Youth of May

breathtaking and emotional

I think it's pretty clear from the start how there's going to be a tragic ending...Nevertheless the entire series was a piece of art. The shooting style as well as the overall tone the drama gave was so on point. I regret not educating myself more about the Gwangju Uprising and its history before watching this because then things would have made a lot more sense.

The cast was impeccable...expected nothing less from the main leads Dohyun and Minsi (came from Sweet Home aha) as well as the second female lead (she did so well in Class of Lies). This drama felt similar to "When the Weather is Fine" where it was so relaxing and satisfying--until chaos strikes and nothing goes right. This melodrama was great depiction of reality merged with fiction. The harsh reality of what was politically going on especially amongst those who were hierarchically involved.

The joy and sorrow were expressed so well from the characters. I shed a few tears especially towards the ending episodes because the storyline was so moving. The OST played a big part in the success of the film. If you are someone who likes a nice drama with a peaceful and realistic vibe, definitely watch Youth of May.

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My love for this drama runs deep.

I loved this drama. You know those scenes in a drama that make you feel like you're intruding on a private moment? That's how I felt watching this. I haven't rooted for any other couple in dramaland more than the leads in Youth of May. Lee Do Hyun is phenomenal, and paired with Go Min Si, they become a powerhouse duo. The story was believable, and I was thoroughly invested the entire time. I would 100% wish the ending was different, but I can't be angry at this masterpiece. If you're looking for a drama with an '80s feel, a devoted hero, and a no-nonsense heroine who completely falls in love, this is your drama. But brace yourself for a wave of emotions.

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devastatingly beautiful

Youth of May is in many ways a traditional kdrama romance. It uses several common tropes of the industry and the romance genre. The first episodes, while sweet and silly, could be part of many other romances we've seen. The script and the acting are really strong, adding unique charm and flavour to each of these characters.

But this traditional aspect of the drama only makes what we know will come more immensely devastating. From the beginning, we know tragedy will strike, and if you're even remotely familiar with the history of the Gwangju Uprising, you know the extension of that tragedy. All of our characters, even with their unique stories and quirks, are common everyday people. Our protagonists fall in love, face drama and hardship, the prejudices of other people, and have to make tough choices as they grow up into adults. But in the middle of all of that, the uprising happens and the military is sent to Gwangju.

The series does an incredible job of showing the surprise and the betrayal the Gwangju felt at the time and provides no excuses for the brutality of the regime. And in relation to our protagonists, how historical events like this cut the life of people in two. As someone coming from a country with a recent history of state violence, what stayed with me the most was this. How our leads are just everyday young people, with a sweet romance, a bunch of things happening in their lives and the possibility of a future ahead. Suddenly history happens and nothing it's the same again.

My favourite thing about this series is how it makes multiple nods to how the story of our leads is tied to the story of so many people whose stories we don't know. How it's a romance but it's also an exercise in memory.

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A perfect cast i must say

LEE DO HYUN NEVER DISSAPOINTS ME . when i heard he is on this new drama cast , i was excited for this . waited for this also , i must say this was worth of wait . All the characters PLAYED THEIR ROLE SOO WELL. i dont know much about this gwangju uprising story but definitely i loved . they potrayed 80's days so perfectly . never got bored at all. GO MIN SI slayed her role . i loved her at sweet home as well as at this series .

i literally hated hee tae s fathers role . i dont what was he after but he ruined many lives .

you wouldnt regret watching this .

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Beautiful and bittersweet!

I decided to watch this after I found out that Go Min Si and Lee Do Hyun (who played as siblings in Sweet home,) were going to be the main leads as romantic love interests! I was pretty excited because I have always shipped them after watching Sweet Home and wanted to see them finally playing as a couple.

I don't know how to describe the type of drama this is but it did revolve quite a bit around a lot of protests, democracy, and corrupt governmental stuff that I did not understand and wasn't really my cup of tea. However, the plot itself and the chemistry between Do Hyun and Min Si made the story a lot more interesting and intriguing to watch.

