Youth of May Review: This Underrated Love Story Of Starcrossed Lovers Shines Through A Swarm Of Love Dramas

Youth of May is a historical fiction drama set against the backdrop of the Gwangju uprising that happened in the 80s. Since I don’t know much about Korean history I will not comment on that part but rather focus on the lead characters and their story in the show.   

Count on a Korean drama to give you a swoon-worthy romance in any kind of setting and it will deliver. However, this time my package of sweet heart-melting romance came with lots of distress and agony.

Yes, Youth of May is a tragic love story. While watching this drama it felt as if someone was shredding my heart into pieces and then putting it back together and then shredding it all over again. Sad stories are not my thing and drama-induced tears are unfamiliar. But certain scenes in this show hit home and made me weep like a baby.

Midway through the drama, I took a break and watched a relatively light-hearted show and then came back to complete the remaining episodes. I’m glad I did that because the second half gets even more intense, especially the last four episodes. Having a refreshed mind helped me better appreciate the story despite the burgeoning devastation and neverending sorrow.

[Note: Do not let its gloomy theme keep you from watching the show. I feel the reason why I felt so overwhelmed by its’ somber premise is because of the current chaos that we witness around us. I picked the wrong time to watch this show.

I went in without knowing much about it and had no idea what it actually dealt with. Had I watched it another time I’m sure I wouldn’t have felt so heavy with emotions. So, please do not miss this drama for anything. Just ensure you watch it at a time when its emotional theme won’t bog you down.]

Youth of May (2021) (12 Episodes)

After acing the medical exam in Gwangju, Hwang Hee Tae (Lee Do Hyun) enrolled with Seoul National University and managed to top his final exams too. However, he refuses to officially graduate and opts for an unofficial drop year. He gives lame excuses for not graduating but the truth is that he is unable to treat patients because of an unfortunate incident in the past that continues to haunt him.

His father is a shrewd man who forces him to go on a date for an arranged marriage proposal so that he can benefit from the marriage alliance. In order to secure money to save someone’s life, Hee Tae reluctantly agrees to meet the girl of his father’s choosing, Lee Soo Ryun (Geum Sae Rok).

Lee Soo Ryun is a student activist who dreams of becoming a revolutionary heroine like the Joan of Arc. Her rebellious nature and tendency to run into trouble with the law coerces her father to set up a date with Hee Tae so she can get married and settled instead of participating in student protests against the government. Uninterested in marriage, Lee Soo Ryun asks her friend Myung Hee (Go Min Si) to go in her stead and ruin the date.

Myung Hee is in desperate need of money to be able to go to Germany for further studies. After Soo Ryun assures her to help with the money, Myung Hee goes on the date and follows all of Soo Ryun’s instructions to ensure that Hee Tae rejects her. But nothing works on the handsome stranger who looks determined to date Soo Ryun. What Myung Hee doesn’t know is that Hee Tae knows her from before and is already inevitably in love with her.

I enjoyed watching ‘Youth of May’ because…

…I loved the three main characters. Let’s start with Hwang Hee Tae who is a diligent student with a bright future as a doctor. He is the illegitimate son of his father who is a rich man working for a politician and doing the dirty work of eliminating activists who create trouble for the government.

With a smile as bright as the sun, Hee Tae looks happy and cheerful on the outside but something pricks at his conscience. It is the young girl battling life and death in the ICU. 

The girl is admitted to a hospital in Seoul and Hee Tae wants to transfer her to a hospital in her hometown, Gwangju. To do this, he needs a ton of money, which he can obtain only from his rich father, Hwang Gi Nam. Gi Nam agrees to lend him the money on the condition that he will go on a date with Lee Soo Ryun who is the daughter of a rich businessman. The marriage alliance is one that can benefit Hwang Hi Tae.

Hee Tae concedes and reaches the hotel where he is supposed to meet Soo Ryun. On the way, he witnesses an accident and stops dead in his tracks as it reminds him of a traumatic incident from the past. Just then, a pretty young girl rushes to the little boy lying on the street and saves his life by helping him gain consciousness.  

Awestruck by the girls’ quick action, Hee Tae recalls that he had seen her in the hospital where she worked as a nurse. He was in awe of her when he witnessed her strong stance against a rude and unreasonable patient.

When the pretty young girl walks up to him and introduces herself as Soo Ryun he knows she is lying but decides to play along.

