Youth of May (2021)

You have to watch till the end

I only started watching this drama because I'm a fan of Lee Do Hyun and was actually really hyped for this to come out. And he didn't disappoint — I fell in love with Hwang Hee Tae in the first episode. Not to mention LDH's topnotch acting.

However, Hee Tae was basically the only reason why I kept on watching. While I don't blame the plot and pace, the first half just didn't lure me in. I was constantly checking how much time is left and often got distracted.

Despite that, I continued to watch and am so thankful I did. Because the second half, especially the last three episodes, made me a sobbing, crying mess. Finally, I felt the heaviness of the protests and their suppression, the deep connection Hee Tae had with Myeong Hee, the bond between Myeong Hee's father and her. It all came flooding.

Soo Ryeon's character was the only one I didn't sympathize with (aside from Ki Nam), though. I do think she could've had better development.

The children were adorable. Can't spoil much, but the boys were really brave for their age and it was endearing to witness them understand what family meant to them.

Youth of May shows romance, families, and friendships and how different and tragic they can be. It also tells how our choice affects our life. And even though you might have regrets later on, you should be happy you made the choice where you put yourself first.

Lire davantage

One MAY to rule them all

I will try to keep this short. This drama has left a strong impression on me, and I have been thinking about it for a while. This review is way that I can let my thoughts flow and hopefully feel a lot lighter in the end and move on to my next show. The show was amazing to say the least. It was serious, intense, the characters and the cast were spot on! The chemistry between the leads and the romance was on another level. With all that said and done, was this show super emotional? YES. Did it break my heart? YES. Was I on the verge of tears? YES. Did I love it? YES. Do I recommend it? YES

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Romance and Responsibility

Three years out from the first airing of this drama in 2021, the sitting president in 2024 announced martial law and was swiftly countered by immediate fierce protests of citizens who assisted elected officials who did everything they could including climbing over the fences and barricaded themselves against the military to get their votes in to lift the martial. It was a bipartisan unanimous vote. The martial law from 1980 is still very much fresh in the historical memory of the country and remains remembered through holidays and dramatized depictions like this drama. The atrocities portrayed is a mere fraction of what occurred but is still sickening and sad. The stories are led by Myung Hee, a nurse of three years, and Hee Tae who is a top student in the final year of medical school. It took me a while to get to this drama because of the actor's strong performances as siblings in another show, but they show off their acting prowess depicting a different chemistry as different characters here.

Myung Hee has the tenacity to work towards her dreams, but she's always beaten back by the hostile political atmosphere of the country. She's has the dichotomy where she's extremely capable at her job and can take care of herself around guys being a creep, but she lets herself be taken advantaged of by her co-workers to do the tasks they don't want and to give in to her friend rather than follow her own feelings due the event of her getting all the blame for political posters and getting kicked out of high school and her father who is later revealed to have been branded a communist after being forced to confess as one under torture by Hee Tae's villain father, telling her to accept it. She also has the dumbest little brother. He's 12 but has zero awareness or thinking skills beyond his own wants and needs. He doesn't care that she has her own dreams and wants to put her already many years deferred dream of going to school in Germany, partially because she sent back a lot of her hard earned money for his living expenses to watch his race. He doesn't care that there's no out running soldiers with guns, except for a family member to sacrifice their life by blocking the bullets with their body. He knows that's how his father died, but still goes off by himself causing his family to go after him. Myung Hee deserved better. I do enjoy how her older sibling kindness fared better with Hee Tae's half brother Jung Tae who saved her life by foiling the assassin from murdering her. She also gave perspective to Hee Tae regarding his brother that led to the brother's finally connection with some true familial love in that abusive household.

It was moving when a tied up and beaten Hee Tae accepts that his step mom isn't able to help him and pleads for her to get away with Jung Tae instead, which leads to her bravely setting him free and facing down her abusive husband for divorce. The actor who plays him is really good, he brings a realistic, chilling gravitas that is more found in Korean films than television show and the scenes where he acts against Lee Do Hyun as his son are excellent. It was so sad when Hee Tae revealed that the only reason he joined his father's step family was to not be alone. Myung Hee was going to be his family, but she was murdered. She did reconcile his relationship with his brother who he looked to have kept in touch with his whole life. I really enjoyed the scenes where they both worked together as medical professionals to help patients as more and more victims of the atrocities poured into the hospital. It unfortunately meant that they missed their window to get out of the city again and again until it was too late. Hee Tae really has a head and body of steel, he received head trauma by taking a blow to the head for her, then probably more head and body trauma from a hit and run, then more injuries being tied up and banging himself against the furniture and the floor to get help, and he just shows back up at the hospital up and running just fine.

