Oworui Cheongchun

I chose to watch this because of the interesting historical period it represents. As a European, I didn't know anything about Gwangju uprising although it is quite recent history.

I agree with most other reviewers that the production is great, acting is generally good. Leading couple has a great chemistry and the main villain is even more frightening than in Crash Landing on You. So I would have liked to give this more stars. I just hope they would have had better script.

This drama has to be one of the underrated. This is a must watch. All cast members did an out standing job!!

I have to warn you even though this drama has romance in it. It is really sad. There are many parts that will get you very emotional and leave tears in your eyes.

Go Min-si as the leading female role was amazing!! Lee Do-hyun As the lead male was outstanding as well. Their acting skill were top notch. I can feel all their emotions.

This drama is more than just a live story. It's about fighting for what's right, what you believe in and all the struggles you have.

Truly a must watch. You won't be disappointed.

Plot: Story based on Gwangju Uprising incident. Which is shown through the eyes of children, soldiers, medical staffs and students.

There are some movies/dramas/books which are so beautiful that you dont want to watch/read it again. You want to live with that same emotions which occured when you watched/read it for the very first time.

Youth of May brings you that same feelings.

You will get drowned in all the emotions and trust me its chaotic. You will need sometime to get over this drama because it is so beautiful that it hurts and its overwhelming.

Now, coming to the acting of this new age actor Lee Do Hyeon, you can tell that he is a hardworking actor who loves acting, he has delivered a masterpiece which dont create by a lazy artist... and as per John Ruskin "when love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece".

This drama is a masterpiece!

Please dont miss it. They dont make such drama often.

My favourite quote of the drama: "Give him the strength and courage to continue to swim through life without sinking when the tears that he shed alone rise to reach the neck."

PS: It is very easy to get absorbed into Go Min Si's deeply expressive eyes. What a fabulous actor she is!

THE LAST EPISODE DESTROYED ME. AN HOUR STRAIGHT OF CRYING 😭. Such brilliant acting and visuals, great characters that even got backstory which is unique to kdramas lol. Lt was predictable at moments but the ending made me forget how to breathe (in a sad way).

As someone with Korean heritage, it was very interesting to see the period in which my parents' generation grew up in, particularly as this "between" period after the Korean war, but before the economic boom and nostalgia of the 90s isn't something I've seen reperesented on screen before. The production did a great job.

However, the script and storyline fall short. It starts strong, in the present, with the mystery surrounding a news story which we can assume alludes to what happens to one of the main characters.. and creates a sense of huge melodrama.. but as the drama gets to the late stages (starting around ep 9-10) the story becomes rushed with plotpoints being brushed aside immediately after they happen in preparation for the next development, making character and story progression seem unearned and abrupt. By the last couple of episodes major plotpoints are rushed through so quickly and inconsequentially that it just started to lose what sense of believability it had earned during the early stages.

Really my main gripe is the pacing which mainly results from the 12ep 1 hour run time (the shortest I've seen from a kdrama that isn't considered a mini-series), and they should really have chosen either to present this as a 2 hour movie or a properly fleshed out 24 hour drama. The first 8 eps feel like they belong as the opening act of a 24 ep arc, and then within 3 eps the story comes to an abrupt end (the 12th being the present day epilogue).

If you're curious about Korean history and want a short series to watch then this isn't an awful watch, I've still given it a 7 because the beginning was pretty good, but it does flatter to deceive on what it can deliver and the climax falls on its face for me.