IU and Park Bo Gum stole hearts in their hit romance drama When Life Gives You Tangerines, which wrapped up on March 28, 2025, with its final four episodes. The show’s deep emotions, powerful storytelling, and the amazing chemistry between the leads left fans longing for more. Its touching ending hit hard, blending love, loss, and life’s ups and downs in a way that stuck with viewers. If you’re missing that heartfelt vibe and looking for something similar, here’s a list of seven slice-of-life K-dramas packed with emotional richness to keep you hooked.
Get ready for a cozy binge—these shows bring the same mix of real-life struggles, warm moments, and unforgettable characters that made When Life Gives You Tangerines so special.
Reply 1988
Reply 1988 takes you back to 1980s Seoul, where five families live as close-knit neighbors in the Ssangmun-dong area. This Netflix gem stars Hyeri, Ryu Jun Yeol, and Park Bo Gum as part of a group of childhood friends growing up together.
The drama follows their teenage years, filled with laughter, tears, and first loves. It dives into everyday life—think sharing meals, playing in the streets, and leaning on each other through tough times. The show captures the spirit of youth, showing how family pressures and young romance shape their world.
Set during a time when South Korea was rebuilding after war, it mixes nostalgia with big cultural moments like the 1988 Seoul Olympics. The kids dream big, face heartbreak, and figure out who they want to be, all while their parents gossip over beers and support each other like siblings. It’s a raw, funny, and tender look at growing up that’ll hit you right in the feels, just like When Life Gives You Tangerines.
The Good Bad Mother
Available on Netflix, The Good Bad Mother tells the story of a complicated bond between a tough mom, played by Ra Mi Ran, and her son, brought to life by Lee Do Hyun.
The drama kicks off with Young-soon, a single mom who’s raised her son Jin-young with strict rules, hoping he’d become a successful prosecutor. But when a tragic accident leaves Jin-young with the mind of a child, their rocky relationship flips upside down. Young-soon goes from hard-nosed to heartbroken, working to rebuild their connection.
Jin-young, now stuck in an innocent mindset, rediscovers life through his mom’s care. The show blends heavy emotions with healing moments, showing how love can grow even after years of strain. It’s a rollercoaster of guilt, forgiveness, and second chances that echoes the family depth of When Life Gives You Tangerines.
Our Blues
Our Blues brings you to Jeju Island, the same stunning backdrop as When Life Gives You Tangerines. This Netflix series features a powerhouse cast including Lee Byung Hun, Shin Min Ah, and Cha Seung Won, weaving together stories of island locals.
The drama follows different characters—a fish seller with a painful past, a couple facing money troubles, a single mom chasing dreams, and more. Their lives overlap in messy, beautiful ways, showing the sweet and bitter sides of existence.
From old friends reuniting to families mending broken ties, every episode digs into love, loss, and hope. The island’s waves and winds set the scene for quiet moments and big fights, making it feel real and lived-in. If you loved the emotional layers of When Life Gives You Tangerines, this one’s a must-watch.
Twenty-Five Twenty-One
Twenty-Five Twenty-One is a bittersweet Netflix rom-com starring Nam Joo Hyuk and Kim Tae Ri as two young people finding their way in the late 1990s.
Na Hee-do is a high school fencer with big dreams, while Baek Yi-jin is a guy hit hard by his family’s financial ruin. They meet at 25 and 21, sparking a friendship that turns into something deeper. The show tracks their coming-of-age journey—her chasing gold medals, him rebuilding his life—alongside their ties to family and friends.
It’s full of joy, like late-night talks and goofy bets, but the ending packs a punch that’ll leave you reaching for tissues. The mix of young love and life’s harsh lessons makes it a perfect follow-up to When Life Gives You Tangerines.
Twinkling Watermelon
You can catch Twinkling Watermelon on Viki, where Ryeoun plays Eun-gyeol, a teen who time-travels back to 1995. There, he meets his parents—Choi Hyun Wook and Shin Eun Soo—before they fall in love.
Eun-gyeol’s a gifted musician stuck between his deaf parents’ expectations and his own dreams. When he lands in the past, he’s the same age as his dad, leading to hilarious run-ins and awkward teamwork in a band. The drama blends comedy with heart, exploring how his parents’ youth shaped their future.
It’s a wild ride of family secrets, music, and fixing old wounds, all with a light touch that’ll remind you of When Life Gives You Tangerines’ softer moments.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha stars Kim Seon Ho and Shin Min Ah in a Netflix series set in the seaside village of Gongjin.
Yoon Hye-jin, a city dentist, moves to the coast and butts heads with Hong Du-sik, the town’s handyman who does a bit of everything. Their slow-burn romance grows amid quirky neighbors—like a cafe owner, a fisherman, and a shy kid—who make the village feel alive.
The show shines in its small, warm moments: fixing a roof together, sharing coffee, or sorting out a local spat. It’s about finding home and healing through community, much like the grounded relationships in When Life Gives You Tangerines.
18 Again
18 Again is a fantasy romance on Netflix starring Lee Do Hyun as a dad who magically turns back into his 18-year-old self.
Hong Dae-young’s life is falling apart—divorce looms, and his kids barely know him. Then, poof, he’s a teen again, enrolling in his twins’ school as their classmate. He gets a second shot to connect with his daughter and son, played by Noh Jeong Eui and Ryeoun, while dodging his past mistakes.
It’s funny, sweet, and a little sad, showing how family ties bend but don’t break. The focus on fixing what’s broken feels right in line with When Life Gives You Tangerines’ emotional core.
Wrapping Up
These seven dramas bring the same heartfelt punch as When Life Gives You Tangerines. Whether it’s the nostalgia of Reply 1988, the healing in The Good Bad Mother, or the island life of Our Blues, they’re all about real people facing real struggles with love and grit.
To know the latest developments about your favorite slice-of-life K-dramas, keep an eye on VvipTimes, and allow notifications from us to get instant updates on your device.
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