My Youth K-Drama Review (Episodes 1–2) and Character Guide – Meet the People Who Make This Drama Shine

πŸ’First Impressions of My Youth: Song Joong-ki & Chun Woo-hee Bring First Love Back to Life


Hello~ I’m Hangeulia ^-^

September 5 marked the start of a brand-new K-drama that already feels so special: My Youth (마이 유슀).
JTBC surprised us with two episodes at once, and honestly, that alone made my heart race. But let’s be real—the moment Song Joong-ki and Chun Woo-hee appeared together on screen, I knew this drama would be different.

Chun Woo-hee’s performance feels so natural that it doesn’t even seem like acting—it’s pure reality unfolding. And Song Joong-ki’s portrayal of quiet, tender first love pulls you right in, making you feel the innocence and ache of youth all over again.

This drama isn’t just about romance. It’s about people—their scars, their choices, and the way first love quietly sneaks back into their lives. So let’s dive into the story and meet the cast of characters who make My Youth so heart-tugging and beautiful.



πŸ’œ First Impressions


Episodes 1 and 2 immediately set the tone. The present lives of the characters overlap with their pasts, allowing us to understand who they are today through the lens of yesterday.

  • Episode 1: A quiet, almost fragile reunion between Sun Woo-hae and Sung Je-yeon.
  • Episode 2: Flashbacks give us deeper insight into their youth, and suddenly, you find your heart softening, stirred by that bittersweet nostalgia.

It’s the kind of storytelling that doesn’t rush—it unfolds gently, leaving you with that warm, aching feeling.



πŸ’œ The Main Four


πŸ‘¦ Sun Woo-hae (Song Joong-ki)

Once a famous child actor, Woo-hae spent his twenties in the long shadow of fading fame. Picture him riding dawn buses, simply trying to survive the day. Flowers and books became his lifeline.
Now, he runs a small flower shop while secretly writing novels.
The true root of his life? Meeting Je-yeon at 19. She was the light he thought he had lost, the very embodiment of youth. Standing by her side again gives him the strength to keep going.


πŸ‘§ Sung Je-yeon (Chun Woo-hee)

A successful manager at a large entertainment company, Je-yeon always chose the safe, proper path. Once, she dreamed of becoming a prosecutor at Seoul National University—but reality forced her to compromise. Strong and hardworking, she never allowed herself to stumble.
But meeting Woo-hae again shakes her world, reviving forgotten dreams and the rush of youthful longing she thought she had buried forever.


πŸ‘© Mo Tae-rin (Lee Joo-myung)

An actress who grew up in the industry, Tae-rin looked like the perfect success story. But behind the curtain, she carried scars from relentless pressure. At her peak in a teen drama, perfection nearly broke her—until she found comfort in a warm voice on her school’s lunch radio show.
That voice belonged to Kim Seok-joo. And it quietly became her first love she never forgot.


πŸ‘¨ Kim Seok-joo (Seo Ji-hoon)

Born into wealth, Seok-joo seemed flawless—smart, polite, handsome. But loneliness was always his shadow. The suffocating pressure turned him sharp and unpredictable. Drawn to Woo-hae’s troubled life with curiosity and rivalry, he often comes across as cold.
And yet, around Tae-rin, his guarded exterior melts away, revealing a boyish tenderness. It’s in those moments that his humanity shines through.



πŸ’œ A Memorable Line from Episode 1


Quote from My Youth Episode 1 – The rain in your life only fell so your days could eventually become clear.

“The reason I borrowed their name to build a garden was to say this: the rain in your life only fell so your days could eventually become clear.”

This line comes from a novel Woo-hae writes under the secret pen name Jin Moo-young (his mother’s name). Je-yeon, who knows his hidden identity, arranges a meeting with a producer (called 'PD' in Korea) and his daughter—both fans of “Jin Moo-young.” Woo-hae feels uneasy about the setup, yet it sparks renewed contact between the two.

When Tae-rin hears Seok-joo reading this passage on the radio, she realizes it’s the same voice that once comforted her in high school—and her tears flow again.

It feels like a promise: through each episode, we’ll see that the rain in their lives wasn’t meaningless—it was there so their skies could eventually clear.



πŸ’œ The Supporting Cast


Beyond the leads, My Youth shines because of its richly layered supporting characters. Here are the people who make the world of this drama feel alive:

  • ❤ Sun Woo-chan (Jo Han-chul) – Woo-hae’s father, a talented poet but irresponsible man who learns too late what responsibility truly means.
  • ❤ Eun Nu-ri (Choi Jung-woon) – Woo-hae’s younger half-sister, nearly abandoned but raised with warmth and care by her brother.
  • ❤ Lee Geon-no (Yoon Byung-hee) – Woo-hae’s loyal childhood friend, always standing by his side even when life took them in different directions.
  • ❤ Kim Pil-doo (Jin Kyung) – Seok-joo’s mother, betrayed in love but rebuilt as a powerful CEO, forever haunted by the past.
  • ❤ Yang Ja-kyung (Lee Jin-hee) – Former school nurse turned bookstore owner, quietly supporting those who walk through her doors.
  • ❤ Jin So-ra (Lee Ji-hye) – A documentary PD, principled and steady, who met Je-yeon during college volunteer work.
  • ❤ Bang Han-na (Lee Bong-ryeon) – A tough manager who worked her way up from nothing, but grows disillusioned with corruption and seeks independence.
  • ❤ Choi Gi-bbeum (Kwon Seung-woo) – Once dreamed of being a stay-at-home husband, now learning the ropes of entertainment management.
  • ❤ Choi Sa-rang (Park Jae-hyun) – Gi-bbeum’s younger brother, naive but sincere, whose crush complicates Woo-hae’s life.


πŸ’œ Final Thoughts


With such a rich lineup of characters—each carrying scars, choices, and hidden warmth—My Youth feels like more than just a drama.

It’s a tapestry of lives interwoven with love, regret, and second chances. You’ll laugh, you’ll sigh, and you’ll find yourself whispering:

“Ah… my youth. I remember those days too.”

So grab a warm cup of tea, let the rain fall outside, and let My Youth remind you of the tender parts of yourself you thought you had forgotten.


With love,
ν•œκΈ€λ¦¬μ•„ ^^



If you’re looking for another heartfelt K-drama about first love, I highly recommend checking out Our Unwritten Seoul. It’s a beautiful story that will make your heart flutter all over again πŸ’•


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