Twenty-Five Twenty-One

Visit 1998, in the midst of the Asian financial crisis, Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri) sees her high school’s fencing team disband due to a lack of funding. Determined to pursue her dream, she manages to enroll in the high school attended by her idol—and future rival—, Ko Yu-rim (Bona), before working his way up to the national team. As for him, Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk) sees his once-wealthy family ruined and scattered by the crisis. Forced to take on a string of odd jobs, he tries to rebuild his life before becoming a sports journalist. Hee-do and Yi-jin meet while they are both going through a period of uncertainty and gradually become a source of support for one another.

Surrounding them, Yu-rim, Moon Ji-woong (Choi Hyun-wook), and Ji Seung-wan (Lee Joo-myung) form a group of friends grappling with dreams, first loves, rivalries, and the transition to adulthood. In the present day, Kim Min-chae (Choi Myung-bin), Hee-do’s daughter, discovers this chapter of her mother’s youth through her mother’s diaries.

Impact and Success

Twenty-Five Twenty-One It established itself as one of the standout teen dramas of 2022, thanks in large part to its blend of romance, fencing, nostalgia, and a coming-of-age story set against the backdrop of the 1998 financial crisis. The series also enjoyed significant international exposure thanks to its streaming on Netflix. Its reception among audiences remained particularly strong: Kim Tae-ri received major recognition for her portrayal of Na Hee-do, winning the Television Daesang (Grand Prize) and the Best Actress award at the 2022 Baeksang Arts Awards.

The series also helped raise the profile of Bona, Choi Hyun-wook, and Lee Joo-myung, while the relationship between Hee-do and Yi-jin and the bittersweet conclusion of the story sparked much discussion among viewers after it aired.