Nicknamed “The Most 15 Years Old”
trailer for the drama Lovely Runner (doc. tvN/Lovely Runner) trailer for the film 20th Century Girl (doc. Netflix/ 20th Century Girl)In both Lovely Runner and 20th Century Girl, Byeon Woo Seok’s characters are affectionately dubbed “The Most 15 Years Old” by the audience. This nickname stems from the enduring feelings they harbor for their respective love interests for over 15 years.
First Love Connection
trailer for the film 20th Century Girl (doc. Netflix/ 20th Century Girl) trailer for the drama Lovely Runner (doc. tvN/Lovely Runner)Poong Woon Ho and Ryu Sun Jae both experience love at first sight with the girls they admire. Woon Ho’s encounter with Na Bo Ra in the DVD rental shop and Sun Jae’s meeting with Im Sol outside her house mark the beginning of their romantic journeys.
Crushes on DVD Rental Shop Owners’ Daughters
trailer for the drama Lovely Runner (doc. tvN/Lovely Runner) trailer for the film 20th Century Girl (doc. Netflix/ 20th Century Girl)An intriguing coincidence is that both Woon Ho and Sun Jae develop crushes on girls whose families own DVD movie rental shops. Woon Ho’s playful antics to get closer to Na Bo Ra and Sun Jae’s accidental discovery of an adult tape at Im Sol’s house add depth to their stories.
Confessions During Drunkenness
trailer for the drama Lovely Runner (doc. tvN/Lovely Runner) trailer for the film 20th Century Girl (doc. Netflix/ 20th Century Girl)A poignant similarity is the confession scenes where the girls, Na Bo Ra and Im Sol, are inebriated. Woon Ho and Sun Jae express their heartfelt emotions, but only Woon Ho remembers the moment as the girls are unaware due to their intoxicated state.
Plans to Go Abroad
trailer for the film 20th Century Girl (doc. Netflix/ 20th Century Girl) trailer for the drama Lovely Runner (doc. tvN/Lovely Runner)Both characters contemplate going abroad, with Woon Ho eventually moving to New Zealand and Sun Jae considering treatment in America. These decisions reflect their desire for change and new opportunities.
Tragic Endings
trailer for the film 20th Century Girl (doc. Netflix/ 20th Century Girl) trailer for the drama Lovely Runner (doc. tvN/Lovely Runner)Poong Woon Ho and Ryu Sun Jae meet tragic fates at a young age. While Woon Ho’s story ends with his untimely death in 2001, Sun Jae faces the risk of succumbing to depression in Lovely Runner. However, Sun Jae’s narrative offers a glimmer of hope through Im Sol’s intervention and attempts to alter his destiny.
In conclusion, Byeon Woo Seok’s portrayal of high school students in Lovely Runner and 20th Century Girl showcases remarkable similarities in their experiences of love, longing, and fate. Despite the parallels, each character’s journey unfolds uniquely, leaving audiences wondering about their ultimate destinies.
