A Hundred Memories: Kim Da-mi and Shin Ye-eun Bring 80s Nostalgia and Heartfelt Chemistry to JTBC a Buzzing Timeline on X

Kim Da-mi returns with JTBC’s new drama A Hundred Memories.
Her long-hair look and warm chemistry with Shin Ye-eun stole the spotlight.
Fans are buzzing over the 80s vibe and heartfelt storyline.

The production conference for “A Hundred Memories” (JTBC) on September 11 immediately took over social media timelines. Fans celebrated the return of Kim Da-mi to JTBC dramas after Itaewon Class, her new long-hair look with a sleek off-shoulder dress, and her warm interaction with Shin Ye-eun. Meanwhile, Heo Nam-joon brought a princely charm as a high school senior hiding childhood scars. Together, the trio promised to deliver the nostalgic yet emotional atmosphere of the 1980s—an era of handwritten letters, bus tokens, and rotary phones. Clips and images from the press event quickly went viral on X, sparking praise for both styling and the cast’s evident chemistry.

Highlights from the Press Conference

A Hundred Memories is a youth melodrama set on bus No. 100 in Seoul during the 1980s. It follows the friendship of Go Young-rye (Kim Da-mi) and Seo Jong-hee (Shin Ye-eun), and their bittersweet first love tied to Han Jae-pil (Heo Nam-joon). The project reunites writer Yang Hee-seung (Oh My Ghostess, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, Familiar Wife, Once Again) with director Kim Sang-ho (Thirty-Nine). According to the director, the 80s backdrop will be nostalgic for those who lived through it, while also feeling fresh for younger audiences.

Character portrayals:

• Kim Da-mi aimed to capture the unique emotions of a “first love”—powerful and unfiltered. She plays Young-rye, a bus attendant with both warmth and vulnerability.
  
• Shin Ye-eun takes on Jong-hee, a new face who stands out with style yet feels natural. Her looks feature slim cutbray pants, denim jackets, and touches of Miss Korea-inspired chic.
  
• Heo Nam-joon plays Jae-pil, a third-year high schooler and shop owner’s son. Behind his “prince-like” image, Jae-pil hides a wounded heart from childhood. On wearing a school uniform again, Nam-joon humbly joked that his contribution was only about “hair, makeup, and wardrobe.”
  

Props like rotary phones, bus tokens, old shop signs, cassette vendors, and gum wrappers were all recreated to immerse viewers in the period. The director structured the story in two parts: an early phase with a fresh youthful tone, and a later phase that feels more mature, which he said made the casting choices even more fitting.

For Da-mi, this drama feels like a homecoming after five years away from JTBC. She expressed her excitement to meet viewers again through a heartfelt story, hoping audiences would cherish the fragility and warmth of Young-rye’s world.

Chemistry, Styling, and Netizen Reactions

Shin Ye-eun shared that Da-mi’s calm and warm smile helped her quickly adapt to her role as Jong-hee. Whenever she doubted herself, just meeting Da-mi’s gaze allowed her to act more naturally. She admitted to admiring Da-mi beyond the drama, saying she wanted to protect her just as Jong-hee loves Young-rye. Da-mi, in turn, praised Ye-eun’s passion and how she never approached a single scene carelessly. Their mutual affection turned into a major talking point among fans.

Da-mi’s long-hair transformation paired with her black off-shoulder gown became the highlight of the presscon, with fans thanking her stylists for the perfect look. A viral clip also showed her male co-star blushing—dubbed “the Kim Da-mi effect”—which further fueled excitement. Netizens showered love not only for the actors but also the stylist team, applauding how the 80s vibe was made modern yet authentic.

The press conference didn’t just highlight the drama’s story and cast—it also set social media on fire. Fans couldn’t stop praising Kim Da-mi’s new long hairstyle, her elegant outfit, and the undeniable chemistry with Shin Ye-eun and Heo Nam-joon. Here are some of the reactions that flooded X:

“Just yesterday I missed seeing Dami with long hair, and now she showed up at the presscon with it!”

“Dami with long hair looks absolutely stunning 😍😍”

“She’s so beautiful, seriously… how can she look this good?”

“I’ve always loved Dami with long hair 😍”

“So pretty, unnie.”

“She looks so cute and pretty, I can’t handle it.”

“She’s gorgeous, that long hair is everything!”

“Her beauty never gets boring 😍”

“He’s blushing—Kim Da-mi effect is real. Can’t wait to see this duo!”

“We should pay her stylists—she’s perfect today from head to toe 💖💖”

A Hundred Memories will premiere on September 13 at 10:40 PM KST on JTBC, offering a newtro journey filled with warmth, bittersweet romance, and timeless friendship.

Why this drama stands out? Beyond nostalgia, A Hundred Memories places women’s bonds at the heart of its story—two bus attendants growing together, caught between misdelivered messages and choices that leave scars. With detailed period settings, palpable chemistry already seen on stage, and a strong creative team, the drama promises the full package: striking visuals, heartfelt emotions, and a story resonating across generations.

Sources: OSEN, Newsen, News 1, JTBC, Xport News, Daum