Since its debut on the 7 March, the bittersweet K-drama When Life Gives You Tangerines has grown rapidly in popularity amassing a viewership that has surpassed 32.9 million views.
The romantic drama has won over critics and viewers alike, landing a perfect 100% score and a near-perfect 99% score retrospectively on Rotten Tomatoes.
Its success can almost certainly be attributed to its beautifully crafted and nuanced narrative. This is only backed by its stunning central characters, Ae-sun and Gwan-sik, who bring the story's joy and the heartbreak to life in ways that will floor you emotionally.
Following their tumultuous relationship over the span of five decades, When Life Gives You Tangerines sees Ae-sun and Gwan-sik through disapproving parents, financial hardships, natural disasters and political tensions.
Their tender love story is a tear-jerker that Director Kim Won-seok calls (via The Korea Herald) "a tribute to the generations of grandmothers, grandfathers, fathers and mothers who have lived fiercely, and a song of encouragement for the daughters and sons who will navigate the world ahead."
Shows as arresting as this are hard to find, but we've pulled together six of the best Korean dramas that speak to some of the elements in When Life Gives You Tangerines.
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Mr. Plankton
Don't be fooled by the fact that this is a romantic comedy, Mr. Plankton has a really earnest undertone that sneaks out amongst the sillier comedic elements, resulting in a bittersweet watch.
After learning about his life-changing illness Hae Jo (Woo Do-hwan) seeks out his soon-to-be married ex Jo Jae-mi (Squid Game's Lee Yoo-mi) and kidnaps her before the 'I-do's' to help him find out who his biological father is.
Haunted by her own life-changing diagnosis, the exes' road trip serves as an excuse for Jae-mi to hide from her problems. However, in the end, their reunion changes them both on a deeper level, helping them come to terms with their health issues whilst finally giving Hae Jo some healing clarity over their bad break up.
Available to stream on Netflix.
Descendants of the Sun
Nearly a decade old, and still a worthy watch. Descendants of the Sun follows surgeon Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) who falls in love with Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki), the captain in the South Korean Army's special forces, during a time of conflict.
Up against the odds, their relationship is tested not only by their responsibilities and their duties but also their fundamental differences and the very real life-or-death predicament of war. The K-drama scored 91% with fans on Rotten Tomatoes.
Available to stream on Netflix.
Pachinko
Soo Hugh's adaptation of Min Jin Lee's novel is a heart-wrenching watch that will have you deeply invested. Spanning four generations, Panchinko largely follows Sunja (played by Kim Min-ha and Youn Yuh-jung) throughout her life from childhood right to her older years.
It carefully scripts how the Japanese occupation of Korea shaped the ambitions and opportunities of this loving immigrant Korean family in a delicately gripping way. Amidst hardship Pachinko explores forbidden love, generational trauma and family secrets in a saga that is crushingly beautiful.
Available to stream on Apple TV sign up to watch
Doona!
The central couple in Doona! are worlds apart from the main two in When Life Gives You Tangerines. Lee Doo-na is a former K-pop idol hoping to live a normal life after leaving her group, while Lee Won-jun is a college student.
However their trials and tribulations evoke much of the same feelings, with the pair struggling to navigate their complex lives and history in order to mesh their worlds and embrace a new love and life together. The romantic K-drama is a sweet and touching watch.
Available to stream on Netflix.
Youth of May
The Youth of May features a romance that blossoms against the turbulent backdrop of political unrest. Set in May 1980 during the Gwangju Uprising, medical student Hwang Hee-tae (Lee Do-hyun) and nurse Kim Myung-hee (Go Min-si) embark on a love that fights to survive amidst the upheaval. The heartwarming journey sees the pair navigate the challenges of the time creating a sweeping love story that sucks you in.
Available to stream on Netflix.
See You in My 19th Life
See You in My 19th Life is on the kookier side of Korean drama, but has tons of feeling for that necessary emotional watch.
The K-drama follows Ban Ji-eum (played by Shin Hye-sun and Park So-yi) who can recall all of her past lives, including one that was cut tragically short before she could fulfil her promise to protect a friend.
In her current life she is determined to find him and honour her promise, but doing so proves trickier than she had planned. Expect love and heartbreak in this off-beat, romantic ride.
Available to stream on Netflix.
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TV writer, Digital Spy Janet completed her Masters degree in Magazine Journalism in 2013 and has continued to grow professionally within the industry ever since. For six years she honed her analytical reviewing skills at the Good Housekeeping institute eventually becoming Acting Head of Food testing. She also freelanced in the field of film and TV journalism from 2013-2020, when she interviewed A-List stars such as Samuel L Jackson, Colin Firth and Scarlett Johansson. In 2021 she joined Digital Spy as TV writer where she gets to delve into more of what she loves, watching copious amounts of telly all in the name of work. Since taking on the role she has conducted red carpet interviews with the cast of Bridgerton, covered the BAFTAs and been interviewed by BBC Radio and London Live. In her spare time she also moonlights as a published author, the book Gothic Angel.
