JTBC’s upcoming weekend drama A Hundred Memories is giving viewers an early glimpse into the unique lifestyle of 1980s youth by unveiling four workplace rules of bus conductors, played by Kim Da-mi and Shin Ye-eun. The nostalgic details are sparking both curiosity and sentiment.
Premiering on September 13, A Hundred Memories (written by Yang Hee-seung and Kim Bo-ram, directed by Kim Sang-ho) is a retro youth melodrama set in the 1980s. It follows the shining friendship of bus conductors Young-rye (Kim Da-mi) and Jong-hee (Shin Ye-eun), and their fateful first love with Jae-pil.
The drama revives the now-vanished profession of bus conductors, a job that carries the essence of an era long gone. Alongside the touching story, the show introduces the company rules of Cheong-A Transportation Company, where Young-rye and Jong-hee work, highlighting the determination of youths who sought to live diligently without wasting a moment.
The day begins with morning calisthenics at the bus depot, accompanied by national exercise chants. Watching conductors drag themselves up at 5 a.m. for synchronized movements is both humorous and heartwarming, while evoking childhood memories of schoolyard routines.
The most crucial rule is “fares must always be collected.” This principle defines Young-rye, who would chase a passenger to the ends of the earth if they tried to skip paying. Her persistence, even through motion sickness and endless bus rides, reflects the desperation of 1980s youth shouldering family responsibilities.
Another unbending rule is the strict ban on advance payments or flexible scheduling. Labor manager Park Ji-hwan embodies this policy with absolute authority, prioritizing company profits over compassion and ruling over conductors with rigid discipline.
Within the dormitory, a special rule applies to Young-rye, Jong-hee, and their roommates Hae-ja (Lee Min-ji), Jung-bun (Park Ye-ni), Ok-hee (Oh Woo-ri), and Ho-sook (Jung Bo-min): everyone must obey the dorm leader. From banning food during diets to assigning cleaning, laundry, or bed-making, Hae-ja’s commands are law. Jong-hee, however, resists her authority, creating sharp clashes that inject both comedy and tension into their shared room.
These authentic glimpses of conductor life add humor, relatability, and emotional depth to the drama, promising to become one of its major charms. A Hundred Memories is a collaboration between hitmaker writer Yang Hee-seung and director Kim Sang-ho, set to premiere on September 13 at 10:40 p.m. KST on JTBC, following Beyond the Bar.
Sources: Daum
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