A Hundred Memories

Friendship Over Rivalry: The True Triangle in A Hundred Memories

When we talk about love triangles, we usually picture rivalry, jealousy, or even betrayal between two friends. That’s the cliché. But A Hundred Memories dares to flip the formula. Ko Yeong Rye is in love with Jae Pil, but Jae Pil is drawn to Seo Jong Hee. The twist? Yeong Rye and Jong Hee aren’t rivals—they’re best friends. That choice changes everything.

It’s a premise that echoes Truffaut’s Jules et Jim (1962), where friendship and love collide in a way that feels honest rather than melodramatic. Or think of My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997), where the story doesn’t end with the expected romantic “win,” but with a bittersweet acceptance of friendship over rivalry. That’s the same kind of vibe A Hundred Memories might be leaning toward.

What are the possible outcomes? One: Jong Hee could renounce Jae Pil, leaving nobody with anyone. Two: once Jae Pil shows clear interest in Jong Hee, Yeong Rye would realistically back away—because being the “second choice” is painful, maybe even unbearable. And three: there’s Jong Hee’s brother, the law student, who already seems intrigued by her. He could easily become the unexpected twist in this delicate balance.

And then there’s that closing scene of Episode 4. Jae Pil accidentally runs into Jong Hee, now wearing her work uniform. His silence and stare linger too long—it feels exaggerated, almost as if the uniform itself carries judgment. If it were me, I’d have gone with something natural like, “Oh, what a surprise, I didn’t know you worked here.” But the direction makes his hesitation about status clear. Is he truly shocked… or is the drama emphasizing how much appearances still matter in this world?

We’ll see in Episode 5 if he softens his reaction or doubles down. Either way, it’s a fascinating tension between natural storytelling and heightened drama.

Episode 10 Update
With just one weekend left before it ends, the series chooses stability over catharsis.
After Hee and Rye finally face each other and admit they love the same man, the show instantly cools everything down. Hee realizes—without anyone having to tell her—that she has no real chance against Rye. From that point on, she practically disappears from the episode when it comes to Pil: no contact, no exchange, just her own tension with her mother and the brief encounter with Rye’s brother. It’s a deliberate narrative choice: the script removes her from the love triangle and reframes her as a social mirror rather than a romantic rival. The result is an emotional void—the triangle doesn’t resolve, it simply fades away. A Hundred Memories shifts from the inner fire of feelings to the outer order of hierarchy. Visually stunning, yes, but clearly a choice for stability instead of catharsis.
The preview for episode 11 confirms it: love is no longer the battlefield—Miss Korea is. Where they once competed for affection, they now compete for validation. “Let’s play fair this time,” Hee tells Rye, barely touching her hand. It’s the echo of everything before: two women who once hurt each other trying to win the same man, now standing as equals in a symbolic arena. It’s not reconciliation; it’s acceptance.
Meanwhile, Hyun drifts into narrative limbo. His arc promised maturity and balance, but the script reduces him to a bystander. Unless the finale gives him purpose again, the ending risks feeling uneven. Because if this episode proved anything, it’s that A Hundred Memories knows how to close chapters with visual grace—but not always with emotional justice.

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Truly not that bad

A Hundred Memories has been receiving a lot of flack, much of it, imo, unfair.

I think many complaints you'll read will be because viewers either A) expected the show to go against the typical kdrama formula, hoping for something AHM just wasn't going to give, or B) have, naturally, chosen a side in the love triangle(s), and are unhappy with the outcome(s).
But it's important to keep in mind that fans of each female lead feel their favorite character was mistreated the most, so in that regard, weren't the 2 FLs treated quite equally?

I think the focus of the first half of the show at 19 years old, is on choosing friendship and getting through tough times together. The focus of the second half at 26, is on choosing yourself, overcoming insecurities, and learning that you can stand on your own.

No character or relationship is all that thoroughly developed. There was much left unexplored. The final ep tried to cram in too much at once. I can't help but think this drama is another victim of the new 12-episode model in Korea.

But I'd say all the actors and their characters are great, and this often-charming drama is worth a watch if you try to appreciate every character.

