Record of Youth (2020) is a popular Korean drama starring Park Bo-gum, Park So-dam, and Byeon Woo-seok. It aired on tvN from September 7 to October 27, 2020, and was also released worldwide on Netflix. The show set a record for the highest-rated premiere among tvN’s Monday-Tuesday dramas and gained strong international attention. It was praised for its realistic story about millennials and Gen Z chasing their dreams in the entertainment industry. The drama was nominated for Best Screenplay at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards and was named by Forbes as one of the best Korean dramas of 2020.
K-Drama Profile
- Drama Title (English): Record of Youth
- Drama Title (Korean): 청춘기록
- Revised Romanization: Cheongchungirok
- Air Date: September 7, 2020 ~ October 27, 2020
- Genre: Romance
- Production: Pan Entertainment
- Creator: Studio Dragon
- Writer: Ha Myung-hee
- Director: Ahn Gil-ho
- Starring: Park Bo-gum, Park So-dam, Byeon Woo-seok
- Country: South Korea
- Language: Korean
- Episodes: 16
Plot Synopsis
The drama tells the story of three young people in the entertainment world who work hard to achieve their dreams and find love while staying hopeful.
Main Casts
Park Bo-gum (as Sa Hye-jun)
- Name (English): Park Bo-gum
- Name (Korean): 박보검
- Revised Romanization: Bak Bogeom
- Birthdate: June 16, 1993
- Age: 32
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Occupations: Actor, singer, musician
- Debut: 2011
- Agency: The Black Label
- Height: 182 cm
- Weight: 75 kg
- Blood Type: O
- MBTI: ESFJ
- Social Media: Instagram, X
Park Bo-gum is a South Korean actor, singer, and musician known for his charming personality and versatile acting. He became the youngest actor named Gallup Korea’s Television Actor of the Year and the first to top the Forbes Korea Power Celebrity list. Often called the “Prince of Asia” and “Nation’s Boyfriend,” he gained fame through popular dramas like Hello Monster (2015), Reply 1988 (2015–16), Love in the Moonlight (2016), Encounter (2018–19), Record of Youth (2020), When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025), and Good Boy (2025). Beyond acting, Park released his first studio album “Blue Bird” in Japan in 2020 and made his musical debut in Let Me Fly in 2023.
Park So-dam (as Ahn Jeong-ha)
- Name (English): Park So-dam
- Name (Korean): 박소담
- Revised Romanization: Bak Sodam
- Birthdate: September 8, 1991
- Age: 34
- Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Occupation: Actress
- Debut: 2013
- Agency: The Present Company
- Height: 165 cm
- Blood Type: B
- MBTI: ENFJ-T
- Social Media: Instagram
Park So-dam is a South Korean actress known for her strong performances and natural charm. She first gained attention with the film The Priests (2015) and later starred in popular dramas like Cinderella with Four Knights (2016), Record of Youth (2020), and Death’s Game (2023–2024). She became internationally famous for her role in the hit film Parasite (2019), which won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and the Academy Award for Best Picture. Her performance, along with the cast, earned the SAG Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture.
Byeon Woo-seok (as Won Hae-hyo)
- Name (English): Byeon Woo-seok
- Name (Korean): 변우석
- Revised Romanization: Byeon Useok
- Birthdate: October 31, 1991
- Age: 34
- Birthplace: Bucheon, South Korea
- Nationality: South Korean
- Occupations: Model, actor
- Debut: 2010
- Agency: Varo Entertainment
- Height: 190 cm
- Weight: 73 kg
- Blood Type: B
- MBTI: INTJ
- Social Media: Instagram
- Website: Official site
Byeon Woo-seok is a South Korean model and actor. He started his career as a model in 2010 and later moved into acting. He had supporting roles in Record of Youth (2020) and Strong Girl Nam-soon (2023), and became widely known for his lead role in Lovely Runner (2024). Byeon also made his film debut in the Netflix movie 20th Century Girl (2022), earning praise for his talent and screen presence.
