Many family dynamics depicted inK-dramasare relatable and explore heartfelt storylines, making them an ideal comfort watch. A majority ofthe best K-dramasinclude intense revenge plots or dreamy romance stories, but there’s something special about how familial relationships are portrayed in K-dramas. Unlike the quick and tense unfolding of events seen in the more popular K-dramas,those centered around families take their time, often dragging out their stories over a greater number of episodes.
However, because there’s a stronger focus onslice-of-life narratives in these K-dramas, audiences aren’t in a rush or anticipating a particular ending. Therefore, though they seem intimidating at first, the longer episode run of a handful of the K-dramas isn’t an issue. Many of the intricacies ofthe family relationships these K-dramas depict are specific to Korean culture but can be understood and appreciated by audiences worldwide. The types of relationships range from siblings hoping to repair a broken bond to found families created by a group of people who were once strangers.
10Father, I’ll Take Care Of You (2016-2017)
Adult siblings move back in with their parents.
Aside from showcasing behaviors and attitudes specific to Korean families,K-dramas also have the opportunity to reflect current issues in society that impact said families. InFather, I’ll Take Care of You, two retired parents are ready to settle into a quiet life with their kids out of the house — that is, until they all return to move back in with them. This is meant to address the rising costs of housing in South Korea at the time.
Though the parents are caught off guard, they learn to adjust.Father, I’ll Take Care of Youis mostly concerned with providing attention to issues that arise in the family, butsome storylines involve workplace romance and revenge as well. The bit of belovedK-drama clichés and tropessprinkled throughout keeps audiences invested during the series' 50 episodes.
9My Unfamiliar Family (2020)
A broken family finds their way back to one another.
As comforting and lighthearted as many family-focused K-dramas are,there are also a few that highlight the struggles within families, one of which is a lack of communication. InMy Unfamiliar Family, the main characters are a family drifting apart. There are three children, each with their own set of personal obstacles they must overcome throughout the series. Though these characters are messy and frustrating at times, they are extremely relatable.
Some of the episodes do have a slower pace, but patient audiences are rewarded with a stronger understanding of each character’s motives as they are explored throughout the lengthy episodes. While the events inMy Unfamiliar Familyare dramatized, there’s something almost every viewer can relate to and apply to their lives.The honest portrayal of a fractured, uncommunicative family is realistic, and it’s rewarding to see how these characters develop throughout the series' run.
8What Happens To My Family? (2014-2015)
What Happens to My Family?revolves around a father, Cha Soon-bong (Yoo Dong-geun), who receives help from his sister to raise his three children. His children have been afforded the opportunity to live a fulfilling life thanks to his hard work, butonce they are grown, Soon-bong’s children begin treating him poorly. Deciding to take matters into his own hands, Soon-bong files a lawsuit against his kids for child ingratitude.
Though such a move stirs up even more conflict and acts of disrespect,there is an important lesson Soon-bong’s children must learn. However, the tough family dynamics established in the series aren’t all audiences can expect from the show. Comedic moments are abundant as well, with theK-drama’s characters being overly dramaticand finding themselves in exaggerated dilemmas.
7Five Enough (2016)
The children of two single parents join forces.
Blending two separate families into one isn’t guaranteed to be an easy task, andFive Enoughmakes that clear. The series follows the initial love story between Lee Sang-tae (Ahn Jae-wook) and Ahn Mi-jung (So Yoo-jin),two single parents who hope to merge their families when their relationship begins to get serious. However, their children and other relatives oppose this decision for various reasons, complicating a plan the couple thought would be easy.
The story had the potential to become shaky and too convoluted, butthe series' writers managed to tell an expansive story in a relatively concise and engaging manner.Five Enoughdoes follow various love stories throughout its 54 episodes as well, but the complex family dynamic remains the heart of the show. Strong performances and natural chemistry between the cast round out the series' achievements and make it an effective family drama.
618 Again (2020)
A father gets another chance to bond with his children.
The K-drama18 Againtells a story similar to that of the American film it’s based on,17 Again. In18 Again, a struggling Hong Dae-young (Yoon Sang-hyun) wishes he could go back in time and get a redo on life. Dae-young’s wishes come true, and he wakes up in his 18-year-old body (played by Lee Do-hyun), with his memories as a 37-year-old intact. Though the series highlights the crumbling marriage between Dae-young and his wife,the K-drama has just as much of an emphasis on family.