The chemistry between Hee Tae (Do hyun) and Myung Hee (min si) was just spot on. It felt like they were star-crossed lovers of the typical rich man who falls for poor girl type and rich man gets forced into an arranged marriage with someone else. Personally, I felt the romance in this drama is not just the typical rich man/poor woman love story, it had some small twist in it where Myung Hee's best friend, Soo Ryun, get forced into an arranged marriage with the man Myung Hee loved. Hee Tae and Soo Ryun don't like each other but they couldn't get out of it. I feel like you don't see a lot of these type of scenarios in kdramas. I always see arranged marriages happen with just a random girl popping up midway through the drama or something like that, but never a best friend.

I love Hee Tae because of how straightforward and persistent he was in winning Myung Hee over. Myung Hee of course was trying to be distant because of the circumstances but Hee Tae really didn't care and was willing to just drop everything to be with her. I was really hoping they'd be end game and stay together after the whole war or protest thingy going on ends. Unfortunately, Myung Hee died trying to save her brother and went missing for years, which I feel is so messed up. Like why must you directors end her life in this way LOLOL. I mean I don't mind sad/bittersweet endings but I just don't think Myung Hee' being killed off was necessary. Like her dad just gave her his whole bank account for her to use, live on, and take care of her brother but that same day ends up dying too like wtf. LOLOL.

Anyway, despite the ending, the story in general and chemistry between the two made this drama worth watching and I'm still satisfied. I really hope to see another miracle happen where they end up in a drama again together and maybe this time with both being alive and have a happy ending LOL.

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Not worthy in all means

After watching complete drama I got one confusion that what the director wants to tell or show. It’s neither shown the Korean history nor the love story properly. The most satisfying thing is that it has only 12 episodes otherwise it would have wasted some more of my precious time. Throughout the drama the ML or FL or some other characters keep on making wrong decisions and keep on suffering for that. If you see those wrong decisions you will get confused either they are brainless or the one who is watching that.
My review might be different than maximum of others who wrote here but this is my true feeling after watching this drama.
This is the main problem with Korean dramas, they try to impose feeling in a very brutal way,(spoiler alert) I don’t know exactly why they did a bad ending for this drama even after they(ML FL) struggled so much for being together. Frankly speaking I thought in the same way that the FL doesn’t deserve the ML because of annoying annoying decisions, she never listened or prioritise the ML first, most of the times she made bad decisions and hurt the ML. Really I pity on ML, he always respects her decision and love her deeply but in the end he got nothing.

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When fantasy meets reality ((your blood will boil, and your heart will flutter too))

As (I had seen it for a true story like this) but in a different way, to be honest, I felt that they wouldn't stand a chance from the start even though they knew each other for a short time, their love lasted over many years.
This is a drama set in the '80s, during the turbulent student demonstrations, there is a nurse and a doctor there. Although there are some medical things, it is not a medical drama. It's like a romantic meeting on a blind date where the girl pretends to be her friend, and her only goal is to make sure that the man won't love her and won't want to meet her again, but events change................
*** characters****
Hwang Hee Tae: I think it's safe to say that he was madly in love with Myung Hee, he's funny but sad - he's perfect with all his flaws!
Myung Hee: I love her. She does her best to live honestly and her selflessness is very attractive. She is the kindest person who will risk himself to help a stranger. Although she lives a difficult life, she will never show her sadness in front of the people who take care of her, she is a very strong woman, which is why I respect her.
- Hwang Ji Nam (Hee Tae's father): annoying, hateful, cunning, ruthless, traitor, and if I could - I'd kill him myself
It represents blind evil, greed and hypocrisy, controlling his eldest son like a puppet, or leading him like a dog while ignoring the younger.
***** some quotes:
"In the face of the storm, the only thing we could do was hold each other's hands so we wouldn't lose each other."
"Give us the strength and the courage to swim safely throughout this life"
************************************************** ******************************************
This drama shares lessons about family and love. The circumstances that revolve around our family can really influence our choices in life but in the end, we still have the right to make the decision ourselves. Loving someone can be difficult and can change our lives forever but if the other person is worth the risk, why not?!!.
I concluded by saying:
"Death" does not always refer to the body, but to dreams that are not lived, and hopes that are shattered. Which makes you wonder what it means to live? Are the person who gave up their dreams somehow alive or are they dying with each passing day?

