SBS’s youth drama “Spring of Youth” has been captivating global audiences from its early episodes, continuing the K-drama craze. Notably, it has climbed the rankings on major OTT platforms in North America and Southeast Asia, drawing significant attention.
According to FlixPatrol, an OTT ranking aggregator, “Spring of Youth” secured 5th place in the TV Show category on the global OTT platform Rakuten Viki in the U.S. on May 12. For a Korean drama to rank highly in the U.S., where Asian content faces fierce competition, is a rare achievement.
The drama’s enthusiastic reception was also evident in Indonesia. From May 8 to 12, “Spring of Youth” maintained a spot in the Netflix Indonesia TV Show Top 10 and reached 2nd place in the TV Show category on Vidio, Indonesia’s leading OTT platform, continuing its popularity streak.
Despite its domestic struggles—debuting with a 1.4% viewership rating for its first episode and dropping to the 0% range for its latest second episode—”Spring of Youth” is garnering positive responses on global OTT platforms, raising hopes for a domestic rebound in future episodes. The drama’s 0% viewership in Korea, as reported, stems from competition with prime-time shows and a niche youth focus less appealing to older domestic audiences.
“Spring of Youth”, which has captured international attention, follows Sae-gye (Ha Yoo-joon), a former star from a top K-pop band, who, after being ousted from his group, begins college life and meets Kim Bom (Park Ji-hoo) to build a new life. The storyline, blending music, youth, and romance, along with stylish direction, appears to resonate strongly with overseas fans.
The drama delivers immersion through its well-crafted characters and fast-paced narrative. In the second episode, Seo Tae-yang (Lee Seung-hyub) moves into Kim Bom’s boarding house alongside Sae-gye, setting the stage for a full-fledged love triangle. The upcoming third episode, airing on May 14, features a tense rooftop confrontation between Sae-gye and Tae-yang. A preview showcasing their rivalry has already sparked heated online reactions. Sae-gye provokes with, “You can’t have everything just because you liked her first,” while Tae-yang responds with a fiery glare, heightening the drama’s tension.
Reports from the set indicate that the two actors delivered intense, focused performances, dominating the atmosphere, yet burst into laughter the moment “cut” was called, creating a warm, playful chemistry off-camera. The production team stated, “Starting from the third episode, the love triangle intensifies, and the explosive charisma of the two actors will captivate viewers. The story will unfold in a way that both domestic and international fans can enjoy.”
Netizens who watched “Spring of Youth” shared reactions like:
- I was tired of overly intense dramas, but this healing drama feels like a breath of fresh air, like spring weather.
- It’s been so long since I’ve seen this kind of concept.
- This type of youth drama is so rare. It feels cheesy at first, but it grows familiar, cute, and refreshing.
- It reminds me of Dream High. The more I watch, the more fun and charming it gets.
- It’s a pity the viewership ratings are low.
Park Ji-hoo continues to solidify her reputation as a rising star following the success of “All of Us Are Dead,” showcasing her growing influence in the industry. Meanwhile, Lee Seung-hyub skillfully juggles his acting career alongside preparations for N.Flying’s highly anticipated 2025 tour. Additionally, actor Ha Yoo-joon, though relatively under the radar, is steadily attracting attention for his heartfelt performance as Sae-gye, signaling his potential breakthrough.
“Spring of Youth” airs every Wednesday at 10:40 PM KST on SBS.
