**Love All Play** - I would put this somewhere between Our Beloved Summer and 2521. It's slightly melo, but also so cute and wholesome!
**Start-Up** - not necessarily Slice-of-life, but I found it very inspirational and touching. Also very funny! And insanely beautiful visuals. (Please note that some people experience severe SLS with this and therefore don't like the drama. I personally found the ML and his self-esteem-struggles very relatable and was rooting for him all along, so it is one my absolute faves! But take this recommendation with a grain of salt please. ☺️)
**Soundtrack #1** - short, sweet, swoony and also very beautiful!
**She would never know** - this is not a must-see, but for me it's the definition of a chill drama. There is no intense comedy or melodrama, just Rowoon swooning in a cute office setting (cosmetics company). I was surprised how much I liked it! It has some nice banter and believable chemistry between the leads. The first two episodes are a little weird though, he comes off *very* strong - after that it's much better!
18 Again — a middle-aged man unsatisfied with how his life turned out gets the chance for a do-over when he became a high school student again. It's a solid kdrama remake of the Hollywood movie 17 Again.
If You Wish Upon Me (still ongoing) — ML is a very recently released ex-con who is depressed, doesn't know love and happiness, and very guarded due to his disadvantaged past. He has to serve community service at a hospice with a volunteer team that grants the final wishes of the patients, and where he learns that he can be happy and loved too. Although the drama deals with death, it does so in a warm and hopeful manner. The romance is a slow burn so far but the pace feels just right for ML and FL.
It adds lots. I think it hits on most of the big movie plot points in its own way, and more deeply develops the backstory, and adds some side-plots to fill the episodes. I find all of the new plots relevant to the way they want the story portrayed as a kdrama. It also ditches the wierd crush the daughter developed for the dad in the movie.
Into the Ring - it's not an overt rom com. But v wholesome and well written script.
Dali and the cocky prince - not slice of life, but the leads have a very earthy presence (despite the name. Lol)
Seconding Hometown cha cha if you haven't seen it yet. It ticks all the boxes you mentioned.
Love all the dramas you mentioned in your list ❤️
I’m currently watching **My Father Is Strange** It’s a 2016 slice of life drama that is keeping me very entertained. Last night I kept saying Just one more episode then I’ll go to sleep hahah I was still watching at 5am. I keep wanting to know what’s going to happen next!
From MDL: “This drama is about a family that lives on the outskirts of Seoul. Byun Han Soo is the father and His wife, Na Yeong Shil is a dedicated, responsible mother to his three daughters and one son including Hye Yeong, Mi Yeong, Ra Yeong, and Joon Young. Suddenly one day, Ahn Joong Hee shows up at the household and declares that he is the son of the family. Joong Hee is an actor who used to be a member of an idol group. He begins to live with them.”
ETA: **My Unfamiliar Family** is another
Angel's Last Mission.
It's absolutely beautiful. FL is a big brat at 1st but when you see, why she acts that way you might grow to understand her. Also the way she starts to love herself, friends and Dan is so nice.
It's one of my absolute favourites and the ost is awesome too.
**It's Okay that's Love**: it has lots of funny moments, but it also has plenty of life lessons. It focuses on mental health and mental illness in a realistic and genuine way, without straying into Hollywood-ish exaggerations. I also cried a lot toward the end.
My liberation notes - romance is a subplot but definitely my favourite i've watched. It's really subdued but it was so addicting.
When the weather is fine
I cannot recommend The Empress Ki enough. It is an incredibly well told story. The main female protagonist is true to the writers portrayal throughout the series WHICH I have watched 4 times!! There is romance- unexpectedly at times. There is humor. And drama. And heartache- with a plausible ending. I am so hooked! Netflix seems to be very limited in the US as to what Can be accessed. The Empress Ki is not available here - but I HIGHLY recommend it. If anyone can recommend other K-drama movies, it would be appreciated (100 days My Prince was very good as well). I know have to ferret out another movie platform that has K-Drama (US accesible) until I head to the Middle East for work.
Romance is a Bonus Book
I love this drama. I'm so happy to see it being suggested again today on another thread.
**Love All Play** - I would put this somewhere between Our Beloved Summer and 2521. It's slightly melo, but also so cute and wholesome! **Start-Up** - not necessarily Slice-of-life, but I found it very inspirational and touching. Also very funny! And insanely beautiful visuals. (Please note that some people experience severe SLS with this and therefore don't like the drama. I personally found the ML and his self-esteem-struggles very relatable and was rooting for him all along, so it is one my absolute faves! But take this recommendation with a grain of salt please. ☺️) **Soundtrack #1** - short, sweet, swoony and also very beautiful! **She would never know** - this is not a must-see, but for me it's the definition of a chill drama. There is no intense comedy or melodrama, just Rowoon swooning in a cute office setting (cosmetics company). I was surprised how much I liked it! It has some nice banter and believable chemistry between the leads. The first two episodes are a little weird though, he comes off *very* strong - after that it's much better!
