Family dynamics are the storyline center of many of the K-drama plots. While family dramas are not given much importance in the West, the Asian side of the story is completely different. How a family is depicted depends on the country the drama takes place in, for example, Korea, where elders are given the utmost respect and their word is the last; no further arguments occur whether the concerned party is satisfied.
In K-dramas like Once Again, parents and their children often represent the new and old generations. While it is satisfying to see how well they get along with each other, there is also a feud among many of them, especially siblings, parents, and in-laws. But in the end, they support each other no matter the situation.
With parents focusing more on the upbringing of the children and the children focusing on what their parents wanted and not rebelling against them like we normally do was a cultural shock for the most part. Yet, we understood where the children were coming from no matter the clauses and conditions: blood is thicker than water, after all, and these K-dramas prove the theory right for the most part.
In family dramas like Once Again, we see the family dynamics from different perspectives. Hence, we have curated a list perfect enough for all the family-loving K-drama watchers.
Once Again
Once Again is a quirky story of a family living in the chaotic Yongju Market neighborhood; they can’t get a day of peace while dealing with their problems. The family consists of a father, Song Young Dal (Chun Ho Jin), who is careful about spending money, and a mother, Jang Ok Boon (Cha Hwa Yun), who always nags at her husband and children.
While the children are successful in their careers and lives, the siblings Song Joon Sun (Oh Dae Hwan), Song Ga Hee (Oh Yoon Ah), Song Na Hee (Lee Min Jung), and Song Da Hee (Lee Cho Hee) are often caught up in the fights of their parents and share a great bond amongst themselves.
The two eldest of the four are divorcees and come to live with their parents. The middle child is facing trouble in her marriage, and the youngest is recently engaged to her long-time lover. The house often erupts into chaos, with all of them under the same roof.
This slice-of-life K-drama tugs on its viewers’ heartstrings with a simple storyline that most can relate to. Once Again is a package of family, romance, life, and drama all wrapped into one.
- Drama: Once Again
- Episodes:100
- Duration:35 min.
- Aired: 2020
- Original Network: KBS2, Netflix, Viki.
1. My Father is Strange
The Byun family lives on the outskirts of Seoul City. Being a family means it comes with its problems and fun-loving moments. The Byun family goes through the trials and errors of life as rock-solid support for each other no matter the circumstances.
Byun Han Soo (Kim Yeong Cheol), the head of the family, is hiding a big secret from the rest. Na Yeong Shil (Kim Hae Sook) is a dedicated, responsible mother to her children and constantly supports them when they fail to deliver their father’s expectations.
Byun Hye Yeong (Lee Yoo Ri), Byun Mi Young (Jung So Min), Byun Ra Yeong (Ryu Hwa Young), and Byun Joon Young (Min Jin Woong) are siblings who spend most of their time trying to avoid each other and constantly bicker amongst themselves. They try to be satisfied with their lives but always fall short.
In a fascinating twist of events, a K-pop idol and drama actor, Ahn Joong Hee (Lee Joon), claims to be the lost son of Byun Han Soo. With the secret finally out, the rest of the family has no option but to let Ahn Joong Hee live with them.
Amidst all the confusion and trial of acceptance, they learn to live like a family again.
- Drama: My Father Is Strange
- Episodes:52
- Duration:1 hr. 6 min.
- Aired: 2017
- Original Network: KBS2, Kocowa, Netflix, Apple TV, Viki.
2. Reply 1988
Five friends get used to growing up and thinking about their future in the neighborhood of Ssangmundong, a village next to Seoul city. While in high school, they often dealt with small problems, but now they have to earn a name for themselves in the society that they live in.
The group consists of Sung Deok Sun (Lee Hye Ri), Kim Jung Hwan (Ryu Yoon Yeol), Ryu Dong Ryong (Lee Dong Hwi), Sung Sun Woo (Go Kyung Pyo), and Choi Taek (Park Bo Gum).
The group often gets into trouble for their mischief among their elders but is forgiven, given their innocent smiles. But as time slowly slips out of their hands, they are forced to grow up quickly. Their childhood spent together becomes a distant memory for them, yet in their youth, they still spend time together while living in different cities.
Reply 1988 is the icing on the cake type of drama. Perfect in every way. Whether it is family dynamics or a tug of war between the five friends, each episode ends with laughter and some tears shed by viewers.
The farewell scene in the drama’s last episode is a goodbye to not only the characters we all loved so dearly but also to the village of Ssangmundong.
- Drama: Reply 1988
- Episodes:20
- Duration:1 hr. 35 min.
- Aired: 2016
- Original Network: TvN, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Viki, AppleTV
3. Be My Dream Family
When they first met, Gum Jong Hwa (Choi Jung Woo) and Kang Mo Ran (Park Joon Geum) were business neighbors. They develop a close relationship with each other and often have lunch together. Soon, they fall in love and decide to get married within six months of dating.