Drama OSTs
Go
- OST Title (English): Go
- Artist Name (English): Seungkwan (Seventeen)
- Artist Name (Korean): 승관 (세븐틴)
- Release Date: September 7, 2020
You’re In My Soul
- OST Title (English): You’re In My Soul
- Artist Name (English): Chung Ha
- Artist Name (Korean): 청하
- Release Date: September 15, 2020
Every Second
- OST Title (English): Every Second
- OST Title (Korean): 나의 시간은
- Artist Name (English): Baekhyun
- Artist Name (Korean): 백현
- Release Date: September 22, 2020
Shine On You
- OST Title (English): Shine On You
- OST Title (Korean): 그렇게 넌 내게 및나
- Artist Name (English): Whee In
- Artist Name (Korean): 휘인
- Release Date: September 28, 2020
What If
- OST Title (English): What If
- Artist Name (English): Kim Jae-hwan
- Artist Name (Korean): 김재환
- Release Date: September 29, 2020
Spotlight
- OST Title (English): Spotlight
- Artist Name (English): Bobby
- Artist Name (Korean): 바비
- Release Date: October 5, 2020
Brave Enough
- OST Title (English): Brave Enough
- Artist Name (English): LeeHi
- Artist Name (Korean): 이하이
- Release Date: October 6, 2020
Just You
- OST Title (English): Just You
- OST Title (Korean): 너로 가득해
- Artist Name (English): J Rabbit
- Artist Name (Korean): 제이래빗
- Release Date: October 12, 2020
What My Heart Says
- OST Title (English): What My Heart Says
- OST Title (Korean): 내 마음이 그렇대
- Artist Name (English): Sejeong
- Artist Name (Korean): 세정
- Release Date: October 13, 2020
It’s Ok, Because It’s You
- OST Title (English): It’s Ok, Because It’s You
- OST Title (Korean): 넌 그래도 돼
- Artist Name (English): Xani
- Artist Name (Korean): 산희
- Release Date: October 19, 2020
Open Door
- OST Title (English): Open Door
- Artist Name (English): Janet Suhh
- Artist Name (Korean): 자넷서
- Release Date: October 20, 2020
Episodes (1~16 Summary)
Episode 1
Hye-jun is a model working hard to achieve his dream of becoming an actor, but the journey isn’t easy. He feels betrayed by his agency CEO, Tae-su, and often gets compared to his friend Hae-hyo, who shares the same dream. Just when things start to get tough, he receives a military enlistment notice, bringing a new turning point to his life.
Episode 2
Jeong-ha, feeling embarrassed after realizing her feelings for Hye-jun, quickly says she likes Hae-hyo instead to hide her true emotions. Meanwhile, both Hye-jun and Hae-hyo audition for the same movie, but Hae-hyo gets the role, creating tension between the two friends.
Episode 3
When Hye-jun meets Jeong-ha, he gets the chance to video call his grandfather. At the salon, Jeong-ha meets a senior model, leading to an unexpected moment. Meanwhile, Min-jae receives a call from a film company, opening the door to a new opportunity for Hye-jun.
Episode 4
Hye-jun decides to take a role in a movie. Even though Yeong-nam is upset, Ae-sook supports him. Jeong-ha feels embarrassed when it’s revealed she’s been Hye-jun’s fan, but she gathers the courage to meet him in person.
Episode 5
Min-jae is excited when Hye-jun gets cast in a drama, feeling that everything is going well. At the reading for the movie “Ordinary,” Hye-jun, Jeong-ha, and Hae-hyo meet. Seeing Hye-jun and Jeong-ha getting along closely, Hae-hyo feels a little jealous.
Episode 6
Jeong-ha is surprised by Hye-jun’s sudden confession. At the same time, Min-jae feels frustrated after realizing he fell into Tae-su’s trap. Hye-jun then goes looking for Min-jae, who has gone out of contact.
