Nothing beats lying back on the couch after a loaded day and binge watching your favorite comfort shows. People try to take a break from the stresses of real life and just want to lose themselves into a different reality. So if you feel like you want to recharge with some quality K-dramas, here are SEA Wave’s High Five recommendations that can help you rediscover the charms of daily life.
It’s Okay, That’s Love (2014)
The drama It’s Okay, That’s Love revolves around novelist Jang Jae-yeol (Zo In-sung) and psychiatrist Ji Hae-soo (Gong Hyo-jin) as they resolve personal struggles and navigate their relationship. It was one of the earlier dramas that dared to tackle unconventional topics, specifically covering mental disorders and bringing to light the different conditions and accompanying struggles of the people that have them.
It is a personal favorite as it doesn’t fail to show that inevitably there are ups and downs in life. It reminds us that love is unconditional and it is indeed a choice to keep loving every day. Despite going through different things personally, we are able to help each other overcome our struggles and show that there will be people who will stick with us in life unconditionally. The ensemble cast’s dynamics are definitely something to look forward to as well.
Who are You: School 2015 (2015)
Next on our list is Who Are You: School 2015. Switching gears form a professional setting to a school setting, this drama is part of a very successful anthology series that primarily focused on showing light to the struggles of students in their developmental years. The story follows twins Lee Eun-bi and Go Eun-byul (both portrayed by Kim So-hyun) and focuses on their daily challenges in school and at home, and tackled issues of bullying and themes of identity and acceptance.
Prepare your hearts to follow the life of a high school girl who wakes up with no memory and finds herself living a life that doesn’t feel like her own. Join her journey in discovering herself and her true identity as she experiences friendship, love and hardship in her new life.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a), a dentist from the city, moves to the seaside after an unfortunate turn of events. Here she meets the village chief, Hong Du-sik (Kim Seon-ho), who is a jack-of-all-trades and quite a famous fellow within the small community. They may have started out their relationship clashing because of difference in personality and backgrounds, but the two eventually fall in love and are brought together by their shared experiences of loss and trauma. The story is a blend of romance, healing, and the beauty of life in a simple town by the sea.
One of the charming points of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is that it also boasts the scenic province of Pohang throughout the episodes. If you’re ever in Korea for a trip, then you can jot down Pohang as your next vacation destination to experience the healing vibes of the beach yourself. Although the drama may touch on subjects about trauma, it is generally a feel-good drama you can watch to help you unwind from a busy day.
Move to Heaven (2021)
Move to Heaven shows us the story of a trauma cleaning business operated by Han Geu-ru (Tang Jun-sang), a young man with Asperger’s, and his father Han Jeong-woo (Ji Jin-hee). After Jeong-woo’s sudden death, Geu-ru is left under the custody of his ex-con uncle Cho Sang-gu (Lee Je-hoon). The pair get off to a rocky start, but the business helps them navigate their relationship as they deal with their own grief. Through each job, untold stories of the deceased unravel in a way that tenderly explores life and death—in the process finding healing for others and themselves, along the way.
It was quite a shock to learn about this type of business in South Korea. It is coined as a trauma cleaning service which came about after the rise in isolated deaths in the country. These services came to public attention around 2018 and is based on a book, Things Left Behind by Kim Sae-byul, written from the perspective of a trauma cleaner himself that talks of the aftermath of working in the profession. An eye opener on the importance of empathy and how understanding and respecting others’ perspectives may help you reflect on life and heal from grief.
When Life Gives You Tangerines (2025)
The drama that took audiences by storm. Not only does it boast of a star-studded cast, but also tells a relatable story. When Life Gives You Tangerines is set in 1960’s Jeju, and then later on spans onto modern times. Here we see the story of Oh Ae-sun (IU), from her misunderstood childhood to her adulthood, and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum), a hardworking man whose unwaning love for Ae-sun through life’s tumultuous challenges became the tender rock and support that kept her going. It is a multi-generational K-drama that stretches across five decades, following through matters of love, loss, and economic shifts, as they navigate through societal pressure, family conflicts and even personal dreams.
It was able to showcase amazing landscapes in Jeju, as well as share about the haenyeos or female divers that earned so little with so much risk, yet added to Jeju’s rich cultural heritage. The drama’s original Korean title, which is in the Jeju dialect, literally translates to “you did a good job.” The show embodies how one learns about life as you live through it and shows the bittersweet moments of a well-lived life. In the end, the story became a tribute to resilience and gratitude—one that hits quite close to home, so make sure to bring some tissues with you and prepare yourself for a hearty crying session while watching this rollercoaster journey.
We hope you find something fit for you in this list. Share your thoughts in the comments section below if you have other slice-of-life K-drama recommendations!