8 Lighthearted, Feel-Good K-Dramas to Watch on Netflix (2021)

 Updated: January 2021 

We all need a little escape from the brutal reality of this world, so no one can blame us for choosing to watch mindless shows to get our mind off things. And there’s nothing like diving into the world of lighthearted and feel-good K-dramas on Netflix to do that!

There is an endless list of high-quality shows produced in South Korea that have left us smiling, laughing, and of course, desiring a perfect whirlwind romance. The best part is K-dramas usually last only one season with only sixteen to twenty episodes, making it the perfect choice for when you’re asking yourself what to watch on Netflix.

Here’s our list of top eight feel-good K-dramas to jumpstart 2021 and make you forget all your worries for a bit.

---

1. Romance is a Bonus Book

Cast: Lee Jong Suk & Lee Na Young

Synopsis: Romance is a Bonus Book is a rom-com K-drama done right. It plays around with the classic trope of “CEO and underling fall in love”, but in this case, it’s an editor-in-chief played by Lee Jong Suk, falling for the temp-slash-single-mother played by Na Young Lee. Did we mention they were childhood friends?

Why we recommend it: While you won’t be able to stop watching because of the main romantic storyline between the two leads, you’ll stick around for Na Young Lee as her character comes full circle by the end of the show. A divorced, career-struggling mother is not really something we often see as a main character in these romantic K-dramas, but we’re glad that her struggles reflect certain realities of being a woman in this day and age.

Read more about the show on IMDB.

2. Two Cops

Cast: Jo Jong Suk, Lee Hye Ri & Kim Seon Ho

Synopsis: Two Cops is an action-packed romantic comedy with a huge emphasis on the “comedy”. Jo Jong Suk plays the role of detective Cha Dong Tak, whose body is inhabited by the spirit of a con artist named Gong Su Chang (played by Kim Seon Ho). Together with Song Ji An (played by Lee Hyeri), they solve crimes together.

Why we recommend it: The most popular K-dramas aren’t really known for their action and crime-driven plot, but Two Cops packs enough punch without taking itself too seriously. While the main mystery is nothing to write home about, it’s still an enjoyable ride with lots of laughs to go along with it. It’s also interesting watching the three leads who all went on to become mainstream-popular recently. Hello, Ji Pyeong!

Read more about the show on IMDB.

3. Lovestruck in the City

Cast: Ji Chang Wook, Kim Ji Won, Kim Min Seok, So Joo Yeon, Ryu Kyung Soo & Han Ji Eun

Synopsis: Lovestruck in the City is a mini-series that revolves around the romantic lives of six young people. Mainly, it centers around the doomed summer fling between Park Jae Won (played by Ji Chang Wook) and Lee Eun Oh (played by Kim Ji Won) in Yangyang Beach. Will they be able to rekindle the flame when they return to Seoul?

Why we recommend it: In our initial review of this series, we noted how this feel-good K-drama that ends in 2021 is a fresh take on the genre. If you’re looking for something short and sweet while simultaneously falling in love with how gorgeous South Korea can be, then Lovestruck in the City is for you.

4. Welcome to Waikiki

Cast: Kim Jung Hyun, Lee Yi Kyung, Son Seung Won, Jung In Sun, Ko Won Hee & Lee Joo Woo

Synopsis: Welcome to Waikiki is about a group of young people living together in a guesthouse and trying to make ends meet. While there is an overarching plot of the three main guys hoping to create their own film, it’s really all about watching wackiness and hilarity ensue in their daily lives. It operates like a typical sitcom where the characters go through different and outlandishly crazy situations in every episode.

Why we recommend it: If you want less “rom” and more “com” in your rom-com, you can’t go wrong with Waikiki. While it doesn’t really do “intelligent” humor like The Good Place, it’s a feel-good K-drama with a lot of heart and laughs to go with it.

Read more about the show on IMDB.

5. Reply 1997

Cast: Jung Eun Ji, Seo In Guk, Song Jong Ho, Eun Ji Won & Hoya

Synopsis: Reply 1997 is good ol’ coming-of-age filled with nostalgia, friendship, and romance. Shi Won (played by Jung Eun Ji) is a boyband-obsessed high school girl who becomes stuck in a love triangle between the mysterious Yoon Je (played by Seo In Guk) and teacher Tae Woong (played by Song Jong Hoo). She goes through first love and all the other things any high school student would experience that would shape her to be the woman she is fifteen years later.

Why we recommend it: This feel-good K-drama was so good, it actually spawned two unrelated prequels which are just as great as this one. You can read more about our thoughts on this show and the whole trilogy in our guide here.

6. Fight for My Way

Cast: Park Seo Joon, Kim Ji Won, Ahn Jae Hong & Song Ha Yoon

Synopsis: Fight for My Way is all about chasing your dreams no matter how unrealistic they may seem to everyone else. We follow Ko Dong Man (played by Park Seo Joon) who practices taekwondo and an ambitious dream: to become a UFC fighter… yes, that UFC. His best friend, Choi Ae Ra (played by Kim Ji Won), has always dreamed of becoming an announcer even if she’s stuck working the information desk at the department store.

Why we recommend it: There are two stories on earth that always scream feel-good K-drama: a Cinderella story, and a childhood friends-turned-lovers story. And luckily for us, Fight for My Way has both!

Read more about the show on IMDB.

7. A Love So Beautiful

Cast: Kim Yo Han, So Joo Yeon & Yeo Hoi Hyun

Synopsis: A Love So Beautiful is a recently-released adaptation of the Chinese coming-of-age with the same name. It’s about Shin Sol Yi (played by So Joo Yeon), a high-schooler who is obsessively in love with her neighbor, Cha Heon (played by Kim Yo Han) who can’t seem to tell her he likes her too. Would you be shocked if I said there’s another love triangle in this one? Swimmer Woo Dae Song (played by Yeo Hoi Hyun) transfers to Sol Yi’s school and falls in love with her.

We follow their lives and how their relationships develop as they enter adulthood.

Why we recommend it: At time of writing, there’s only been two episodes released by Netflix so all we can base everything off is potential. So far, it’s been a cute and delightful watching the main relationship because there’s nothing like a bubbly teenager winning over a mysterious guy’s heart. If it’s going to be like the Chinese series where it was based off, then things are going to be much more interesting as the show progresses in 2021.

Read more about the show on IMDB.

8. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo

Cast: Lee Sung Kyoung, Nam Joo Hyuk & Lee Jae Yoon

Synopsis: Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo is another K-drama about chasing the dream, except this time it’s about college athletes. But since this is a romance, obviously there’s another love triangle afoot.

Our main girl is the titular strong girl Kim Bok Joo (played by Lee Sung Kyoung) who aspires to be like her weightlifting father. She also has a major crush on doctor Jung Jae Yi (played by Lee Jae Yoon) and asks swimmer Jung Jae Hyung(played by Nam Joo Hyuk) for help. While the latter does it willingly, he starts to fall for her too.

Why we recommend it: While the plot may not seem too unique, it’s an easy binge thanks largely to the charm of the main characters. Even if the show centers around good-looking college athletes, you’ll be able to relate somehow to our ambitious characters.

Read more about the show on IMDB.

---

You can watch all of these lighthearted and feel-good K-dramas on Netflix in 2021. Want to share your own recommendations? Leave a comment down below!

If any of these shows didn’t quite tickle your fancy, then you can also head onto our list of K-dramas to watch on Netflix for zoomers. Don’t miss out on anything by following us @ZoomersCornerPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.