Twenty Five, Twenty One Continues with High Ratings Over 10% But K-netizens are Increasingly Critical of the Budding OTP Love Line Between a High School Student and a College Student

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• Like some k-netizens got nothing better to do so basically nitpicking on the age difference. Some act perfect & criticizes anything & everything. ?

  • you are right..like they have have nothing to do other than nitpicking every little thing they've heard or watch...?this drama is such a wonderful masterpieces..yet what they do is only judging..they don't try to understand what the story about to convey to the viewers..

  • ikr.And this episode she is almost 20, so she is not underage at all :/

    • She is almost 20 in Korean age but technically 17 in western age so she would still technically be a minor. That said I do absolutely adore this show and count down the days till the next episode.

  • i think im more worried with the hurting of the students issue in school rather than the age gaps of the lovers

    • Exactly. I’m still wondering if that’s the reality in SK…that hurt me a lot n couldn’t enjoy the episode!

• I mean her mom in the show approves and know him. It all depends on context and I agree that this is making a big deal out of nothing. The relationship is very slow burn and they have known each other for about a year now. I don’t see any power dynamics that makes it feel gross or anything.

  I’m so curious on why they ended up breaking up. I think it had to do with him being a sports reporter and and her being an athlete like many people around them have been discouraging.

  I feel like I should stop watching now for my poor heart. But I’m so curious about the other characters. The girl that dropped out is my hero and her mom too.

  • Seung wan stole the show in episode 12, she's such an hero and expecting so much from her. I can't wait to see what she's doing presently

• They can be critical all they want, who cares? They should have better things to do. It's a really great show that's been superbly written and well thought out too and am glad it is getting the recognition it deserves.

  Crush happens, it's nothing new and they didn't really cross the line until episode 12 where she's basically 20 so I don't have an issue with it. K netizens need to take a chilled water and enjoy the show.

• Ireally love the I always wait for other episode 2521 it's looking back my high school days both character is very good I really courios what happened why they separated I to know also who's father is her child I'm weekend feel excited ireally like Kim taeri hope and end happy ending

• the irony of people calling what is arguably the most wholesome and healthiest kdrama relationship inappropriate would be funny if it wasn't also infuriating. anyone who is criticizing this relationship has clearly not watched the show. 2521 is doing something different, and deservedly getting praise for it, so the naysayers are coming out of the woodwork. the show will keep doing what it does best and hopefully end on a high note. they can stay mad!

• Aren't these the same people who love dramas where adult women creep on underage or much younger men? What's with the weird double standard here?

  What's even more hilarious is that the scenario in 25 21 actually happens in real life unlike the vast vast majority of the desperate noona romances they come out with.

  • Some of these knetz are Such hypocrites. The holier than thou, goody two shoe kind. They act as if their life is perfect so they can scrutinize everything. It’s a nicely written drama worthy of praise.

  • I think any possibly romantic kdrama pairing where one of the parties - male or female- is underage goes under scrutiny and criticism by k-viewers. Culturally, in korea, you're not an adult until 20. Melancholia (underage male student with older female teacher) was also criticized for it even though the romance didn't start until the guy was out of high school for a few years.

    Of course, the backlash from the minority seems louder here because the drama is popular. And there are some people who view the special Yi-jin and Hee-do relationship from a purely romantic angle rather than what the drama is trying to portray. I guess some viewers only watch for a romance instead of for the characters and good storylines.

    I like my share of noona romances as much as I like oppa romances. :)

    • "I guess some viewers only watch for a romance instead of for the characters and good storylines."

      ^^This 100%, and not just k-viewers. I can think of dramas where there is barely a kissing scene at all, but once there is, 99% of the posts on social media forever after are about the kiss and the love line, with starry-eyed viewers saying they must be "real" and wanting them to date and get married in real life. Er...once in a while, leads do get together in real life, but most of the time it's just a job, acting out a fictional storyline (which is about characters and usually much more than *just* the romance).

      Don't get me wrong, I like true love and a happy ending and an emotionally convincing drama as much as the next person. But I am more interested in what the drama as a whole is trying to say than in cherry picking one part entirely out of proportion. I think in the case of 2521, yes, there is a romantic part of the love, but there is also just...love. Those people who are in your life at the right moment, where even if you part ways at some point and never see them again, you still love them. Knowing them changed you, and they are forever a part of you. (It doesn't stop me from hoping for a happy ending for Yi Jin and Hee Do, but there is more than one thing going on in this drama.)

    • I wasn't online at the time but did netizens criticize the Go Kyung-pyo/Ryu Hye-young relationship in Reply 1988? They were full on dating and making out while he was a high school student and she was a college student. Or was there a double standard because the girl was older?

    • @Mimi there was no criticism for bora and sunwoo's relationship. this feels like people trying to fault something for the sake of it.

• Nos tempos de hoje, esta diferença de idade não é nada fora do que acontece na vida real, independente da cultura! O importante é como um amos tão verdadeiro e fruto de uma amizade tão verdadeira,floresce e comove . Vivemos tempos tão difíceis que ver este drama é um oásis!Aguardo cada episódio com grande espectativa e até agora só tenho me emocionado!

• Actually, I could understand why. The drama is wholesome true. But the young people among the audience who are tuning in might think it's romantic to fall for older guys. End result broken hearts and worse, teenage pregnancy. These are just many of the concerns of parents who have teenagers.

  But the current audience also knows this obviously since the ratings are unaffected.

  Just like in My Ahjussi the drama cast even did a conference when the drama is getting recognition and praise because they have to state that there would be no love line between ahjussi and IU's characters.

  I can't remember other popular dramas who also got complaints midway and had to apologize. The most recent in my memory is My Ahjussi and both are from TVN.

  Mr Q got complaints early but did not address it. Though due to JE the lead actress got roped in due to what she said in an interview. It's also from TVN.

  At least it's just complaints unlike that of JTBC with Snowdrop and even Thirty Nine got complaints about the cheating part.

  I guess the more complaints the more people tune in higher ratings.

  • Except for Snowdrop it backfired and it mostly got 2% ratings.

• She's over 18 and the age difference is only 4 years. Never thought it'd be icky in reel or real life, so I don't really get why some k-netizens are complaining. In some countries, she'd be in college and he would have just started working, or still looking or a job.

  • It’s not about the age difference, it’s about her being a minor (stated many times in the show) and him being a working adult. And to point out the obvious, they are Koreans complaining about a Korean drama in a Korean society. It doesn’t matter what is considered normal in other counties. Personally I don’t see a problem with it, but I can see why it upsets some people.

    • *countries

• Small minds are best ignored. This show has one of the best dialogues ever heard on kdramas. The bridge confession was lovely. (some paraphrasing)- "it is love." "it does not need a response from you." "gee, i don't think that what i feel is big in such a way." Then the first of this week-end's episode. "wow, what is a harsh moment for me is a time for you to find a dream." Then something about professional moms' sacrifices. Seung-wan is love!