Twenty Five Twenty One

Set against the backdrop of the 1998 IMF financial crisis in South Korea, Twenty Five Twenty One is a poignant journey through the lives of five young individuals whose paths intertwine during a time of national upheaval. The story primarily follows Na Hee-do, a high school fencing prodigy whose team is disbanded due to economic cuts, and Baek Yi-jin, a former wealthy heir whose family has been torn apart by bankruptcy. Driven by a relentless spirit, Hee-do fights to keep her dream alive, eventually finding her way into the national team and crossing paths with Yi-jin, who is struggling to rebuild his life through various part-time jobs and eventually as a broadcast reporter.

The narrative is framed by a present-day timeline where Na Hee-do's daughter, Min-chae, discovers her mother's old diaries. As Min-chae reads through them, the series explores the evolution of the group's friendships, the intense rivalry and eventual deep bond between Hee-do and the gold medalist Ko Yu-rim, and the developing romance between Hee-do and Yi-jin. The series masterfully balances the euphoria of youthful ambition with the harsh realities of adulthood, capturing the specific moment when one is "twenty-five and twenty-one."

The core meaning of the series lies in the celebration of the ephemerality of youth and the acceptance that not everything meant to change us is meant to stay with us. The creators emphasize that while dreams may fail and first loves may end, the growth, resilience, and happiness experienced during those times remain permanent fixtures of one's identity. It argues that the "spark" of youth is a finite resource that fuels the rest of a person's life, and that "the times" (the socio-economic era) may dictate our circumstances, but they cannot erase the internal strength forged through struggle.

While many viewers interpret the ending as a tragic failure of love, an alternative reading suggests the ending is a triumph of self-actualization. In this view, the breakup wasn't a failure, but a necessary step for both Hee-do and Yi-jin to become the successful adults they are in the present. Another interpretation focuses on the 'Unseen Father' of Min-chae; some fans argue that by never showing the husband, the creators emphasize that the romance with Yi-jin was the definitive emotional peak of Hee-do's life, regardless of her eventual marital status.

Twenty Five Twenty One became a cultural phenomenon in South Korea and globally via Netflix, reigniting a massive wave of 1990s retro-nostalgia. It was praised for its realistic depiction of the IMF crisis and how it reshaped a generation. However, it also sparked significant debate regarding the ethics of the relationship between a high school student and an adult working man, as well as criticism for using the 9/11 tragedy as a plot device for the characters' romantic distance. Despite these controversies, the show's legacy remains as a benchmark for the 'bittersweet' subgenre of romance, moving away from typical K-drama 'happily ever after' tropes to offer a more grounded, realistic ending.

Audience reception was overwhelmingly positive for the first 12 episodes, with viewers praising the chemistry between Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk and the vibrant cinematography. However, the final four episodes polarized the fanbase. One segment of the audience felt the 'realistic' breakup was a betrayal of the healing tone established early on, while critics and another segment of fans praised the show for its narrative courage in depicting the 'first love' as a fleeting youthful experience. The 9/11 reporting scene remains the show's most criticized moment due to perceived insensitivity.