Why Netflix's A Time Called You is Different From Taiwanese Original

Much to the delight of many K-drama fans, Netflix released the new South Korean show, A Time Called You, last week. Although the series quickly drew fans, some viewers are unhappy with the storyline.

The drama chronicles the life of a young woman named Jun-hee, portrayed by Vincenzo's Jeon Yeo-been. Following the death of her boyfriend, Jun-hee plunges into deep mourning until she is unexpectedly transported back 25 years to 1998 and finds herself in the body of a high school student.

In her new life, Jun-hee encounters a boy who bears an uncanny resemblance to her late boyfriend, but she quickly realizes that this is not the reunion she had longed for. The situation proves to be more complex than it appears. Now, the woman turned teenager must rewrite her destiny and unravel past and present mysteries.

What’s Bothering Viewers?

The new K-drama is adapted from the Taiwanese TV series Someday or One Day, which shares a similar premise and is widely regarded as a masterpiece. Primarily, it's the fans of the original show who find A Time Called You less appealing.

‘If you watched the Taiwanese version, this one will be bland,’ a viewer explained on Reddit.

Fans were displeased with how the original story was adapted in the new series, particularly the changes made to the character of Nam Si-heon, the 1998 doppelganger of Jun-hee's boyfriend, portrayed by Business Proposal's Ahn Hyo-seop.

Director Kim Jin-won Weighs In

Interestingly, the show's director, Kim Jin-won, is aware of the mixed fan reactions and stands by his decisions. In a recent interview with The Korea Times, he addressed the issue, stating that his primary objective in creating the drama was to remain faithful to the original while 'carving out a new identity.'

That is why altering the main character seemed like a better option than adding something to the story. Everything else fell into place.

‘The changes to the character of Si-heon are one of the elements that changed the overall tone of the series,’ the director said. ‘I believed that creating Si-heon as more adult and mature would help to develop the story more smoothly.’

It appears that the creators of A Time Called You had their unique interpretation of the original story, which they successfully brought to life. And although not all viewers agree, there are still many who enjoyed the new K-drama.

Sources: Reddit, The Korea Times.