The Korean youth drama ‘Twenty-Five Twenty-One’ is set in the midst of a financial crisis

Netflix is planning to introduce another South Korean series to its platform, following the release of many thrillers such as “The Silent Sea” and “All of Us Are Dead.” This time, though, it’s a play that tells a touching narrative of friendship in the midst of adversity.

The streaming giant will debut “Twenty-Five Twenty-One” on Saturday, which follows five young people as they attempt to pursue their goals against the backdrop of the Asian financial crisis of 1998. Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin are the two major characters, and the title relates to their ages.

“Because their aspirations have been taken away [due to the crisis], the five young people band together to figure out how to go ahead.” They go through emotional ups and downs… “This is a coming-of-age narrative,” director Jung Ji-hyun said during a Wednesday online news conference.

Jung expressed his hope that the series will resonate with the viewers, adding that both the 1998 financial crisis and the present COVID-19 outbreak are “difficult times.”

“Looking at how these young people go about their lives in 1998 gives some themes that might resonate with today’s audience,” he added.

The series also marks actress Kim Tae-return ri’s to the small screen after the historical drama “Mr. Sunshine” in 2018.

Kim, who is most known for her role in the 2016 erotica thriller “The Handmaiden,” said she selected “Twenty-Five Twenty-One” as her return to television because of its “wonderful tale” and her character.

She remarked of Hee-do, a fencing prodigy, “My role is full of energy too, and this is a sort of character that I haven’t portrayed before.”

Kim trained for months alongside co-star Kim Ji-yeon (or Bona from the girl group WJSN), who portrays Hee-competitor, do’s to learn fencing for the program.