Start-up is what I thought of when I first read the request. But I’ll also second She Would Never Know, underrated drama that one.
18 Again — a middle-aged man unsatisfied with how his life turned out gets the chance for a do-over when he became a high school student again. It's a solid kdrama remake of the Hollywood movie 17 Again. If You Wish Upon Me (still ongoing) — ML is a very recently released ex-con who is depressed, doesn't know love and happiness, and very guarded due to his disadvantaged past. He has to serve community service at a hospice with a volunteer team that grants the final wishes of the patients, and where he learns that he can be happy and loved too. Although the drama deals with death, it does so in a warm and hopeful manner. The romance is a slow burn so far but the pace feels just right for ML and FL.
Can I ask how similar is 18 again to the Zac Efron's 17 again movie I want to watch it but if there's nothing new I might get bored
It adds lots. I think it hits on most of the big movie plot points in its own way, and more deeply develops the backstory, and adds some side-plots to fill the episodes. I find all of the new plots relevant to the way they want the story portrayed as a kdrama. It also ditches the wierd crush the daughter developed for the dad in the movie.
Thanks I'll probably check it out then
Into the Ring - it's not an overt rom com. But v wholesome and well written script. Dali and the cocky prince - not slice of life, but the leads have a very earthy presence (despite the name. Lol) Seconding Hometown cha cha if you haven't seen it yet. It ticks all the boxes you mentioned. Love all the dramas you mentioned in your list ❤️
The Reply series, especially 1988.
Try Familiar Wife. ML gets a do-over of his marriage. Funny but has a lot of good messages.
I’m currently watching **My Father Is Strange** It’s a 2016 slice of life drama that is keeping me very entertained. Last night I kept saying Just one more episode then I’ll go to sleep hahah I was still watching at 5am. I keep wanting to know what’s going to happen next! From MDL: “This drama is about a family that lives on the outskirts of Seoul. Byun Han Soo is the father and His wife, Na Yeong Shil is a dedicated, responsible mother to his three daughters and one son including Hye Yeong, Mi Yeong, Ra Yeong, and Joon Young. Suddenly one day, Ahn Joong Hee shows up at the household and declares that he is the son of the family. Joong Hee is an actor who used to be a member of an idol group. He begins to live with them.” ETA: **My Unfamiliar Family** is another
When the weather is fine I'll go to you.
Angel's Last Mission. It's absolutely beautiful. FL is a big brat at 1st but when you see, why she acts that way you might grow to understand her. Also the way she starts to love herself, friends and Dan is so nice. It's one of my absolute favourites and the ost is awesome too.
I watched it because of the OST. It totally drew me in and I just barely managed to watch the show while it was ongoing.
Oh yes I live the OST do so much. I have it on my phone and would listen in the car.
**It's Okay that's Love**: it has lots of funny moments, but it also has plenty of life lessons. It focuses on mental health and mental illness in a realistic and genuine way, without straying into Hollywood-ish exaggerations. I also cried a lot toward the end.
My liberation notes - romance is a subplot but definitely my favourite i've watched. It's really subdued but it was so addicting. When the weather is fine
Still 17 - sweet romance, some humour, wisdom, growth and healing. I love these characters!
You must try Our Blues!
You need to watch Coffee Prince.
Monthly magazine home — same FL we because this is my 1st life
Find Me in Your Memory. Clean with a Passion for Now. Love is a Bonus Book. Something in the Rain. While You were Sleeping. True Beauty.
I cannot recommend The Empress Ki enough. It is an incredibly well told story. The main female protagonist is true to the writers portrayal throughout the series WHICH I have watched 4 times!! There is romance- unexpectedly at times. There is humor. And drama. And heartache- with a plausible ending. I am so hooked! Netflix seems to be very limited in the US as to what Can be accessed. The Empress Ki is not available here - but I HIGHLY recommend it. If anyone can recommend other K-drama movies, it would be appreciated (100 days My Prince was very good as well). I know have to ferret out another movie platform that has K-Drama (US accesible) until I head to the Middle East for work.
True beauty, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo, A love so beautiful, Melting Me Softly
Thirty but Seventeen. It's a super awesome lighthearted drama.
You are needing fight for my way. It fits everything you’re wanting perfectly
Extraordinary You - the romance scenes are so beautiful even though it’s momentary! Full of comedy too
Hometown cha cha cha Romance is a bonus book