K-dramas, which focus on high school, college, and the growing pains of life, are especially relatable to people all over the world. These coming-of-age dramas are especially famous for their heartfelt storyline and their beautiful cast. One of them, At a Distance, Spring is Green, is a great coming-of-age K-drama that aired in 2021.
At a Distance, Spring is Green is a K-Drama that leaves an impact on the viewer’s mind. It is a wholesome, feel-good, yet realistic K-Drama about the ups and downs of growing up. People who have watched this show are usually on the lookout for something similar.
At a Distance, Spring is Green is a coming-of-age K-drama set in a University. It aired in 2021, and it is also adapted from a Webtoon of the same name.
The story revolves around three characters: Yeo Jun, Su Hyeon, and So Bin. All three of them are in their 20s and studying at Myeongil University. However, the three of them are extremely different from each other. The protagonist, Yeo Jun, is a character who seems to have it all; he’s from a rich family, he has looks, he has loving friends, and he has a great personality.
However, Su Hyeon is the exact opposite of Yeo Jun. He’s from a poor family. He is not friendly and is socially distant. He pushes people away from him, and all he cares is about school work and money to provide for his family.
Both Yeo Jun and Su Hyeon could not be any more different than each other, yet they form an unlikely friendship along with So Bin. So Bin is an extremely average person, not excelling in anything in particular. These three people, who are so different from each other, form an amazing friendship and go through the highs and lows of life together.
If you have already watched this K-drama, then below we have recommended some other K-dramas, just like At a Distance, Spring is Green. These are all similar to At a Distance, Spring is Green, as they focus on high school/college and the pains of growing up, first love, heartbreaks, and all in between.
1. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo is a coming-of-age K-drama that aired from 2016-2017. It’s a sports drama, and it is inspired by the real-life story of the Olympic gold winner weight lifter Jang Mi-ran.
Even though during its ShowTime from November 2016 to January 2017, it received low viewership, it soon gathered a cult following. The people could relate to the characters a lot, and it is still relevant seven years after its airing.
The story revolves around Kim Bok-Joo, who is a very gifted weightlifter. Inspired and encouraged by her father, who was a former weightlifter, she follows her passion for becoming a weightlifter.
She loves it, but she also feels very different from other girls her age. Weightlifting is not seen as a womanly sport, and Kim Bok-Joo constantly struggles with feelings of insecurity as a woman.
However, she soon develops a crush on her childhood friend’s brother, Jung Jae-Yi. She goes to great lengths to win his heart, but it doesn’t work in her favor. Jae-Yi’s brother and Bok-Joo’s childhood friend, Jung Joon-Hyung, tries to help Bok-Joo out at first. But he soon realizes that he is in love with her. This K-drama is a beautiful story of friendship, first love, and following your passion.
- Director: Oh Hyun-jong
- Screenwriter: Yang Hee-Seung
- Starring: Nam Joo-Hyuk, Lee Sung-Kyung, Lee Jae-Yoon, Kyung Soo-jin
- Total number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
2. My Roommate is a Gumiho
My Roommate is a Gumiho, a K-drama which is based on an original Webtoon. It aired in 2021. It didn’t receive a lot of viewership worldwide during its course, but it’s now a very famous K-drama.
The story revolves around Shin Woo-yeo. He is a legendary nine-tailed fox and is almost a thousand years old. Since nine-tailed foxes do not die, he has been on this earth for a long time. However, he resents his immortality and wants to be human. Soon, he finds himself in a predicament. His fox beads were swallowed by a college girl, Lee Dam, who loves to eat.
It was an accident, but both of them now have to solve this issue together by living under the same roof. As the plot progresses, both of them start to fall for each other. But in the true manner of a fantasy K-drama, supernatural elements come between them.
- Director: Naam Sung-Woo, Choi Bo-Rim
- Screenwriter: Baek Sun-Woo, Park Joon-Hwa
- Starring: Jang Ki- yong, Lee Hye-ri, Kang Ha-na, Kim Do-wan
- Total number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Viki
3. Nevertheless
Nevertheless, it is a popular K-drama that aired in 2021. It is based on the Webtoon of the same name. It has received international fame and criticism because of its plot.
The story revolves around Yoo Na-Bi and Park Jae-eon. Both of them have been hurt in the past because of their relationships. This created a sense of distrust in them. They are both scared and skeptical of relationships.
Park Jae-eon has the personality of a notorious womanizer. Everyone knows that he does not date or commit. Yoo Na-Bi, a hopeful artist, has been hurt by her boyfriend. But she still believes in love.
So, when both of them meet by chance one day, they feel the connection instantly. Soon, we get to know that both of them go to the same art school.
As they start hanging out in the same friend group, they start developing feelings for each other. But both of them are scared to open up, especially Jae-eon. Soon, Na-Bi’s childhood friend, Yang Do-hyeok, comes into the scene.
