"On August 15, 2025, let's meet here."
A promise made 10 years ago one summer at Andong Station is once again touching the hearts of the public across the years. The KBS 2TV documentary program "Documentary 3 Days" featuring Andong Station is receiving renewed attention as it is reevaluated 10 years after its broadcast. Will the connections sparked by Andong Station lead to the revival of the program?
The video of 'Documentary 3 Days,' which recently heated up the online space, was aired in the summer of 2015. At that time, the production team met young people traveling by train to Tomorrow. However, the key lies in a brief conversation with two female university students that was accidentally captured toward the end of the shoot. When the female university students said, "Make sure to film this documentary again, even in 10 years," the director laughed and asked, "Will I still be doing this then?" They promptly promised, "So let's meet here on August 15, 2025."
This scene has recently spread through social media and online communities, with corporate accounts from Albamon, Coupang, and KORAIL Retail joining in on the 'promise of youth.' KBS revived emotions by releasing an edited video of this scene titled "7:48 a.m. on August 15, 2025, the promise of youth at Andong Station."
The cinematographer also added excitement on social media by stating, "After the train departed, nine summers have passed, and the tenth day is coming." However, the old Andong Station, which was the original meeting place, was transferred to Songhyeon-dong in 2020 and is now operated as the complex cultural arts space "MODI684." Recently, concerns regarding the possibility of demolition have further heightened interest in the exact meeting place.
As a result of this episode, there is a growing voice desiring the revival of "Documentary 3 Days," which was discontinued in March 2022. "Documentary 3 Days," which first aired in 2007, was terminated after 15 years as constraints due to COVID-19 increased, affecting the essential filming and production environment. Low viewership ratings were also unavoidable.
At that time, Jo Jeong-hun, KBS Production Division 1, Current Affairs and Cultural Programs 2, 1st Chief Producer, noted, "'Documentary 3 Days' was a program like a school of documentary for the production team, allowing them to deepen their understanding of people, places, and times. The expressions and words of the citizens we met over 15 years remain in the hearts of the producers." He provided a response to the petition against the discontinuation.
He expressed gratitude, saying, "Though it was a fleeting encounter, we have often shared the life journeys of the protagonists in ongoing communication following the broadcast, including their employment, marriage, and migration. Sometimes, we experienced heart-wrenching farewells and had to share that sorrow with families. I am thankful to all the protagonists who stood before the camera of 'Documentary 3 Days.'"
Amid this, the video from 10 years ago at Andong Station is being reevaluated, continuing the voices hoping for the revival of 'Documentary 3 Days.' Related videos and articles have formed public opinion stating, "It's a shame that such content has disappeared," and "We must not stop recording the era and the people," with comments expressing hope for the program's resumption.
A single phrase forged from a coincidental connection 10 years ago. Whether it will lead to a real meeting, or if it can once again become the first scene of a new documentary, attention is focused on Andong as summer comes to a close.
[Photo] Documentary 3 Days
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