Their children are initially skeptical but give in due to their love for their parents. But this understanding comes at a price; they all have to live under one roof.
With such a huge family comes a huge responsibility, and the main couple try their best to cater to each need of their children and grandchildren while making time for each other.
Be My Dream Family depicts all the broken pieces of a family. Each member has different thoughts, ideologies, and understanding, but the same broken pieces come together to make a complete family.
The characters’ emotions are reflected in the drama to the point that the viewers can relate and sympathize with them.
Whether they become a dream family or not, they are a perfect family in their way.
- Drama: Be My Dream Family
- Episodes:120
- Duration:30 min.
- Aired: 2021
- Original Network: KBS1, KBS World, Kocowa
4. Smile, You
Being the daughter of a rich chaebol family has its perks, but when the family loses all their wealth and lands in financial problems, she has no option but to accept it.
Seo Jung In (Lee Min Jung), the second daughter of the chaebol family, comes to terms with living with her chauffeur family after her husband divorces her amidst growing financial concerns. When two polar opposite families live under the same roof, the drama is a guarantee waiting to happen.
Each member has a background story, making it all the more interesting to watch. What one does not expect is the romance slowly blossoming romance between Seo Jung In and Kang Kyun Soo (Jung Kyung Ho).
Will the couple manage to keep their romance a secret, or will their families intertwine before it can bloom? Smile; you make the viewers feel like part of the family and leave them with happy tears.
- Drama: Smile, You
- Episodes:45
- Duration:1 hr. 10 min.
- Aired: 2010
- Original Network: SBS, Amazon Prime Video
5. Five Enough
A widower, Lee Sang Ta (Ahn Jae Wook), lives with his two children and in-laws, who treat him like their son. Lee Sang Ta works as a marketing professional at a fashion brand and works hard to provide for his family. Though Lee Sang Ta is happy with his life, he feels the absence of a partner.
Ahn Mi Jeong (Soo Yoo Jin) is an assistant manager at a fashion company. Her husband left her to pursue a relationship with her best friend, leaving Ahn Mi Jeong heartbroken and wary of men. Her only solitude is her three children; she would do anything for them.
When Lee Sang Ta crosses paths with Ahn Mi Jeong, sparks fly between them. As they scramble to place their feelings for each other, their children and in-laws deal with the consequences. They slowly learn to become a family while accepting their parent’s love story.
- Drama: Five Enough
- Episodes:54
- Duration:1 hr. 10 min.
- Aired: 2016
- Original Network: KBS2, Amazon Prime Video, Viki, Kocowa
6. What Happens to My Family?
Cha Bong Soon (Yoo Dong Geun) is tired of his three children and often loses his temper with them. Even though He’s mostly selfless, Bong Soon has reached his limits.
To teach his three children a lesson, Bong Soon files a case against them. Cha Kang Shim (Kim Kyun Joo), Cha Gang Jae (Yoon Park), and Cha Dal Bong (Park Hyung Sik) soon realize the importance of their father and try to make amends in their relationships.
What Happens to My Family portrays the importance of fathers and the role they play in a family. More often than not, fathers get sidelined, and no importance is given to them.
This K-drama perfectly captures the father’s emotions and takes the viewers on an emotional journey. With OSTs that bring on tears, what happens to my family makes a perfect family watch.
- Drama: What Happens to My Family?
- Episodes:53
- Duration:1 hr. 5 min.
- Aired: 2015
- Original Network: KBS2, KBS World, Netflix, Viki
7. My Unfamiliar Family
With plot twists in every episode that will have you gripping the edge of your seat, My Unfamiliar Family is the kind of drama that must be watched if you like suspense and intense stories.
My Unfamiliar Family is a drama about two parents and their three children. The first child, Kim Eun Joo (Choo Ja Hyun), is a self-made woman who takes pride in controlling her emotions and has a hard-to-crack personality.
The middle child, Kim Eun Hee (Han Ye Ri), is the glue that tries to keep the family together despite circumstances that often try to tear them apart. The youngest of the three siblings, Kim Ji Woo (Shin Jae), is aloof and keeps to himself.
Kim Eun Hee tries to find her place in the family and confides in her friend about her troubles. With the fear of them breaking out, Eun Hee resolves the fights between her parents.
Though not popular enough, My Unfamiliar Family is a K-drama that tackles family dynamics to the core. Focusing on heavier topics such as LGBTQ and non-consensual relationships, the family is slowly tearing apart at the fringes to protect themselves.
- Drama: My Unfamiliar Family
- Episodes:16
- Duration:1 hr. 15 min.