Myung Hee comes from an extremely poor background. She is a social recluse and does not interact much with anyone at work. She does her work silently and even overworks to escape the loneliness in her life.

She hates her father for some reason that we learn through the course of the show. To leave her poor life, she applies to study at a German university and is even selected for the same. She is eligible to receive a scholarship from her church so her fees are also sorted. What remains is the flight ticket to Germany, which she cannot afford. Since her childhood friend Soo Ryun comes from an affluent family she asks her for some help.

Much against her father’s wishes, Soo Ryun is actively involved in student protests against the government. She is often arrested by the police and her father has to intervene. Tired of her rebellion, he arranges a date for her with Hee Tae. But Soo Ryun does not want to get married. So, she tells Myung Hee to take her place instead and in return she agrees to pay for her ticket to Germany.

Myung Hee tries everything to put Hee Tae off but he seems unfazed by her bad behavior. In fact, he even insists on meeting her again. Even after Myung Hee’s true identity is revealed, Hee Tae still insists on meeting her. The more she meets him, the more she falls for the charming Hee Tae.

But life is not too kind to our two lovers. Hee Tae’s father Gi Nam wants him to get married to Soo Ryun at any cost and knows how to make his son toe the line. Myung Hee’s already insufferable life becomes torture as Gi Nam uses his twisted ways to keep her within the boundaries set by him.

But our two lovers are not those to get easily intimidated by difficulties. No matter the distance, they always find their way to each other. And that’s my true pair of lovers.

Actor Lee Do Hyun was simply outstanding as the lively but internally troubled Hwang Hee Tae. Even with a broad smile on his face, he would express his inner sorrow through his eyes. Watch out for the awkward-nervous look on his face after his first kiss. Its super-cute.

Actress Go Min Si was the perfect match for Lee Do Hyun. Her character is a stoic woman who seems to be unconcerned by anything around her. But certain instances expose her stern nature wherein she refuses to put up with unfair treatment meted out to her. She is not afraid of calling out mean people but there is something that shackles her voice and keeps her from speaking up.   

Go Min Si does a great job as she captures Myung Hee’s inner turmoil and outer silence effectively with her restrained acting. She does not express much through her face but you still feel the disgust emanating from every pore of her body when she sees her father. You cannot help but shed a tear when she faces troubles she does not deserve. You feel rare happiness when she is with Hee Tae or her younger brother. 

I loved Hee Tae and Myung Hee for being so loyal to each other. They walk through fire for each other and that too with a smile. Their sweet moments together are memorable because it was so rare in the show.

Their raw pain, grief, and struggle moved me to tears because I felt that deeply attached to them. After a point, I felt as if I was swimming through an ocean of second-hand pain with a gamut of emotions stirring within me. So, you can imagine how involved I felt with the story of our two gritty lovers.

…apart from the lead couple, I liked all the supporting cast too especially Soo Ryun. She is the catalyst of the story. A lot happens around her and because of her. This feisty girl wants to bring a change in the world. She stops as nothing on her way to achieving her dream.

Then there is Soo Ryun’s brother Lee Soo Chan who is secretly in love with Myung Hee and as always Myung Hee is totally oblivious to his feelings, unlike Hee Tae who identified Soo Chan’s true feelings for Myung Hee after meeting him only a couple of times. Guys!!

I also loved Hee Tae and Myung Soo’s younger brothers who are competitors at a running competition and bond well with each other at a sports camp. Their relationship starts from hate and slowly develops into natural camaraderie as the two boys leave their differences behind and decide to help each other.

I did NOT LIKE ‘Youth of May’ because…

…nope. I liked it. the drama characters are well-developed and every supporting character serves a purpose in the wide picture. The story is heavy with emotions, which is why maybe it is so underrated. Not everyone can handle it.

 

Youth of May brings you a love story that sprouts and blooms even in the most unfavorable condition. No matter the lack of sun and water, the love between Hee Tae and Myung Hee still manages to withstand all difficulties and sustains for years to come. Where there is love there are no boundaries. Only love can give you the strength and courage to sacrifice yourself for someone else. 

I give ‘Youth of May’ 4 out of 5 rating. The show will squeeze your heart with its hard-hitting story. Watch it only if you are ready to sob.   

 

Watch this drama for free here.

 

Image Courtesy: KBS

 

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