Family dramas have always existed in Dramaland. They are generally 50-episode long and thus require patience and determination to watch them. Thankfully, more and more ‘normal’ shows (a.k.a with a lesser number of episodes) offer the same comfort and relatability you get when it comes to depicting families and the complex ties between their members. So, here’s a short list of great dramas that tackle that topic with brilliancy. Have you watched any of these dramas? Any favorites in the lot?
My Golden Life (2017-2018)
Cast: Shin Hye Sun, Park Shi Hoo, Lee Tae Hwan & Seo Eun Soo
Plot: Seo Ji An is a young woman who discovers one day her parents’ secret and has to deal with the consequences.
Episodes: 52
Where to where? Netflix, Kissasian, HiTV
Curtain Call (2022)
Cast: Ha Ji Won, Kang Ha Neul & Ko Du Shim
Plot: Yoo Jae Heon is a kind, optimistic and bright man. He works as an actor for a theater company, but struggles to make ends meet. One day, he is hired to play the grandson of Ja Geum Soon. She is the rich CEO of a prestigious hotel, who lost her North Korean family after the war. To fulfill her dying wish, Jae Heon accepts to become her lost grandson.
Episodes: 16
Where to where? Viki, Kissasian, HiTV
My Liberation Notes (2022)
Cast: Kim Ji Won, Lee Min Ki, Lee El & Son Suk Ku
Plot: Yeom Mi Jeong, Yeom Gi Jeong and Yeom Chang Hee are three siblings. They are all lost in their lives and desperately try to give it some meaning. One day, a stranger arrives at their house. He is only known under the name of Mr. Gu.
Episodes: 16
Where to where? Netflix, Kissasian, HiTV
My Father is Strange (2017)
Cast: Lee Yu Ri, Jung So Min & Lee Joon
Plot: The story of the 4 turbulent siblings of the Byun family, as they go through love and uncover family secrets.
Episodes: 52
Where to where? Kissasian, HiTV
18 Again (2020)
Cast: Kim Ha Neul, Yoon Sang Hyun & Lee Do Hyun
Plot: Hong Dae Young is a 37 year old man married to Jung Da Jung. Together they have an 18-year old daughter and son. Both struggle to keep their relationship, so Da Jung asks for a divorce. One day, Dae Young wakes up and is 18 again. He now has another chance with his family and mend the relationships.
Episodes: 16
Where to where? Kissasian, HiTV
Hi, Bye Mama! (2020)
Cast: Kim Tae Hee, Go Bo Gyeol & Lee Kyu Hyung
Plot: Cha Yu Ri and Jo Gang Hwa are a loving married couple. One day, 8-month pregnant Cha Yu Ri gets into an accident. She dies, but her baby is saved. Now a ghost, she wanders around her family. Until one day, she becomes human again.
Episodes: 16
Where to where? Netflix, Kissasian, HiTV
Angry Mom (2015)
Cast: Kim Hee Sun, Kim Yoo Jung & Ji Hyun Woo
Plot: Jo Gang Ja is the mother of a teenage daughter who is being bullied at her school. To protect her, she disguises herself as a high school student and joins her school.
Episodes: 16
Where to where? Kissasian, HiTV
Reply Series (2012/2013/2015-2016)
Cast: Jung Eun Ji, Go A Ra & Hyeri
Plot: Set in 1997, 1994 and 1988 respectively, each Reply follows the life of adolescents and young adults, as they navigate through life, as well as political, social and cultural events, that imprinted the South Korean society.
Episodes: 16 / 21 / 20
Where to where? Netflix, Kissasian, Viki, HiTV
My Unfamiliar Family (2020)
Cast: Han Ye Ri, Choo Ja Hyun, Won Mi Kyung, Jung Jin Young, Shin Hae Ja & Kim Ji Suk
Plot: Kim Eun Hee belongs to a rather dysfunctional family. She has a cold older sister and a baby brother. Moreover, her parents have grown distant to each other over the years. One day, her father gets lost while hiking. When he is found, he only has his memories from when he was 22. The event creates chaos in the family.
Episodes: 16
Where to where? Netflix, Kissasian, Viki, HiTV
Liver or Die (2019)
Cast: Yu Jun Sang & Lee Si Young
Plot: Lee Poong Sang is a man in his 40s who struggles to take care of his family and 4 adult and ungrateful siblings. One day, he discovers he has a liver cancer, but is reluctant to ask his family for help.
Episodes: 40
Where to where? Kissasian
Mother (2018)
Cast: Lee Bo Young, Lee Hye Young & Go Sung Hee
Plot: Soo Jin is a cold biology teacher, who doesn’t bound easily with people. One day, she passes by one of her pupil’s house at night, and finds the little girl outside in a trash bag. Recognizing domestic abuse, Soo Jin decides to take Hye Na with her, without telling anyone. They start running away from authorities, while connecting with each other.
Episodes: 16
Where to where? Kissasian
My Mister (2018)
Cast: Lee Sun Kyun & IU
Plot: Lee Ji An is a contract worker, very shy, cold and distant. She has a lot of problems and struggles financially. At some point, she happens to get involved in Park Dong Hoon’s life. Dong Hoon is going through a mid-life crisis. As they both feel burdened by life, they end up developing a connection.
Episodes: 16
Where to where? Netflix, Kissasian, Viki, HiTV
Go Back Couple (2017)
Cast: Jang Na Ra & Son Ho Jun
Plot: Choi Ban Do and Ma Jin Joo are a 38-year old married couple. They are going through a crisis in their marriage that makes them regret falling in love. Unexpectedly, they travel back in time to their college days at the time when they first met. Will they fall in love again or choose different paths?
Episodes: 12
Where to where? Netflix, Viki, Kissasian, Dramacool, HiTV
The Great Show (2019)
Cast: Song Seung Heon & Lee Sun Bin
Plot: Wi Dae Han is a politician whose reputation has been tainted after an accident involving his father. To improve its image, he adopts a teenage girl who pretends to be his daughter and her 3 siblings.
Episodes: 16
Where to where? Kissasian, Viki
The Real One Has Come (2023)
Cast: Baek Jin Hee, Ahn Jae Hyun, Cha Joo Young & Jung Sui Jae
Plot: Oh Yeon Doo is a young woman who discovers one day that her boyfriend is cheating on her. After their break-up she realizes she is pregnant. Meanwhile, she meets Gong Tae Kyung who is an OB-GYN. He never wants to get married. They both get entangled and start developing feelings for each other.
Episodes: 50
Where to where? Netflix, Kissasian, HiTV
Unstoppable High Kick (2006-2007)
Cast: Jung Il Woo, Park Min Young & Kim Bum
Plot: The story of a a turbulent family whose members all live under the same roof.
Episodes: 167
Where to where? Kissasian
The Good Bad Mother (2023)
Cast: Ra Mi Ran, Lee Do Hyun & Ahn Eun Jin
Plot: Choi Kang Ho is a prosecutor who has a troubled relationship with his mother. One day, he gets into an accident and loses his memory. He now has the mental age of a kid, so he goes back to his mother’s farm. Will they mend the relationship? Will Kang Ho recover his memory?
Episodes: 14
Where to where? Netflix, Kissasian, HiTV
Once Upon a Drama 