The tvN 20th Anniversary Edition Reply 1988: 10th Anniversary delivered waves of laughter and nostalgia, proving once again why “that Ssangmun-dong” still feels just as warm a decade later.
In the second episode, aired on December 26th, the five Ssangmun-dong families reunited in full for the first time in ten years, officially kicking off a two-day, one-night retreat. From their first meeting at a highway rest stop, the nonstop journey unfolded with the unmistakable energy of Ssangmun-dong equal parts chaos, affection, and easy chemistry bringing back memories while creating new laughs.
After a pocket-money game, the families gathered at the rest stop, where their wildly different “financial situations” sparked instant humor. Jung-bong’s family, having won big, joked that “there has to be at least one rich family” and generously shared their rest-stop feast with the others. Sitting together and eating side by side naturally recalled scenes from the drama ten years ago. Despite the time gap, the cast’s rapid-fire banter remained sharp and effortless.
The laughter continued on the drive to their final destination in Goseong. Sung Dong-il and Ra Mi-ran secretly formed a “persimmon expedition,” each securing a box of seedless persimmons. Sung Dong-il quipped, “We may not have money, but we eat the best,” showing his spot-on self-awareness. In another car, behind-the-scenes stories flowed, including Park Bo-gum sharing that he was just 22 when he filmed Reply 1988 and revealing that his original dream had been to become a singer-songwriter before fate led him to acting.
Upon arriving at the lodging in Goseong, the cast reflected on the meaning of the 10th anniversary, including recreating their iconic poster shoot. The highlight, however, was the Ssangmun-dong Family Game Show. Divided into three teams Deok-sun’s family, Jung-bong’s family, and Taek and Sun-woo’s family the cast competed fiercely for premium Korean beef through speed quizzes covering food, places, and people.
Hyeri, in full Deok-sun mode, lamented, “You’d have to have eaten it to know,” when a question about the famous “bihukatsu (beef cutlet)” dish came up. Ahn Jae-hong left everyone in stitches by describing Tchaikovsky as “the symbol of probiotics,” while unpredictable wrong answers spiraled into unexpected truth debates. Park Bo-gum was even summoned as a “witness,” with cast members insisting, “Bo-gum doesn’t lie” and calling him “the conscience of the era,” before his eventual honest confession sent the room into laughter once again.
The second round featured a music scholarship quiz, complete with broadcast signals and movie background music spanning generations, plus penalty deductions that heightened the tension. From Park Bo-gum’s quirky answers to Hyeri launching into celebratory performances regardless of correctness, the chaos peaked. The Ssangmun-dong moms stole the spotlight with their own “Avengers-style” showdown, and when Street Woman Fighter became a quiz topic, Ryu Hye-young and Hyeri heated up the room with a fierce dance battle. Jung-bong’s family ultimately claimed first place, reaffirming their title as the “symbol of wealth and luck” in Ssangmun-dong.
Even dinner was filled with warmth and humor. As the barbecue began, Go Kyung-pyo took on grilling duties as the last-place penalty, while Park Bo-gum prepared wraps for him, showing seamless teamwork. The rest of the cast pitched in with grilling and serving, recreating the communal meals that defined Ssangmun-dong. Lee Dong-hwi reflected, “It really feels like sharing meals together back in Ssangmun-dong,” while Sung Dong-il added, “Now that we’re here, it feels so good.”
From start to finish, the 10th-anniversary retreat embodied the spirit of Ssangmun-dong itself rekindling cherished memories for the cast and transporting viewers back to a neighborhood that still feels like home.
Sources: Daum