A spoiler-light review of JTBC’s “My Youth” (2025): cast, plot, schedule, where to watch, The Nice Guy” and followed by “Love Me” December, 2025 and why Song Joong-ki & Chun Woo-hee’s chemistry clicks.
My Youth (2025)” Full Review
My Youth” is JTBC’s 12-episode Friday romance that reunites Yumi’s Cells director Lee Sang-yeob with Run On writer Park Si-hyeon. Starring Song Joong-ki and Chun Woo-hee, it follows a former child star turned florist/novelist who reconnects with his first love, now an entertainment manager. Two episodes air every Friday starting Sept 5, 2025 (20:50 KST),
Drama: My Youth
Revised romanization: My Youth
Hangul: 마이 유스
Director: Lee Sang-Yeob
Writer: Park Si-Hyun
Network: JTBC
Episodes:
Release Date: September 5, 2025 —
Runtime: Friday 20:50 (two consecutive episodes per week)
Set against cozy floristry corners and nighttime Seoul, Sunwoo Hae (Song Joong-ki) once glowed as a child actor. He’s since built a gentler life as a novelist and florist, scarred but steady. Sung Je-yeon (Chun Woo-hee)—his first love—returns, now a sharp entertainment manager whose career choices may fracture the quiet he’s fought to keep. Their reunion isn’t fireworks so much as embers rekindling—conversations that start tenderly, then cut deep, about ambition, regret, and how adulthood reshapes the heart. Early press materials and character posters foreground that duality: blooming late, after everything has seemingly passed. The Economic TimesMK News
The creative team (why this pairing matters)
Director Lee Sang-yeob (Yumi’s Cells, A Piece of Your Mind, Familiar Wife) specializes in intimate, everyday emotions—tiny gestures that speak paragraphs. Writer Park Si-hyeon, beloved for the conversational rhythms of Run On, returns with dialogue that breathes. This reunion primes My Youth for subtle, character-first romance instead of plot whiplash. AsianWiki+1Wikipedia+1
Streaming:Viki and Viu in select regions (availability may vary by country). In Malaysia/Southeast Asia, Viu commonly carries JTBC titles; check your local Viu app listing. Reddit
Tip: 20:50 KST (UTC+9) is 19:50 in Malaysia (MYT). Use our schedule graphic above in your post for quick reference.
Cast & characters (confirmed so far)
Song Joong-ki as Sunwoo Hae — a former child star who now lives quietly as a florist/novelist, nursing old wounds while writing new chapters. Reddit
Chun Woo-hee as Sung Je-yeon — an entertainment manager whose success forces hard choices, including facing the past she left behind. The Korea Times
Lee Joo-myung as Mo Tae-rin — an actress who also started young; the show hints at another first-love thread around her.
Seo Ji-hoon as Kim Seok-joo — a reserved tax accountant linked to Tae-rin; early posters frame their relationship as a parallel romance.
Additional notable names reported in press and script-read coverage include Jin Kyung and Jo Han-chul (supporting).
Why this pairing sparks: Press-conference coverage repeatedly highlights Song Joong-ki × Chun Woo-hee’s chemistry—easy, unforced, and warm. The Korea Times.
First impressions (Episodes 1–2, no major spoilers)
The premiere leans slice-of-life over spectacle. Hae’s flower shop is both workplace and sanctuary; shots linger on hands binding stems, the thunk of a paper-wrapped bouquet—sensory anchors for a man who’s learning to exhale. Je-yeon arrives like a gust: professional, decisive, but carrying guilt you can’t quite name yet. The show’s editing favors quiet transitions—door chimes, city crosswalks, and late-night buses—so small smiles feel earned. If you enjoyed the soft-spoken cadence of Run On, you’ll recognize the musicality here. MK News
What “My Youth” gets right
Adult romance written like…adults. No manufactured bickering; conflicts arise from career realities, not cartoon villains. MK News
Career as character. Floristry and management aren’t set dressing—they shape how these people listen, apologize, and choose. MK News
Autumn comfort watch vibes. JTBC’s Friday format (two eps weekly) gives it the mini-binge rhythm many viewers love. Reddit
What might test your patience
It’s a slow burn by design; if you prefer twisty thrillers, this stays grounded.
The “first love, second chance” premise is familiar; the show’s freshness depends on the writing’s nuance—which, so far, it delivers. MK News
Comparisons
If you liked Run On (JTBC): expect that same conversational intimacy and empathy for work/life boundaries. Wikipedia
If you liked Our Beloved Summer: a similarly reflective tone on youth memories vs. adult selves.
If you liked When the Weather Is Fine: comparable quiet pacing and a bookstore/flower-shop coziness.
If you’re a Vincenzo fan: this is not a crime caper—come for Song Joong-ki’s warmth, not anti-hero swagger.
Chun Woo-hee admirers from Be Melodramatic (Melo Is My Nature) will find her at home in layered, lived-in dialogue.
Cinematography & sound
Early footage and stills suggest a palette of soft daylight pastels (the shop) and clear, cool nights (Seoul exteriors). Camera choices prize faces and hands over sweeping vistas. Expect an acoustic-leaning OST; while full tracklists are not yet detailed publicly, the show’s mood points to gentle indie cues over bombastic ballads. (We’ll update OST specifics as official credits drop.)
Episode & streaming schedule (quick table)
Fridays, two episodes weekly: Sept 5, 12, 19, 26, Oct 3, 10 (2025). Air time 20:50 KST. Streaming on Viki and Viu (regional availability varies). Reddit
My Youth FAQ
Q1) What is “My Youth” about in one line? A grounded second-chance romance where a former child star, now a florist/novelist, reunites with his first love, an entertainment manager, and both must rewrite what “success” and “home” mean.
Q2) How many episodes does it have and when does it air? 12 episodes, two every Friday on JTBC from Sept 5 to Oct 10, 2025, 20:50 KST. Reddit
Q3) Where can I watch it online? Viki and Viu carry it in select regions (availability and subtitle timing differ by country). Reddit
Q4) Who are the leads? Song Joong-ki and Chun Woo-hee lead the cast, with Lee Joo-myung and Seo Ji-hoon in key supporting roles.
Q5) Who’s behind the show? Director: Lee Sang-yeob (Yumi’s Cells). Writer: Park Si-hyeon (Run On). A dream pairing for slice-of-life romance fans. AsianWiki+1
Q6) Is it based on a webtoon/novel? As of now, no official source indicates it’s adapted from an existing IP. (If that changes, update this answer.)
Q7) Is it suitable for binge watchers? Yes—two episodes drop each Friday, giving you a tidy weekly mini-binge.
Extra facts & quick bites (SEO-rich section)
Network/Slot: JTBC, Fridays 20:50 KST, two episodes weekly.
Run:Sept 5 – Oct 10, 2025 (6 weeks × 2 eps).
Director:Lee Sang-yeob (Yumi’s Cells, Familiar Wife, A Piece of Your Mind).
Writer:Park Si-hyeon (Run On).
Cast highlight: Press coverage repeatedly spotlights on-screen chemistry between the leads at the series press conference.
Streaming:Viki/Viu (regions vary; subtitles may roll out post-broadcast).
Tone: Romance/SLICE-OF-LIFE/Melodrama with late-bloom themes and career realism.
Note: I cover Korean TV with a focus on romance and slice-of-life storytelling, tracking weekly schedules and OTT availability across Asia. Expect spoiler-light reviews, cultural context, and practical watch guides.
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