Actors Kim Sun-a, left, and Jung Ryeo-won pose during a press conference for the remastered version of "My Lovely Sam Soon," a 2005 romantic drama, at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

"My Lovely Sam Soon," a beloved 2005 romantic drama starring Kim Sun-a and Hyun Bin, has made a triumphant return to screens after nearly two decades.

Capitalizing on the current retro trend among younger audiences, the drama is part of Wavve's "New Classic Project," aimed at introducing timeless classics to a new generation — often familiar with short clips and memes of older dramas, but unaware of the full stories and their enduring values.

The drama centers on the unlikely romance between Kim Sam-soon (Kim Sun-a), a pastry chef who feels insecure about her old-fashioned name and curvy figure, and Hyun Jin-heon (Hyun Bin), the charismatic owner of a high-end French restaurant.

The series tells the story of a woman who may be awkward in love but excels as a top-notch professional in her work. It is acclaimed for its trailblazing portrayal of female characters, challenging the typical stereotype of a delicate and fragile female lead. Kim gained weight for this role, breaking the mold and presenting a more progressive and assertive female character, despite the inclusion of a chaebol heir in the storyline.

With its groundbreaking portrayal of a woman who defies expectations, the drama achieved immense popularity, reaching a peak viewership of 50 percent. It also introduced the relatively unfamiliar profession of patissier to the audience at the time.

"Sam-soon pursues both her career and love, fearlessly diving into her emotions. It's also rare to find such a character in our everyday lives today. For this reason, I believe this drama still holds significant appeal," said director Kim Yun-chul, who participated in the remastering process along with the original staff members, during a press conference for the series at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul, Thursday. "The character remains timeless even upon rewatching. I hope her healthy confidence can resonate with and inspire the new generation."

The actor expressed her joy at being able to share this meaningful drama with a new audience.

"I think it's fair to say that I became synonymous with the character of Sam-soon. I hadn't realized how much time had passed, but seeing the number '19 years' really made me think about how long it's been. It feels like Sam-soon has always been by my side, like an old and dear friend, and the drama is like a cherished piece of my heart," Kim said.

Drama fans are welcoming the re-release of the series, but there are questions about whether a drama from 19 years ago can still captivate younger viewers in 2024. Given the time gap, some aspects of the original — such as fashion, societal norms, and character behaviors — may now seem outdated.

A poster for the remastered romantic comedy drama, "My Lovely Sam Soon" / Coutesy of Wavve

Apart from the characters' clothing and hairstyles, some of the most awkward elements by today's standards include Sam-soon, a 30-year-old woman who refers to herself as an "old maid," and the portrayal of a capable pastry chef who struggles with a negative body image.

The director mentioned that Hyun Jin-heon is a character whose behaviors and language may be difficult for contemporary audiences to accept, leading to considerable concerns during the remastering process. The male lead often raises his voice and treats Sam-soon dismissively, which adds to the challenge of reintroducing the character to modern viewers.

"Considering the worldview of people in their 20s and 30s today, I questioned whether this would still be acceptable," he said. "The audience at that time was more tolerant of 'bad boy' characters, but from today's perspective, even I find it somewhat excessive." He added, "I felt his attitude and manner of speaking didn't align with contemporary sensibilities, so I removed as much of it as possible without disrupting the overall narrative."

The 16-episode drama has been re-edited into an 8-episode format with shorter running times and more impactful endings, considering today's viewers are accustomed to OTT and short-form content. The platform has improved video and audio quality as well.

Wavve is also working on a 2024 version of "I'm Sorry, I Love You," starring So Ji-sub and Im Soo-jung. Additionally, other popular dramas from the 2000s, such as "Full House," "Princess Hours," and "Coffee Prince," are slated for upgrades using AI upscaling technology to enhance picture quality.

Jung Duk-hyun, a pop culture critic, said, "Wavve's decision to utilize the extensive K-content archive held by terrestrial broadcasters for remastering is a very good choice. With the growing popularity of K-content among overseas fans, this project has immense potential. However, it remains to be seen if the upgrades will meet the high standards of today's viewers."