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Deeply moving

The acting from every cast member is top notch especially the leads in the first half of the series. The leads are so natural in their acting that it almost feels like a real couple in courtship. The thriftiness of some of the characters was poignant too. The story is tight , and by dramaland's standards, convincing. The Gwangju uprising is quite shocking, seeing how the military abuse the public is infuriating. But am quite sorely disappointed with the ending for the couple. I can understand that their relationship is a reflection of the pain of lives lost and military brutality during the Gwangju uprising. But couldn't the drama end on a brighter note? Rather than painting a pitch dark night, can't there be some twinkling stars to give the audience some emotional crutches to hold on to after they journeyed through the horror of the uprising, and insanity of the leads' growing up years? Nevertheless, its one of the best dramas in 2021 - made my 'heart flutter' and the leads’ chemistry is to die for!

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Romance and Responsibility

Three years out from the first airing of this drama in 2021, the sitting president in 2024 announced martial law and was swiftly countered by immediate fierce protests of citizens who assisted elected officials who did everything they could including climbing over the fences and barricaded themselves against the military to get their votes in to lift the martial. It was a bipartisan unanimous vote. The martial law from 1980 is still very much fresh in the historical memory of the country and remains remembered through holidays and dramatized depictions like this drama. The atrocities portrayed is a mere fraction of what occurred but is still sickening and sad. The stories are led by Myung Hee, a nurse of three years, and Hee Tae who is a top student in the final year of medical school. It took me a while to get to this drama because of the actor's strong performances as siblings in another show, but they show off their acting prowess depicting a different chemistry as different characters here.

Myung Hee has the tenacity to work towards her dreams, but she's always beaten back by the hostile political atmosphere of the country. She's has the dichotomy where she's extremely capable at her job and can take care of herself around guys being a creep, but she lets herself be taken advantaged of by her co-workers to do the tasks they don't want and to give in to her friend rather than follow her own feelings due the event of her getting all the blame for political posters and getting kicked out of high school and her father who is later revealed to have been branded a communist after being forced to confess as one under torture by Hee Tae's villain father, telling her to accept it. She also has the dumbest little brother. He's 12 but has zero awareness or thinking skills beyond his own wants and needs. He doesn't care that she has her own dreams and wants to put her already many years deferred dream of going to school in Germany, partially because she sent back a lot of her hard earned money for his living expenses to watch his race. He doesn't care that there's no out running soldiers with guns, except for a family member to sacrifice their life by blocking the bullets with their body. He knows that's how his father died, but still goes off by himself causing his family to go after him. Myung Hee deserved better. I do enjoy how her older sibling kindness fared better with Hee Tae's half brother Jung Tae who saved her life by foiling the assassin from murdering her. She also gave perspective to Hee Tae regarding his brother that led to the brother's finally connection with some true familial love in that abusive household.

It was moving when a tied up and beaten Hee Tae accepts that his step mom isn't able to help him and pleads for her to get away with Jung Tae instead, which leads to her bravely setting him free and facing down her abusive husband for divorce. The actor who plays him is really good, he brings a realistic, chilling gravitas that is more found in Korean films than television show and the scenes where he acts against Lee Do Hyun as his son are excellent. It was so sad when Hee Tae revealed that the only reason he joined his father's step family was to not be alone. Myung Hee was going to be his family, but she was murdered. She did reconcile his relationship with his brother who he looked to have kept in touch with his whole life. I really enjoyed the scenes where they both worked together as medical professionals to help patients as more and more victims of the atrocities poured into the hospital. It unfortunately meant that they missed their window to get out of the city again and again until it was too late. Hee Tae really has a head and body of steel, he received head trauma by taking a blow to the head for her, then probably more head and body trauma from a hit and run, then more injuries being tied up and banging himself against the furniture and the floor to get help, and he just shows back up at the hospital up and running just fine.

