtain bangs and the fresh-faced glow!<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Bo-kyeong in Miracle: Letters to the President (2021) - Similar to Duk-seon’s blunt bob, Lee Soo-kyung’s Bo-kyeon in ‘Miracle’ also sported a blunt crop styled ever so simply with a barette.<cite>Hancinema</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p>Bo-ra in 20th Century Girl (2022) - Any tomboy growing up will definitely relate to Kim Yoo-jung’s Bo-ra in this freshly released romantic film. The backwards cap was the accessory du jour if you were one of the boys!<cite>Netflix</cite></p></div><div class="item-desc"><p> - (2/2) And if you weren’t wearing a backwards cap, you threw your long, straight hair in a ponytail and called it a day. Good times!<cite>Netflix</cite></p></div></div></div></div><div><em><br/></em></div><div><em><small>Banner photos via <strong>Hancinema</strong></small></em></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/beauty/grooming/handsome-korean-actors-in-their-late-30s-and-40s-p/29818" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">15 (More) of the Most Handsome Korean Actors in Their Late 30s and 40s</a></div><div><strong>Related Story: </strong><a href="/beauty/makeup/newjeans-kpop-girl-group-members-beauty/33584" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Meet NewJeans: The Prettiest New Faces In K-Pop Right Now</a></div>