Episode 7
Hye-jun and Jeong-ha start their sweet relationship, while Min-jae works hard to get Hye-jun a new drama audition. At the same time, Jin-woo tries to fix his cold relationship with Hae-na at law school, but unexpectedly meets Jia, Hye-jun’s ex-girlfriend.
Episode 8
Hye-jun becomes popular with his drama “Gateway,” and Jeong-ha keeps supporting him every step of the way. Feeling uneasy about Hye-jun’s success, Tae-su meets a reporter and starts talking about Charlie Jung, creating new tension.
Episode 9
Hye-jun’s family feels both proud and a little surprised to see him as a successful celebrity. Even with his busy schedule, he and Jeong-ha share their daily lives and grow closer in love. Seeing Hye-jun’s success, Lee-young gets upset and starts provoking Hae-hyo, adding tension to their relationships.
Episode 10
At the year-end awards, Hye-jun gets all the attention, and Jeong-ha can only watch from a distance. Hae-hyo, hoping to win the Best New Actor award, tells Jeong-ha how frustrated and upset he feels being compared to Hye-jun.
Episode 11
After Charlie Jung’s death, Hye-jun faces a lot of online criticism, and rumors about his relationship with Charlie Jung spread through news and TV. Feeling overwhelmed, Min-jae looks for a way to help Hye-jun get through this crisis.
Episode 12
Jia introduces herself as Hye-jun’s ex-girlfriend and volunteers for an interview about him. Hye-jun apologizes to Jeong-ha, and she reassures him that it’s okay. Still, Jeong-ha becomes more careful in their relationship and feels frustrated and a little insecure about herself.
Episode 13
Hye-jun is caught up in dating rumors with his co-star, Seo-woo. Jeong-ha says she trusts him, but their relationship feels more distant. Meanwhile, Tae-su works secretly to try to win Hye-jun back.
Episode 14
News breaks about the last message Charlie Jung sent to Hye-jun before her death, and Hye-jun faces public backlash again. Jeong-ha worries that their dating rumors could make things even worse.
Episode 15
Hye-jun is heartbroken after an unexpected breakup, while Jeong-ha focuses on her work, trying not to think about him. Meanwhile, Min-jae struggles with whether to reveal the message Charlie Jung sent to Hye-jun, as rumors and scandals keep piling up.
Episode 16
Jeong-ha hopes Hye-jun will remember her fondly, and Hye-jun wants to hold on to every moment they shared. Their love becomes a lasting memory of their brightest and most unforgettable youth.
Ratings & Reviews
Ratings
| Platform | Rating | Notes |
| IMDb | 7.7 / 10 | Positive international feedback |
| WatchaPedia | 2.9 / 5.0 | Mixed reviews from Korean viewers |
| Kinolights | 88.89% | Strong audience and critic score |
Critic Reviews
Record of Youth received both praise and criticism. Many viewers loved the cast’s performances, especially Park Bo-gum, but some felt the story relied on familiar K-drama clichés.
Common feedback included:
- The romance felt unrealistic, and the plot sometimes moved slowly.
- The conflicts were a bit exaggerated and predictable.
- Around episode 10, some viewers said the story lost momentum.
Still, others praised the drama for honestly showing the struggles of young people trying to achieve their dreams and deal with family and career challenges.
What Viewers Loved
- Park Bo-gum’s acting received high praise for its emotion and sincerity.
- The final episode stood out for being realistic and heartfelt, focusing on friendship and personal growth instead of a typical happy ending.
- Side characters like Jin-woo and Hae-na added emotional depth, reflecting real-life struggles of young couples.
- Many viewers connected with the drama’s message about hope, growth, and resilience.