The drama also showed the conscripted soldiers point of view, where they were forced towards violence regardless of their personal views and could only do so much to counter it. This reflects real life where the conscripted soldiers in the real life 2024 martial law event also seemed a bit confused as to what they were supposed to do. Hee Tae and all the other main players got to live out their life to modern day while Myung Hee's body was finally unearthed decades later. She deserved to live and find happiness the most. There's also the plot of the rich best friend who let Myung Hee go down alone during high school, totally compromising her ideals to force Hee Tae to marry her for her family's financial stability fulling using Myung Hee who she knows loves him and vice versa to convince him, and a cop dies for her, a cohort of hers is in love with her, and her family learns what it means to really contribute to helping the city by using all of their stores after her brother gets kidnapped and tortured just like the regular plebs. The wealthy and the privileged get to survive just fine in the story while Myung Hee and her dad who both suffered a lot in both poverty and politically and were the bread winners of their family of five die horribly. It's weird messaging.

Lire davantage

been two weeks and i'm still heartbroken...

i love this kdrama so much! not only were the actors visually beautiful, but their acting was so good; i was able to get fully immersed into the show right away. the story was so beautifully constructed and paced nicely, too bad i took away 0.5 stars bc of that ending... that script was so well-written like i couldn't stop crying at the end during his letter TT it was already too sad. i'm still listening to the ost it's so pretty. the chemistry between the lead actors was so good, the cute moments at the beginning of the drama healed me; it was too cute. i love the ml, his character is just so fun to watch and i love how much he truly adored her. usually, i would feel a bit eh bc they fell in love so quickly, but in youth of may, it just felt so natural and right... literally true love! THEIR LOVE FOR EACH OTHER WAS SMTG ELSE, like i need that in my life. the setting is based off a true event and it was rlly sad to watch it; i was so scared during every scene. i like how it was more realistic and not everything was so happy. no bc everytime smtg good happened, i couldn't truly be happy bc i knew smtg bad was coming... every ep was a rollercoaster of emotions, but at least i stayed interested! anyways, it was a beautiful kdrama and i would totally rewatch. i will probably never get over it, and i'm planning to watch it every may :(

Lire davantage

Beautiful

One of the most heart touching dramas I've ever seen. So beautiful and so sad at the same time. It was an emotional rollercoaster. It started as a classic romance but one soon realizes that it is about so much more. This drama is all about love in a broader sense, what it means to love and be loved. It takes place in the 80's during a very turbulent time that I didn't know much about before I saw this. The fact that what is being portrayed actually happened in reality really makes it even more touching.
Also, incredible actors!! Love it❤️ ❤️ ❤️

Lire davantage

It's better to have loved than not have loved at all

Youth of May (2021)

I already saw a lot of spoilers before i started watching so i think it took a bit of enjoyment from watching this drama.

Likes
1. Beautiful ending. It was sad but still beautiul. It took him 40 years to finally move on 😭 cant imagine how that feels. But im happy they found her so he can always visit her when he misses her.
2. All through out i kept thinking whose fault it was. I'd say they were too young and made emotional decisions. If they more more mature they probably wouldn't have died. Had Hee Tae stopped pursuing her, Myung Hee could have gone to Germany and lived. Or Hee Tae could have married Suryeon to appease the family and live separate lives. Or he could follow to Germany in a few years. But I also came to the same conclusion as Hee Tae. They chose to fight for each other so although it was hard, they made that choice and they have to live with the consequences. At least they had that May that he will always remember. Better to have loved and lost than to not have loved at all.
3. Oh the one who is at fault is Myung Soo. Lol. He was too young but later on he must have realized he basically killed his dad and sister in one night because of his foolishness. Maybe thats why he ended up being a priest.
4. Mixed feelings about Suryeon. She was mostly selfish which is weird since she is brave protesting against the government but she cant even protect her best friend. But I think it's not her fault -- Hee Tae would have met and pursued Myung Hee even without the blind date. And i didnt feel enough remorse from her over Myung Hee even in the present, she was nowhere to be found, just a brief statement that she is now a lawyer.
5. Myunghee's dad 😭😭😭 and all those brave and innocent people who died that time. 🙏

Dislikes
1. The first few episodes were boring, i almost stopped but kept on because Lee Dohyun is too cute.
2. I wanted to know what happened to Soo Chan.

Rating: 8.5/10

Lire davantage

I've watched the 11 episodes in 2021 and was reluctant to watch it until the end. Really glad I've picked this up again, despite spoiling the ending for myself...

