Right after its pilot, My Youth episode 2 takes viewers back to Hae and Je-yeon’s high school days. Alongside their youthful encounters, this exposes Hae’s fragile bond with his father and tangled dynamics with his step-siblings.
In My Youth episode 2, the food-stall alley stroll becomes a nostalgic gateway to the past, where a young Hae unexpectedly crosses paths with his father. Their brief but weighty exchange reveals a critical turning point: Hae is asked to take care of Nu-ri, the daughter of his father’s ex-girlfriend who abandoned her family. This moment not only highlights the fractured relationship between father and son but also sets the stage for Hae’s complicated ties with Nu-ri and his step-siblings, deepening the show’s exploration of family, responsibility, and unresolved wounds.
My Youth Episode 2 Recap: One More Bud
Nu-ri asks Hae to read a book. Hae goes the extra mile by borrowing books from the library. To support themselves, he also takes on multiple jobs.
One night, the young Seok-joo meets and informs Hae that his mother, Pil-do, and Hae’s father, Chan, are getting married. While Hae is working at a convenience store, Pil-do steps in and offers to send him to school.
Hae then attends a prestigious high school. Seok-joo and Je-yeon are also in the same class as him.
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A Growing Support System
As the class president, the homeroom teacher asks Je-yeon to send a form to Hae and have him answer it. She waits until nighttime when Hae and Nuri come home. Hae hears her stomach grumble, so he invites her to eat at their home.
After Nu-ri went to sleep, Hae filled out the form. He wonders about Je-yeon’s answers, and she responds that she wrote what her mother wanted.
While waiting for a ride home, she asks why he’s always napping; he answers that he’s worn out, as he had to work. She then advises him to sleep in the nurse’s room so his attendance won’t be affected.
Hae tells her it’s been a while since someone else showed him concern, besides Geon-no. The next scene shows the present-day Geon-no, who is running a bar.
At the bar, a dish suddenly caught fire. As the customers panicked, Hae and Geon-no rushed to get water. However, Je-yeon appears excited, as she could finally use her mini fire extinguisher. LOL
Back in their high school days, rumors about young Hae coming out of motels spread. Je-yeon defends him, but the vice principal still suspends him. Je-yeon visits the alley where motels are. Hae appears, clarifying that he works at a motel’s front desk. Without judgment, she offers him an energy drink.
Nu-ri asks to go to an amusement park while on vacation. At the park, he leaves her to buy snacks, but she goes missing. She hides so she won’t cause him more problems. As they reunite, Hae tearfully tells her that she isn’t a burden.
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Summer Break Up
For their summer break, Hae and Je-yeon decide to hang out for fun. After withdrawing money, the two go to a bookstore and see Hae’s published book. Je-yeon asks why he uses Jin Mu-yeong as a pen name; he reveals that it’s his mother’s name.
As they sit under a tree, Je-yeon requests Hae’s autograph on the book she bought. She also gives him two wish bracelets: one is for her wish that Hae becomes rich, and the other is for Hae to decide. She then asks him if he wants to go to the sea.
Spontaneously, they board a bus, and after they alight, he buys flowers for her. Along the shore, Hae says he forgets his problems when he’s with her. Je-yeon interprets this as a confession and reveals that she likes him too but wants to focus on college first, suggesting they can date later.
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A Refusal and An Acceptance
Je-yeon attempts to kiss Hae, but he refuses. Later that night, Hae tells Nu-ri that he also likes Je-yeon and recalls their beautiful moments. Meanwhile, Je-yeon struggles due to the rejection.
She further gets stressed out when she discovers her family’s financial problems. To ease her mind, she confronts Hae. She attempts to kiss him again, and this time, he doesn’t stop her. However, he advises her to focus on her studies instead of him, prompting Je-yeon to tell him not to act like he knows her.
Back in the present, Hae agrees to do the documentary, saying it’s for promoting his shop. Consequently, it will help fulfill his wish to become rich.
My Youth Episode 2 Reaction
For a K-drama built on flashbacks to its characters’ younger days, one of My Youth’s standout charms lies in its seamless scene transitions. Episode 2 showcases this beautifully, spotlighting the high school years of Hae, Je-yeon, and Seok-joo. It’s also heartwarming to watch the once-abandoned hero receive support from those around him.
My Youth Episode 3 and 4 Release Date and Details
After Hae agrees to take part in the documentary, My Youth episodes 3 and 4 focus on the filming process—reuniting Tae-rin and Hae this time. As the next episodes aired on September 12, 2025, tensions rise as rumors begin to swirl around the former child star stepping back into the spotlight.
What do you think of My Youth’s second episode?
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Sources: JTBC, Viu Philippines
