Hey, everyone! How’s it going? Today I’m here to review the drama Spring of Youth, which delivers a vibrant mix of music, young love, and the chaotic journey of finding yourself when everything you thought you knew gets turned upside down.
Spring of Youth premiered on May 6, 2025, and concluded on July 2, 2025, with 10 episodes averaging 60 minutes each. Originally airing on SBS TV every Wednesday at 22:40 KST, this South Korean teen romance series is also available for streaming on Viki with English subtitles. Written by Kim Min-cheol and directed by Kim Sung-yong (known for “The Veil” and “My Dearest”), the series stars Ha Yoo-joon, Park Ji-hu, and Lee Seung-hyub from N.Flying.
What makes Spring of Youth particularly engaging is its authentic portrayal of the collision between K-pop stardom and real-world university life. The drama explores themes of reinvention, first love, and the power of music to heal and connect people from different worlds. Despite facing challenging viewership ratings during its broadcast run, the series has found its audience through streaming platforms, where viewers appreciate its genuine approach to youth struggles and musical passion.
Sa Gye’s Fall From Grace to Campus Life
Spring of Youth centers on Sa Gye (Ha Yoo-joon), the charismatic vocalist and guitarist of the most popular K-pop group “The Crown,” who gets unexpectedly kicked out of his band overnight. Ha Yoo-joon brings remarkable depth to a character who must navigate the crushing blow of losing everything he’s worked for while maintaining his super positive personality. Sa Gye’s journey from the top of the entertainment world to the unfamiliar territory of Hanju University creates the perfect setup for both comedy and genuine character growth.
The series doesn’t shy away from exploring the real challenges that come with such a dramatic life change. Sa Gye’s struggle to adapt to campus life after years in the spotlight provides both humorous moments and deeper insights into identity and resilience. His character represents anyone who’s had to start over completely, making his story universally relatable despite the K-pop setting. Ha Yoo-joon’s performance captures both the vulnerability and determination that make Sa Gye’s transformation believable and emotionally engaging.
Kim Bom: The Heart of Musical Dreams
Park Ji-hu plays Kim Bom, a music student with dreams that extend far beyond her current circumstances. Originally hoping to study at an Ivy League university, Kim Bom represents the countless young people whose plans don’t unfold as expected but who find new paths toward their passions. Her character becomes the emotional anchor of Spring of Youth, providing both romantic tension and musical inspiration for Sa Gye’s journey.
The chemistry between Park Ji-hu and Ha Yoo-joon develops naturally throughout the series, avoiding the rushed romance that often plagues youth dramas. Kim Bom isn’t just a love interest; she’s a fully realized character with her own dreams, struggles, and growth arc. Her relationship with Sa Gye evolves from curiosity to genuine connection, grounded in their shared love of music and their mutual understanding of having dreams that don’t always align with reality.
Seo Tae Yang: The Rival Who Brings the Heat
Lee Seung-hyub from N.Flying delivers a compelling performance as Seo Tae Yang, a medical student with a passion for music who becomes both Sa Gye’s romantic rival and musical competitor. The series kicks off with an explosive guitar battle between the two characters that sets the tone for their complex relationship throughout the show. Tae Yang represents the path of traditional success versus artistic passion, creating meaningful conflict beyond simple romantic rivalry.
The dynamic between Sa Gye and Tae Yang elevates Spring of Youth above typical love triangle scenarios. Their musical competitions and personal conflicts drive some of the series’ most engaging moments, while their grudging respect for each other’s talents adds layers to their relationship. Lee Seung-hyub’s real-world musical background brings authenticity to the performance scenes, making the campus band sequences feel genuinely electric and emotionally resonant.
When Music Becomes the Ultimate Battleground
The climactic moments of Spring of Youth revolve around the formation and evolution of their mixed campus band, featuring Sa Gye, Kim Bom, Seo Tae Yang, Kong Jin-Gu (Kim Sun-Min), and Bae Kyu-Ri (Seo Hye-Won). The series builds toward musical performances that serve as both entertainment and emotional revelation, where each character’s growth and relationships are tested through their collaborative artistry. The drama succeeds in making music feel like both the solution to their problems and the source of their greatest challenges.
The series uses music not just as a backdrop but as a character development tool, showing how creating art together forces the characters to confront their fears, insecurities, and dreams. The final episodes focus on whether their newly formed band can overcome the personal conflicts and external pressures that threaten to tear them apart, making their musical success feel earned rather than guaranteed.
Success on Viki
While Spring of Youth faced challenging broadcast ratings during its SBS run, it has found appreciative audiences on Viki who connect with its authentic portrayal of youth struggles and musical passion. International viewers particularly praise the series’ soundtrack, cinematography, and the cast’s genuine chemistry, with many noting that it deserves more recognition than it received during its initial broadcast. The 6.9 IMDb rating reflects divided opinions, but streaming audiences have been more generous, appreciating the series as perfect light entertainment with emotional depth. Spring of Youth proves that sometimes the most heartfelt stories find their true audience through streaming platforms rather than traditional broadcast metrics.
Perfect Drama for Music and Romance Lovers
If you love stories about second chances, musical passion, and the beautiful chaos of young love, Spring of Youth is the perfect series to binge on Viki. The drama offers authentic performances, genuine emotional moments, and a soundtrack that will have you searching for the songs long after the credits roll. It’s a reminder that sometimes the best stories come from the most unexpected life changes.
Why This Musical Journey Deserves Your Playlist
Spring of Youth succeeds because it understands that the most meaningful growth happens when we’re forced out of our comfort zones and into situations that challenge everything we thought we knew about ourselves. The series reminds us that sometimes losing everything is just the beginning of finding what we were really meant to do.
Series Details
Number of Episodes: 10 (completed series)
Platform: Viki (also aired on SBS TV)
Release Year: 2025 (May 6 – July 2, 2025)
Current IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Genre: Teen Romance, Comedy, Drama, Music
Status: Completed series
Main Protagonists: Ha Yoo-joon (Sa Gye), Park Ji-hu (Kim Bom), Lee Seung-hyub (Seo Tae Yang)
Antagonist: No traditional antagonist (industry pressures and personal conflicts)