Park Bo-gum and Kim You-jung reunite for 'Love in the Moonlight' special

The stars of 'Love in the Moonlight', the drama that captivated audiences in 2016, are reuniting after 10 years. The original lead cast—including Park Bo-gum and Kim You-jung, alongside Jinyoung, Chae Soo-bin, and Kwak Dong-yeon—is gathering for a full reunion, sparking intense nostalgia among fans.

KBS announced on the 13th that 'Love in the Moonlight Reimagined', a special variety show celebrating the 10th anniversary of the original series, will premiere on September 16 on KBS2.

The most anticipated aspect of the special is the participation of all five actors who drove the original series to massive success. To celebrate the milestone, Park, Kim, Jinyoung, Chae, and Kwak traveled to Hongcheon, Gangwon-do, to spend 2 days & 1 night together.

This reunion carries weight far beyond a simple television appearance. It has been a decade since 'Love in the Moonlight' first aired. The actors, who were budding youth stars at the time, have since matured into leading figures of Korean entertainment. The reunion itself serves as a narrative of their shared journey through the intervening years.

Reports indicate that Park proposed the 10th-anniversary gathering, which was embraced by Kim, Jinyoung, Chae, and Kwak.

- A peak viewership rating of 23.3%... The lasting legacy of 'Love in the Moonlight'

Originally broadcast in 2016, 'Love in the Moonlight' was a fusion historical drama centered on the romance between Crown Prince Lee Young and the cross-dressing eunuch Hong Ra-on.

At the time, Park and Kim delivered a poignant romance as Lee Young and Hong Ra-on. The series achieved a peak viewership rating of 23.3% and maintained a massive following, ranking number 1 in TV topicality for 7 consecutive weeks.

The success of 'Love in the Moonlight' extended beyond mere ratings. While set within the historical confines of the palace, the drama broke away from the heavy, solemn tropes of traditional historical series by focusing on universal themes of youth, love, friendship, and growth.

The chemistry between Park and Kim became an iconic image of "youth" for the public, while Jinyoung, Chae, and Kwak also left indelible marks through their respective characters.

Standing together again 10 years later allows the cast to revisit those characters while simultaneously reuniting with the versions of themselves from a decade ago.

- From youth stars to K-content icons

According to the production team, the five actors departed for Hongcheon on the 4th to enjoy their trip. Sources say the atmosphere on set was bright and cheerful, with the cast reminiscing about their time filming the original series.

The current status of the cast is particularly noteworthy. The actors who were just beginning to garner attention during the original run have spent the last 10 years building impressive filmographies, becoming faces that represent Korean content globally. Park, Kim, Jinyoung, Chae, and Kwak have all expanded their influence across film, drama, and music.

As such, this special is expected to be more than a nostalgic variety show; it will be a celebration of the decade of growth shared by actors who rose to prominence together.

Beyond retracing famous scenes, viewers will be interested to see how the actors compare their lives now to ten years ago. Behind-the-scenes stories, first impressions, and the enduring friendships between the cast members are expected to be major highlights.

Given that the cast's genuine chemistry was a primary reason for the original show's popularity, seeing how their relationships have evolved over 10 years will be a central draw for the program.

'Love in the Moonlight Reimagined' is a two-part special. Part 1 will air on September 16 at 8:30 PM, and Part 2 will air on September 23 at 9:00 PM on KBS2.

Park Bo-gum and Kim You-jung, who met as a Crown Prince and a eunuch 10 years ago, meet again as established actors. 'Love in the Moonlight' may not just be redrawing the romance of the past, but rather the ten-year journey of the people who lived it.