If you’ve ever fallen down a rabbit hole of 90s K-pop—we’re talking baggy overalls, questionable bowl cuts, and synchronized choreography that looks like a high-speed workout—then you already know the vibe. Hit the Top (also known as The Best Hit) is basically a love letter to that chaotic era, wrapped in a time-traveling, "who’s your daddy" mystery. Honestly, when it first aired in 2017, the premise sounded like a fever dream. A 1993 idol accidentally slides down a flight of stairs during a typhoon and ends up in 2017? It’s wild.
But here’s the thing: it works. It really, really works.
The Chaos of Yoo Hyun-jae
Yoon Shi-yoon plays Yoo Hyun-jae, the leader of the fictional 90s duo J2. He’s arrogant, he’s talented, and he’s incredibly confused by smartphones. Imagine being the biggest star in the country and then suddenly waking up in a world where your face is only remembered on dusty "Greatest Hits" CDs in a bargain bin.
Yoon Shi-yoon brings this manic, golden-retriever-on-espresso energy to the role. He isn't just a fish out of water; he’s a fish who thinks he’s the king of the ocean and is deeply offended by the lack of land-line phones. The show does something clever here. It doesn't just use time travel for gags (though the scene where he gets addicted to a smartphone is peak comedy). It uses the time jump to look at what happens when "the present" leaves you behind.
A Directorial Gamble
This drama was a bit of a weird experiment for KBS. It was billed as a "variety-drama," a hybrid format that tried to capture the chaotic energy of shows like 2 Days & 1 Night. In fact, the director was Yoo Ho-jin, a famous variety PD. But the real kicker? Cha Tae-hyun co-directed it under the pseudonym Ra Jun-mo (his character’s name from The Producers).
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You can feel that variety show DNA in the pacing. Sometimes the plot meanders like a distracted toddler, but the character chemistry is so tight you don't really mind.
That Awkward Love Triangle
Okay, we need to talk about the elephant in the room. The romance.
Hyun-jae (the 90s dad) ends up living in a rooftop apartment with Lee Ji-hoon (Kim Min-jae), who happens to be his biological son from the future. They are roughly the same age in 2017. Then enter Choi Woo-seung (Lee Se-young), the hardworking student they both start to like.
Is it weird? Yes.
Is it "I need to look away from the screen" uncomfortable? Kinda.
Most K-dramas play the love triangle straight, but Hit the Top leans into the absurdity. Watching a father and son compete for the same girl while the father doesn't realize he's the dad and the son doesn't realize his "new friend" is his long-lost pop-star father is... a lot. Kim Min-jae plays the "serious son" perfectly against Yoon’s "chaotic father," and their bromance—or "pop-mance"—is actually the heartbeat of the show.
The Reality of the Idol Life
While the time travel is the hook, the show gets surprisingly real about the idol industry. Ji-hoon is a trainee at a big agency, but he’s struggling. He’s been a trainee for years, hiding his dream from his adoptive father (played by Cha Tae-hyun), and the show doesn't sugarcoat how brutal the "trainee life" is.
- The endless evaluations.
- The fear of being replaced by someone younger.
- The realization that talent isn't always enough.
There's a scene where Ji-hoon raps during an evaluation that genuinely hits hard. It shows the grit behind the glitter. It’s a sharp contrast to Hyun-jae’s 90s experience, where he was essentially a self-made god who did his own choreography and songwriting. In 2017, the industry is a factory.
Why We Still Care in 2026
You’d think a show from 2017 would feel dated by now, especially one about "the future." But Hit the Top stays relevant because it’s actually a story about family and second chances. It asks: If you could see the legacy you left behind, would you be proud of it?
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Hyun-jae discovers that in 1994, he disappeared and was presumed dead. He sees the wreckage he left—a girlfriend who never quite moved on, a manager who went broke trying to protect his name, and a son he never knew. The "mystery" part of the plot involves him investigating his own "death," and while the time-travel logic is a bit "don't think too hard about it," the emotional payoff is huge.
Practical Takeaways for Your Next Rewatch
If you’re planning to dive into Hit the Top for the first time or the fifth, here’s how to get the most out of it:
- Ignore the "Episodes" numbering: Depending on where you stream it, the episodes might be split into 35-minute chunks (32 episodes) or 70-minute blocks (16 episodes). It’s the same content, just different packaging.
- Look for the Cameos: Because of Cha Tae-hyun and PD Yoo Ho-jin’s connections, the cameos are legendary. Keep an eye out for the 2 Days & 1 Night cast and even members of Monsta X.
- The Soundtrack is Key: The song "Dream" by Kim Min-jae (feat. Younha) is a genuine bop. It perfectly captures that "chasing a dream" feeling that defines the show.
- Accept the "Two Hyun-jaes" Theory: Without spoiling the ending too much, the show handles the "return to the past" dilemma by suggesting a split timeline. Don't try to map it out with a whiteboard. Just feel the vibes.
Basically, if you want a show that makes you laugh at 90s fashion and then makes you cry about father-son dynamics five minutes later, this is the one. It’s messy, it’s loud, and it has a heart of gold.
Next Steps for You
Check out the original soundtrack on your preferred streaming platform—specifically the track "Say It" by J2. It’s a perfect recreation of early 90s New Jack Swing. After that, look up the "behind the scenes" clips of Yoon Shi-yoon practicing the dance moves; his dedication to looking like a 1993 idol is honestly impressive.