I have a soft spot for nostalgic 1980s-1990s dramas like this one. While it is sweet and reminiscent, it reminds that how much more cruel the society was in the Korea, under the dictatorship. Youth of May is a beautiful love story, intertwined between the harsh and dark history of the Gwangju Uprising. It's a story which reminds us that there's always love and hope whenever there's fear and turmoil.

The characters in this story were amazing. We have Myung Hee, who is a strong young woman who's ambitious, strong-willed and a force that can't be stopped by anyone. By her side, we have Hee Tae, who's charismatic and loveable, although no one can see through his perfect-picture. He's broken inside, but perfectly compliments her timid nature. Their blind-date, and the chemistry that begun there, is out of this world!

While my heart fluttered and was hurting during the last few episodes of this, this drama is definitely in my top list. Worth to remember the uprising, and worth every tear and re-watching every sweet moment.

Lire davantage

eu realemnte amei ate pelo fato do ponto historico que foi muito bem pincelado

Hwang Hee Tae é um jovem, aspirante a médico, que odeia tudo o que é previsível, e logo filho fora do casamento ( amante) não tem um lugar de privilegio na familia, e de fato gera uma bagunça porque por ser o mais velho , o irmão cacula a caba sofrendo assim como a mae / madrastra o julgo da socieldade a passando por amante quando a mesma é a esposa oficial . Por algum motivo que não lembro agora ele voltou para casa e que inferno o pai dele, credo. Mas tudo que acontece no entorno dos personagem levam a um evento de manisfestações na Coreia do Sul naquela epoca. O jovem medico que teve sua vida impactada por um acontecimento que o traumatizou durante um dos protestos contra o governo, em meio a uma troca de favores entre amigas acaba conhecendo Kim Myung Hee, uma jovem enfermeira , pobre e super profissional que so queria o melhor para sua carreiara para poder cuidar do irmaozinho, onde em meio a tantos problemas se apaixonam perdidamente.

Em meios aos problemas da epoca da ditadura sul coreana e em primeiro plano retratando os protestos de jovens nas ruas, sequestros, torturas e matança de quem se opunha ao governo, um breve resumo histórico, na data de 18 de maio de 1980, o heroico povo sul-coreano pegou em armas para se opor ao morticínio do regime militar-fascista de Chun Doo Hwan, patrocinado pelo imperialismo ianque. Sob pretexto de “combater o comunismo” e as chamadas “rebeliões pró-Coreia do Norte”, o regime de Chun Doo Hwan enviava suas tropas, tanques e até mesmo aviões militares para ocupar os campi das principais universidades da Coreia do sul, reprimindo o combativo movimento estudantil sul-coreano que se mobilizava em defesa da plena democratização da Coreia do Sul, pela revogação das leis fascistas, e parte expressiva deste movimento estudantil compartilhava de uma visão consequentemente anti-imperialista, reivindicando a retirada das tropas ocupantes norte-americanas do país e a reunificação nacional com o Norte socialista.

Na cidade de Gwangju (província de Cholla do Sul), as hordas do regime de Chun Doo Hwan, insanas e descarregando o ódio mais animalesco por meio de prisões, espancamentos de estudantes até a morte, fuzilamentos indiscriminados contra a população comum, invasão de casas e propriedades, estupros, abortos forçados contra mulheres grávidas, dentre demais barbaridades, os fascistas logo tiveram a resposta do povo: enquanto, inicialmente, o perfil dos manifestantes contra os arbitrariedades das tropas de Chun Doo Hwan era composto basicamente por estudantes, pouco a pouco a população comum passa a compor a esmagadora maioria nos protestos, que assumem um caráter cada vez mais radical. As massas de Gwangju não aceitam passivamente as humilhações e assassinatos diários de seus pais, mães, filhos e amigos queridos. A partir de manifestantes que já haviam servido no exército reacionário sul-coreano, não foi difícil para que o povo invadisse em massa depósitos de armas do governo – dado que as tropas se encontravam mobilizadas em sua esmagadora maioria para a repressão nas ruas –, rendendo e executando oficiais, expropriando armas para a formação do que viria a ser o Exército Civil.

