In this quiet, introspective, and painfully slow slice-of-life melodrama, Song Joong-Ki (as Sunwoo Hae) offers a charismatic, raw, and authentic performance that brings to life a deeply wounded character who has endured immense hardship. With subtle maturity in his acting, he balances the weighty themes of regret, second chances, and healing. Aided by the magnificent Chun Woo-Hee (as Sung Je-Yeon), whose pragmatic, driven, and realistic acting provides the necessary counterbalance to Song Joong-Ki’s measured pace, their chemistry on screen is undeniable—and that alone is one good reason to watch this K-drama.
A Quiet Reunion of Two Wounded Souls
Once a popular child actor, Sunwoo Hae (Song Joong-Ki) now leads a quiet life as a florist and novelist. His tranquil world shatters when Sung Je-Yeon (Chun Woo-Hee) suddenly reappears ten years after they last saw each other. She is now a fiercely driven team leader at an entertainment company. The chance meeting reignites their first love from a time when both desperately needed each other’s support to survive their darkest hours. Since then, they chose opposing paths: he found solace among blooming flowers, while she threw herself into cutthroat competition, determined to reclaim the power her family once possessed before it crumbled into ruin. The encounter forces them to confront their past—not with the innocent eyes of youth, but as adults who must finally reckon with feelings that never truly disappeared.
A “Metronomic” Pace That Both Heals and Hinders
“My Youth” is not a high-paced action thriller designed to keep you on the edge of your seat. Instead, its calm, “metronomic” pace forces you to breathe deeply and feel the warmth radiating from the stellar performances. This gentle emotional ride, however, is a double-edged sword that only works if you, the viewer, are willing to let the pace control your experience. If you can, you’ll discover a sincere story about first love and deep regret. If you cannot, you’ll be left frustrated, as this slowness only highlights the story’s often disjointed narrative and overused plot.
This problem worsens due to a strange conflict between the show’s mood and its plot. While the cinematography is a standout success, consistently conveying a calm, nostalgic vibe with warm color palettes, the plot itself doesn’t provide the necessary substance to support this atmosphere. Assets central to the melodrama genre, like a life-threatening illness that could have played a crucial role, feel strangely underused and overshadowed. The drama introduces a massive source of potential conflict and emotion but then seems to forget about it, failing to leverage it for any real dramatic stakes. This leaves the beautiful, healing aura feeling hollow, as the narrative refuses to commit to the very genre it claims to inhabit.
The Subplot That Stole the Show (And Deserved More)
One of the best assets of “My Youth” is not the stellar cinematography but a subplot that will steal your heart. The romance between Kim Seok-ju (Seo Ji Hoon) and Mo Tae-rin (Lee Joo-Myung) is the exact opposite of the leads’ masterfully melancholic love, offering much-needed uncomplicated and lighter vibes to the narrative with comic elements that break the tension. Their screen time, however, was far too limited to let them fully complete their character arcs, and thus their romance feels incomplete—which was admittedly disappointing. The much-needed pressure valve against the main couple’s slow-burn angst was left underdeveloped.
My Youth Review Verdict: A Beautiful, Flawed Drama for a Patient Audience
In a nutshell, this short 12 episodes drama is not for everyone. While the drama is visually stunning and the cinematography aids the healing element with great, authentic, and strong performances from the lead actors that shine through their genuine chemistry, its pace is very slow.
Who is this drama for?
If you’re a dedicated fan of either lead, this is your first pick. Or if you’re searching for a slow-burn, quiet, melancholic romance with healing properties and emotional depth, this can become one of your favorite dramas, despite its flaws.
Who might want to skip this?
If you prefer dramas that move quickly with high-stakes action and something happening in every scene, you’ll probably get bored and lose the enthusiasm the first episodes might give you. Watch Genie Make a Wish ,or something else instead.
“My Youth” is a calm story of second chances, regrets, and unresolved feelings that reaches impressive heights with its cinematography and the stellar performances of its actors, but the narrative plot holes, undeveloped subplots, and glacial pace may be strong reasons to stay away from this drama.
The biggest debate around “My Youth” is its pacing. While some find the slow, quiet storytelling to be a healing and realistic experience, others find it just too slow to enjoy.
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