Title: My Youth (마이 유스)
Genre: Romance / Melodrama / Slice-of-life
Premiere: September 5, 2025
Network: JTBC
Schedule: Fridays at 20:50 KST (2 episodes per week)
Episodes: 12 (~70 minutes each)
International Streaming: Viki, Viu (selected regions)
Cast & Key Characters
- Song Joong-ki as Sun Woo-hae (former child actor, now florist and novelist)
- Chun Woo-hee as Sung Je-yeon (his first love, now entertainment agency team leader)
- Lee Ju-myoung as Mo Tae-rin (former child star who succeeded into adulthood)
- Seo Ji-hoon as Kim Seok-ju (tax accountant with privileged background)
- Notable supporting characters: Parents, friends, industry people
Plot & Premise
At its core, My Youth is a story about first love, lost time, personal growth, and reconnection.
Sun Woo-hae was a child actor whose early fame came at a cost. Burned out, he stepped away, and now lives a more subdued life as a novelist and florist.
Sung Je-yeon, his first love, has also transformed — now a driven team leader at an entertainment agency, focused on career, ambition, and moving forward.
Their paths cross again after many years, forcing them both to confront: what they left behind, the pain or regrets, the person they used to be versus who they have become.
There are also side plots: Mo Tae-rin’s life as someone who managed to stay in the limelight; Kim Seok-ju’s conflicts; friendships and the weight of expectations.
It’s less about sensational plot twists and more about emotional resonance, character reflections, regrets, hopes, and healing. A slow burn more than high drama.
What’s Working
Strong & Trusted Cast
Song Joong-ki is making a return to more emotionally grounded, romantic roles. His presence already draws attention. Chun Woo-hee is known for doing nuanced, emotional parts, and she brings weight and authenticity to the character of Je-yeon. The supporting cast (Mo Tae-rin, Seok-ju) are getting praise for giving the story more dimensions.
Mood, Aesthetic & Nostalgia
The visual style is warm, comfortable. Flashbacks to youth, high school settings, the contrast between younger idealism versus adult reality work well to evoke nostalgia. The quieter moments (flower shop, writing, artistic expression) help give breathing space. It’s not always about conflict; those gentler, introspective scenes are a strength.
Relatability & Emotional Honesty
The themes of regret, of “roads not taken,” of reconciling with one’s past resonate. Many viewers find that reflective mode comforting rather than exhausting. Secondary relationships (friends, parents, the non-lead romance arcs) add weight and help ground the main storyline.
Pacing (as a virtue, for some viewers)
Because it moves slowly, letting emotions build, letting small moments breathe, it suits those who prefer romantic shows without constant high tension or melodramatic peaks.
What’s Less Strong
Slow Burn That May Feel Too Slow
Because it’s not packed with big twists or melodrama, some feel the plot moves at a languid pace. If you’re expecting high intensity romance, secret betrayals, dramatic cliffhangers every episode, this shade of drama might feel mild. Some viewers are already commenting that certain episodes drag, or that character motivations aren’t always clearly defined early on.
Potential Overuse of Tropes
First love rekindled, regrets, time apart — all familiar tropes in K-dramas. The challenge is in making them feel fresh. Some critics say My Youth leans into the comfort of tropes more than subverting them. There are also hints of other tropes: illness (possible terminal illness hinted at) in the lead male’s storyline. Some viewers feel this is a worn-out cliché because it tends to steer towards tragic conclusions.
Chemistry / Emotional Resonance Varied Among Viewers
Some viewers feel the chemistry between the leads is subtly done but not always “sparkling,” especially if they prefer more overt romantic tension. Others are fine with this, but if you like romance that burns bright, this may feel more like simmer than flame. Also, side characters sometimes steal more of the emotional scenes, which both enriches the show and sometimes makes the main plot feel a bit underpowered by comparison.
Uncertainty / Risk of Emotional Pain
The show is steering into emotional territory (unresolved wounds, possibly illness, regrets). Some viewers worry whether the ending will be more sad than hopeful. The risk is that all the emotional buildup doesn’t result in satisfying closure.
Viewer Reception & Ratings
The show is getting generally positive feedback from fans who like romance-dramas, especially those who prefer them “soft” and reflective. Many praise the visuals, the performances, and the emotional texture.
Some mixed feedback on the pacing and whether certain tropes feel too familiar. Ratings in South Korea have been modest; it’s not a runaway hit (so far), but not underwhelming either. It’s drawing steady interest, especially from longtime K-drama romance lovers.
Themes & What Makes It Interesting
Carrying the Past vs Living the Present: How early fame (for Sun Woo-hae) shaped identity, and what it means to step away; for Je-yeon, what regret and ambition have cost.
What-ifs & Lost Potential: The “roads not taken” motif — what would life have been if choices (or circumstances) had been different.
Art, Fame, Authenticity: Woo-hae’s shift from child star to florist/novelist shows a turning inward; how people find meaning in quieter work, in creating rather than performing.
Healing & Reconnection: Reunions aren’t just romantic; they force confrontation of wounds, misunderstandings, growth. How people heal (or fail to) from past hurts.
Secondary Love & Friendship Dynamics: The interplay among Tae-rin, Seok-ju, and others add contrast — some succeed in the limelight; others struggle; some desire connection. These arcs help the main story feel more textured.
Verdict — Should You Watch It?
Highly Recommended If You Enjoy:
- Romantic dramas that are gentle, quiet, emotionally reflective rather than full of melodrama or high-stakes twists
- Stories about reconnection, nostalgia, memory, love that lingers
- Good acting, thoughtful visuals, and character psychology over spectacle
- Song Joong-ki in a more subdued, emotional role
- Slow-burn romance that prioritizes emotional depth
May Not Be For You If:
- You prefer dramas with fast-paced plot and shocking twists
- You want blockbuster emotional peaks and constant intensity
- You’re tired of “first love reunited” tropes
- Slow pacing frustrates you
- You prefer romance that “burns bright” with obvious chemistry
Provisional Rating
★★★½☆ (3.5-4/5)
The strengths in the cast and emotional tone are strong; the weaknesses (pace, trope risks) pull it back from outstanding, but it’s very solid for what it sets out to do.
Final Thoughts
My Youth is a drama that understands the power of quiet moments. It’s not trying to shock you with plot twists or dazzle you with over-the-top romance. Instead, it invites you to sit with its characters as they navigate the complicated emotions of reuniting with their past.
Song Joong-ki delivers a restrained, thoughtful performance as someone who has chosen a quieter life after the chaos of child stardom. Chun Woo-hee matches him with a nuanced portrayal of ambition mixed with lingering regret. Together, they create something subtle — which is either the show’s greatest strength or its primary limitation, depending on what you’re looking for.
The show’s deliberate pacing and focus on introspection over action make it perfect for viewers who want to unwind with something emotionally resonant but not exhausting. It’s the kind of drama you watch when you want to feel something gentle rather than intense.
If you’ve ever wondered about paths not taken, loves left behind, or who you might have become under different circumstances, My Youth will resonate. Just be prepared for a journey that moves at the pace of memory itself — sometimes slow, sometimes beautiful, and always tinged with bittersweet nostalgia.
