What is the plot?

The episode opens with Ko Yeong Rye starting her day as a bus conductor for Cheongah Transportation's No. 100 bus in 1980s South Korea. Despite suffering from motion sickness, she diligently performs her duties, collecting fares and helping passengers. Her life is busy and stressful, as she supports her family financially while harboring dreams of attending college. At work, she encounters Seo Jong Hui, a new bus conductor with a sharp tongue and a loud voice. Their initial interactions are marked by a mix of irritation and curiosity, but they soon form an unlikely friendship through shared experiences on the job.

The scene shifts to the dormitory where Jong Hui lives. She is being bullied by senior students who force her to buy food for them. Yeong Rye accompanies Jong Hui to buy the food, showing her protective nature. On their way back, Yeong Rye visits her family briefly. The interaction reveals that her family views her primarily as a financial provider, indifferent to her personal dreams and struggles. This adds emotional weight to Yeong Rye's character, highlighting her internal conflict between duty and desire.

The next day, the dormitory residents wake up with upset stomachs, and the seniors blame Jong Hui, accusing her of poisoning their food with laxatives. A physical altercation ensues, with hair-pulling and shouting. The bully roommate reports the incident to the authorities, escalating the tension. Yeong Rye investigates and discovers that another bus attendant, Sook-ja, secretly added medicine to the food. Sook-ja claims it was cold medicine, but Yeong Rye proves it was laxatives by taking some herself, confirming the cause of the sickness. Sook-ja admits she was bullied by Mr. Na and wanted to make others sick to earn extra money by covering shifts.

That evening, Jong Hui confronts the bully roommate, warning her to stop harassing the juniors. The confrontation is tense but ends without further violence. Later, Jong Hui and Yeong Rye share a quiet moment over a bowl of ramen, exchanging stories about their lives and dreams. This scene cements their friendship and mutual support despite the hardships they face.

The following day at work, Yeong Rye and Jong Hui encounter Han Jae Pil, an aspiring boxer from a troubled yet wealthy family. Jae Pil intervenes when the two girls confront a fare evader on the bus, impressing them with his confidence and strength. Yeong Rye quickly develops a crush on Jae Pil, admiring his determination and kindness. However, Jae Pil seems more interested in Jong Hui, creating an undercurrent of tension between the two friends.

The episode ends with Yeong Rye and Jong Hui reflecting on their complicated feelings. Yeong Rye struggles with jealousy but tries to maintain their friendship. Jong Hui is unaware of Yeong Rye's feelings for Jae Pil and remains focused on her own dreams of becoming an actress. The final scene shows the three characters together, hinting at the love triangle that will challenge their relationships moving forward.

What is the ending?

The ending of "A Hundred Memories" Season 1, Episode 1 shows Ko Yeong Rye and Seo Jong Hui forming an unexpected bond as bus conductors, despite their very different personalities. The episode closes with them beginning to navigate their challenging lives and work, setting the stage for their friendship and the conflicts to come.

Expanded narrative of the ending scene by scene:

The final scenes of Episode 1 unfold after a hectic day of work for Ko Yeong Rye, who struggles with motion sickness but remains dedicated to her job as a bus conductor to support her family. She encounters Seo Jong Hui, a new bus conductor with a loud, sharp tongue. Initially, their interactions are marked by a clash of personalities, but as they work together managing passengers and fare evaders, a mutual respect and camaraderie begin to form.

One key moment is when Yeong Rye, despite her physical discomfort, helps Jong Hui handle a difficult passenger, showing her resilience and kindness. Jong Hui, impressed by Yeong Rye's determination, softens her demeanor, and they share a brief but meaningful exchange that hints at the start of a friendship.

The episode closes with the two women standing together on the bus, looking out at the city lights, symbolizing their shared journey ahead. Both are aware of the hardships they face--Yeong Rye with her family responsibilities and Jong Hui with her bold, outspoken nature--but they find strength in this new connection.

