In the past few days, after watching one of the most viewed Netflix slice-of-life romance K-dramas When Life Gives You Tangerines, we feel so lonely now. The drama’s vibe, visuals, story, generation portrayal, and perfect acting have truly stolen our hearts. The way the characters were written is totally heartwarming, and I loved the storyline—how the scenes move and how everything is shown. I’m quite sure that anyone who watches this drama or even reads an article about it is touched. Now, after finishing the drama, you might feel a little sad wondering what to watch next to comfort yourself—something that feels just like When Life Gives You Tangerines.
No worries. Here I am with 8 slice-of-life K-dramas that will warm your heart and give you the same cozy, emotional vibes. So here are the dramas:
1. Crash Landing on You
Crash Landing on You is a drama loved by 96% of Google users. The female lead, Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin), comes from a South Korean chaebol family and is a successful businesswoman. The male lead, Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin), is a captain in the North Korean army. During Se-ri’s paragliding trip, a sudden tornado takes her into the forests of North Korea. Captain Ri Jeong-hyeok finds her hanging from a tree and hides her in his house with the intention of returning her safely to South Korea. Will Jeong-hyeok be able to return her safely? And can he keep her safe even after that? You’ll have to watch to find out. There’s also a beautiful second-lead couple—Seo Dan (Seo Ji-hye) and Gu Seong-joon (Kim Jung-hyun)—who will break your heart in the best way.This drama is a must-watch if you haven’t seen it yet. It was written by Park Ji-eun and directed by Lee Jeong-hyo.
IMDB Rating: 8.7/10
Personal Rating: 10/10
2. Reply 1988
Remember your school life? This group of 5 friends will bring back that slice-of-life nostalgia. The male and female leads are played by superstar and Go game genius Choi Taek (Park Bo-gum) and Sung Deok-sun (Lee Hye-ri). This is the golden life story of five childhood friends growing up on the same street in a suburban area of Seoul. The story begins in 1987 and shows us their teenage years, their family bonds, and how they deal with everyday problems and solve them together. By the end, we see how they grow into successful adults. If you loved Gwan-sik from When Life Gives You Tangerines, you’re going to love Choi Taek here too. Definitely watch this if you’re missing Yang Gwan-sik.
IMDB Rating: 9/10
Personal Rating: 9.5/10
3. Summer Strike
Can you remember the last time you gave yourself a real break? Ever felt exhausted by work pressure? Then meet Lee Yeo-reum (Seolhyun), who got dumped by her boyfriend, lost her mother, and no matter how hard she worked, was never appreciated in the office. She was about to forget what cherry blossoms look like in spring. To free herself, she sells everything and moves to a small village in Jeju. Here she meets the most introverted guy, Ahn Dae-beom (Yim Si-wan), who never talks to strangers. In the first two episodes, you might think he’s mute—but he’s not. One of the most interesting things is that he never even proposes to Yeo-reum; he simply holds her hand. Yes, he’s that introverted. To give your own life a little rest, don’t forget to watch Summer Strike.
IMDB Rating: 8.4/10
Personal Rating: 9.7/10
4. Twenty-Five Twenty-One
This is the story of a high school fencer, Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri), and a boy from a once-rich family, Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk), whose family went bankrupt. Yi-jin moves into Hee-do’s neighborhood. Hee-do used to be a top fencing athlete in her childhood but lost her spark. Both characters fall from their dreams, and the drama follows how Hee-do pushes herself to return to her former glory and how Yi-jin works hard to bring his family back together. And of course, how they fall in love and spend their best days together.To see it all unfold, check out Twenty-Five Twenty-One.
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
Personal Rating: 10/10
5. Welcome to Samdal-ri
A Successful fashion photographer Cho Sam-dal (Shin Hye-sun) becomes trapped in a scandal and returns to her hometown, Samdal-ri, in Jeju. Here, she reconnects with her childhood friend and former lover, Jo Yong-pil (Ji Chang-wook). The story follows how they support each other during hard times, navigate past memories, face family and career challenges, and eventually rekindle their romance.
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
Personal Rating: 8.6/10
6. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Our dentist female lead Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a) moves from Seoul to a small seaside village in Jeju. There, she meets Hong Du-sik (Kim Seon-ho), a man who seems to have a license for every job you can imagine. Yes—our beloved Cheong-seub (Seon Ho) from When Life Gives You Tangerines is here! This drama shows how two completely opposite people fall in love and help each other heal from past traumas. The relaxing storyline will surely touch your heart.
IMDB Rating: 8.3/10
Personal Rating: 8.5/10
7. Once Upon a Small Town
So far, we’ve seen female leads escaping the city for village life. But in Once Upon a Small Town, it’s the male lead, Han Ji-yul (Choo Young-woo), a city vet, who moves to Huidong Village to take over his grandfather’s animal clinic. There, he meets Ahn Ja-young (Joy), a local police officer. Ji-yul struggles to adapt to rural life and the quirks of the village, but over time, romance blooms between them. This slice-of-life drama offers a sweet look at love and community.
IMDB Rating: 7.9/10
Personal Rating: 8.0/10
8. Our Blues
Lastly, here’s another Jeju Island slice-of-life drama, Our Blues. It features some of the biggest names in K-drama: Shin Min-a, Lee Byung-hun, Kim Woo-bin, Han Ji-min, and more. This series shows the sweet and bitter sides of life—from beginnings to endings—through the lens of a small community. Some characters have returned to the island, some have never left, and others have run away to it. It explores themes of love, family, loss, and personal growth. Some find happiness, others face tough decisions. It’s an emotional, beautiful depiction of real life.
IMDB Rating: 8.6/10
Personal Rating: 8.9/10
And if you’re still missing When Life Gives You Tangerines… trust me, you’re not the only one. That empty feeling after finishing such a warm and emotional drama is so real. But just like life moves on, our hearts also find new stories to hold onto.
These 8 K-dramas might not replace that exact feeling, but they’ll surely wrap you up in soft moments, healing vibes, and characters who feel like home. Maybe you’ll smile again, maybe cry a little—but in the end, your heart will feel full once more. So take your time, pick the one that calls to you most… and let yourself feel everything all over again. 🍊💛
Till then keep exploring Wavies.