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A Hundred Memories, Only a Few Worth Keeping

Disclaimer: I went into this drama with unusually high expectations. The time period was exactly the kind of setting I love, the premise appeared fresh, and, most importantly, it featured one of my favorite actresses, Shin Ye Eun, in a role that promised emotional depth and quiet strength.

Acting / Cast
The cast is, without question, the drama’s strongest asset. Shin Ye Eun delivers a compelling performance as Seo Jong Hui, a woman carrying the weight of a tragic past yet presenting herself as capable, resilient, and fiercely protective of the vulnerable. Her character instantly drew me in. She balances mystery, moral conflict, and emotional restraint in a way that anchors the entire show.

Kim Da Mi, as Ko Yeong Rye, initially adds an interesting contrast as a timid young woman from a financially struggling family. However, her indecisiveness and self-effacing nature quickly became exhausting. Her constant willingness to sacrifice herself for nearly anyone in her vicinity felt less like a character trait and more like a narrative burden.

What surprised me most is that despite my issues with Yeong Rye’s characterization, Ye Eun and Da Mi have genuinely strong on-screen chemistry — arguably the best dynamic in the entire series. Their early interactions are engaging, natural, and brimming with understated tension. I honestly enjoyed those first episodes largely because of how well they played off each other.

Then, unfortunately, the male lead enters the picture. Heo Nam Jun’s Han Jae Pil begins as a promising, layered character, but the writing strips him of nuance with every episode. His emotional volatility and constant “love reversals” made him increasingly frustrating to watch. He isn’t a red flag, exactly — more someone who is addicted to feeling things for the sake of emotional stimulation. His bond with Jong Hui dissolves the moment it becomes inconvenient for the plot. His pursuit of Yeong Rye feels transactional, almost like he’s checking obligations off a list rather than falling in love.

By the end, the love triangle not only weakens the cast dynamic — it actively damages it.

Score: 8/10

Writing
This is where the drama falters most. The setup is undeniably strong: Two female bus conductors navigating the tight constraints of 1980s Korean society — family expectations, economic hardship, danger on the job, and personal dreams. Their contrasting personalities create a natural balance and enormous potential for character development, social commentary, and a deeply textured friendship arc.

But instead of cultivating that foundation, the writing gradually funnels everything into a conventional, unnecessary love triangle that diminishes both women and overshadows their personal journeys. The hints of complex female friendship — and even potential queer subtext — are abandoned without payoff. Their bond, which initially felt layered and quietly intimate, becomes flattened into cliché “love rivalry” tropes that strip both characters of individuality.

The drama repeatedly suggests it wants to explore themes like:
– women’s solidarity
– social class struggles
– the emotional cost of survival
– the contradictions of female independence in a conservative era

But none of these threads are given real development. There is no narrative build-up, no clear motivation, and ultimately no cohesive message. By the time the finale arrives, the story feels like it has taken a hundred illogical routes, losing sight of what made it compelling in the first place.

Most disappointing is the ending: the writers chose the most predictable path by pairing the main couple, despite their stark lack of romantic chemistry. Jong-hui and Yeong-rye worked far better as a mirroring duo, and ironically, the two women had more chemistry with each other than had with the male lead.

Score: 6/10

Direction / SFX / Music
The direction is serviceable but inconsistent. The early episodes are atmospheric and grounded, effectively capturing the social rhythms of the 1980s. As the drama falls deeper into melodrama, though, the direction becomes flatter, as if following the writing into less inspired territory. Cinematography and set design are solid throughout — enough to make the period feel lived-in rather than decorative. The OST did not particularly stand out to me, it was fine but rarely enhanced the emotional beats.

Score: 7/10

A Hundred Memories could have been something special: a textured portrayal of two women balancing friendship, duty, and desire in a turbulent era. The setting is promising, the cast talented, and the initial chemistry — especially between the two female leads — is genuinely compelling. But the drama ultimately sacrifices its uniqueness for a tired romantic framework, reducing its protagonists to conventional tropes and abandoning the themes that could have made it memorable.

I would recommend it only with caveats:
Watch it for Shin Ye Eun, for the early episodes, and for the glimpses of what it almost became. But be prepared — the story loses its way long before the end.