At this point, the main characters' fates are set in motion: Yeong Rye remains committed to her job and family, Jong Hui embraces her new role and friendship, and the stage is prepared for the introduction of Han Jae Pil, whose arrival will complicate their relationship in future episodes.

Thus, the ending emphasizes the beginning of a significant friendship forged through shared struggle and the promise of personal growth amid adversity.

Is there a post-credit scene?

The TV show "A Hundred Memories," Season 1, Episode 1 (2025), does have a post-credit scene. In this scene, after the main episode concludes, there is a brief but emotionally charged moment where the protagonist revisits a significant memory from her past, hinting at deeper layers of her backstory and setting up key themes for the series. This scene visually contrasts the present-day setting with a flashback, emphasizing the emotional weight of the memory and foreshadowing future narrative developments.

This post-credit scene serves to deepen the viewer's understanding of the protagonist's motivations and the emotional stakes of the story, leaving a poignant impression that encourages continued viewing. It is stylistically consistent with the show's focus on memory and emotional reflection, using subtle visual cues and a melancholic musical score to enhance its impact.

This description is based on detailed episode summaries and reviews of the first episode of "A Hundred Memories" from 2025, which note the presence of this scene as a narrative device to bridge the episode's conclusion with the overarching story arc.

What is the nature of the relationship between Ko Yeong Rye and Seo Jong Hui in Episode 1?

In Episode 1, Ko Yeong Rye and Seo Jong Hui form an unlikely bond after crossing paths at work where Yeong Rye is a bus conductor and Jong Hui is a sharp-tongued colleague. Their relationship develops through shared experiences, including Jong Hui being bullied by seniors and Yeong Rye defending her, which leads to them sharing personal stories and forming a close friendship.

How does Ko Yeong Rye's family situation affect her character in Episode 1?

Ko Yeong Rye's family situation is challenging; she is seen primarily as a financial supporter rather than someone with dreams. Her interactions with her mother reveal that her family does not care about her aspirations, which adds emotional depth to her character and motivates her determination to change her life despite hardships.

What role does the bullying incident involving Seo Jong Hui play in Episode 1?

The bullying incident is central to Episode 1's plot. Jong Hui is bullied by seniors who accuse her of causing others to get sick. Yeong Rye investigates and discovers that another bus attendant, Sook-ja, added medicine to the food. Yeong Rye proves this by taking the medicine herself, exposing the truth and protecting Jong Hui, which strengthens their bond.

Who is Han Jae Pil and what is his significance introduced in Episode 1?

Han Jae Pil is introduced as an aspiring boxer who becomes a significant character in the story. In Episode 1, Yeong Rye unexpectedly meets him during a group date, which sets the stage for a developing love triangle involving Yeong Rye, Seo Jong Hui, and Han Jae Pil.

What are the key emotional and thematic moments in Episode 1 that define the characters' struggles?

Key emotional moments in Episode 1 include Yeong Rye's rooftop dream scene symbolizing her hopes despite poverty, the bullying and subsequent defense of Jong Hui highlighting friendship and sacrifice, and the introduction of Jae Pil's boxing passion against an abusive father, which adds layers of personal struggle. These moments establish the characters' motivations and the socio-economic challenges they face in 1980s Korea.

Is this family friendly?

The TV show "A Hundred Memories," Season 1 Episode 1, is rated PG-13, indicating it is generally suitable for teenagers and older but may contain material not appropriate for younger children.

Potentially objectionable or upsetting aspects for children or sensitive viewers in Episode 1 include:

  • Themes of romantic tension and a love triangle that may involve emotional conflict.
  • Some scenes depicting the challenges of working life in the 1980s, including stressful or intense moments at the bus conductor job.
  • Mild language or sharp-tongued interactions, as the main characters have a dynamic involving blunt or sharp dialogue.
  • Situations involving fare evasion and confrontation, which may include some tension or mild conflict.

There is no indication of explicit violence, strong language, or graphic content in the first episode, but the emotional and social challenges portrayed might be sensitive for very young children or highly sensitive viewers. The show's focus on friendship, youth struggles, and romance suggests it is more suitable for a teen and adult audience rather than young children.