15 Best 'Feel Good' South Korean Dramas, Ranked

Some time ago, audiences unfamiliar with K-dramas thought that the shows created in South Korea were mostly about love and other sunshine-and-rainbows things. However, the most popular hit shows, such as The Glory of Vincenzo, are based on completely different premises. Recently, the industry has been flooded with revenge dramas and tough thrillers.

That's why fans need a break from all the nerve-wracking dramas and want to turn their attention to something lighthearted and something that will make them smile and not feel depressed. Ten of the best "feel good" K-dramas will fill your evenings with pleasure and fun.

Updated on December 8th, 2023 by Louise Everitt: This article has been updated with additional content to keep information relevant. We've added some of the latest titles released in 2023 to keep things up-to-date and interesting for you. Dive in and check out what's new!

15. Twinkling Watermelon (2023)

This drama revolves around Eun Gyeol, a high school student with hearing-impaired parents. He desires to pursue music against his father's wishes. His life takes a turn when he visits a mysterious music store and time travels to 1995.

14. Daily Dose Of Sunshine (2023)

The story follows Jung Da-Eun, a nurse who has recently transferred to the neuropsychiatry department and struggles with her first time handling psychiatric patients. Another main character is Dong Go-Yun, a doctor specializing in proctology.

13. See You In My 19th Life (2023)

This drama features Ban Ji-Eun, who is living her 19th life and remembers all her past lives. In her 18th life, she fell in love with Seo-Ha and now, in her 19th life, she approaches Mun Seo-Ha again. However, Mun Seo-Ha still loves Yoon Ju-Won, her 18th-life identity.

12. Crash Course In Romance (2023)

It centers on Nam Haeng-Seon, a former national athlete who now runs a side dish store and takes care of her niece. Her niece, Nam Hae-E, wishes to join a class taught by Choi Chi-Yeol, a star math instructor.

11. Divorce Attorney Shin (2023)

This series follows Shin Sung-Han, who was a piano major and a professor in Germany but returns to South Korea upon hearing shocking news. He then works as a divorce lawyer.

10. 18 Again (2020)

Fans of the classic 2009 comedy starring Zac Efron may find this show very familiar, and that's no surprise since the series is a remake of the American film 17 Again. However, the South Korean producers decided to make the main character, played by Lee Do-Hyun, a year older.

But the rest is the same: Hong Dae-Young, a middle-aged man in a family crisis, wakes up as a younger version of himself. The show is a perfect family drama with just the right amount of romance and self-discovery.

9. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)

This Korean drama received worldwide acclaim, probably because the main character did something many of us only dream about. She left her big city life behind and moved to a perfect seaside village to start a new life. The premise of the show is quite typical, but that doesn't make the story any less comforting, especially since not only is the main storyline so compelling, but the subplots are also very heartfelt.

8. Welcome to Waikiki (2018)

Welcome to Waikiki is considered one of the funniest shows ever created. The sitcom revolves around the lives of three friends who run a small and cute tropical-themed guesthouse they call Waikiki. The characters are so well-written that we really believe in all their struggles. One day they realize they are heading straight to bankruptcy, but that same day their lives change forever when they meet a single mother with a baby.

7. Familiar Wife (2018)

The perfect choice for those in need of a twisted drama that will grab your attention from the very first episode. Familiar Wife is a time-traveling family series that revolves around an unhappy couple on the verge of divorce. One day the husband, Cha Joo-Hyuk, helped a stranger on the street and the impossible happened: the next morning he woke up in a bed with his wife, but it wasn't his real one – it was his work crush instead.

The drama deals with many serious issues such as family loyalty and the idea that you have to appreciate what you have before it's too late. The many twists and turns of the series will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout the show, but you’ll still feel good about it.

6. Mystic Pop-Up Bar (2020)

Fantasy K-dramas are always excellent feel-good series, and this one is no exception. As the name implies, the show is about a mysterious food truck, and the thing is that it only runs at night. The truck is located on a rooftop and is a place for both the dead and the living. It serves as a healing space for the dead who have unfinished business on earth. The show's unusual premise and the way it raises many philosophical questions make it a must-see.

5. Fight For My Way (2017)

The series focuses on two big dreamers, Ko Dong-Man and Choi Ae-Ra, as they both try to succeed at the job they are not quite qualified for. The two are childhood friends who have remained close throughout their lives and are now doing everything they can to make their dreams come true. The career-oriented drama also has a pinch of romance, as we get to witness how the relationship between two friends develops into something more.

4. Hospital Playlist (2020)

The series focuses on five friends who are also doctors working together at the Yulje Medical Center. They found each other during their medical studies and have been inseparable ever since. However, one character, Lee Ik-jun, gets a little more screen time as he is shown to be coping with the difficulties of his life as a single father. However, his attitude towards life and the happy time all the friends spend together make the show a perfect example of a feel-good drama.

3. Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)

The show became an instant hit upon release and generated a lot of buzz around its premise. The plot of the drama focuses on the life of a lawyer with autism spectrum disorder. Woo Young-Woo is brilliantly played by Park Eun-Bin, and her acting was highly praised by both critics and audiences. The unique methods used by the main character to solve the cases deserve a special award in a legal field.

2. Racket Boys (2021)

Have you ever noticed that there are almost no sad sports dramas? The genre mainly focuses on the greatness of achieving something through hard work and strong will, and what's better than that to make you feel good?

Racket Boys revolves around a middle school badminton team on the verge of disbanding, and they try to do everything they can to prevent that from happening. The ensemble cast of the show is so compelling that not only the main characters, but the entire squad has captured the attention of fans. And of course, the small town charm is also there.

1. Run On (2020)

Still, there's nothing more life-affirming than a good old-fashioned happily-ever-after story, so we saved Run On for last. The series revolves around a love story between an athlete and a translator. But there are several other compelling stories on the side that definitely deserve your attention.

The best thing about this drama is that it has a complicated, yet very touching and relatable story at its core. And the realistic portrayal of modern love makes it one of the best in the genre.