When having a bad day,sometimes all one needs is to get cozy and binge-watch a sensibleK-drama. TypicalK-dramas that are full of tropes, occasionally cheesy, and lots of fun make for great viewing experiences, but on a bad day, a more mature series is greatly appreciated. These series contain realistic, often heartbreaking narratives that can be relatable to anyone going through a rough patch in life. However, that’s not always the case.
There are also matureK-dramas with happy endingsthat reassure audiences that anything is possible, from succeeding in one’s career, like inJeongnyeon: The Star Is Born, to settling down with one’s true love, as seen inHometown Cha-Cha-Cha. These K-dramas are mostly devoid of clichés and overdramatic storylines. Instead,they present narratives that are reasonable and mature, making them an enjoyable watch that’s guaranteed to uplift viewers who are stuck in a funk.
The Midnight Romance In Hagwon
Cast
The Midnight Romance in Hagwon is a romantic drama centered on a secret relationship between veteran academy instructor Seo Hye-jin and her former student Lee Joon-ho, who reenters her life after a decade, rekindling emotions and complicating their lives.
From director Ahn Pan-seok (Something in the Rain) comes the 2024 K-dramaThe Midnight Romance in Hagwon. The series depicts the evolving relationship between a tutor, Seo Hye-jin (Jung Ryeo-won), and her former student, Lee Jun-ho (Wi Ha-joon). Years after he graduated, Jun-ho is now a lecturer, arriving at the private academy Hye-jin works at.
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K-dramas are an international pop culture phenomenon and there is no shortage of incredible must-watch shows that are essentially perfect.
The Midnight Romance in Hagwon, of course,isfull of passionate romance with Jung and Wi’s on-screen chemistry being greatly palpable. However, there’s another side to the series that elevates it above your traditional romance K-drama. The series provides a fascinating look at the lives of private academy instructors, highlighting both their drawbacks at work and their immense dedication to their students.The Midnight Romance in Hagwonmay not be seen as one ofthe best K-dramas of 2024, but it’s still delightfully dramatic and entertaining.
Rain or Shine / Just Between Lovers
Just Between Lovers is a South Korean television drama series that premiered in December 2017. It depicts the lives of two individuals who, after surviving a tragic building collapse, find solace and love in one another as they navigate their grief and work towards rebuilding their lives.
In the wake of a tragic building collapse that killed countless people, two individuals, Lee Kang-doo (Lee Jun-ho) and Ha Moon-soo (Won Jin-ah), find a connection.Rain or Shine, also known asJust Between Lovers, has a heavy melancholic tone that lingers for much of the series' run, which can be difficult to sit through, especially on a bad day. However,the romance between Kang-doo and Moon-soo adds an appreciated amount of hopefulnessto the show.
Kang-doo and Moon-soo are two of the many people who lost loved ones to the building collapse, and it’s this shared experience that brings them close together.Rain or Shineis also a worthwhile K-drama due to its portrayal of grief. The series does an exceptional job of addressing the various ways people cope with tragedy and loss, which isn’t always expected in a K-drama but is surely appreciated.
Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born
Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born, released on July 27, 2025, follows a talented girl in 1950s Korea pursuing her dream of becoming a renowned gukgeuk performer. Amidst the backdrop of post-war recovery, she navigates challenges, embraces solidarity, and experiences personal growth in the world of Korean female classical opera.
Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Bornis both a musical and a compelling coming-of-age K-drama. The series is based on a webtoon of the same name and takes place in the 1950s, following the end of the Korean War. The K-drama is centered around Yoon Jeong-nyeon (Kim Tae-ri), who is born with an extraordinary knack for singing. Jeong-nyeon finds herself joining a musical group, and much ofthe K-drama depicts her journey to becoming a celebrated singer.
Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Bornis a moving underdog story that makes its title character easy for audiences to be invested in and root for.
Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Bornis a moving underdog story that makes its title character easy for audiences to be invested in and root for. In addition to displaying Jeong-nyeon’s talents, the series also touches on themes of trauma and artistic integrity as the singer’s fame catches the attention of those with economic interests.
Summer Strike
After a series of personal tragedies, including the loss of her mother and a painful breakup, Lee Yeo-reum abandons her high-pressure job in Seoul to seek solace in the tranquil seaside village of Angok. There, she meets Ahn Dae-beom, a reclusive librarian with a mysterious past.
There are few things more comforting than witnessing someone take control of their life and get the fresh start they deserve. This is where many ofSummer Strike’s characters find themselves. Based on a webtoon of the same name,Summer Strike follows Lee Yeo-reum (Kim Seol-hyun). After experiencing one personal tragedy after another,Yeo-reum decides it’s time to take her life in a new direction, and she moves away from the city to the seaside town of Angok.
LikeHometown Cha-Cha-Cha,Summer Strike is a comfortingslice-of-life K-dramathat depicts Yeo-reum bonding with an Angok local, librarian Ahn Dae-beom (Im Si-wan), and getting situated among her new community. The K-drama is hopeful for the most part, but there are heavier subjects that tie into the series' overarching message. Throughout the show, Yeo-reum and Dae-beom are each dealing with bottled-up feelings of grief and trauma, and they help one another heal.
Love Next Door
A woman returns to Korea to restart her life and becomes involved with a childhood friend, sharing a complicated history.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’s director and writer teamed up once again for the romantic comedy seriesLove Next Door. The show sees Bae Seok-ryu (Jung So-min) unexpectedly quitting her job abroad and returning to Korea for a fresh start. Whileback home, Seok-ryu runs into her childhood friend Choi Seung-hyo(Jung Hae-in), who is now one of Korea’s most accomplished architects. The beginning ofthe K-drama follows the friends-to-lovers trope, as the two’s relationship slowly transforms into something more.
This dynamic between the leads keeps things upbeat and comedic, but it doesn’t last long. Soon enough,Love Next Door’s tone shifts into something more grim as the truth about Seok-ryu’s health comes to light. The K-drama makes great use of its acting talent and Shin Ha-eun’s writing, ensuring audiences walk away from the series satisfied and effectively moved.
Because This Is My First Life
Because This Is My First Life is a South Korean television series that follows Nam Se-hee, a single man focused on repaying his mortgage, and Yoon Ji-ho, a homeless woman, as they enter a marriage of convenience that slowly evolves into genuine affection and understanding.
Nam Se-hee (Lee Min-ki) and Yoon Ji-ho (Jung So-min) are in an unusual predicament inBecause This Is My First Life, but the way the series handles their relationship is surprisingly practical. Due to unmanageable expenses, Se-hee rents out a room in his townhouse, and Ji-ho, with a complicated living situation of her own, takes him up on the offer. Throughout the series,audiences see Se-hee and Ji-ho’s fixed views on romance begin to change as they fall in love.
The initial arrangement between Se-hee and Ji-ho isn’t among the more relatable depictions of love seen in K-dramas, but their dynamic is charming and inviting nonetheless. The supporting characters inBecause This Is My First Lifealso represent a wider range of views on romance and career choices, meaning there’s a storyline for nearly every viewer to relate to.
One Spring Night
One Spring Night follows the evolving relationship between a librarian and a pharmacist as their lives intersect unexpectedly. Directed by Ahn Pan-seok, this South Korean drama explores themes of love, commitment, and societal expectations. Starring Han Ji-min and Jung Hae-in, it delves into the complexities of modern relationships and the choices individuals face when confronted with love and duty.
Often regarded as one ofthe best romantic K-dramas of all time,One Spring Nighttackles a social stigma in South Korea that threatens the happy ending of a newfound romance. BothYoo Ji-ho (Jung Hae-in) and Lee Jeong-in (Han Ji-Min) wish to fall in love with someone newbut are prevented from doing so because of societal expectations. Ji-ho is constantly ridiculed by those around him for being a single parent, and Jeong-in is trapped in an unfulfilling relationship she feels pressure to stay in.