A luta armada em Gwangju duraria cerca de dez dias. Neste meio tempo, as massas armadas lograriam expulsar as tropas de Chun Doo Hwan e manter o controle da cidade, construindo um quartel-general no que era anteriormente a Prefeitura Municipal de Gwangju. Estando as massas de Gwangju, porém, isoladas, sem uma perspectiva política unificada entre os diferentes setores do movimento popular, sem o apoio e a organização das massas no restante do país e sem a experiência militar devida, o cerco do regime de Chun Doo Hwan sobre a cidade, bloqueando-a e esgotando-a por meio do corte de fornecimentos de alimentos, combustíveis e demais suprimentos, termina por impor uma derrota à heroica resistência de Gwangju, num massacre cujos números são altamente controversos, com muitos avaliando em pelo menos dois a cinco mil mortos pelo regime.
Parece curioso usarmos termos como “fascismo”, “mortes”, “espancamentos”, “luta pela democracia” ou demais para caracterizarmos o regime sul-coreano, numa época em que todas estas palavras são atribuídas à Coreia do norte socialista. É possível que a esmagadora maioria da esquerda brasileira, em quase sua totalidade, jamais tenha ouvido falar do que foi o Levante de Gwangju, uma verdadeira Comuna de Paris do povo sul-coreano, que se levantou em armas contra seus exploradores e opressores. Fazemos parte de uma geração à qual foi negada o direito de conhecer a história de luta dos povos do mundo, as guerras de resistência e a verdade sobre quem se coloca realmente ao lado do fascismo, e quem se põe pela democracia e o progresso social. Isso é particularmente verdadeiro no caso de Gwangju, o massacre esquecido do fascismo sul-coreano.
Ademais, a luta do povo sul-coreano nem de longe se limita ao Levante de Gwangju. Ao contrário, desde sua fundação no ano de 1948 pela criminosa ocupação dos Estados Unidos, o sul da Península foi e é palco de intensas lutas populares contra a repressão política criminosa, que acompanha toda a sua história.
Portanto, na data em que se marca os 40 anos do início da resistência de Gwangju, pensamos ser pertinente, como forma de homenagear as massas sul-coreanas em luta, traçar um breve histórico de sua resistência contra o imperialismo norte-americano e a reação local. Esperamos contribuir para que os brasileiros desenvolvam ainda mais seus sentimentos internacionalistas para com as lutas de libertação nacional.

A ocupação dos Estados Unidos na Coreia do sul e o estabelecimento de um regime fantoche
Antes de entrarmos propriamente no Levante de Gwangju, traçaremos uma apresentação do desenvolvimento do regime neocolonial vigente na Coreia do Sul, que viveu durante anos sob a tutela de um regime militar fascista apoiado pelos Estados Unidos.


Desde a libertação da Coreia do jugo do imperialismo japonês, no ano de 1945, a parte sul da península vive sob a ocupação militar dos Estados Unidos, que, no contexto da Guerra Fria, promoveu o anticomunismo e o fascismo, como forma de conter a ascensão das lutas operárias e populares do povo sul-coreano, e que inspirado no exemplo do que ocorria na Coreia do norte, exigia a construção de um Estado democrático, progressista e soberano.

Após uma longa guerra de libertação contra o Japão, o norte da península coreana foi libertado do imperialismo japonês pelas ações conjuntas do Exército Popular Revolucionário da Coreia, dirigido por Kim Il Sung, e do Exército Vermelho soviético. Os Estados Unidos esperavam que, com a rendição do Japão, poderiam assim passar a ocupar todo o território coreano. Vendo o avanço fulminante das forças guerrilheiras, junto com o Exército Vermelho, os imperialistas norte-americanos propuseram o estabelecimento do Paralelo 38, que cortou a península coreana ao meio e viria a sacramentar, em breve, a histórica divisão entre “Coreia do Norte” e “Coreia do Sul”.

Os Estados Unidos estacionariam suas tropas no sul da península apenas algumas semanas após a libertação do país, sem terem fornecido qualquer contribuição efetiva para a expulsão das forças japonesas da Coreia. Uma das primeiras medidas tomadas pelos militares ianques foi a dissolução forçada dos comitês populares, colocando à frente do poder político figuras ligadas à antiga administração colonial e até mesmo ao imperialismo japonês. Na parte norte da península, a revolução democrática, anti-imperialista e antifeudal avançava com ímpeto, servindo como sólida base para o estabelecimento de um Estado unificado, democrático e próspero.

É importante destacarmos que os Estados Unidos, desde que chegaram no sul da península coreana, jamais cumpriram qualquer papel minimamente progressista. Antes mesmo da chegada dos ocupantes norte-americanos, as massas sul-coreanas haviam estabelecido a República Popular da Coreia: tentativa de construção de um novo Estado, que se apoiava nos comitês populares locais. A política de repressão e supressão praticada pelos Estados Unidos no sul da Coreia foi completamente diferente daquela aplicada pelos soviéticos no Norte, onde os comitês populares foram reconhecidos, e as atividade dos partidos democráticos eram realizadas normalmente.