Na-Bi is presented with the certainty of Do-Hyeok and the uncertainty that comes with a relationship with Jae-eon. It’s a drama that perfectly captures youthful vigor, attraction, and the choices we make while growing up.
- Director: Kim Ga-ram
- Screenwriter: Jung Won
- Starring: Han So-hee, Song Kang, Chae Jong-hyeop
- Total number of episodes: 10
- Where to watch: Netflix
4. Age of Youth
Age of Youth, also called Hello, My Twenties, is a beautiful, heartwarming coming-of-age story about five Korean women. It aired from 2016 to 2017.
The story revolves around five women who come from different parts of Korea. One is a student who is a psychology major. Another is a culinary arts student. Another is a business major with family problems.
The next major is in journalism, and the last girl is a sugar baby working hard to be a career person. They are Park Hye-su, Han Seung-Yeon, Han Ye-ri, Park Eun-bin, and Ryu Hwa-young, respectively.
They live together in “Belle Epoque,” and the shared roof makes their problems clash. However, they help each other grow and connect with each other through their personal problems.
- Director: Lee Tae-gon, Kim Sang-ho
- Screenwriter: Park Yeon-seon
- Starring: Han Ye-ri, Han Seung-Yeon, Park Eun-bin, Ryu Hwa-young, Park Hye-su, Choi Ara
- Total number of episodes: 26 episodes (2 seasons)
- Where to watch: Viki, Netflix
5. Class of Lies
Class of Lies is an intricate mystery K-drama which aired in 2019. It revolves around a prestigious lawyer, an unsolved murder case, and the strive for justice.
Class of Lies revolves around a prestigious lawyer, Gi Moo-hyeok. He is assigned the case of a school where a famous female student has been stabbed. A classmate later revealed to be her boyfriend, was found with the knife at the crime scene.
Gi Moo-Hyeok is assigned to defend the boyfriend of the victim, Kim Han-soo. However, defending Kim Han-soo is harder than it seemed to be because he does not care about his legal condition.
He refused every help and tried to commit suicide. The attempt fails, and he slips into a coma. However, his behavior brings down our prestigious lawyer, and he loses his reputation. Soon, he goes undercover as a teacher in the same school as the stab victim. He tries to uncover the mysteries of the school with the PE teacher, Ha So-hyeon.
- Director: Sung Yong-il, Park Ji-hyun
- Screenwriter: Jang Hong-cheol
- Starring: Yoon Kyun-sang, Keum Sae-rok, Choi Yu-hwa
- Total number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Viki
Also Read: 10 K-dramas Like Playful Kiss You Need To Watch
6. Shadow Beauty
Shadow Beauty is a 2021 thriller/mystery K-drama. It follows a similar trope of harsh beauty standards. However, the plot is enhanced by the mystery aspect, which keeps you hooked. This is adapted from a Webtoon of the same name.
The story revolves around Koo Ae-jin. She has a terrible life, and she is treated horribly because of her looks. She is continuously bullied by her classmates. Even strangers on the road comment on her face. But no one knows her secret identity. Using makeup and pro editing skills, she lives a completely different life online. She has over 700k followers. Her fans love and idolize her.
Everything works out for her on the internet. But not so much in real life. However, her online persona is threatened when she gets a text from an anonymous person. That person knows who she is and what she looks like in real life. This motivates Koo Ae-jin to find out the culprit once and for all.
- Director: Bang Soo-in
- Screenwriter: Bang Soo-in
- Starring: Shim Dal-gi, Choi Bo-min
- Total number of episodes: 13
- Where to watch: Viki
7. Extraordinary You
Extraordinary You was aired in 2019 and is based on the Webtoon “July Found by Chance.”
The story revolves around Eun Dan-oh. She seems like a typical student at first. But the world is not what it seems. Her entire world and its people are merely characters in a comic book. Dan-oh is not even the main character.
She is a side character with a terrible fate written for her. She is stuck with her crush, who does not like her back. Their fates are sealed together, and he will even die an early death, as per the Writer.
However, she is not satisfied with the ending written for her. She wants to change her destiny. Soon, she stumbles upon Student number 13, whom she names Haru. She forms a connection with Haru, going against her already-decided ending.
- Director: Kim Sang- hyeop
- Screenwriter: In Ji-hye, Song Ha-young
- Starring: Kim Hye-yoon, Rowoon, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Na-eun
- Total number of episodes: 32
- Where to watch: Viki
8. 18 Again
18 Again is a romantic comedy K-drama which aired in 2020. It is the only K-drama from the list that is inspired by an American movie, 17 Again.
The story follows the life of a happily married couple, Jung Da-Jung and Hong Dae-young. Both of them seem like a happily married couple from the outside with amazing kids.
But on the inside, they live a frustrated domestic life. Da-Jung is frustrated with her husband’s nonsense behavior. When Dae-young loses his job, Da-Jung feels like she has had enough. She quickly files for divorce.
Still reeling from the shock of his wife’s decision, Da-Jung thinks about his past and his decisions. Soon, he finds the places where he went wrong in life.
