Reply 1997

In 1997, nothing was more important to Shi Won than the Korean boy band 'H.O.T.' She and her five closest friends exemplified the teenage angst of K-pop idolatry that was escalating during the decade. They reconnect 15 years later and relive their youth of the late 1990s.

Yoon Jae has circumcision. It is supposed to be a secret, but the whole town knows, including Shi Won. Shi Won accidentally hands him a pad as she helps him search for his things. This scene shows how they are physically developing into adults. But the changes are gradual, and they still fight like children. Shi Won lies at school about her homework, and Yoon Jae does not help her out with the lie. So she is punished, and she is angry with him. They have a fight, and accidentally Yoon Jae touches her too intimately. The incident makes Yoon Jae see Shi Won as a woman. Yoon Jae unfortunately realizes that although he has become a man, Shi Won has not become a woman yet. Yoo Jung secretly falls in love with a member of an idol group that is the rival of H.O.T. called Sechs Kies. Shi Won considers this betrayal, and it angers her. This causes a rift in their friendship.

Shi Won goes to Seoul and camps in front of Tony An's house. She finally returns home after getting her T-shirt signed. When she returns home, her father cuts her hair as punishment. Since then, her parents fight regularly. She confides in Joon Hee about her worry about their quarrels. Yoo Jung also cuts her hair to show moral support for her friend. This act restores their friendship. A new student from Seoul transfers to Gwangan High School. He may be Yoon Jae's rival as the best looking guy in school. He is good-looking and cool. He is macho, and he impresses the other boys. But in front of girls, he is extremely shy. Somebody under the name 1004 (angel) sends Yoon Jae a music file. He thinks it is from Shi Won, but she is not interested in him at all. In fact, she talks badly about him to Joon Hee. Shi Won and Joon Hee chat online and exchange big secrets. Shi Won realizes that what she knows to be true is actually not true at all.

It is the World Cup game: Korea vs. Japan. Shi Won's friends come over to watch the game together, but she forgets to order chicken. Luckily, the delivery man gets his orders wrong, and Shi Won and the group decide to eat the chicken that was ordered for somebody else. When Korea scores a goal, Yoo Jung hugs Hak Chan, and Shi Won hugs Joon Hee. Yoon Jae is suspicious of the closeness between Shi Won and Joon Hee. He is done with fair play. He realizes that one must be proactive to get what one desires. Shi Won gives her phone number to the Seoul boy she has been chatting online with. He says he will call after the game. Tae Woong falls in love with Song Joo, whom he tutored. They decide to marry. One day he goes to watch the Busan Seagulls game and sends Song Joo on a retreat. But there is an accident. We find out that she was Shi Won's sister, and Shi Won now behaves just like her towards Tae Woong.

Life's counterattacks include Yoon Jae's broken arm, falling in love with Shi Won, a street vender's rags-to-riches story, her father's cancer, and the IMF crisis. The only way to go about life is fighting it and just going on with life. Yoon Jae breaks his arm and is hospitalized. Shi Won sleeps by his side with her glasses on. Yoon Jae notes that he has fallen in love with her over trivial things such as her glasses. A street vender finally finds his parents. He goes from rags to riches. This case shows that there are many ups and downs in life. Shi Won asks her father to buy her expensive jeans, but he refuses. So she writes sad stories and sends them to a radio show in hope to win brand name jeans. Yoon Jae warns her that words come true, and her story about her father having cancer does come true. Shi Won has huge homework that she cannot complete in time. Her father completes it for her, and Shi Won is touched by his love and care. When all things seem to get better, the news report that the IMF crisis has hit Korea.