Web miniseries Twenty Years Old gets broadcast on tvN

61 January 6, 2014January 6, 2014

Web miniseries Twenty Years Old gets broadcast on tvN

by girlfriday

This is an interesting model for drama production, though obviously a limited case. Four-episode miniseries Twenty Years Old starring idol actor Lee Ki-kwang (Me Too, Flower!) and rookie actress Lee Da-in was produced as a “mobile drama,” basically as an online short in four twenty-minute segments. And now after a successful run online, it’s being re-released so to speak, and getting a chance to air on television as a two-part special on cable network tvN.

Lee Ki-kwang stars as an idol (so, himself) who reconnects with an old classmate from junior high, only now at twenty he’s an unapproachable top star. Lee Da-in (she’s Lee Yubi’s little sister and Kyun Mi-ri’s daughter, in her acting debut) plays the classmate who had a crush on him even when he was just a regular nobody. They reunite and begin a secret relationship just like she’s fantasized a million times, with all the heady feelings of being twenty and in love, complicated by fame, hormones, and fans who chase you down the street.

It’s apparently a huge hit online and has already aired on television in other parts of Asia. Perhaps it’s a one-time fluke or maybe we’ll be seeing more web content reaching TV, though it would be a more impressive feat if the web series had been independently produced (it’s CJ E&M-made, which makes the tvN broadcast not a huge leap). Still, I like the idea that successful indie web content could back-channel its way to network broadcast someday, even if it’s a pipe dream. The series looks adorable, so I’m looking forward to a nice short burst of teen drama.

Twenty Years Old airs today and tomorrow on tvN.

Via My Daily

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Tags: Lee Ki-kwang

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1 snow

January 6, 2014 at 8:08 PM

Sounds cute and romantic!

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kookicookie

January 6, 2014 at 9:40 PM

Have you ever read a really really good fanfic that just grabs you and you can't put it down? That's this miniseries in a nutshell.

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pabo ceo reom

January 6, 2014 at 10:32 PM

Haha I felt the same way when I watched it. It was short and cute (kinda like Lee Ki-kwang ;)

I must say I like Lee Da-in's debut too. I hope to see her in a bigger project soon. Acting chops run in the family!

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Sue

January 7, 2014 at 3:02 AM

Haha I thought they literally went to asianfanfic and picked a Beast fanfic and made it a mini series. Sooo cute!

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Tulipsaki

January 7, 2014 at 8:41 AM

Exactly! I loved this show. It was super-cute.

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jusash

January 7, 2014 at 7:40 PM

Count me in. It was adorable, without being fan-fluff.

Loved it too, and at only 4 eppies ... totally effortless viewing.

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2 mel

January 6, 2014 at 8:13 PM

Watched it on viki and loveddd it . its so cute wish it had been longer ... also lee ki kwang does play himself and her roommate is obsessed with beast so its pretty funny

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3 kpopjungirl

January 6, 2014 at 8:15 PM

It looks cute and adorable! Definitely will watch it!!

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4 zakin89

January 6, 2014 at 8:15 PM

I actually watched this yesterday on viki in one go and it's adorable!

I mean it's nothing too special but you kind of get what it means for an idol to date > stress, no normal dates, press everywhere and of course crazy fangirls.

Oh and of course the fact that Ki Kwang actually plays himself and that Beast makes a few singing appearances doesn't hurt at all :D

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5 Mar

January 6, 2014 at 8:30 PM

I had JUST put this on my "to do" list! I would have watched it sooner had I realized LKK was in it. I thought he was adorable in Me Too Flower.

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6 ziggystardust

January 6, 2014 at 8:41 PM

Saw it and loved it. Lee Da-in is totally charming, not unlike her sister, and going into it knowing nothing about Beast, I found Ki-kwang pretty charming himself. Short and sweet.