Overall score: 8/10

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Never ever break up a friendship because of a man!

Lets get to the review!

Chemistry checks for me (IMO)


Koh Yeong rye x jeong hyeon (even if it was one sided on his side)
Seo Jong Hee x Ko Yeong Sik (i didnt quiet feel her chemistry with Jae Pil)

—Koh Yeong Rye x Seo Jong Hee
This is the friendship i want in my life without a man in the middle ofc (i dont fight over men LOL). This is real friendship. I didnt want their friendship to end over a man… (still on ep 10). Seo jong hee not only is in a love triangle but also being triple threatened 😟. The dude from cheongah bus coming for her and yeong rye, her adoptive mom might be a bad influence, her brother… omg miss girl. Lets go back to their friendship after ep.6 i think the show started showing elements of jealousy (Not envy!) from seo jong hee side.. i was like NO! PLEASE NO! mind you i am typing this after i finished ep 10 i dont want a friendship break up guys! Friendship break up hurt way way more than a relationship break up :c.

Going back to the time of cheongah bus whats been happening with kwon hae ja the one who ended up in a horrific workplace accident? I still cannot believe some companies try to dodge responsibility even if what happened was this horrific like not even an ounce of guilt?! Tbh am i the only one who saw the clip before it was revealed that she was the one in the accident i almost thought it was koh yeong rye!!!!


*AFTER COMPLETING EP 11+12*

We see kwon hae ja in the audience during the miss korea pageant show 👏.The miss korea pageant stage literally left me on the edge of my seat like why tf is that stupid personnel manager thinking she ruined his life? He ruined it himself… and then when he stabs yeong hye and the camera pans out there is literally someone still taking pictures of whats happening while she fights for her life on the floor 🤓 (I HOPE SOMEBODY ELSE NOTICED!!!!

Ep 12 many comments said this and i fully agree. The beach scene where jong hee was thirdwheeling the ML and FL was so so painfully awkward…

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Not for everyone

I just recently rewatched this drama and I wanted to share my opinion on it. This drama is not for everyone so you might like it and not really like it at the same time. It’s was ok for me at first but then I realized maybe it’s was because I had too much expectation on it that why I didn’t like it but then i rewatched it with low expectations and then I realized it was not that bad of a drama. I love the female lead character from the beginning to the end and I love the fact that main lead was able to cherish her before it’s was too late. Also the second female lead was also okay for me because she realized how precious her friend is which can be related sometimes to real life situations.

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AKU BERTAHAN DEMI YEONGSIK

ni drama banyak banget lewat di tiktok tapi aku mau keep sampe kelar dulu eh ternyata orang orang pada tim timan. aku agak trauma kalo udah tim timan begonoh jadinya ngulur buat nonton ini. tapi kemaren gabut and akhirnya ke tonton lah drama ini. awalnya juga tertarik gegara ada bapak namjun disini, tapi ternyata dia ngeselin banget bjir karakternya. jujur benci namjun sama dami banget disini gatau kenapa, bawaannya mau skip scene mereka terus bahkan sampe mau aku drop dramanya. eh TETAPI taunya ada youngsik oppa yang bikin aku jatuh suka disini. yang paling disayangin tuh KENAPA SCREENTIME MEREKA DIKIT BANGET HELLO??????? AKU NONTON SAMPE HABIS DEMI THIS CUTIES TAPI TERNYATA SAMPE AKHIR MASIH KAGA JELAS NI BEDUA GIMANA HUBUNGANNYA HADEH...

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Could have been so much more, but ends in disappointment and frustration.

Wow. So much lost potential here. A story that started out as a heartwarming story about two strong female characters from different backgrounds and their friendship, them navigating different aspects of life and dealing with their respective issues and a mature love triange ultimately devolves into a stupid, petty fight over a man and a story that completely assassinates it's characters.

