The 2000 film “Ditto” is imprinted in the minds of local viewers as a classic fantasy romance story.

It also served as a stepping stone to the rise of stardom for two rookie actors at the time, Yoo Ji-tae and Kim Ha-neul.

The 2000 film is now set to arrive in theaters as a remake, revolving around a college junior living in the year 1999 named Kim Yong, portrayed by Yeo Jin-goo, and a sophomore living in the year 2022 named Mo-nee, portrayed by Cho Yi-hyun. The two, through a series of coincidences, happen to get their hands on an old ham radio. During the total lunar eclipse of 1999 and 2022, the pair is magically able to communicate with one another across time through the radio.

One major difference between the original and the remake is that the time periods for the male and female roles were reversed: In the 2000 film, the woman was living in 1979 and the man in 2000.

“That's one of the critical reasons why I decided to direct this remake when the offer was made,” director Seo Eun-young said at a local press event at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Yongsan District, central Seoul, on Monday. “I thought a male character [would just as well] bring out the nostalgia of his first love.”

Kim Hye-yoon portrays Kim Yong’s crush Han-seol in the year 1999, and Na In-woo as Young-ji, Mo-nee’s longtime friend and her crush. Bae In-hyuk portrays Kim Yong’s best friend Eun-seung.

“If the original film focused more around hopeless romance, the remake is also about each characters’ growth, their dreams and friendship,” Seo said. “I tried to input more factors [besides just love] that the contemporary audience could relate to.”

“Ditto” arrives in local theaters on Nov. 16.

BY LEE JAE-LIM [lee.jaelim@joongang.co.kr]