Lee Dong-gun, Kim Jung-eun, and Park Shin-yang reunite after 20 years

The lead actors of 'Lovers in Paris,' a series that defined the golden age of Korean dramas in the 2000s—Lee Dong-gun, Kim Jung-eun, and Park Shin-yang—gathered together after approximately 20 years, sparking intense nostalgia among viewers. As the stars of the production, which achieved a record-breaking peak viewership rating of 57.6%, revisited iconic scenes and behind-the-scenes anecdotes, online reactions poured in, with fans noting, "It feels like watching the drama all over again."

In the SBS variety program 'My Little Old Boy' broadcast on the 19th, regular cast member Lee Dong-gun was shown reuniting with actress Kim Jung-eun for the first time in a long while.

The two expressed their joy, stating they were meeting officially for the first time in about 20 years since the SBS drama 'Lovers in Paris' concluded in 2004. In particular, the two actors naturally recalled memories from that era by visiting a location that served as a major setting in the drama.

On set, they burst into laughter while recalling the drama's iconic line, "You are in here," and continued to reminisce about the famous scenes that left a mark on Korean drama history. The sight of the two actors remembering a defining work of their era deeply evoked nostalgia in viewers.

Above all, Kim's unexpected confession drew significant attention.

She began by asking Lee, "Actually, there was something that made me a bit angry. Can I talk about it now?" before honestly revealing an upsetting anecdote she had kept to herself for 20 years. Lee could not hide his surprise at the unexpected story, saying, "I had no idea at all," and the two continued their conversation filled with laughter as they looked back on that time.

The story, which could finally be shared after such a long period, drew empathy from viewers by offering a glimpse into the human relationships between the actors and the composure brought by the passage of time.

Afterward, the two completed the 'Lovers in Paris' reunion on the spot by connecting via video call with Park, another key figure of the work.

Park, who responded warmly to the sudden contact, provided laughter as he appeared to break a sweat under the continuous barrage of questions from his juniors. The three actors showed natural chemistry as if they had returned to the time of filming, confirming their unchanging friendship.

In particular, Kim revealed a behind-the-scenes story related to Park's passionate singing of "Can I Love You?", one of the drama's most representative scenes.

She revealed that at the time, Park had not memorized all the lyrics and sang while looking at a piece of paper. In response, Park explained, "That song wasn't originally in the script," and for the first time, revealed the background of why he personally chose that specific song.

The filming anecdote, revealed after more than 20 years, served as another intriguing story for fans who have long remembered the work.

'Lovers in Paris' is a series that marked a milestone in the history of Korean drama, recording a peak viewership rating of 57.6% when it aired in 2004. The romance, centered on the love between a second-generation chaebol and an ordinary woman, caused a social syndrome and had a massive influence on popular culture by creating numerous catchphrases such as "Baby, let's go" and "You are in here."

In cultural content studies, 'Lovers in Paris' is evaluated as one of the representative works of the Hallyu (Korean Wave) romance in the early 2000s. At that time, Korean dramas gained explosive popularity in the Asian market based on emotional melodrama narratives, sophisticated directing, and the star power of the actors, and 'Lovers in Paris' established itself as a work symbolizing this trend.

French philosopher Henri Bergson explained memory not as a record of the past, but as an experience that is constantly reconstructed within the present. This reunion of the three actors can also be read as a process where the actors and the viewers, who remember an era together, re-share the same cultural memory, going beyond simply reminiscing about the past.

Following the broadcast, viewers expressed their joy with reactions such as, "Even though 20 years have passed, the chemistry between the three is still the same," "It feels like the drama sensibility of those days has come back to life," "I want to see them gather again to film a work," and "Every single famous scene is still vivid."

The cultural legacy left by a work does not easily disappear even as time passes. The reunion of Lee, Kim, and Park, meeting again after 20 years, remains a meaningful moment that goes beyond a simple meeting on a variety show, evoking long-held memories for the public who remember the golden age of Korean drama.