Begins ≠ Youth (
Korean: 비긴즈유스) is a 2024 South Korean
drama television series based on the
BTS Universe, starring
Seo Ji-hoon,
Noh Jong-hyun,
Ahn Ji-ho,
Seo Young-joo, Kim Yoon-woo, Jung Woo-jin, and Jeon Jin-seo. It was released on Xclusive from April 30, to May 14, 2024, every Tuesday at 16:00 (
KST).
Synopsis
Begins ≠ Youth expand on the storyline fans have seen throughout
BTS' music videos and
Save Me webtoon. The story began with Kim Hwan meeting the other six boys. He learns that everyone is dealing with their own struggles, and together, they learn to overcome their greatest difficulties.[2]
On August 21, 2019,
Big Hit Entertainment's co-CEO
Bang Si-hyuk announced that a drama based on the debut days of
BTS was in the early stages of production to be released in the second half of 2020 as part of the
BTS Universe.[4] The series is co-produced by
Chorokbaem Media.[5] Originally titled Blue Sky (
Korean: 푸른 하늘;
RR: Peureun Haneul), the series' name was later changed to Youth.[6]
Casting
On June 17, 2020, it was reported that the production companies were in the process of casting the main and supporting actors, and that the main cast would only consist of rookie actors.[7] On October 19, it was announced that
Seo Ji-hoon,
Noh Jong-hyun,
Ahn Ji-ho,
Seo Young-joo, Kim Yoon-woo, Jung Woo-jin and Jeon Jin-seo would star in the series.[8][9]
Filming
Filming was halted in late October 2020 following concerns raised by fans about the characters' names being the same as the group members' names.[10] Originally scheduled to resume in early December, filming was eventually pushed back to January 2021.[11] On April 7, 2021, it was announced that the main characters' names would be changed, and some scenes reshot.[12]
Chorokbaem Media also noted that the series will soon begin discussions with an unnamed "global OTT platform" for its distribution and broadcasting.[13]
The series was originally slated to premiere in 2021, but it was delayed due to post-production improvements.[14]
On May 14, 2023, the first teaser was released at Korea Expo in
Paris, France, making the series the first paradigm of content distribution with
Web 3.0 technology in the world.[15]
On March 27, 2024, Chorokbaem Media announced that they will begin pre-sales of viewing rights starting April. It consists of a total of 12 episodes, divided into three parts of four episodes each. Pre-sales of viewing rights for the entire drama will take place for a month starting from the first week of April, and the actual sale of viewing rights will begin from the first week of May.[16]
The series was released on Xclusive on April 30, 2024.[17]
^Yoon, Sang-geun (October 19, 2020).
"방탄소년단 드라마 '유스' 7인 캐스팅..전진서 정국役[공식]" [BTS' drama 'Youth' cast 7 people..Jeon Jinseo as Jungkook [Official]]. Star News (in Korean).
Archived from the original on May 22, 2022. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
^Yoo, Soo-kyung (December 9, 2020).
"[단독] 방탄소년단 드라마 '유스' 촬영 중단→내년 재개 예정" [[Exclusive] Filming for BTS' drama 'Youth' has been suspended → Resumed next year]. Hankook Ilbo (in Korean).
Archived from the original on November 3, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2020.
^Hwang, Hye-jin (April 7, 2021).
방탄소년단 드라마 '유스' 멤버 실명 안 쓴다...이름 바꿔 재촬영 [BTS drama 'Youth' members' real names are not used... Change the name and reshoot] (in Korean). Newsen.
Archived from the original on March 27, 2024. Retrieved April 28, 2022 – via
Naver.
^Kim, Ki-jung (May 15, 2023).
"초록뱀미디어, BTS 세계관 드라마 '유스' 티저 공개" [Chorokbaem Media, BTS Universe drama 'Youth' teaser release]. Maeil Economy (in Korean).
Archived from the original on May 16, 2023. Retrieved May 16, 2023 – via Naver.
^Oh, Myeong-eon (March 27, 2024).
BTS '화양연화' 기반 드라마 '유스'...내달부터 시청권 사전 판매 [BTS's 'Hwayangyeonhwa' based drama 'Youth'...Pre-sale of viewing tickets starting next month]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean).
Archived from the original on March 27, 2024. Retrieved March 27, 2024.
^Lee, Seon-myung (April 30, 2024).
BTS 세계관 기반 드라마 ‘유스’ 본판매 돌입···초록뱀-하이브 합작 [BTS worldview-based drama ‘Youth’ begins main sales...Collaboration with Chorokbaem and Hybe] (in Korean).
Sports Kyunghyang.
Archived from the original on April 30, 2024. Retrieved April 30, 2024 – via
Naver.