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| Did They Get Their Happy Ending? MY YOUTH Final Episode Recap & Review |
The 2025 JTBC K-drama My Youth, starring Song Joong Ki, Chun Woo Hee, Lee Joo Myung, and Seo Ji Hoon, has officially wrapped up its 12-episode run, leaving fans with a wave of mixed emotions.
Directed by Lee Sang Yeob, this heartfelt series explores lost innocence, rekindled love, and the bittersweet ache of growing up too fast.
As viewers bid farewell to Sunwoo Hae and Seong Je Yeon, many are still trying to make sense of the emotional finale — so here’s a full My Youth ending explained, complete with a quick recap, cast reflections, and what that letter in the final scene might really mean.
Quick Recap of My Youth Final Episode
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In the last hour of My Youth, tension and longing meet resolution.
Sunwoo Hae (played by Song Joong Ki) lies unconscious, prompting Seong Je Yeon (Chun Woo Hee) to confront her fears and regrets head-on.
As memories flood back, the two lovers’ past and present converge.
Je Yeon faces the pain she caused by disrupting Hae’s fragile peace, and Hae, in turn, must decide whether to reopen his heart or remain guarded.
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Meanwhile, supporting arcs reach satisfying — if incomplete — resolutions: Mo Tae Rin (portrayed by Lee Joo Myung) comes to terms with her feelings for Kim Seok Ju (Seo Ji Hoon), choosing emotional honesty over complacency.
Other relationships and wounds — parental, friendly, professional — also find small healing steps.
By the final moments, we see whether Hae and Je Yeon can reclaim a simple, shared life or remain divided by their pasts.
My Youth Cast & Characters Wrapped
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Sunwoo Hae / Song Joong Ki – The once-bright child actor, now living quietly as a novelist & florist. Hae’s arc is about letting go of shame, embracing vulnerability, and learning to love again.
Seong Je Yeon / Chun Woo Hee – From privileged beginnings to hardship, Je Yeon’s drive is her armour.Mo Tae Rin / Lee Joo Myung – A quietly compelling third angle: she realises her own strength and emotional worth through her bond with Seok Ju.
Kim Seok Ju / Seo Ji Hoon – Torn between understanding Tae Rin and reconciling with his own past, he completes his growth by acting rather than just longing.
Supporting cast like Jin Kyung (Seok Ju’s mother), Jo Han Chul (Je Yeon’s father figure), Choi Jung Woon, Yoon Byung Hee, Lee Bong Ryun, etc., all contribute texture — their conflicts and reconciliations reflect how everyone’s youth is interlaced and imperfect.
In the end, even if not every subplot is tied up with a bow, we feel the weight of each character’s journey.
My Youth Ending Explained — What It All Means
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Happy or Sad?
It leans bittersweet happy.
The drama doesn’t shy away from lingering pain — Je Yeon’s loneliness in Hae’s absence, Hae’s scars — but it offers hope.
The final scenes suggest that what matters is not a perfect resolution but choosing to stay, to face the fragile everyday moments together.
What Changed?
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Hae learns that shutting off emotion may protect, but it also isolates.
Je Yeon realises that ambition at the cost of relationships leaves a deeper emptiness.
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Tae Rin & Seok Ju prove you can turn longing into action, not just dreams.
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Other characters show that forgiveness, communication, and memory are ongoing, not one-time fixes.
Open Threads & Interpretations
Je Yeon waiting in the flower shop, gazing into the distance — is Hae returning, or is she waiting indefinitely?TL;DR & My Youth Korean Drama Short Review
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TL;DR: My Youth ends with hope rather than closure. It suggests that healing is gradual, love is messy, and what matters is choosing connection despite the risk.
Short Review: Over 12 episodes, My Youth builds a lyrical, emotionally resonant story about lost light and the courage to feel again.
The performances — especially Song Joong Ki’s restrained power and Chun Woo Hee’s tender intensity — anchor the sometimes winding plot.
The finale delivers emotional catharsis and leaves enough ambiguity to be haunting in a good way.
FAQs
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Q: Is the ending happy or sad?
A: Bittersweet. It’s hopeful without being simplistic — the pain remains, but the choice to move forward is real.
Q: Do Hae and Je Yeon end up together?
A: The series suggests yes — at least psychologically. But the final image leaves space: together in spirit, waiting for physical reunion.
Q: What about Tae Rin and Seok Ju?
A: They find a kind of peace through confronting their feelings. It’s not a dramatic confession, but a natural progression toward mutual respect and emotional honesty.
Q: Any loose ends?
A: A few — especially in the supporting relationships — but most are left in a believable, “life goes on” state. That’s part of the beauty.
Q: Will there be a Season 2?
A: Possibly. The production team has hinted that a second season could happen — but only if fan support is strong. Whether with the same cast or new faces remains undecided.
Closing Thoughts & Call to Action
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In its final stretch, My Youth never resorts to melodrama for cheap impact — instead, it leans into quiet moments, emotional echoes, and the intangible weight of memory.
If you’ve ever lost your spark, tried to outrun your past, or wondered whether love can reappear when you least expect it — this is a story that resonates.
Whether you’re team Hae–Je Yeon, rooting for Tae Rin & Seok Ju, or just here for heartfelt farewells, I’d love to hear your take: Did you feel the ending landed? What future would you imagine for them? Leave a comment, and let’s talk youth, second chances, and that letter she held.