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ziggystardust

January 6, 2014 at 10:36 PM

The writer, Kim Yoon-joo, is actually half of the duo who wrote Queen In-hyun's Man, Nine, Coffee House, etc. ^^

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ziggystardust

January 6, 2014 at 10:40 PM

One of the writers, I should say, she co-wrote this one with someone else as well. :p

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7 Elvira

January 6, 2014 at 8:52 PM

Ki-kwang = cupcake. SWEEEEEET!!!

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8 hydramirage

January 6, 2014 at 9:11 PM

I saw it recently too. Very sweet and cute!

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9 TheJu

January 6, 2014 at 9:17 PM

Just finished watching this on Viki a little over an hour ago and actually wondered if you guys had heard of it lol
It was cute!

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10 Sue

January 6, 2014 at 9:44 PM

Cute. I like it a lot. Wish it was longer. I got really excited when I saw a TV version. I was thinking they would make it longer. The ending was confusing they didn't explain [SPOILER DELETED] so if they extended and explained that would be great. The content is literally something out of a fanfiction. Their kiss scenes were really good too. Better then what I've seen in teen Kdramas (Dream High, Monstar, BOF, Heris ect)

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Lixie

January 7, 2014 at 5:21 AM

Sue, put SPOILERS if you will tell the ending ok????

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Sue

January 7, 2014 at 10:01 AM

I was thinking of putting it but then I realized the series is done, so people should be up to date. It's not that big of a spoiler anyways...its pretty obvious. But sorry!

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mo0mi

January 7, 2014 at 2:56 PM

i won't watch it so i don't care but i think it's still a spoiler, obviously if you seen it it's been broadcast, but not every one watches it right a way..

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Sue

January 9, 2014 at 4:23 AM

I get that its a spoiler, but tbh the series is done anyways so anyone coming and reading comments should be aware of spoilers. If it wasn't done I would put spoilers.

Sue

January 9, 2014 at 4:24 AM

Wouldn't*

11 GrandmaFran

January 6, 2014 at 10:11 PM

sweet! watched this last week and though it was adorable. loved the camera work and editing. those lee sisters sure are talented :D

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12 JulieSean

January 6, 2014 at 10:27 PM

Is it just me? Sorry to be shallow, her face looks bigger than LKK. She looks older than him. Wish he paired up with someone cuter.

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zsa

January 7, 2014 at 12:01 AM

I think it's just you...she looks fine to me...

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jay

January 7, 2014 at 12:27 AM

is there a rule that the lead female has to have smaller face than the lead male?

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girlatsea

January 7, 2014 at 7:22 AM

I think she was perfect. She made the drama for me. Kikwang, on the other hand, could've been interchangeable (no offense to B2ST fans ^^;;)

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megumi

January 7, 2014 at 8:09 AM

i didn't know who the actor was but he was pretty solid and the girl was good too, i don't think one was better than the other, pretty decent acting by both...

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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉

January 7, 2014 at 10:47 AM

So what if her face isn't 'small', I'm glad to see a young actress not fall victim to the trend for shaving jawlines down into a 'V' shape - she's prettier that way.

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13 noernov

January 6, 2014 at 11:12 PM

It's adorable,cute an pluffy..I wish my twenty was like this also ?

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14 seaniewho

January 7, 2014 at 12:32 AM

This is, technically, my first kdrama that I finished for 2014. I thought it was surprisingly good but it felt a little too short. I would have liked for it to have been at least 6 episodes, that way the characters could have been more fleshed out. Much like, Infinite Power.

Lee Da-in was rather charming given that this was her debut and Lee Ki-kwang was just super cute and adorable. I know I may receive some backlash for this, but I don't really much care for Beast, so that wasn't what drew me in. What interested in me was that this seemed to be an honest representation of those early 20 years, where you don't really know yourself and are just figuring yourself out. The show felt honest in its representations in those tumultuous 20 years.

This one is a definite quick watch. You can basically watch all 4 episodes in one day.

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soprection

January 7, 2014 at 5:50 AM

lol, if there's one K-culture website that you won't get flack for saying you don't like an idol group on, it's this one. I think this site generally skews older (and also deals a lot less frequently with K-pop outside of some actors in dramaland) so there are much fewer idol group/K-pop fans here.

