by Cryssy Anne, February 14, 2022
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Premiere Diary: Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022)


Hello, dear MDL readers! 

This time, I'll take you all on a journey filled with ups and downs,

 different struggles but also about finding the strength to persevere further despite all obstacles in order to reach one's destined goal. 

Did you find this short description interesting? Then come along to discover more.


Fair Warning: This article contains minor spoilers about the story, 

cast, or any other information known to the public. 

Notice: Can be easily read in both light and dark mode!


Airs On:  Saturday & Sunday | Country: South Korea | Duration: 1 hr. 10 min. 

Premieres on February 12th at 21:10 on TvN and streaming worldwide on Netflix

Created by Jung Ji Hyun who previously co-directed one of the most intriguing fantasy romance dramas, involving parallel dimensions, all with an unforgettable cinematography style


The King: Eternal Monarch (2020) with Lee Min Ho and Kim Go Eun

(GiF images source: gimme-a-chocolate on Tumblr)

"No matter what kind of door opens before us in life, and even if the moments we share make us sad at times, I wish to be able to love tirelessly.  Just like that, we decided to love the fate that chose us. Just for today and only today. And forever."

Need a reminder of what this drama was actually about? No problem, I got you covered!

Simply, read my previous Colorful Throwback article!


This renowned director teams up once again with the screenwriter Kwon Eun Sol. They had previously worked together on the gripping drama: 


Search: WWW (2019) with Lee Jae Wook and Lee Da Hee

(GiF images source: hyecinths, Kdramaspace on Tumblr)


Versus Im Soo Jung and Jang Ki Yong










(GiF images source: sofarawayinthemilkyway on Tumblr)

Now let's move on to the actual main topic, shall we?



"The story is set in 1998 and tells the stories of youth who find new direction and growth after having their dreams taken away. Two people first meet when they are 22 and 18 years old respectively and fall in love 3 years later. Na Hee Do is a member of her high school fencing team. Sadly, due to the South Korean financial crisis, the high school fencing team is disbanded. Going through all the difficulties, she becomes a member of the sabre fencing national team. The South Korean financial crisis also causes Baek Yi Jin’s father's business to go bankrupt. This leads to a life change for Baek Yi Jin, from living the life of a wealthy person to a poor person. While studying, he works part-time jobs like delivery newspapers. Later, he becomes a sports reporter for a broadcasting network. (Source: Soompi, AsianWiki)"



(Poster source: themoviedb.org)

More details about this fresh and dazzling poster can be found at Soompi!

See how this poster was actually made, in this behind-the-scenes video from TvN!


 “I’m too 18 to lose something,” and “Time cannot take away happiness."

(English poster source: themoviedb.org) (Quptes source: Soompi)


“In the middle of our youth, that summer was ours.”

 (Poster and quptes source: Soompi)


A special poster is presented to the fans and viewers!

“Wherever you are, I’ll go and reach you.” 

 (Poster source: Namuwiki) (Quote source: Soompi)



Kim Tae Ri as Na Hee Do

(Photo source: Hancinema)


Actress Kim Tae Ri mentioned a few details, “The character Hee Do is an individual with colors I’ve never seen before, so I was curious.” The actress added that she was also drawn to the topic of fencing, which is a slightly unfamiliar sport to her. She’s a youth who started off dreaming of becoming a fencer, but she’s currently going through a slump. Nevertheless, she loves fencing so much that she’s stubbornly walking towards her dream. Normally, her personality is extremely bright, and she’s the type to run while only looking forward. However, she’s also a character who is more sincere than anyone else about her dreams." (Source: Soompi)


Nam Joo Hyuk as Baek Yi Jin

(Photo source:  Soompi)


Nam Joo Hyuk described the story and character saying, “‘Twenty Five, Twenty One’ is a drama in which young people who have lost their dreams suffer and grow together. They comfort and strengthen each other. I decided to be part [of this project] because it seemed like a drama that everyone could enjoy together as they remembered those days and empathize with it, saying, ‘That’s what it was like those days.' Baek Yi Jin, tends to make mistakes, but if there’s something he has to do, he does it no matter what, and I really like that side [of him] the most.”  (Source: Soompi)



These new short trailers are so enchanting, as it's making everyone want to see more:

(Photo and video source: TvN DRAMA on YouTube)


, “Whether it was because I ran or because I was excited, I was curiously out of breath. The wind blew, and the green leaves rubbed against each other. It was the middle of summer.” 

He says, “The summer that felt like it would last forever. Us, who were passionate while meeting in the heat of youth. That summer was ours.”  (Translation source: Soompi)


(Photo and video source: TvN DRAMA on YouTube)


 “In the middle of summer, we were there.

As we face each other smiling, it feels as if we’re the only two people in the world.

No matter where you are, I’ll go to reach you.

I hope there are more moments of laughter with you.” (Translation source: Soompi)


As no official soundtracks have been released yet for this series, I thought the following song would suit the show perfectly:

Song:  Losing You by Wonho 

(Photo source: tvN drama on Twitter)  |  (Official audio source: WONHO on YouTube)


Second song: 18 by One Direction

(Photo source: tvN drama on Twitter)  |  (Official audio source: One Direction on YouTube)


Simply For Fun: Here are some fun posters from "Rookie Cops."  Just

see this amazing behind-the-scenes video from Disney+ Korea!


As for the next video, it contains some wonderful background sounds, 

from the seaside that were used in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha!(Photo and video source: TvN DRAMA on YouTube)


By the way, Memory of Encaustic Tile (2022) 

has been airing since the 26th of January on Youku and Viki!

 (Poster source: themoviedb.org)


And Hello, the Sharpshooter (2022) will finally air on February 2nd 

on WeTV, Viki and KUKAN Drama Channel on YouTube!

 (Poster source: WeTV)


So are you going to catch the most awaited premiere of #2521 that will make you reminiscence dearly of summer? Tell me your thoughts about this in the comments! 

Goodbye, see you next time!


Sources: MyDramaList, WeTV, AsianWiki, TvN, Twitter, YouTube, Netflix, Soompi, here, here, here, here, here, heremeanwhile GIF images are from Tumblr. here, here. Posters were found at themoviedb.org and here. Wallpapers used for banners are from here. here and here. All the pictures were edited by Cryssy Anne with an online tool called Pixlr X. Additional photos are from Hancinema and here. Last posters used were found here and here, Namuwiki.


romance drama netflix nam joo hyuk youth recommendation friendship news tvn kim tae ri twenty-five twenty-one