Crash Landing On You is one of the most popular K-dramas of the past decade, but there’s another Korean series that tells an even better forbidden love story. Starring Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin as Ri Jeong-wook and Yoon Se-ri, respectively, Crash Landing On You became a worldwide sensation. The series centers around the complicated love story between a South Korean heiress and a North Korean soldier who have to overcome several hurdles in order to be together.
Crash Landing On You has left its mark on the K-drama scene. The two main leads’ chemistry was incredible, and the supporting cast contributed to why the K-drama is considered a masterpiece and is still popular nearly seven years later. While the characters were great, what made Crash Landing On You memorable is its forbidden love story. Very few K-dramas have dared to delve into the kind of storyline that’s at the heart of Crash Landing On You, but one great exception is 2021’s Youth of May.
Youth Of May Is About Two People Falling In Love During The Gwangju Uprising
Youth Of May Depicts One Of The Most Violent Times In South Korean History
Like many K-dramas, Youth of May draws on a true story and incorporates interesting fictional elements. Youth of May follows Hwang Hui-tae and Kim Myeong-hee, two people who couldn’t be more different, not only in personality but their socioeconomic backgrounds, who end up falling for each other. The romantic K-drama takes place during the Gwangju Uprising, a dark time in South Korean history that was filled with unrest due to college students protesting Marshall law.
What makes Youth of May so different from the usual romantic K-dramas is that it is set against the backdrop of turbulent times in Korea. Hui-tae and Myeong-hee each had their own dreams that were put on hold due to the complicated situation they found themselves in. But despite the odds stacked against them, the couple chose each other. Similar to Crash Landing On You, Youth of May sheds light on topics that K-dramas usually leave alone.
Like Crash Landing On You, The Odds Were Against Youth Of Main’s Lead Couple
Hui-Tae And Myeong-Hee Faced Many Challenges In Their Relationship
From the get-go, it was clear that Hui-tae and Myeong-hee’s love story wouldn’t be without problems. Their relationship began on an interesting foot, with Myeong-hee pretending to be her best friend and going on a blind date with Hui-tae, but not expecting to fall in love with them. However, the lies were the least of their problems. Hui-tae’s father was hellbent on getting him married to Su-ryeon for his political ambitions and was determined to deploy any weapon in his arsenal to make it so.
The Gwangju Uprising occurred between May 18, 1980, and May 27, 1980.
Not only did Hui-tae and Myeon-hee fight to be together despite the danger being with each other put them in, but they also had to factor in that Su-ryeon’s family would be in danger of losing their livelihoods if Hui-tae ended his engagement with her. Myeong-hee and Su-ryeon’s relationship also began to deteriorate, which affected her relationship with Hui-tae. As if that wasn’t enough, Hui-tae’s father kidnapped him and Myeong-hee in order to keep them apart. However, the couple were resilient through the challenges they had to face and became each other’s center.
Youth Of May Is A Darker Love Story Than Crash Landing On You
Youth Of May Incorporates Dark Themes With Its Love Story
Although Crash Landing On You delves into uncharted waters, it’s not necessarily dark in the way that Youth of May is. Hui-tae had a difficult relationship with his father that prevented him from being with the woman he loves. Youth of May’s Gwangju Uprising setting also means it has several disturbing scenes. The historical K-drama not only featured the way the soldiers attacked innocent civilians, but how the horrible way they were treated during their military training.
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10 Best K-Dramas Like Crash Landing On You
Many K-dramas out there share the same elements that made Crash Landing on You such an overwhelming success and are musts for any watchlist.
While Se-ri had a complicated relationship with her family, it pales in comparison to the type of dynamic between Myeong-hee and her father. Compared to Crash Landing on You, Youth of May is incredibly heartbreaking and difficult to watch at times, but that also happens to be one of its biggest strengths. Hui-tae and Myeong-hee’s love story was the focus of the show, but the series also shone when depicting a part of Korean history that not everyone knows about.