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15 AuroraB

January 7, 2014 at 12:47 AM

it's so cute! I wish it was longer!

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16 JRoseLacroix

January 7, 2014 at 1:35 AM

I just about died of cuteness overload. I never really gave Kikwang a second glance but after this he definitely moved up my B2ST bias list. While no one can budge Junhyung out of first place KiKwang is fighting for second place with Hyunseung.

I have to say I found their second kiss was shot beautifully. Never mind being shot beautifully. It WAS beautiful. The loveliest I've seen yet. I wish it could of been longer but I'm satisfied with what I've seen.

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17 Carinne

January 7, 2014 at 1:56 AM

Really sweet mini-series. I too saw the whole thing already. OTP nearly ripped my heart out when they were crying in sync. Hope to see more projects from both these actors soon.

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18 whimsicalnet

January 7, 2014 at 2:55 AM

I just realised that I've watched this... but maybe not the ending? Have to locate the rest of the show... But yes, it was cute, the bits I watched.

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19 Belle

January 7, 2014 at 4:16 AM

Oh I've watched this on the mobile Viki app. It's fun and breezy. A lot of pretty and more kissing than I thought there would be. :p

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20 keidey

January 7, 2014 at 5:26 AM

Wow. To be honest, she looks older than Lee Yubi.

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21 TimeOut

January 7, 2014 at 6:00 AM

I'll add to the cuteness chorus. My face hurt watching this cause I was smiling so much. I had never heard of Beast so I just found out this guy is actually an idol. I thought it was just for the show LOL.

I thought their interactions together were so adorable and grounded in real life. Besides the really great kiss scene like others have mentioned I really appreciated that the male lead actually treated the girl he liked well, not like most Kdramas were the lead dude treats his girl like crap. Like they actually touched each other like real couples that adore each other do. So much skinship! Adorable!

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22 rainerust

January 7, 2014 at 6:33 AM

Haha I was just talking about this over at OT this week. Thought it was sweet and cute although yes the ending didn't make sense to me either (although if you're going with such a storyline I suppose none of it was actually supposed to make sense). Helps that I adore B2st in general and was happily singing along to all the songs (and yes the slow song they kept using as background music to the kiss was one of my favourite B2st songs).

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23 pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉

January 7, 2014 at 6:56 AM

I've probably yakked the ear off everyone on here about how much I love Lee Yubi, so it's good to hear that her dongsaeng is apparently equally charming and talented.

(now someone give LYB a lead role in something good, already! I know she's done a handful of CFs and a hosting gig, but what wouldn't I give to see her in a drama again - or even a movie.)

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24 Lu

January 7, 2014 at 8:05 AM

After seeing your article, I went to see it for myself (on Viki), and honestly, I wasn't disappointed : it's crazy SWEET !

All the actors are great : the main couple is so cute it's incredible, and the roomate is really funny (it's the same actress that played the "little princess rival of the main lead" in Heartstrings, if I'm not mistaken). Otherwise, I didn't know the others (I'm not familiar with Korean idols).

It is also interesting to see the other side of the coin when being an idol, like they can't date because of the fans and the paparazzi...

Anyway, I seriously recommand this miniserie ;)

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25 sixtyseconds

January 7, 2014 at 9:24 AM

I watched this a while ago on Viki, and I wished it was longer. ㅠㅠ Really was a short and sweet drama!!

Also, I really liked Lee Dain and hope to see her in future projects~ She's so pretty.

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26 niKai

January 7, 2014 at 9:52 AM

I've watched this, and I must admit that I was surprise that it's such an adorable story with a tad realism (as far as romancing and idol can be), nicely-paced, and the cameraworks are just so pretty.

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27 Abbie

January 7, 2014 at 11:05 AM

I'm a fan of Beast, so I already like Lee Gi-kwang (he's so adorable!) so I'll need to see this! The girl, Lee Da-in, looks like she is a good actress, just from those previews. She reminds me a little of Yoona in the looks department. Or is that just me?