Netflix Performance
| Date/Period | Global Rank | Korea Rank | Highlights |
| Oct 7, 2020 | #4 | – | Highest global rank ever for a non-original Korean drama on Netflix |
| Oct 14, 2020 | #6 | – | Stayed in Netflix’s Global Top 10 |
| Oct 2020 (Monthly) | #8 | #1 | Top Korean TV series that month |
| 2020 Year-End | #8 | #5 | One of the most popular Korean dramas of 2020 |
Summary
Record of Youth (2020) became one of the most-watched Korean dramas on Netflix, winning global fans for its realistic and emotional storytelling. Though it faced criticism for its pacing and clichés, the show stood out for its honest portrayal of youth, ambition, and relationships. Its bittersweet and mature ending left a lasting impression as one of the most relatable coming-of-age K-dramas of its time.
Awards & Achievements
Nominations
| Award Ceremony | Year | Category | Recipient | Result |
| APAN Star Awards | 2021 | Excellence Award (Actor in a Miniseries) | Park Bo-gum | Nominated |
| APAN Star Awards | 2021 | Popular Star Award (Actor) | Park Bo-gum | Nominated |
| Asia Artist Awards | 2020 | Popularity Award (Television Actor) | Park Bo-gum | Nominated |
| Baeksang Arts Awards | 2021 | Best Screenplay – Television | Ha Myung-hee | Nominated |
Summary
Although Record of Youth (2020) didn’t win major awards, it received several important nominations that recognized its strong impact and quality. Park Bo-gum earned multiple nominations for his excellent acting and popularity, while writer Ha Myung-hee was honored with a Baeksang Arts Award nomination for Best Screenplay.
These nominations highlight the show’s meaningful story, talented cast, and lasting influence as one of the most memorable K-dramas of 2020.
Viewership
All ratings are based on Nielsen Korea paid platform data.
| Episode | Air Date | Nationwide Average | Nationwide Peak | Seoul Average | Seoul Peak |
| 1 | Sep 7, 2020 | 6.4% | 8.7% | 7.8% | 10.3% |
| 2 | Sep 8, 2020 | 6.8% | 8.4% | 8.2% | 10.2% |
| 3 | Sep 14, 2020 | 7.2% | 8.8% | 9.1% | 10.8% |
| 4 | Sep 15, 2020 | 7.8% | 9.4% | 9.6% | 11.6% |
| 5 | Sep 21, 2020 | 7.8% | 10.0% | 9.0% | 11.7% |
| 6 | Sep 22, 2020 | 7.0% | 8.3% | 8.4% | 10.2% |
| 7 | Sep 28, 2020 | 7.7% | 9.5% | 9.4% | 11.4% |
| 8 | Sep 29, 2020 | 7.7% | 9.0% | 9.2% | 11.0% |
| 9 | Oct 5, 2020 | 7.4% | 9.1% | 9.0% | 10.7% |
| 10 | Oct 6, 2020 | 8.2% | 9.6% | 10.1% | 11.7% |
| 11 | Oct 12, 2020 | 8.3% | 9.8% | 9.6% | 11.4% |
| 12 | Oct 13, 2020 | 7.8% | 8.9% | 9.4% | 10.6% |
| 13 | Oct 19, 2020 | 7.8% | 9.0% | 9.3% | 10.6% |
| 14 | Oct 20, 2020 | 7.8% | 9.3% | 9.6% | 11.4% |
| 15 | Oct 26, 2020 | 7.6% | 8.8% | 9.1% | 10.7% |
| 16 | Oct 27, 2020 | 8.7% | 9.9% | 10.7% | 12.1% |
Average Ratings:
- Nationwide: 7.6%
- Seoul Area: 9.2%
Key Highlights
- Record of Youth started strong despite a month-long gap since the previous tvN drama.
- It set tvN’s record for the highest premiere rating for a Monday-Tuesday drama and entered the Top 10 first broadcasts on the network.
- Ratings steadily increased over time, even with competing shows in the same time slot.
- Episode 10 broke 10% average in Seoul, the first time for a tvN Monday-Tuesday drama since The Crowned Clown nearly two years earlier.
- The final episode achieved a personal high, with 8.7% nationwide and 10.7% in Seoul, despite strong competition from SBS’s Penthouse.
Watch Record of Youth on Netflix
