Tough day? Let your worries go and pick a show (or two) from our list of feel-good K-dramas.
There is a plethora of reasons why people choose to watch a movie or series or K-Dramas, whether they want some thrillers, romance, or just some feel-good. With K-Dramas gaining steadfast popularity in the last few years, there are multiple titles to choose from for every mood you have.
Thus, we’ve curated a list of 10 feel-good K-Dramas that you can watch when you want a chill, good time.
1. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
In this remake of the 2004 film Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong, Shin Min Ah stars as Yoon Hye Jin, an accomplished dentist from Seoul who moves to the seaside village of Gongjin. After opening her dental clinic, she gets to know Hong Du Sik (played by Kim Seon Ho), a jack-of-all-trades who is also known as Chief Hong.
This drama not only depicts the romance between Shin’s and Kim’s characters but also chronicles the lives of the other Gongjin residents.
Also Read: 10 Must-Watch K-dramas Led By K-pop Idols
2. Shopping King Louis (2016)
A lighthearted romantic comedy, this MBC drama tells the story of a handsome shopaholic named Louis (Seo In Guk) and a kindhearted country girl, Go Bok Shil (Nam Ji Hyun). The two meet, and eventually, an improbable love story unfolds.
Shopping King Louis is a story about two people from vastly different worlds who both learn how priceless true love is.
3. Hospital Playlist (2020)
As part of tvN’s Wise Life series, Hospital Playlist follows the lives of five doctors in their forties: Lee Ik Jun (Jo Jung Suk), Ahn Jeong Won (Yoo Yeon Seok), Kim Jun Wan (Jung Kyung Ho), Yang Seok Hyeong (Kim Dae Myung), and Chae Song Hwa (Jeon Mi Do). The story is set at Yulje Medical Centre, where the doctors are currently working after they met and became friends during medical school.
This medical drama perfectly balances romance, comedy, and slice-of-life, so much so that a second season followed in 2021.
Also Read: Empowering Women: Celebrating Kdrama Female Leads
4. Gaus Electronics (2022)
Based on the Naver webtoon of the same name, Gaus Electronics stars Kwak Dong Yeon, Ko Sung Hee, Bae Hyun Sung, and Kang Min Ah as office workers Lee Sang Sik, Cha Na Rae, Baek Na Tan, and Gun Gang Mi, respectively. This drama takes us through their lives as members of the Marketing Team 3 at the home appliance headquarters of the multinational company Gaus Electronics.
The story highlights the highs and lows of corporate life, as well as the love and friendship between the employees in their young adulthood.
5. Coffee Prince (2007)
This classic is one of the pioneers of the gender-bender trope in dramas. Coffee Prince stars Gong Yoo as Choi Hangyeol, the grandson of a thriving coffee business chairwoman. He meets tomboy Go Eunchan (Yoon Eun Hye) and hires her to pretend to be his gay lover to escape his grandmother’s arranged blind dates.
This drama portrays the unlikely romance between Yoon’s and Gong’s characters: a tomboyish woman who always gets mistaken for a man and a carefree young food empire mogul. Coffee Prince received generally positive reviews and won multiple awards, as well as remakes in Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, and China.
6. Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)
Park Eun Bin plays the titular role in this highly-acclaimed series alongside Kang Tae Oh and Kang Ki Young. Woo Young Woo is a female rookie attorney with autism who earns recognition as she uses her intelligence and photographic memory to deal with various legal cases.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo garnered a lot of praise for Park’s acting, as well as the drama’s representation of mental health and autism.
7. Touch Your Heart (2019)
Based on the KakaoPage web novel of the same title, Touch Your Heart reunites Yoo In Na and Lee Dong Wook. Yoo stars as Oh Jin Shim, a top actress whose career takes a plunge due to a scandal. In order to clear her name, she gets employed to work as a secretary for the workaholic lawyer Kwon Jung Rok (played by Lee).
This rom-com drama is perfect for viewers who can’t get enough of Yoo In Na and Lee Dong Wook’s chemistry in Goblin, as well as those looking for some kilig tickle to de-stress.
Also Read: 10 K-drama OSTs by K-pop Idols
8. Racket Boys (2021)
Racket Boys is a wholesome drama that centers on the story of a middle-school badminton team on the verge of disbandment. Set in a little town, the drama also features the lives of the people who live there.
The show stars Kim Sang Kyung, Oh Nara, Tang Junsang, Kim Kang Hoon, and Lee Jaein. Son Sangyeon from All of Us Are Dead is also part of the cast.
If you want to watch a lighthearted K-Drama with sports, friendships, and dreams, Racket Boys is the show for you.
9. Mystic Pop-Up Bar (2020)
This fantasy show starring Hwang Jung Eum, Yook Sungjae, and Choi Wonyoung brings a good mix of light comedy and sad drama. Hwang stars as Wol Ju, the owner of Ssanggab Cart Bar, which only opens late at night.
Located on a rooftop, the bar serves both the living and the dead. While drinking and eating at the bar, the customers pour out their troubles and try to heal their wounds. There’s no doubt Ssanggab Bar also serves the viewers of Mystic Pop-up Bar, as they’re expected to end the drama feeling healed as well.
10. Reply 1988 (2015)
Following Reply 1997 and Reply 1994, the drama Reply 1988 was well-loved by fans of tvN’s Reply series. This show chronicles the lives of five families back in the late 1980s.
Girl’s Day Hyeri plays the role of Sung Deok Sun, Ryu Jun Yeol as Kim Jung Hwan, and Go Kyung Pyo as Sung Sunwoo. Alongside them, Park Bogum stars as Choi Taek, while Lee Dong Hwi is Ryu Dong Ryong.
With its storytelling and performance of the actors, Reply 1988 bagged numerous nominations and awards. It’s no wonder the show usually makes it into lists of must-watch K-Dramas.
Also Read: 10 K-Dramas For Thriller Enthusiasts
Have you watched any of these shows? Did your favorite feel-good K-Dramas made it into the list? Or did you find a new title on your To-Watch bucket? Either way, it’s time to de-stress and watch!
Source: tvN, MBC TV, ENA, SBS TV