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Balancing out the dramatic narratives commonly associated with K-dramas are those grounded in reality, whose stories are relatable and convincing.
When the two meet and fall in love, they must find the strength to go against the expectations of others for the sake of their happiness.One Spring Nightshowcases a range of complicated romances—a subplot involves Jeong-in’s sister and her abusive husband— each being incredibly realistic and emotional in their own ways.
When The Weather Is Fine
When the Weather Is Fine: A young cellist, seeking solace from city life, moves to a tranquil small town where she reconnects with an old friend. Through their relationship, she embarks on a personal journey of healing and self-renewal, exploring themes of friendship and emotional recovery in a picturesque setting.
Plenty ofromance K-dramassee their leading couple help one another heal from a past heartbreak or traumatic event. While this trope has been utilized in many series before, it doesn’t come across as cheesy inWhen the Weather Is Fine. Instead, the romance between Mok Hae-won (Park Min-young) and Im Eun-seob (Seo Kang-joon) is quite realistic and heartwarming.
Hae-won returns home to the town of Hyecheon after quitting her job as a cello teacher and reunites with Eun-seob, her former classmate who is now a bookstore owner. The freezing temperatures inWhen the Weather Is Finerepresent the frozen state of Hae-won and Eun-seob’s hearts, and throughout the series,the two gradually open their hearts up to one anotherand begin to heal from their troubled pasts.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a South Korean television series starring Shin Min-a as a pragmatic dentist and Kim Seon-ho as her free-spirited counterpart. The narrative unfolds in the seaside village of Gongjin, where personal and professional lives intersect in heartwarming and often humorous ways. Directed by Yu Je-won, the series explores themes of community, love, and personal growth amidst picturesque coastal scenery.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Chais a belovedK-drama guaranteed to put audiences in a good mood. A remake of 2004’sMr. Handy, Mr. Hong, the K-drama follows accomplished dentist Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a) after she moves away from the city and settles into her new life in the seaside village of Gongjin. In Gongjin, Hye-jin opens up a dental clinic and falls in love with local handyman Hong Du-sik (Kim Seon-ho).
This balance between romance and comedy makesHometown Cha-Cha-Chalighthearted, comforting, and an essential watch on a bad day.
Du-sik’s friendly personality and Hye-jin’s desire to involve herself in the local community meant sparks between the two were sure to ignite eventually. However, despite the convenience of the two meeting,their romance develops naturally and is interspersed with bits of comedic subplotsinvolving Gongjin’s other residents. This balance between romance and comedy makesHometown Cha-Cha-Chalighthearted, comforting, and an essential watch on a bad day.
Something in the Rain
Something in the Rain is a romantic drama series that follows Yoon Jin-ah, a single woman in her 30s, and her unexpected romance with Seo Joon-hee, the younger brother of her best friend. As their relationship develops, they confront societal expectations and personal challenges. The series explores themes of love, age, and societal norms connected to modern relationships.
Something in the Rainis a realistic K-dramacentered around an age-gap relationship. Yoon Jin-ah (Son Ye-jin) and Seo Jun-hui (Jung Hae-in) are in their 30s and late 20s, respectively. Though their age difference is taboo to many around them, Jin-ah and Jun-hui’s gradual attraction to one another is undeniable, and they must find the courage to break social norms before going public with their relationship.
Something in the Rain’s romance is more of a slow burn, but the extra allotted time allows for Jin-ah and Jun-hui’s relationship to evolve naturally, capturing the hearts of audiences along the way. Additionally, the K-drama addresses other taboos in South Korea through their subplots. This includes the harmful and discriminatory environment at Jin-ah’s workplace, where women are expected to accept harassment and work peacefully with their coworkers.