As his 18-year-old self, Dae-young grows closer to his teenage children, who were beginning to distance themselves from him.Blending in as one of their peers, Dae-young makes an effort to get to know his kidsand help them out with their struggles. Throughout18 Again, there are plenty of comedic scenes that support the series' overarching message about living in the present and appreciating life.
5Family By Choice (2024)
Three unrelated teenagers form a family of their own.
While it’s not considered one ofthe best K-dramas of 2024,Family by Choicestill tells a heartfelt story about three once-close-knit individuals finding their way back to each other. As its title implies,Family by Choicefollows a group of three teenagers, unrelated by blood, forming a unique familyunder the care of two of their fathers. The series is based on a Chinese drama with a similar concept,Go Ahead.
Family by Choicesees the family split up over the years and reunite a decade later to reignite the bond that brought them together in the first place. Like many K-dramas revolving around families,the sibling dynamic is by far the most compelling part of the series. Hwang In-youp, Bae Hyun-sung, and Jung Chae-yeon have palpable on-screen chemistry, making the emotional scenes throughout the series hit that much harder.
4Cheer Up, Mr. Kim! (2012-2013)
A man works as a housekeeper to support his adopted children.
The titular character inCheer Up, Mr. Kim!, played by Kim Dong-wan, is full of optimism, and even when life doesn’t go his way, he never gives up.The K-drama is centered around Kim Tae-pyung, Mr. Kim, a housekeeper who builds a unique family of his ownafter he takes on the responsibility of looking after four orphaned children. Everything started with his niece, who was only a newborn when Tae-pyung was 17 years old.
Though Tae-pyung’s workload is demanding, he’s determined to create a better life for his kids, which produces several heartfelt scenes. Considering its lengthy episode run, there are a handful of subplots that feel unnecessary and could have been cut from the show. Still,Cheer Up, Mr. Kim!is a family-focused K-drama worth watching for its unique setup and to see Tae-pyung’s endearing paternal relationship with his children, especially the one formed with his niece.
The fractured mother-son relationship begins to heal.
Like other slice-of-life series,The Good Bad Motherfeatures a range of lively supporting characters who make up an entertaining, tight-knit community. However,what makesThe Good Bad Mothersuch a compelling series is its depiction of a mother-and-son relationship. In the show, Jin Young-soon (Ra Mi-ran) raises her son, Choi Kang-ho (Lee Do-hyun), as a single mother. Her tough demeanor and strict attitude create a wedge between her and Kang-ho as he gets older.
However, an opportunity to mend their broken relationship arises out of an unfortunate accident that sends Kang-ho back home to be taken care of.The K-drama’s heartbreaking scenes are balanced with an appreciated amount of humorand focus on interesting supporting characters.The Good Bad Motherhas its flaws, and Young-soon’s treatment of her son can be difficult to watch, but the performances delivered by Ra and Lee make it worth it.
2My Father Is Strange (2017)
The presence of a celebrity mixes up an average family.
The strong performances and balance of drama and comedy inMy Father Is Strangemake the series one of the better K-dramas revolving around a family. In the show,an average family living in Seoul has their lives changed when a celebrity shows up at their doorand claims he is the son of Byun Han-su, the patriarch of the family. The revelation throws the family for a loop, and from that point on, they learn to move forward with their newest family member.
The series' characters feel lived in, and the actors' satisfying on-screen chemistry results in realistic sibling relationships. The series was originally set to have 50 episodes but proved to be quite popular with audiences. As a result, two more episodes were added toMy Father Is Strange.Despite its high number of episodes,My Father Is Strangerarely dips in quality or pacing, keeping audiences engaged with a series of subplots that complicate the central family.
1Reply 1988 (2015-2016)
The lives of families in a Seoul neighborhood are intertwined.
Set in a neighborhood in Northern Seoul,Reply 1988is described asa feel-good K-drama. The series follows the lives of five friends and their families living in the neighborhood, highlighting various areas of life, including romance and friendships. The K-drama is the third installment of theReplyseries, with each installment depicting life in South Korea during the titular year.The nostalgic elements ofReply 1988add to the series' overall warmth and comfort.
Friendship is a significant type of relationship seen in the show, butthe neighborhood itself is like one big family. This creates a found family aspect inReply 1988, with the love and support shared by the characters being reminiscent of that seen in more straightforward familyK-dramas. The series' finale earned a plethora of praise from audiences and critics alike and drew in high ratings, which madeReply 1988one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable history.