The drama also showed the conscripted soldiers point of view, where they were forced towards violence regardless of their personal views and could only do so much to counter it. This reflects real life where the conscripted soldiers in the real life 2024 martial law event also seemed a bit confused as to what they were supposed to do. Hee Tae and all the other main players got to live out their life to modern day while Myung Hee's body was finally unearthed decades later. She deserved to live and find happiness the most. There's also the plot of the rich best friend who let Myung Hee go down alone during high school, totally compromising her ideals to force Hee Tae to marry her for her family's financial stability fulling using Myung Hee who she knows loves him and vice versa to convince him, and a cop dies for her, a cohort of hers is in love with her, and her family learns what it means to really contribute to helping the city by using all of their stores after her brother gets kidnapped and tortured just like the regular plebs. The wealthy and the privileged get to survive just fine in the story while Myung Hee and her dad who both suffered a lot in both poverty and politically and were the bread winners of their family of five die horribly. It's weird messaging.

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I am not the orphan you are!

Ahhh, it was a slow burn. I got so much emotional so quickly.

The historical factor was way too good. It showed so much raw emotions of youth. Alot of times I keep saying that that youth was straight up idiot. But now that I look back i realized that this very situation is true. We always says that we should protect ourselves no matter what but when we actually gets to that situation we don't think about ourselves but we actually think about our loved ones.

I belongs from Pakistan and I remember, I was in a situation when i was just a kid myself someone tried to do a terrorist attack on my school. At that time i forget who was i and i just run to save my brother too even though there was a (potential) bomb in the building i run to save my brother. Now that i look back there were so many people there to save my brother but I still couldn't stop myself.

I like how hee tae mother was afraid that he would hate him since she was not his mother. I also liked the way that how his father was too brutal but it hurt him so much when his own son got shot or dragged into investigation.

Every single time a country gets into some situations it becomes so horrifying for everyone to just do the unthinkable like the police man doesn't wanted the civilians to die but end up dying himself. There were people in military who never wanted to kill but was ordered.

Hee tae character was so well written, it was so close to real life, he was a person who was realistic i liked how he down play everything that come his way. It was a good story overall.
Soo Royeon was such a brave and good lady. Her family was the definition of good family.

It didn't show emotions of just 1 person but showed emotions of a whole nation that went through that may. The youth of may was irrational but wasn't heartless.

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I can say Masterpiece

So glad that I watched it , I even sighned to my acc just to write a review on it ,,, tbh so thankful for how many years they made me cry , so glad I watched it not disappointed at all , I won't lie that I was wondering if it worth it at some point , I was thinking it became cold , wondering about the fation and the period they intruducing the acting and many thoughts , but no , thorgh all the ups and downs as you finish watching you'll know that the time you spent wasn't wasted ...
So glad I choose this drama to watch so satisfied so grateful for all the actors the production and all
Tbh other thing at middle of it , I wondered about the ost and listened to it on yt the calm one by Kim bum Soo and when I read the name of the singer I knew this drama will turn to end & I'm about to watch something big and my supesion wasn't wrong , :)
I'm not the kind who likes spoilers or spoil a thing so if you read this review I don't think you'll get spoiler lol although I put a spoiler alert ~ anyway I wrote this to inform u that this work deserve watching
And to express how I feel now so when comeback I'll remember this ~
I love the feelings it gave me and how much I cried really ...
And the actor sooooooo handsome I fell in love🥺🥺
And yeah ,, thank u for reading this , & again u have to watch it . :) ~

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Watch this if you're okay with tears and blues aftermath

The drama should win an Oscar for real! I just wanna kiss the writer-nim and the actors for this drama !

First of all, let's talk about the acting! The hero and heroine's acting deserve a standing ovation! Besides, this is the first drama of gominsi (heroine) as main lead. The melodrama prince and princess should be titled for both main lead. Their tears just makes me crying on my bed for days. And the antagonist, i just wanna choke him to death for real. Thanks covid for the fact I can't fly to south korea right now.

Next, the plot! The romance is revolving by a real historical situation where the riot and the evilness of the government are portrayed perfectly. The messages of the drama is strongly shown. The trauma, the tears, the lost of loved one and the life that goes on afterwards. The fact that lots of hwang hee tae out there, living their lives while barely stand on their feet. Kudos to writer!!

I'm crying again while writing this review. Feels like reminiscing the painful memories.

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