Actress Lee Jung-eun has confirmed a special role in JTBC's upcoming weekend drama Hundred Memories, where she will portray the mother of lead character Young-rye, played by Kim Da-mi.

A Mother's Struggle in the 1980s

New still cuts released on August 18 show Lee Jung-eun as a weary mother pulling a cart, embodying the hardships of the 1980s. Her character loses her husband shortly after giving birth to her youngest child and raises four children alone. She believes her eldest son will lift the family's fortunes but, in reality, leans heavily on her daughter Young-rye.

Young-rye, unable to wear a school uniform, works in one instead. Though her mother carries deep affection and guilt toward her, she struggles to express it openly.

Adding Depth Beyond a Cameo

The production team emphasized that Lee Jung-eun's role is more than a simple cameo. "She anchors a key emotional line in the story, delivering powerful resonance through her mother-daughter chemistry with Kim Da-mi," they stated. They also praised her ability to bring the life of a 1980s mother vividly to screen with delicate yet strong acting.

A Retro Youth Melodrama

Hundred Memories is described as a retro youth melodrama, depicting the friendship between Young-rye, a bus conductress, and Jong-hee (Shin Ye-eun), as well as the bittersweet first love triangle involving Jae-pil (Heo Nam-jun).

The drama is penned by Yang Hee-seung, known for Crash Course in Romance, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, and Oh My Ghost, with direction by Kim Sang-ho of Thirty-Nine.

Hundred Memories premieres on September 13 at 10:40 p.m. KST on JTBC.