Am assuming you've watched one or both of these by now?
Chiming it with the rest anyway:
i also watched both 1988 and 97, mostly because that's what everyone I saw at the time recommended. I didn't watch 94 based on the same. I liked both 88 and 97 a lot. Apples and oranges though -- cant really be compared. Great acting in both. Great stories.
1988 was just sooo many eps to invest in only to be disappointed with the ending on multiple levels. Even with that, I would still recommend it because up until the ending, the acting is great, the OST, the family and neighborhood dynamics are fabulous and i say this when i actually don't like "slice of life" dramas. LOL The young actors were amazing as were all the older ones. Very complicated intermingled lives. (My spoiler comments about the ending are in the comments under the drama on MDL https://mydramalist.com/13544-reply-1988#comment-1775824 ).
On the other hand, 1997 is not that complicated with respect to so many families and actors. more of a direct romance...love triangle scenario. The angst and passion were excellent. I really liked Seo In Guk in this. I liked this one better that 1988.
This song and MV for 1988 are one of my favorites:
Ranisha Dutta:
