20th Century Girl Ending Explained: Do Woon-ho & Bo-ra End Up Together In The Netflix K-Drama?

One of Netflix's best attributes is its ability to popularize international films that most audiences wouldn't otherwise have access to. The streaming service has particularly contributed to the growing global interest in Korean films. One of Netflix's most popular and best-reviewed films was 2022's 20th Century Girl. The romantic drama presented a complex love story about first love, friendship, heartbreak, and nostalgia. Things begin in 2019 as a woman named Na Bo-ra receives a mysterious package delivered to her childhood home.

It then flashes back to 1999 when Bo-ra is in high school and becomes entangled in a peculiar "love quadrangle." Bo-ra's best friend, Yeon-du, is leaving the country for heart surgery and asks Bo-ra to keep an eye on her crush, Baek Hyun-jin. Bo-ra agrees but unexpectedly falls for Hyun-jin's best friend, Poong Woon-ho—only to discover later that Woon-ho is actually the boy Yeon-du had a crush on. It was praised for its authentic portrayal of first love and its emotionally powerful ending, where viewers discover the truth about what happens between Bo-Ra and Woon-ho.

Bo-Ra And Woon-Ha Confess Their Love For Each Other

After Getting Yeon-du's Blessing, Bo-Ra Tells Woon-Ha How She Feels

When Yeon-du returns from heart surgery, Bo-Ra discovers the painful truth: she and her best friend are both in love with Woon-ho. Bo-ra is devastated but encourages her friend to go on a date with Woon-ho and doesn't reveal her feelings for him. However, Yeon-du soon discovers Bo-ra's deception and confronts her. In a beautiful and incredibly moving scene that showcases the strength of their friendship, Yeon-du tells her she is not upset that Bo-ra has feelings for her crush, she is only upset that Bo-ra didn't tell her the truth because their friendship is more important than any boy.

Yeon-du encourages Bo-ra to tell Woon-ho about her true feelings before he leaves for New Zealand. In the film's most heartwarming scene, Bo-ra takes her friend's advice and meets Woon-ho at the train station before his departure. The two confess their love for each other and Bo-ra vows to stay in touch with Woon-ho and wait for his return, which he promises will be soon.

Bo-Ra and Woon-Ho End Up Together (Until They Don't)

The Couple Stays In Touch Until Woon-Ho Mysteriously Stops Contact

Woon-ho and Bo-ra talking across from each other in 20th Century Girl

Bo-ra and Woon-ho keep their promise and spend the next year sending messages to each other. They update one another on big life events and talk about reuniting soon so they can continue their relationship. However, one day Woon-ho suddenly stops sending messages. Bo-ra tries everything she can to get in touch but assumes that Woon-ho has just lost interest in her. She eventually gets over her heartbreak and moves on with her life, but still thinks of Woo-ho often.

A Time Jump And A MysterIous Package Leads Bo-Ra To Discover The Tragic Truth Of What Happened to Woon-Ho

Woon-Ho Had A Good Reason Why He Stopped Responding To Bo-ra's Messages

Na Bo-ra hugging Kim Yeon-du in 20th Century Girl

The film returns to 2019 and Bo-ra opens the mysterious package from the beginning of the film. Inside, she finds a videotape and a postcard detailing an art exhibition in New Zealand. Bo-ra decides to visit New Zealand to attend the art exhibition and discovers it is about Woon-ho, who tragically passed away in 2001. She meets Woon-ho's brother, Joon-ho, who sent her the package, and he tells her that he recently found the video cassette he sent her and that Woon-ho made it for her before he passed away.

"Wait just a bit longer. I want to see you, Bo-ra of the 21st century."

In the final scene of the movie, Bo-ra finally watches the videotape that was in the package. The video consists of footage Woon-ho took during their senior year of high school and their relationship. Bo-ra is overwhelmed with emotion as she watches the heartfelt film her first love made for her. The tape ends with Woon-ho filming the sunrise on New Year's Day proclaiming "Wait just a bit longer. I want to see you, Bo-ra of the 21st century."

The Real Meaning Behind The Film

20th Century Girl Is About The Importance Of Profound Relationships And Reflecting On The Past

Kim Yoo-jung, Byeon Woo-seok and Park Jung-woo in the poster for 20th Century Girl

20th Century Girl is an exploration of the past and how profound relationships shape the person you become. First love is an important milestone in anyone's life, but for Bo-ra, her first love was marked by a mix of excitement, confusion, heartbreak, and eventual loss.

Everything she experienced in the past, which happened to be the last year of the 20th Century, had an immense impact on who she became in the new millennium. Woon-ho's final words to her in the video are particularly poignant, as he professes his excitement to see who Bo-ra will become in the 21st century... but tragically, he never got the chance.