Why ‘Record of Youth’ is the Perfect K-Drama for Zillennials

The latest coming-of-age K-drama on Netflix is a sure contender for series of the year that you wouldn’t want to miss. There are many reasons why you should watch Record of Youth.

But in a nutshell, if you’re looking for a heartwarming series that explores how our ambitions and dreams shape our lives, then this k-drama might just be your cup of tea.

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What is it about?

When I had first seen the trailer for Record of Youth, it seemed like it was going to be a clusterfest. If there’s something I dislike about some K-dramas, it’s that they tend to throw every element they could think of at the wall to see what sticks. Some concepts are so crazy that they work, but there are those that also end up being a huge miss.

Thankfully, Record of Youth isn’t as complicated as the trailer makes it out to be. We follow the life of Sa Hye-jun (played by Park Bo-gum), a principled young man who has been struggling to make it into the modeling industry for a long time.

It doesn’t help that he is best friends with a model who is quickly on the rise, Won Hae-hyo (played by Byeon Woo-seok). Their friendship is all the more interesting given that Hae-hyo comes from an extremely wealthy family while Hye-jun has humbler beginnings. In one of the fashion shows they model in, they meet the determined make-up artist Ahn Jeong-ha (played by Park So-dam) who is Sa Hye-jun’s number one fan, because of course she is.

Hye-jun’s self-esteem is on the verge of destruction as he watches his friend achieve milestone after milestone while his career continues to stagnate. On top of that, his brother and father keep pressuring him to stop modeling and go serve in the military instead.

Basically, all the signs are telling him to give up on his dream. So now he has to figure out what makes most sense for him and his future.

Now that you’re caught up on what the show is all about, it’s time to tell you the reasons why I can’t stop gushing about the show three weeks since it has premiered, and all the tea on why you should watch Record of Youth.

(And just to get it out of the way, you may have seen Park Bo-gum in some high-profile shows. Does Reply 1988, aka best k-drama ever, ring any bells? You also know Park So-dam as Jessica from Parasite, which won Best Picture in this year’s Oscars. I mean, no big deal.)

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1. It shows you the ugly side of having a job.

Don’t get me wrong. Record of Youth is a stunning and beautiful show mostly because it serves us budget in every single episode.

But it doesn’t shy away from tackling the less glamorous side of things either. From late paychecks to benefactors to abusive bosses, ugly commoners like us working in non-modeling industries will still be able to put ourselves in the characters’ shoes in these moments.

One of the lessons that the show hammers home is that you actually have to work hard to make your dream job a dream job. No industry is perfect, and you really have to crawl through the mud sometimes to get to the good side.

It’s refreshing to see these topics addressed because there’s a tendency for some TV series to glamourize life without acknowledging all the “baggage” that comes with it. If you’re into shows that do just these, you might want to check out our list of best k-dramas to watch for Gen Z’ers.

2. It inspires you to do something.

While you might be tempted to sit on your couch all day to binge-watch Record of Youth, it actually has a way to motivate you to get up and work hard. And we don’t mean working harder at your boring day job like a corporate slave. We mean the work that you actually want to do.

The k-drama gives such high regard towards working for your dream that it could easily light a fire under your belly. For instance, Hye-jun and Jeong-ha’s belief system are particularly admirable when it comes to their ambitions. While their determination is tested throughout the series, it never truly dies.

And that is the energy we want to see more of in a world where young people are continuously told that they have it easy.

Working isn’t the solution, but taking concrete actions to reach your goals is what turns them into reality.

3. It makes you believe that other people believe in you.

One of my favorite parts of this k-drama is how every character has someone else supporting their dreams. Some of the best moments in the show revolve around situations where a character gives encouragement to the other when they start to doubt themselves.

Hae-hyo has his momager who will do just about everything to see him be an A-list star… even if it means buying him followers on Instagram.

The relationship between Hye-jun and his grandfather is amazing to watch as they bond over their family’s disapproval of their life decisions. We see them pick each other up no matter how delusional they may seem to the rest of the world.

While detractors can dampen your spirits, there is always that person who will support the choices you make. And sometimes, they’re all you need to get you by times when you feel like giving up on your dreams.

Just like the wise Lady Gaga once said again and again, “there can be a hundred people in the room, and 99 don’t believe in you, but one does.”

4. It encourages you to take the high road.

Record of Youth does a great job of showing how much privilege and wealth can truly play a factor in a person’s success. We’re gonna get into a few minor spoilers here, so brace yourselves.

When you grow up with a best friend who’s way richer than you while you watch him attain all the dreams you have for yourself, it’s tempting to take the easy way out. But Hye-jun manages to stand up for his principles when life tries to hand him success through questionable means, like the time he rejected a potential benefactor who has the hots for him.

He also quits his agency when they refuse to pay him what’s his due for the nth time. Unfortunately for us young people, we are told to suck it up because that’s just how it is in the real world.

Well just like what Hye-jun demonstrated, we shouldn’t allow ourselves to be treated like that.

Do what you have to do to get successful, but not at the expense of your dignity and principles.

5. It exemplifies a non-toxic kind of love.

In TV shows, we always see someone having to give up their personal ambitions just to get together with someone. Hellooooo, Rachel and Ross. But that way of thinking is exactly why you should watch Record of Youth.

The budding relationship between the two leads is exhilarating to watch especially with their strong on-screen chemistry. However, what I love most is how even in the midst of their romance, they still manage to prioritize their own personal growth.

They’re still putting themselves first, which is perfectly okay.

This is highlighted in Jeong-ha’s story where she declines Hye-jun’s request to do his make-up despite being his number one fan. Even if it was killing her inside, she knew it was the right thing to do for her career because her manager, Jin-ju, has been aggressively jealous whenever a client requests for her services.

Life in your twenties is about finding who you are. You don’t have to give up that quest just because you fall in love with someone.

6. It shows you numerous POVs.

I love shows where characters live in shades of grey where no one is truly good, and no one is truly bad. Record of Youth somehow manages to do that because even the “villains” in the show have some reasonable motivation to act the way they do.

A lot of viewers might get turned off with Hae-hyo because “he has it easy”. However, as the series progresses, you’ll see how much his friendship with Hye-jun is always a number one priority to him.

Some may get frustrated with his mom too, but you know that she’s really just coming from a place of love when she does everything for Hae-hyo’s career to thrive. Her ambition isn’t as selfish and deadly as those of the parents in Sky Castle.

Watching the stories of Hye-jun’s parents is also pretty interesting to watch. On one hand, we have the mother who works as the help in Hae-hyo’s household. Her commentary on how different it is to raise your kids when you come from humble roots is eye-opening.

Then, we have the father who might seem like your typical unsupportive and aggressive dad. But we are able to understand where he’s coming from because he has literally broken bones to support his family.

Record of Youth tries its best to flesh out all the characters from different ages and backgrounds, which makes it stand out from the other coming-of-age dramas out there.

It’s actually difficult not to see yourself in at least one of the characters. Hell, every one of them will probably remind you of someone in your life.

It’s a show that will not only make you reflect on your relationship with your career, but also how it drives the way other people make decisions.

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The relatability of the characters and situations as a zoomer and a zillennial is what makes this a one-of-a-kind show for our generation. I hope this list was enough to convince you why you should watch Record of Youth. You can watch it on Netflix with new episodes being released every Monday and Tuesday.

If you’re looking for more shows for zillennials, we recommend the guilty pleasure you’re not watching: Elite. Never miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

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Featured Image: Netflix Asia on Youtube