The first half is absolutely brilliant, with both female characters compellingly written with their own personalities, flaws, and strengths. Personally I enjoyed Jong-hee's character more (which adds to my later frustration) because of her implied tragic backstory and her strong, badass personality, but Young-rye also emerges as a well written character who is bubbly, cheerful and strong in her own way. The chemistry between Kim Da-mi and Shin Ye-eun is amazing in their scenes together, their interactions on the roof and seeing them laugh and be happy together will definitely leave a smile on your face. The more serious aspects of the show, such as Young-rye's financial struggles, the burden she carries being the elder daughter, Jong-hee's troubled past and the trauma she carries because of it are handled quite well. The love triangle in this part is also well done.I could understand and feel for Young-rye for having a one-sided love. Jae-pil falling for Jong-hee and her eventual attraction towards him were also portrayed well and I liked them together. While her decision to sacrifice her love annoyed me, I still understood where she came from. However, then, in the end of the first half, a key event happens, a time jump, and then everything goes downhill from there.

Firstly, about the event, Jong-hee stabbing the manager. The way the show treats it is as if she killed him when all she did was stab him in the shoulder with a pen, which is not even enough to paralyze someone's arm in most cases. But still, fair, it's a crime and she could get into trouble. And the solution provided by Young-rye is to run and disappear? Why so drastic? Like you could either plead self defence, and it's later revealed that Young-rye collected evidence and blackmailed the manager to drop charges against her. Then WHY COULDN'T THAT HAVE BEEN DONE WITHOUT JONG-HEE RUNNING AWAY? She could have asked her to lay low for some time, hide while the matter is resolved, instead of making her vanish.

Secondly, the post time jump show and the second half. The timeskip is just evidence of lazy writing. Can't figure out how to write a reasonable story about Jaepil falling in love with Young-rye after showing him being in love with Jong-hee? Simple, shunt Jong-hee out of the story and boom, they fell in love!

Young-rye, whose dream was to become a professor, is now working as a hairdresser in a salon. Why and how? Plot purposes. She lives with her former conductor friends and her now expanded family. Relationships and characters have completely changed, and now, she and Jaepil are suddenly the potential couple, which will be reminded to us again and again as almost every side character beats us over the head telling us that they will be a couple. They behave like a couple too, going out to eat, carrying her on his back, getting jealous and drinking, etc. but still aren't a couple. How exactly did this development happen? I know seven years is a long time but still, from the perspective of the audience how are we supposed to work this out? Also, among Young-rye's family and conductor friends, who also knew Jong-hee as a friend, she is not mentioned at all. The one time she is, it is treated like a shameful, taboo subject, like something that shouldn't be mentioned. It's not clear why exactly this is so. And Jong-hee returns, now the adopted daughter of a rich woman. From here, it turns into intolerable, stinking trash.

There are several issues but my main problem is with how the two female leads are made out to be after the timeskip.

Young-rye is made to be this perfect, innocent, pure as snow character who can do no wrong at all, who is loved by all, and to achieve this development, the other female lead, Jong-hee, is put down. She is made out to be a bad person, but funnily enough despite the butchering by the writers, even in the second half I still found her a more interesting character. If you are a Jong-hee/Shin Ye-eun fan the latter half of the show is a painful watch. It's as if nothing she does can ever result in good for her. She protects her friend? Now she's pretty much lost everything and no one ever cares, or acknowledges the sacrifice that she made while doing so, not even Young-rye. She saves a woman from committing suicide? Now she's stuck in a make believe dollhouse where she doesn't have the freedom to be herself. It is genuinely so hard to watch, especially since we even know that her childhood was rough and she comes from an abusive household, and suffers from PTSD, which basically makes her entire existence one long story of suffering, and yet we have to think she is a bad person because Young-rye has to be good. Even the act of protection in the end by Young-rye becomes just another reason for Jong-hee to suffer more and fall in everyone's eyes, and to take away from Jong-hee's final achievement of the Miss Korea title - can't she just have one moment, one moment of success and happiness?? The way Young-rye's mother and friends look at her after that, especially the two conductor friends shutting the door away and ignoring her, made me furious - like why are you acting as if she was the one who killed her, or as if she was responsible for any part of what happened? She didn't ask to be attacked. If it's fair to blame her for that, then who is to blame for the seven years of life she lost while saving Young-rye? Oh, wait. Only Young-rye's sacrifices matter, because Jong-hee is just destined for suffering and nothing else.

