When many people think of aKorean dramawithout having delved deep into the industry, there’s a common assumption made: they’re all about romance and are pretty cheesy. While some of themost iconic Korean dramascertainly have elements that lean towards cheesier dialogue and some corny plot lines that garner a chuckle here and there, others have tapped into the poetry of what it means to be alive. These television shows have delved into a diverse set of topics, especially as society and cultural issues continue to evolve and come to the forefront of discussions over what South Korea is like in the modern day.
That said, Korean dramas certainly have not turned away from the harder subjects. From being unmarried at a later age to grappling with a society and culture obsessed with looks, the protagonists of these following 10 K-dramas go soul-searching. Some may realize they don’t need to find love to be happy, while others discover something new about themselves in the process of self-care and self-love. For those looking to find themselves, these 10 shows certainly can be relatable.
10My Liberation Notes (2022)
Released in the spring of 2022,My Liberation Notesis one of those Korean dramas that unfolds like a poem. Set within Gyeonggi-do, outside the capital city of Seoul, three siblings are struggling with their lives in different ways. With the arrival of a new stranger, they all increasingly begin to realize they want to leave behind their lives and start over anew.
Why It’s Great
Not only isMy Liberation Notesstunning to watch on-screen, but it has a well-developed storyline as well. With each of its characters unhappy with their lives, they learn to realize their needs and wants across the course of the series, pushing them to take action in order to change their circumstances. It’s the perfect series for right now, as the new year brings with it the opportunity to make necessary changes in our lives.Stream on Netflix
9My ID Is Gangnam Beauty (2018)
In 2018’sMy ID is Gangnam Beauty, which isbased on a webtoonof the same name, the main character, Kang Mi-rae, hates her appearance. Bullied because of it, she decides that when she goes to college, she’s going to get plastic surgery and change everything. When she does just that, she meets a middle school classmate who remembers her old looks, and, through their budding relationship, learns to love herself for who she is.
This Korean drama features a main character who, at a young age, is struggling with a problem many young women have. Throughout the course of the series, she learns who she is, and comes to embrace how she looks, even if plastic surgery won’t fix all the problems she has in the end.Stream on Netflix
8True Beauty (2020)
True Beauty, likeMy ID is Gangnam Beauty, is based on a webtoon and has very similar themes — and both dramas star Cha Eun-woo. The protagonist of this series is Lim Ju-kyung, who uses make-up to escape her negative feelings about her appearance. She gets so good at it that everyone thinks her made-up face is her natural one, but as she befriends two of her classmates, she realizes she can become a cosmetologist to help others.
In this series, the main character is bullied for her looks, but as she finds a creative outlet like makeup, she comes to peace with the way she looks in the end.True Beautyshows how there is a light at the end of the tunnel, like many other dramas touching on these subjects.Stream on Viki
7When the Camellia Blooms (2019)
When the Camellia Bloomsstars Gong Hyo-jin as Dong-baek,a single motherwho uproots her life and child to completely start over in a new town. Like many other single mothers in her situation, she’s willing to do what it takes in order to have a better life for her child, but it is incredibly difficult. As she opens a bar in the town, she meets a police officer who immediately falls in love with her — which might be helpful as a new killer appears in the town.
This is a K-drama series about the hardships a single mother faces, especially as she moves to a new town in order to start over. Although Dong-baek eventually finds support and happiness in her life,When the Camellia Bloomsis about the journey to getting there. As we witness her highs and lows, we can’t help but feel inspired to tackle our own challenges with aplomb.Streamon Netflix
Related:The 10 Best Enemies-To-Lovers Korean Dramas
6Navillera (2021)
Song Kang and Park In-hwan star in the 2021 dramaNavillera, which features a rather unconventional subject for Korean dramas. In the series, an older retired gentleman (Park) decides it’s time to pursue his dreams. Although men his age typically would not learn ballet, he’s going to shoot for the stars anyway, and when he shows up at the dance academy, he meets a young adult (Song), whom one also wouldn’t expect at a ballet class.
Navillerashows audiences that it’s never too late to chase after your dreams, and along the way you might meet some people who’ll change your life. Despite what society expects of someone, knowing yourself and what you want is at the forefront of this television show, making it a beautiful series to watch.Stream on Netflix
5Start-Up (2020)
Released in 2020,Start-Upis all about self-discovery and chasing after your dreams. In it, Seo Dal-mi knows she wants to be the next Steve Jobs in South Korea, despite having come from a lower class background. When she finds an opportunity to potentially get invited to the Sandbox, which is Korea’s equivalent of theU.S.’s Silicon Valley, she’s going to take it. That puts her on a collision-course with a man named Nam Do-san, who will change her life.
The core ofStart-Upis that its main character, Seo Dal-mi, knows herself really well and chases after her dreams. She’s the perfect example of what happens when someone has the energy and initiative to keep going, even in the face of hardship.Streamon Netflix
4Reply 1988 (2015)
TheReplyseries is wildly popular in South Korea, andReply 1988certainly isn’t an exception to this popularity. Set in the year 1988, making this a really effective throwback for those alive during this period, the television show focuses on a group of young adults living in the same neighborhood as Seoul. As they have their coming-of-age together, they’ll learn to navigate the ups and downs as they approach adulthood.
Reply 1988is the perfect drama to refer to when it comes to young adulthood and what it means to grow up. While the late-80s setting is a nostalgic throwback, the series has some solid writing and themes present throughout each episode, sustaining the series in a way that works endearingly well.Stream on Viki
Related:20 Korean Dramas You’ll Be Thinking About Long After They End
3My Mister
My Misterstarred the late Lee Sun-kyun and Lee Ji-eun, and certainly is one of those dramas thatmight make you cryhere and there. Lee Ji-eun portrays Lee Ji-an, a young woman with a lot of issues, including debt and taking care of her sickly grandmother. As she starts talking to one of her supervisors (Lee Sun-kyun), the two grow closer throughout the course of the series.
InMy Mister, both of the main characters hold heavy weights on their backs. Feeling alone in the world, they find solace in talking about their lives and what’s going wrong in them, as no one else might listen. This may not be the happiest Korean drama out there, but it reflects many aspects of the real world throughout its running time.Stream on Netflix
2Romance Is a Bonus Book (2019)
Released in 2019,Romance Is a Bonus Bookhas another unconventional main character in the Korean drama world: Kang Dan-i. Divorced and unemployed, she’s hired by her childhood friend, Cha Eun-ho, to find someone to clean his house. Desperate for some cash, she takes the job, but when he finds out the truth, he hires her for his book publishing company. Somewhere along the way, the two end up falling in love.
The female lead ofRomance is a Bonus Book, Kang Dan-i, is struggling to completely rebuild her life after her ex-husband dismantles everything she knows. This is a television show that demonstrates there’s hope, and that even when you doubt yourself and everything is falling apart, things can turn out alright in the end.Stream on Netflix
1Be Melodramatic (2019)
Be Melodramaticfeatures three best friends on the brink of major life changes. One is a writer about to get her big break: she has the chance to write a television series, but when she becomes smitten with the director, things are about to get spicy. Another is a documentary filmmaker whose fiancé died young from cancer, and she is preparing to make a new movie. The final friend is a single mother trying to work and balance time with her child. Together, these three face the world and chase after their dreams.
There are several different stories packed intoBe Melodramatic, and by the end, you’ll be rooting for these three women and their successes. Although they start off in rocky places, they learn more about themselves and each other throughout the course of the series, making it a wonderful watch overall.Stream on Netflix
If you liked this list, check out our video below on K-Dramas that have no boring episodes.