It doesn’t take him long to regret his life, and as soon he does that, he is transported to the body of his 18-year-old self, yet his mind is that of a 37-year-old. He is given another chance to change the mistakes of his life. The real question lies in what he does with this opportunity.
- Director: Ha Byung-hoon
- Screenwriter: Ahm Eun-bin, Kim Do-Yeon
- Starring: Yoon Sang-hyun, Lee Do-hyun, Kim Ha-neul
- Total number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Viki, Netflix
9. Twenty Five Twenty One
Twenty Five Twenty One is one of the most successful K-dramas of all time. It aired in 2022 on tvN and showed the lives of five teenagers from 1998-2021. The show spans throughout their whole life, focusing on their teenage days during high school when all of them met.
The show focuses on Na Hee-do and Back Yi-jin. Na Hee-do wants to be a star fencer and switches schools to pursue her dream, set against the backdrop of the IMF crisis. At the same time, Back Yi-jin and his rich and powerful family are stripped of their power. His entire family flees, leaving him to fend for himself.
Stripped down to nothing, Back Yi-jin moves to Na Hee-do’s town and works menial jobs to sustain himself. Both of them meet, and they form an unlikely friendship, as Back Yi-Jin has passed high school and is four years older than Na Hee-do.
However, as their friendship blossoms, they start developing feelings for each other. But it all comes crashing down due to their circumstances, which pull them apart from each other.
Apart from their love story, we also see Na Hee-do as a rising fencer, and while she narrates the story to her young daughter in the future, other characters come into view. They are Ko Yu-rim, Moon Ji-woong, and Ji Seung-wan.
- Director: Jung Ji-Hyun
- Screenwriter: Kemon Do-eun
- Starring: Kim Tae-ri, Nam Joo-Hyuk, Kim Ji-yeon (Bona), Choi Hyun-wook, Lee Joo-Myung
- Total number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
Also Read: 44 K-Dramas Like Tempted That You Should Not Miss
10. True Beauty
True Beauty is another popular K-drama which aired from 2020-21. It is based on a famous Webtoon of the same name. The story revolves around Lim Ju-Kyung and her experiences growing up.
Lim Ju-Kyung is a highschooler. Since she was young, she has always been called ugly. Even her family and relatives called her ugly. Nothing was different at her high school. She was bullied so much that she had to change schools and move to her previous hometown. However, desperately seeking acceptance and a fresh start, she sets her sights on the art of makeup.
She develops her skills and soon transforms into a goddess of beauty. Even her own family has trouble recognizing her. At her new school, she is treated like a goddess. However, she soon catches the attention of the two most famous boys, Lee Su-ho and Han Seo-jun.
One of them knows her secret: that her “beauty” is only her makeup, and she looks unrecognizable without it. As the show continues, we see Lim Ju-Kyung come to terms with her true beauty and choose who she loves.
- Director: Kim Sang-hyeop
- Screenwriter: Lee Si-eun
- Starring: Moon Ga-young, Cha Eun-woo, Hwang In-youp, Park Yoo-na
- Total number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix, Viki
11. My ID is Gangnam Beauty
Gangnam Beauty or My ID is Gangnam Beauty, is a 2018 K-drama based on the Webtoon of the same name. It is a coming-of-age college K-drama that deals with issues of superficial beauty and the rising trends of plastic surgery.
The story revolves around Kang Mi-rae. Throughout her high school days, she has been bullied because of her looks. However, before she enters college, she decides to completely transform her looks through plastic surgery. So, when she goes to college with her new face, everyone is in awe of her pretty face and puts her on a pedestal.
Soon, her prettiness gets called out for being fake, and people start pointing out her extreme plastic surgery, which gives her an unrealistic face. Amidst this dual treatment from her classmates, she gets to know her old classmate from school, Du Kyung-seok. He has a cold personality and only opens up to his sister. But soon, Kang Mi-rae and Du Kyung-seok start getting closer.
- Director: Choi Sung-bum
- Screenwriter: Choi Soo-young
- Starring: Cha Eun-woo, Jeon Min-seo, Joo Woo-ri, Kwak Dong-Yeon
- Total number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix, Viki
12. School 2021
“School” is a series started by KBS2 and has eight installments. School 2021, aired in 2021, is the eighth installment of the series.
School 2021 revolves around eighteen students who are in high school. All of them want to do something different with their lives. They do not want to live the typical life of a high schooler, cramming for entrance exams.
They want to do something that represents who they are. It is a period of growing pains, following one’s dreams, and struggles of friendship. This K-drama also shows the power of friendship. It helps the characters feel less alone in their path of life. All of them help each other get through their highs and lows.
- Director: Kim Min-tae
- Screenwriter: Jo Ah-ra, Dong Hee-sun
- Starring: Kim Yo-han, Cho Yi-hyun, Choo Young-woo, Jeon Seok-ho
- Total number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Viki
Also Read: 30 K-Dramas Like Fated to Love You