One user commented here in the discussion that Young-rye is like someone who trips on the pavement and scrapes their knee, and is helped up by others, asking if she's okay, while Jong-hee is someone who is punched in the face with full force, hits her head badly on the pavement, is asked why she allowed herself to punched, and is left alone lying in the street. There couldn't be a more accurate description than this. Young-rye is surrounded by people who love her and support her at every step, while Jong-hee is only surrounded by people who either are controlling or abusive like her mother, or actively want to hurt her. She has no one in the show who takes her side or supports her, and is left completely alone. The only person who is there for her is Young-sik, Young-rye's brother, and even he wouldn't support her if it came to choosing between her and Young-rye. Still, the presence of Young-sik is actually a relief, and he provides some respite to Jong-hee which is pleasant to see. He is the only one who looks out for her in the entire show and cares about her wellbeing. The scene in which he hugs her and tells her not to blame herself for Young-rye's stabbing is a satisfying scene, I was just happy to see someone finally hug Jong-hee and comfort her after all she's been through.

Also, why doesn't anyone know why Jong-hee had to run? Forget about anyone, why didn't Young-rye even tell Jae-pil about it? One of the most frustrating moments in the show is when Jaepil comments about Jong-hee along the lines that she just runs away all the time, and Young-rye AGREES WITH HIM!!! Like, girl, I get he does not know, but you knew why your friend had to run, didn't you? You know that she sacrificed her job, her life, the relationships and stability she had built here and went on the run - AGAIN - because she was protecting you. It wasn't a choice she made out of her free will. She even insisted on staying, but you insisted that she run. So how can you agree with him portraying her as a coward when you know that's not true? Young-rye came off as a terrible friend to me because of this. It would have been one thing if she had just stayed silent, but she even agrees with him which made me furious.

People may disagree, and I'm open to that too, but for me, pursuing your best friend's ex, especially when said friend disappeared because she had to protect you, isn't a great move.

Overall, it's bad. Watch the first half, and end it there. Not worth the time at all.

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It starts with characters who are immediately endearing, situations with potential, beautiful pastel-toned photography, truly a sight to behold. Even though it's visually stunning, even though the two lead actresses are excellent, I have to say that a polite boredom crept over me with each passing episode. Kim Da-mi, always in gentle roles, and Shin Ye-eun, always with natural authority, explore their friendship. At first, I imagined it would be more, but our expectations are quickly dampened : they are good friends, period.

When you see all these subplots piling up without being developed, it's a very bad sign. Pure filler masquerading as a slice of life. From episode 3 onwards, I skipped scenes that seemed of dubious interest to me. We have two main female characters, and their friendship or relationship with each other should be at the heart of the story. Not some stupid love triangle with a guy who isn't interested.
The show takes the viewers' time for granted far too much. Between The Murky Stream and this, it's definitely not a great year for Shin Ye-eun.

Also, the pop version of Bach's music, played on the piano, may have its charm for some people, no doubt, and good for them, but not for me. I prefer to listen to Bach himself, if you don't mind, dear composer.

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Started well but turned into Love Triangle chaos -- First half suffered

A Disappointed first half.

Was expected something new kind the story presentation from this known storyline with engaging characters. Engaging characters are there but after 6 eps it turned out same love triangle and even the characters fell short but Kim Da Mi & Shin Ye-Eun somehow saves the drama. From the story we've seen too many a love story traingles between two best friends and a sacrifice. However 6 more episodes are left now kinda excited to watch what new turns the story takes, but even after first half now here if there will be a another love triangle then drama might just collapse under its own weight.

I did loved the characters design of Jeong Hee and Yeong Rye and female leads dorm setup is engaging and kinda relief from love triangle chaos. But one major flaw is the ML character missed the arc, like he's the centre of the drama between the female leads, he should have been given a strong arc to match the quality character design like Jeong Hee and Yeong Rye but instead his character is really poorly written like a glass being emptied of its juice. So, was expecting a decent character development on male lead character.

10/10 aspects

• Kim Da Mi & Shin Ye-Eun acting
• OST
• production design
• plot flow

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