Coming-of-age K-dramas are always exciting to watch—they're relatable and funny, and they provide the kind of comfort that no other genre can offer. These shows are like a warm tight hug on a bad day, an assurance that everything will work out just fine even if doesn't feel that way right now. Twenty Five, Twenty One gives that and more, and it's our newest source of healing.
Set in 1998, the series is about two individuals who met each other when they were 22 and 18 years old. Kim Tae Ri leads Twenty Five, Twenty One as Na Hee Do, a fencing prodigy and high school student whose determination will inspire you to keep going. She dedicates her life to the sport and will do anything to achieve her goal of becoming her idol's rival. Hee Do has lost in a lot of competitions, but she always turns her tragedy into comedy.
IRL, Tae Ri is also as driven as Hee Do! During a Zoom interview, I got to ask the actress about her favorite high school memory and her answer is a very ~fangirl~ thing. "I actually jumped over a school fence back in high school while wearing my school uniform and that's the fondest memory I have from those days. I actually did that to go to the concert of my favorite singer. I was a model student, the one who studies a lot, that's why it's memorable to me," she said.
Nam Joo Hyuk plays Baek Yi Jin in the drama, an aspiring reporter and engineer who wants to work at NASA. He's the eldest of two sons and he grew up in a rich family. When the IMF crisis happened in South Korea, Yi Jin had to put a pause on his dreams and work odd jobs in order for him and his younger brother to survive.
Apart from discussing the pains of growing up, Twenty Five, Twenty One also puts romance in the spotlight. There came a time when Yi Jin and Hee Do had to separate but as fate would have had it, they met again at the age of 25 and 21.
When I asked Joo Hyuk if he believes in destiny, the actor said: "I'm not quite sure if I agree with the saying that what's meant for you won't pass you by. There could be times that what's meant for you will come in your way, but what's not meant for you can also come in your way."
Twenty Five, Twenty One is a beautiful story that stitches the most important parts of your life, and the characters will move you with their hopes and dreams. You can watch new episodes on Netflix every Saturday and Sunday.
*This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.
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