'Spring of Youth' Indonesian Craze for This Korean Drama Is Unprecedented: It Ranks 2nd on the Country's Largest OTT Platform

'Spring of Youth' is causing quite the stir in Indonesia.

The SBS youth drama 'Spring of Youth' (written by Kim Min-chul, directed by Kim Sung-yong) tells the story of 'Sagye', a star from the top K-pop band, who gets kicked out of the team and embarks on a tumultuous college life, only to meet 'Kim Bom' by fate and make a splendid comeback in this youth music romance.

'Spring of Youth' is awakening the fluttering hearts of not only domestic but also international viewers with the fresh chemistry among young actors Ha Yoo-jun, Park Ji-hu, and Lee Seung-hyub, and the refreshing charm of youth dramas. International viewers who have seen clips of 'Spring of Youth' on social media are showing keen interest, asking for "the drama's name please" and "the idol actor's name please".

Amidst this, 'Spring of Youth' has grabbed the spotlight by ranking second among Korean dramas on Indonesia's largest OTT platform Vidio, which boasts 60 million monthly users (according to Flix Patrol, from May 10th to May 17th). This significant achievement among numerous Korean dramas on the most influential OTT platform in Indonesia, a key battleground for the 'K-wave', is noteworthy. Here are three reasons why 'Spring of Youth' has captivated the hearts of the Indonesian audience:

▶ A World Reminiscent of Pure Romance Comics

'Spring of Youth' delivers heart-fluttering moments with a world reminiscent of pure romance comics, transcending language and culture. The first meeting between Sagye (Ha Yoo-jun) and Kim Bom (Park Ji-hu) under the legendary tree on campus adds a layer of mystique, while the coincidence of Sagye throwing a doll at a concert by 'The Crown' band landing in Kim Bom's arms visualizes a love line with a K-pop star that fans could only dream of. Moreover, the bickering love story between the male lead, a former top K-pop star, and the female lead, a girl with extraordinary songwriting talent, showcases the quintessential youth romance cliche that never gets old.

▶ Unpredictable Plot Twists

The unpredictable plot twists in 'Spring of Youth' offer an immersive experience that transcends borders. From the first episode, the protagonist's trials and unexpected mysteries sprinkled throughout the drama keep viewers hooked.

The appearance of Kim Bom wearing a doll mask during the 'Two Sagye' recruitment and the last-minute twist involving Lee Seung-hyub captivate the audience, while recurring visions in Sagye's dreams raise curiosity. The unfolding mystery involving Chairman Jo (Jo Han-chul) and Seo Min-chul (Kim Jong-tae) keeps viewers eagerly anticipating what will happen next.

▶ Captivating OST Based on K-POP

Indonesia, known as the 'Giant of Southeast Asia' and the world's fourth most populous country, has a young population with about one-third aged between 10 and 29, making it one of the countries with a high demand for K-POP. In this context, the OST performances by 'Spring of Youth' main characters and real-life band members Ha Yoo-jun, Lee Seung-hyub, and fictional band members Park Ji-hu, Kim Sun-min have spread across social media worldwide, contributing to the drama's viewership. The drama's OST tracks are among the reasons 'Spring of Youth' is recommended as a must-watch Korean drama, raising expectations.

The production team expressed, "It's encouraging to see such a precious outcome from Indonesia's largest OTT platform Vidio, a new battleground for the Hallyu wave. We promise more exciting stories that transcend generations, borders, and cultures from episode 4 to 10. We look forward to your continued interest."

'Spring of Youth' airs every Wednesday night at 10:40 PM.

(SBS Entertainment News | Kang Sun-ae)