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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉

January 7, 2014 at 12:13 PM

yeah, I can see it a little bit (the Yoona resemblance), though she also looks like her sister Yubi from some angles.

She and Kikwang look REALLY adorable together - I'm already impressed by one of Cube's idol acting talents last year (Junhyung in Monstar) so it looks like they're on a good streak!

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28 shiva

January 7, 2014 at 12:56 PM

it's already on viki. Very fan fic-ish, but totally cute! Lee Da-In is adorable and Ki-Kwang is really sweet on this.

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29 aly

January 7, 2014 at 1:06 PM

about to watch this now *fingers crossed*

ps. i kind of have to collect myself every time i see him up close because he's a bit too perfect. man those lips look hella kissable. damn.

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30 Mar

January 7, 2014 at 2:52 PM

This was really very sweet, and I enjoyed it. I think it also is a nice pointed message all wrapped up in cotton candy that shows how so called fans and the media do not allow celebs any semblance of normalcy. Maybe that was the point because I hope there was something positive they were trying to do besides make money by treading into a sort of creepy very real person fan fictiony area. I find it a tad wacky that LKK played...himself, involved a fictional romance. There are way too many drama watchers out there that already have a hard time distinguishing between actors and characters, yikes. I'm hoping that poor actress doesn't get accused of cheating on LKK in her next role, lol.

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31 Dbsklove

January 7, 2014 at 3:00 PM

OOOOHHHH i was wondering WHY, WHY she looked so much like Lee Yu Bi.

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32 mochi

January 7, 2014 at 3:27 PM

Gikwang has THE best smile in all kpop to me haha, I love this guy's smile it's always so... i don't know. He's not even my bias <_<
That said, I really enjoyed this when I watched it not long ago. Felt it was a good length. Too sweet and sugary would make me overdose very quickly.
And this somehow made me feel so old haha. All these years dedicated to dramas and asian pop suddenly felt weird with so many fuzzy feeling this drama gave me.

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lillykitty

January 9, 2014 at 3:41 PM

His SMILE is DAEBACK!!!

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Adal

January 17, 2014 at 9:46 PM

Yeah, it had that effect on me as well. Made me remember that my 20's were long gone and I will never see them again.

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33 Kent

January 7, 2014 at 4:44 PM

I watched it a day ago and it was short n sweet. The kissing was awesome amd way their skinship was perfectly real like. Loved it. I have never heard about the band but was surprise woth all the actors. Series was done nicely with beautiful camera work and everything looked so pretty. You all should watch it:-)

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34 foofoo

January 7, 2014 at 5:32 PM

I had no clue about this little miniseries until I saw this post this morning haha. I'm a big beast/lee kikwang fan, so I downloaded it right away and just finished it now! I loved it. I think it was a good debut for lee da-in, she impressed me! And i'm thoroughly enjoying kikwang's acting, I was surprised with his drama special and i'm glad he's getting a good response here as well :)

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35 Yosoyharu

January 7, 2014 at 9:31 PM

This mini series was so cute, like almost everyone that has commented I also wished it was a couple episodes longer.

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36 Haruni

January 7, 2014 at 11:08 PM

Just watched it today on viki. It's really cute!

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37 lillykitty

January 9, 2014 at 3:39 PM

Saw it!!! ITS AWESOME!! His SMILE!!OMG .Its a cute story!

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38 monologue

January 10, 2014 at 2:51 PM

20 years old is so cute and fluffy and actually has real kisses in it. Definitely check it out if you're in the mood for something fluffy and romantic, even if you hate idols.

I hope Lee Da In gets lots of roles, I really liked her in this.

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39 Adal

January 17, 2014 at 9:41 PM

Just watched this on viki. It's very sweet. Plenty of skinship and the main couple is very cute and innocent. Kudos to the acting chops of the leads and the supporting actress. I enjoyed it immensely.