I have to confess that I use K-Dramas as an escape from reality, but… don’t we all? If watching art imitate life is your cup of tea, you would probably resonate with characters who are facing a similar situation as you in reality (thinking about Park Sae-Ro-Yi from Itaewon Class while typing this). While drama plots and character arcs are usually written to be more elaborate and not to mention, overly-dramatic, you can’t deny that it’s still heartwarming to watch someone overcome difficult situations that are seemingly relatable, and more importantly, it also promotes the idea of hope! So here’s 10 K-Dramas that you can hopefully find comfort in during this period.
1. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay centers on Ko Mun-yeong (Seo Yea-ji) and Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun) helping each other deal with their separate but intertwined traumatic childhoods. Gang-tae helps Mun-yeong calm down and control her emotions, oppositely, Mun-yeong aids Gang-tae by making him release his true inner feelings. As the drama progresses, they realize they can no longer ignore or run away from their problems, and learn to embrace their scars in order to move on.
2. Healer
With the word “heal” in its title, it’s no surprise that Healer features some healing. Seo Jung-hoo (Ji Chang-wook) is a mysterious and highly skilled night courier who goes by the code name “Healer.” Chae Young-shin (Park Min-young) is a passionate and resourceful news reporter who comes across Healer while trying to get a scoop on a celebrity. The pair heal as they unravel the truth behind their fathers’ deaths.
3. Mystic Pop-up Bar
Mystic Pop-up Bar packs a whole lot of healing in every episode. The main trio (acted by Hwang Jung-eum, Yook Sung-jae, and Choi Won-young) try to solve their own problems by helping people settle difficult grudges. You’ll definitely be able to empathize with the relatable conflicts such as sexual harassment, unemployment, grief, and more.
4. It’s Okay, That’s Love
It’s Okay, That’s Love is a unique drama that shows the love story between writer Jang Jae-yeol (Zo In-sung) and psychiatrist Ji Hae-soo (Kong Hyo-jin) who are both living with mental illnesses. While they come to terms with their past traumas, they support and accept each other thus making for a truly touching relationship.
5. Hello, My Twenties!
Five female college students with very different personalities navigate growing up while living together in Hello, My Twenties! Each of them experiences their own hardships with love and their direction in life. You’ll be able to relate to different aspects of each character as they heal from various situations. It’s a truly hilarious coming-of-age drama! There’s also a second season packed with more fun and drama!
6. Be Melodramatic
This drama is kind of like a more mature version of Hello, My Twenties! Be Melodramatic tells the story of three friends in their early 30s juggling love, careers, and dreams. There’s a lot of quirkiness to enjoy, but the show is very raw and real. There are heartbreaking moments as the characters work through divorce and grief, and there are also many heartwarming times through the healing and bonding scenes in the drama.
7. Because This Is My First Life
Because This Is My First Life examines relationships and marriage through a more modern perspective. Nam Se-hee (Lee Min-ki) and Yoon Ji-ho (Jung So-min) become housemates and have a secret contract marriage due to financial difficulties and societal expectations. As they get to know each other, romance and healing ensues. In addition, different relationships of Ji-ho’s friends are also explored resulting in a variety of relatable romances.
8. Beauty Inside
Lee Min-ki is also in Beauty Inside! In this drama, he portrays Seo Do-jae who is unable to recognize faces. Han Se-gye (Seo Hyun-jin) is a top actress whose appearance randomly changes at certain times a month. Despite all this, Do-jae is able to recognize Se-gye whenever her appearance changes. They accept one another and learn how to love themselves in the process.
9. When the Camellia Blooms
When the Camellia Blooms follows the story of single mother Dong-baek (Kong Hyo-jin) as she deals with social stigmas and a serial killer. Dong-baek has a tough and lonely life growing up as an orphan. There’s a heartwarming transformation in-store as Dong-baek grows and stops being a pushover to those who mistreat her or gossip about her.
We also highlighted some of the things you can look forward to about When The Camellia Blooms in our series, Keeping Up With K-Dramas, watch it here:
10. My Mister
My Mister is definitely one of the heavier dramas on this list. Ji-an (IU) and Dong-hoon (Lee Sun-kyun) form an unexpected and deep friendship. Both of them have a whole lot of hurt, and they show compassion for each other. The drama is very moving and shows the perseverance of the human spirit and the power of empathy.
How many of these healing dramas have you checked off from your list? If not, you can always catch up on all of these amazing dramas on Netflix!
