Ryu Jun-yeol skips Reply 1988 10-year reunion — is Hyeri the reason?

Fans of tvN’s Reply 1988 are gearing up for a special reunion this year — but not everyone from the cast will be there. Ryu Jun-yeol, who played Kim Jung Hwan, has announced he won’t be joining the Gangwon Province trip planned for early October, part of the cast’s annual tradition and a celebration of the show’s 10th anniversary.

Why the absence? Jun-yeol is deep in filming the upcoming Netflix thriller The Rat, where he plays Moon Jae, a novelist turned unlikely avenger alongside Sol Kyung Gu. A production staffer confirmed, “Scheduling conflicts make it impossible for him to attend.”

For those nostalgic about Ssangmun-dong in 1988, this reunion is a big deal. Reply 1988 captured the chaotic, heartwarming lives of five families in Seoul’s Dobong District, and it remains one of the highest-rated shows in the ‘Reply’ series, hitting 18.8% viewership at its peak. Fans still debate the legendary love triangle between Sung Deok Sun (Hyeri), Choi Taek (Park Bo Gum), and Kim Jung Hwan (Ryu Jun Yeol) — and yes, the “second lead” Kim Jung Hwan still sparks fan debates.

Hyeri, who became the 'nation’s daughter' due to her role as Deok Sun, will be attending, making her presence a highlight, especially after her breakup with Jun Yeol last November, making fans wonder if that's why the latter is skipping the reunion.

The rest of the Ssangmun-dong crew — including Go Kyung Pyo, Lee Dong Hwi, Ryu Hye Young, Ahn Jae Hong, and others — are expected to join, keeping the spirit of the beloved neighborhood alive.