Overview of ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’

‘Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’ is a popular South Korean K-drama which portrays a romantic tale of Na Hee-Do, a skilled fencer, and Baek Yi-Jin, a wealthy young man whose family goes bankrupt due to the financial crisis. Despite their different backgrounds, they face their struggles and work towards their dreams. The drama showcases their journey to find love and success in their respective fields.

The series is directed by Jung Ji-hyun and stars Kim Tae-ri, Nam Joo-hyuk, Bona, Choi Hyun-wook, and Lee Joo-myung. It first premiered on tvN and is now available for streaming on Netflix.

Profile

• Drama: Twenty Five Twenty One
• Genre: Romance
• Director: Jung Ji-hyun
• Writer: Kwon Do-eun
• Network: tvN
• Episodes: 16
• Release Date: 12 February – 3 April 2022
• Language: Korean
• Country: South Korea

Cast

Main

• Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do
• Nam Joo-hyuk as Baek Yi-jin
• Bona as Ko Yu-rim/Julia Ko
• Choi Hyun-wook as Moon Ji-woong
• Lee Joo-myung as Ji Seung-wan

Supporting

• Seo Jae-hee as Shin Jae-kyung
• Baek Seok-gwang as Na Seong-jin
• Choi Myung-bin as Kim Min-chae
• Park Yoon-hee as Baek Seong-hak
• Kim Young-sun as Baek Yi-jin’s mother
• Park Jun-pyo as Baek Yi-jin’s maternal uncle
• Kim Nam-i as Baek Yi-jin’s paternal aunt
• Choi Min-young as Baek Yi-hyun
• So Hee-jung as Ji Seung-wan’s mother
• She is also Baek Yi-jin’s landlady
• Heo Jin-na as Ko Yu-rim’s mother
• Kim Dong-gyun as Ko Yu-rim’s father

Synopsis

The story begins with Na Hee-do, a 40-year-old mother, taking her daughter Kim Min-chae to a ballet competition. Hee-do stresses the value of Min-chae giving her best, but Min-chae is more concerned with winning than anything else. However, after seeing her rival perform flawlessly, Min-chae loses confidence and walks out of the competition, leading to her disqualification.

Frustrated with her daughter’s attitude, Hee-Do confronts her, but Min-Chae decides to quit ballet altogether, thinking that she’s not good enough. She runs away to Hee-do’s childhood home, where her grandmother lives, and starts going through her mother’s old possessions. There, Min-Chae finds Hee-do’s old journal and starts reading it. Through it, she learns about her mother’s younger self, including her aspirations, frustrations, and relationships.

The story then shifts to 1998, where Na Hee-do is a member of the school fencing team at Seonjung Girls’ High School. Due to the IMF crisis at that time in Korea, the team is disbanded. While Baek Yi-jin’s (Nam Joo-hyuk) family experiences a drastic shift in their financial status, causing them to go from a life of luxury to one of poverty, which results in Yi-jin being separated from his parents. Baek Yi-jin is forced to take up several part-time jobs to support himself and his family. Hee-Do and Baek Yi-jin meet during this period and become close.

Despite the setbacks she faced, Hee-do remains determined to continue pursuing her passion for fencing. To do so, she transfers to Taeyang High School and eventually manages to become a member of the National Fencing Team. Baek Yi-jin discovers a new passion for sports journalism and later becomes a sports reporter.

Ending Explained

In the final episodes of the Korean drama, Na Hee-Do and Baek Yi-Jin have grown from friends to lovers, but the strain of their busy careers and frequent traveling has put a strain on their relationship. Despite their efforts to maintain their connection, they ultimately decide to break up.

However, years later, Hee-Do receives her lost diary from Min-chae and finds a heartwarming entry from Yi-Jin expressing his true feelings for her. This brings Hee-Do the closure she needs, and she returns to the place where they broke up, reflecting on their past and the importance of friendship and love.

The messages conveyed by ‘Twenty-five, Twenty-one’

Through its narrative, the Kdrama conveys multiple messages that can impact viewers. One of the prominent messages conveyed by the drama is to follow one’s passion, believe in oneself and give one’s best effort regardless of the outcome. Hee-do is an excellent example of this.

Despite her mother’s and others’ criticisms of her fencing skills, Hee-do perseveres towards her goal of becoming a champion fencer. She loves fencing, knows she’s good at it, and sets out to prove all the critics wrong. She also encourages her daughter to give her best and enjoy ballet, even if she doesn’t win.

Another significant message the drama conveys is that one’s priorities can change over time. The show doesn’t follow the conventional friends-become-lovers storyline, which may disappoint some viewers. However, Hee-do and Yi-jin understand that their careers and goals are just as important as their love for each other. As their busy schedules begin to impact their relationship, they eventually realize that neither of them is willing to sacrifice their dreams for a shared future.

The drama also teaches the importance of letting go sometimes. Hee-do and Yi-jin learn during their breakup that not all good things last forever, and it’s okay to let go. It’s essential to accept that some relationships or things may no longer bring joy and happiness, and it’s okay to move on.

Overall, the Kdrama encourages viewers to pursue their passion, give their best effort, and believe in themselves. It also reminds viewers that priorities and needs may change over time, and it’s okay to let go of what no longer serves them.

Awards

• Asian Academy Creative Awards 2022
  Best Drama Series
• Asia Contents Awards 2022
  New Comer – Actor Choi Hyun-wook
• Baeksang Arts Awards 2022
  Best Actress – Kim Tae-ri
  Most Popular Actress – Kim Tae-ri
• Korea Drama Awards 2022
  Best New Actress – Kim Ji-yeon
• Korea Culture and Entertainment Awards 2022
  Excellence Award- Actress – Kim Ji-yeon

Interesting Facts about ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’

1. Kim Tae-ri returns to television with ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’ after a three-year break.
2. The filming of the Kdrama was put on hold because of the Covid-19 outbreak.
3. ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’s OST peaked at number 7 on the weekly Gaon Album Chart.
4. For 10 consecutive weeks, the Kdrama was included in ‘Netflix’s ‘Global Top 10’ list for non-English shows.
5. The Kdrama was popular among K-pop stars including BTS’ Jungkook.
6. After the drama ended, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism introduced a travel package that takes visitors to the filming locations of the series.
7. The Kdrama was a financial success and peaked among the top dramas in Korean cable television history in terms of ratings.

FAQs

1. Who is the director of ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’?
   The Kdrama is directed by Jung Ji-hyun.
2. Who are the leads in ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’?
   The Kdrama is starred by Kim Tae-ri, Nam Joo-hyuk, Bona, Choi Hyun-wook, and Lee Joo-myung.
3. What is the genre of ‘Twenty-Five, Twenty-One’?
   Romance.
4. What is the Instagram ID of Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk?
   @kimtaeri_official  and @skawngur are the Instagram IDs of Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk, respectively.