The Korean TV industry never fails to amaze me and make a little more space in my heart. All the K-Drama fans know that there are layers beneath which a show is hidden. All these layers, stories, plots, and subplots is what keep us hooked till the end. K-Dramas are full of likable characters and these dramas are not an exception. We’ve seen some of the best friendships in these shows. Here is the list featuring our favorite Korean Dramas on Friendship.
1. Reply 1988
‘Reply 1988’ has to be among the best Korean dramas on friendship and I won’t hear anything otherwise. The show feels nostalgic in a way and gives us the perfect mix of youth, family, love and friendship. Broadcasted during 2015-16, the show is set in 1988 and 2015 simultaneously. It begins in 1988 and centers around five friends and their families who reside in the same Ssangmun-dong, Dobong District, Northern Seoul neighborhood. Every character of the show is well written, plus the humor is relatable and top notch.
2. Crash Landing On You
Hands down to the perfect love story of Hyun-Bin and Son Ye-Jin. ‘Crash Landing On You’ can give anyone butterflies. Apart from the cheesy love story between Captain Ri Jeong Hyeok (Hyun Bin) and Seri (Son Ye- Jin), the friendship between Seri and the four North Korean Battalion Army members is what’s worth it. The show will give love, friendship, betrayal, dispute and some more love. Every second of watching this show makes it worth melting for all of it.
3. Welcome to Waikiki
‘Welcome to Waikiki’ is one of those shows that will make you laugh till your stomach hurts. Kang Dong-Gu wants to be a film director, Lee Joon Ki aspires to be an actor and Bong Du-Shik is a freelance writer. Three of them start a guesthouse without any knowledge of how to run a business. Right from the beginning, the situations each character is put through and the way they react is so relatable and funny that it keeps you hooked till the last episode.
4. School 2017
Will it even be a Korean friendship drama list if we don’t include a school drama? ‘School 2017’ is the seventh part of the school franchise. It is a tale of 18-year-old teenagers who must fight against prejudice at their school to have a future. Ra Eun-Ho dreams of being a webtoon artist but ends up being accused as a troublemaker. Hyun Tae-Woon, the rich kid is the son of the school director but hides his deepest scars. The two of them get caught up in order to find the real troublemaker ‘Student X’.
5. Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth
‘Hwarang: The Poet Warrior Youth’ is a period drama set between 57 BC-AD 935, playing with the themes of passion, friendship and love. Hwarang refers to the group of elite men in the Silla Kingdom. Queen Jiso creates Hwarang in order to protect her son, the heir of the kingdom from the ones eyeing the throne with plans ready to kill the heir. What they are unaware of is that the crown prince is himself among the Hwarang. The plot twist is completely massive in this star-studded show.
6. Itaewon Class
In case you’re wondering, yes, I’m a Park Seo-Joon’s fan. And here I bring to you another drama starring Park Seo-Joon. Based on a webtoon, in addition to opening a bar on the street in Itaewon, the ex-con also vows to exact revenge on the people who killed his father. One might feel attached to the main character, Park Sae Ro-yi. The show is either loved or hated mainly because of its revenge theme. However, the subplots giving us a view of Sae Ro Yi’s journey is definitely advisable.
7. Work Later, Drink Now
An So-Hee works as a television writer, Kang Ji-Gu is a YouTuber, and Han Ji-Yeon teaches yoga. After work, the three single women in their 30s like to get together and socialize. They only believe in having a drink at the end of the day. The show reflects the promise of strong bonding and friendship and how friends stand by each other’s side during times of misery.
8. Business Proposal
‘Business Proposal’ is one of the best Korean dramas on friendship and has been in the talks lately. It mainly features office romance, however, the different friendships portrayed in the show is all that we are in for. Shin Ha Ri is a food researcher. She goes on a blind date disguised as her best friend Jin Young Seo. The only motive is to scare the guy and get rejected. Kang Tae Moo, CEO of Go Foods, where Ha Ri works, shows up to that blind date set up by his grandfather. The show is initially based on a webtoon by HaeHwa. Spoiler Alert: The second lead couple completely steals the show.
9. Our Beloved Summer
Starring Choi Woo Shik and Kim Da Mi, the drama depicts the experience of love. The drama is set 10 years apart from the time Choi Ung and Kook Yeon Soo first became bench mates in school to film a documentary. 10 years later, upon gaining fame, they were forced to come together for the camera. It conveys a story about throb, memory, and dream rather than addressing practical matters like family disputes. They went from being annoyed by each other’s presence to bickering friends to lovers and exs. Numerous insignificant, unseen actions convey romance.
10. Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Woo to the Young to the Woo! Dong to the Geu to the Rami! Have you watched the drama yet? If these lines do not ring any bells, this is your sign to watch ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’. Besides the fact that it is a legal drama, we absolutely love the friendship between Woo Young Woo and Dong Geu Ra Mi. Young Woo is a 27-year-old, autistic attorney gifted with an extraordinary ability to think and memorize. We loved her supportive friend even more!
Also check- 10 Best Romantic Comedy Drama Korean Drama Streaming on Netflix
That is an end to our list of the best Korean dramas on friendship. But there are definitely more than these. These were my personal favorite K-Dramas and I absolutely loved watching them. Let us know your favorite K-Dramas and also if you need a part 2!