Ao chegar no país, os Estados Unidos logo trataram de acabar com tal experiência, dissolvendo a República Popular da Coreia, prendendo e perseguindo seus principais líderes.

Desde o começo, os Estados Unidos trataram de impor ao país uma administração de tipo militar e neocolonial, passando a controlar a Coreia do Sul política, cultural e economicamente. No ano de 1946, para tentarem legitimar sua administração militar, trouxeram dos Estados Unidos aquele que seria o primeiro ditador da futura república fantoche: Syngman Rhee (ou Ri Sin Man). Syngman Rhe era uma figura historicamente pró-norte-americana, que havia se exilado nos Estados Unidos no ano de 1904, sendo nomeado posteriormente como presidente de uma autoproclamada “Assembleia Democrática da Coreia do Sul”, em 1947, seria renomeada como “Assembleia Legislativa Interina”.

Durante certo período, os Estados Unidos a União Soviética realizaram diversas conversas para estabelecerem uma solução para o problema da divisão da Coreia. De acordo com a jornalista Anna Louise Strong:

“Por dois anos, essas conversas só contribuíram para aumentar a amargura. Os americanos insistiram em incluir no governo provisório os colaboradores pró-japoneses e os exilados que regressaram. Os russos recusaram. Os russos insistiram em incluir representantes dos sindicatos, das organizaçõs camponesas e outras semelhantes. Os EUA não quiseram ouvir falar sobre isso.

Por fim, os soviéticos acabaram por propor que ambos os países se retirassem da Coreia – o que foi cumprido pela parte soviética em dezembro de 1948 – proposta obviamente rechaçada pelos imperialistas norte-americanos.” [1]

Em 1948, os Estados Unidos promoveram um processo eleitoral farsante, que iria culminar posteriormente na fundação da “República da Coreia”, um Estado fantoche controlado pelos Estados Unidos. Os Estados Unidos, ainda em 1947, aproveitaram-se de sua hegemonia nas Nações Unidas para aprovar uma resolução que desse guarida a realização de eleições. Dessa resolução, surgiu a chamada Comissão Temporária das Nações Unidas para a Coreia, que se encarregaria de organizar a farsa eleitoral. A parte norte da península coreana, obviamente, não tomou parte no processo.

A realização de eleições separadas foi alvo de intenso repúdio por amplos setores das massas coreanas, que viam na medida uma tentativa de perpetuar a divisão da península. Mesmo antes da realização do processo eleitoral farsante, já havia o entendimento de que os Estados Unidos e os reacionários sul-coreanos visavam realizar eleições de tal tipo. Em todo o território da Coreia do Sul, eclodiram revoltas contra o imperialismo norte-americano.

Lire davantage

Don't waste your time.

When I saw the synopsis of this drama come out, it seemed like a fantastic watch and I was excited for it to air. I kept up with it as it was airing, and I ended up dropping it halfway because of how boring and draggy it got. The premise, background, and aesthetics were great hooks, but I dare say everything else was lackluster. Let's discuss the good and the bad.

Good: I loved the acting. Lee Do Hyun is a great fresh face and I wasn't surprised at all at his ability to shine in his role. It was also my first time watching most of the other actors and they surely played their characters well. In terms of production, the colours and period-details (props, set, etc.) were excellent, which really allowed me to hold on to the drama as long as I did.

Bad: The story... It was just so terribly boring and repetitive. Feels like this type of love story is way overdone. I think the biggest problem I had with the plot was the serious lack of communication and immaturity between the characters that led to many, many misunderstandings which just simply do not happen in normal, adult relationships. If your style of romance drama is to ogle at pretty people doing pretty people things, then this is for you. But if you are looking for something fresh and different, this is so not it.

With all that said, I did not finish the drama. I dropped at episode 6 so I cannot say anything about the ending, but at the pace that the show was going, I was halfway through and felt like nothing happened at all. I was sorely disappointed with this one, but maybe my expectations were just too high.

Lire davantage

First of all, I am fan of LDY that is why I am currently watching this series. Even I hate heavy drama as of now, because of the situation that we have right now. I even subscribe to VIU just to watch the series.

I am bit sad for the ML because he always suffers. I am a bit mad to FL's bestfriend for being selfish. It's true she does not want to take responsibilities for the things that she does. Now, the ML gave her 3 days to tell their family to cut the deal but I guess she didn't because she is afraid to lose everything after all.

I am really sad for the ML and the FL.:<

Lire davantage