JTBC’s drama A Hundred Memories has stirred up a wave of controversy simply by its casting: actor Heo Nam‑joon (born 1993) plays Han Jae Pil, a 12th‑grade student in 1982, and many viewers are questioning the decision. The complaints center around his appearance, vocal tone, and demeanor, which many say come across as far too mature for a high school student.
In forums and comments, viewers noted that Heo looks more like the teacher or a parent of students rather than one of them some even said his voice sounded like a man in his thirties. Complaints extend beyond just his face: some say the hairstyle and makeup choices for his character feel too modern for a true‑1980s vibe, undermining the nostalgic setting. Meanwhile the drama is set in the 1980s and intended to evoke a strong retro youth feel.
At the drama’s press conference, director Kim Sang‑ho offered a defence: “When you look back, many 20‑year‑olds in that era looked quite mature compared with today’s standards. If you watch the later half of the show, you’ll see why I cast these three actors.” This comment attempts to explain the choice by referencing the era’s stylistic norms.
Heo Nam‑joon himself addressed the criticism: he shared that prior to accepting the role he studied old photo albums of his father and other archival materials, concluding that his appearance didn’t differ radically from teenage boys of the 1980s. He believed viewers would not feel the mismatch. However he admitted: “It turns out more people felt it was awkward than I expected. If I made someone feel it was forced, then all I can say is… sorry.”
Despite the backlash over casting age appropriateness, the drama continues to attract attention for its nostalgic tone and emotional storytelling about first love, friendship and youth. In fact, some segments of Heo Nam‑joon’s performance especially his romantic scenes with the female lead have drawn praise. The show features actresses Kim Da‑mi and Shin Ye‑eun as bus attendants in the 1980s, and tells the story of their bond and shared love interest in Jae Pil.
In the end, while the controversy is loud, it underscores one issue: when a production asks the audience to believe an actor is much younger than they appear, the mismatch in visual cues age, style, voice can create a jarring effect that threatens immersion. Whether the drama will recover from this critique or lean into its strengths remains to be seen.
Sources: K14
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