- Aired: 2020
- Original Network: TvN, Netflix, Apple TV, Viki
8. Glorious Days
Han Song Jung (Kim Mi Sook), a single divorced mother of three daughters, works as a novelist at a publishing company. Sparks fly when she meets her next-door neighbor, who used to be her high school crush. In a bid to reconnect with him, Han Song Jun vows to unite her family with his.
Glorious Days is a sweet romance drama that navigates between finding love and becoming a family again. Reconnecting with the lost love and finding a man for each of her daughters, Han Song Jung plays the role of a loving mother and a keen-eyed matchmaker to the brim.
The daughters’ coming of age and acceptance of having a father-like figure once again in their lives is difficult, but their love for their mother goes beyond that. Ultimately, they want to see their mother treated right and loved by her new in-laws.
- Drama: Glorious Day
- Episodes:44
- Duration:1 hr. 10 min.
- Aired: 2014
- Original Network: SBS, Viki
9. Childless Comfort / My Kids Give Me A Headache
The three generations of a large family living in the countryside are shocked when they discover that the eldest daughter, Ahn So Yeong (Uhm Ji Won), is nine months pregnant while the child’s father is missing.
The rather peaceful family erupts into chaos. Soon, they accept her situation and support So Yeong in delivering her baby. Meanwhile, Ahn Dae Gi (Jung Joon), the family’s second son, finds himself at a crossroads between his wife and mother, who never seem to get along.
Childress Comfort or My Kids Give Me A Headache is a heartwarming drama showing the reality of raising a child as a single mom while suffering from societal prejudice and her family members. So Yeong is determined, and her parents, though against her initially, soon embrace So Yeong and support her nonetheless.
- Drama: Childless Comfort
- Episodes:40
- Duration:60 min.
- Aired: 2013
- Original Network: JTBC, Viki, Apple TV
10. It’s Beautiful Now
The Lee brothers, Yoon Jae (Oh Min Suk), Hyun Jae (Yoon Shi Yoon), and Soo Jae (Seo Bum June) are not interested in dating or getting married, which becomes a cause of concern for their family members.
For them to get married, their grandparents make an offer to the brother that gets married first would get a luxury furnished apartment. In a race to win the apartment, the brothers scramble to find a bride for themselves.
It’s Beautiful Now is a drama that encourages positive family bondings. Forgiveness, acceptance, and responsibility taken by each of the family members is a crucial element. If you like watching a drama where the family dynamics are as positive as the main leads, then this drama is for you.
- Drama: It’s Beautiful Now
- Episodes:50
- Duration:1 hr. 10 min.
- Aired: 2022
- Original Network: KBS2, KBS World, Kocowa, Viki
11. Revolutionary Sisters
Revolutionary sisters are not for everyone; being a K-drama that involves the murder of their mother and the affairs of the husband is not something everyone likes watching. Yet, the drama received good ratings from the ones who watched it.
Revolutionary Sisters revolves around the lives of three sisters, Lee Kwang Nam (Hong Yeun Hee), Lee Kwang Shik (Jeon Hye Bin), Lee Kwang Tae (Go Won Hee), and their father, Lee Cheol Soo (Yoon Joo Sang).
They have been through tough times, making them cold-hearted and different from everyone around them. With the murder of their mother, the image of a perfect family is broken, and each of them is left to face the harsh reality.
The drama makes one cry bitterly with the reality of a father and how the daughters treat him. But they change slowly; each episode focuses on their growth as responsible daughters, sisters, and women.
That makes the drama worth watching at least once. With soulful OSTs, Revolutionary Sisters makes a perfect family drama.
- Drama: Revolutionary Sisters
- Episodes:50
- Duration:1 hr. 10 min.
- Aired: 2021
- Original Network: KBS2, KBS World, Amazon Prime Video, Viki, Netflix.
12. Wonderful Days
A Seoul Prosecutor, Dong Suk (Lee Seo Jin), returns to his village to solve a murder case for the first time in 14 years. Reluctantly, Dong Suk meets his estranged family, who, upon seeing him, welcome him home. In a vivid case of flashbacks, the prosecutor dwells on the reason for his estrangement and vows to reunite.
While on a stroll around the village, Dong Suk meets Cha Hae Won (Kim Hee Sun), his first love, whom he left to pursue in career in Seoul. Dong Suk falls in love with her again, but Cha Hae Won hesitates to trust him again.
Will Dong Suk manage to reunite with his estranged family and past lover, or will the murder finally catch up to him? Wonderful Days is the perfect drama for knowing how society and family hierarchies work and change in South Korea. The drama focuses on family dynamics, and the murder case takes a back seat.
- Drama: Wonderful Days
- Episodes: 50
- Duration:1 hr. 5 min.
- Aired: 2014
- Original Network: KBS2, KBS World
