6 Realistic K-Dramas Similar to ‘Reply 1988’

It’s been over five years since Reply 1988 first hit the airwaves and touched the hearts of many Korean households. And thanks to Netflix, k-dramas fans around the world — new and old — were introduced to this one-of-a-kind coming-of-age family drama. The only problem they face now is that it’s so difficult to find shows like it. Well, you won’t have to worry about that because we compiled a list of six realistic k-dramas similar to Reply 1988.

And no, we are not going to be including Reply 1994 and Reply 1997 in this list. But if you haven’t watched them yet, make sure to check out our ultimate guide to the entire Reply trilogy to know which one you should watch next!

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1. Hospital Playlist

Cast: Yoo Yeon-seok, Jo Jung-suk, Jeon Mi-do, Kim Dae-myung & Jung Kyung-ho

Synopsis: Hospital Playlist is a medical drama that revolves around the everyday lives of five talented doctors who work in Yulje Medical Center. While most of the show focuses on the cases and patients they handle, it’s really about the relationships among the main characters, as well as the people who work inside the hospital. There’s no “main plot” to this show, but rather, every person in the gang has their own thing going on.

How it’s similar to Reply 1988: Released in 2020, Hospital Playlist is the most recent brainchild of Reply series writer Lee Woo-jung. I feel like among all the k-dramas similar to Reply 1988, this one feels the most familiar in terms of the entire presentation: the lack of a central storyline, the focus on relationships, the strong characters among the entire ensemble, and of course, the presence of a group of friends that screams #friendshipgoals.

While I personally didn’t like this k-drama (don’t hate me) because it moved soooo slow, many Reply 1988 fans have enjoyed watching the mundanity of everyday life on their screen. It does feel like Reply if you set it in the modern-day hospital.

I am obviously in the minority with my opinion on the quality of the show, but do know that Hospital Playlist is well-loved among the k-drama community. It’s even getting a season 2 this year!

Where to watch Hospital Playlist in the Philippines: Netflix

Read more about the show on IMDB.

2. Be Melodramatic

Cast: Chun Woo-hee, Jeon Yeo-bin & Han Ji-eun

Synopsis: Also known as Melo is My Nature and Melo Suits Me, this romantic comedy follows three women in their thirties as they navigate the entertainment industry. Much like Hello, My Twenties! which made our list of top k-dramas to watch for Gen Z’ers, every character has their own unique battles entangled in messy romance and life lessons. Through it all, our characters are lucky to have a strong support system with each other!

How it’s similar to Reply 1988: You will love this k-drama because it stars Ahn Jae-hong, whom you might know better as Kim Jung-bong. But more than that, the three leads in Be Melodramatic still have a lot of growing up to do — much like the teenage characters we followed in Reply 1988 — despite being in their thirties. And they are so hilarious… imagine having a show that centers around three strong and funny Deok-sun’s in a “millennial” coming-of-age.

While short on the tears, it has more than enough romance and heart to please fans of Reply 1988.

Where to watch Be Melodramatic in the Philippines: Netflix and iflix

Read more about the show on IMDB.

3. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay

Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji & Oh Jung-se

Synopsis: It’s Okay to Not Be Okay was one of the breakthrough k-dramas of 2020. It follows the love story between Ko Moon-young, an antisocial children book’s writer, and Moon Gang-tae, a caretaker who works in a psychiatric hospital. They fall for each other and work through a seemingly-doomed romance despite the dark pasts that cloud their family.

How it’s similar to Reply 1988: This entry will probably be the most “unrealistic” k-drama in terms of the story. There are a few outlandish situations which can land the show into soapy territory, but it’s not hard to see how it can happen IRL if you’re willing to suspend your disbelief.

We’re still putting it in this list because it does get the most important bit in realistic fashion: family. In essence, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is really about the family you find outside your own blood. The romance is just a cute way to drive the story, but what makes it memorable up to this day is how Moon-young finds her way into the hearts of the two brothers.

It’s not so much a slice-of-life, but it did give us heavy Reply 1988 vibes with how much we cried because of the love shown among the “family” here.

Where to watch It’s Okay to Not Be Okay in the Philippines: Netflix

Read more about the show on IMDB.

4. Prison Playbook

Cast: Park Hae-soo, Jung Kyung-ho, Lee Kyu-hyung, Jung Hae-in & Jeong Woong-in

Synopsis: Prison Playbook revolves around the ensemble of lovable prison inmates, led by famous baseball player Kim Je-hyuk. He is wrongfully imprisoned after defending his sister from a sexual assault, and meets lifelong friends behind bars who have their own baggage to deal with.

Thankfully, his best friend is the prison guard who has a lot of history with Je-hyuk. The dramedy also sheds some light on Je-hyuk’s family and girlfriend, who have to deal with the fallout of his imprisonment.

How it’s similar to Reply 1988: This is another k-drama written by the same guy behind Reply 1988, so expect some hardcore tears and laughter in every episode. The show may not be groundbreaking nor exciting, but it will remind you of a special time in your life, most especially the memories you cherish with your friends and family from long ago.

It’s definitely no action k-drama; the prison setting is really just a means for the characters to grow as people. Just like the Reply series, you’re going to get attached with the ensemble cast… which is kind of weird considering how we’re talking about inmates here!

Where to watch Prison Playbook in the Philippines: Netflix

Read more about the show on IMDB.

5. My Mister

Cast: IU & Lee Sun-gyun

Synopsis: My Mister is quite the heavy k-drama as we follow two lonely people who meet in a compromising workplace situation: Lee Ji-an, a humble and hardworking woman in her twenties who is battling the pressures of surviving the real world, and Park Dong-hoon, an unhappy older man who feels a huge burden on his shoulders because of his family and work.

Dong-hoon lives with his two brothers who are struggling with their own problems in life. The oldest brother is having a tough time finding a wife and having a successful professional career, while the other one is an aspiring director.

With all these characters trying to overcome their own miseries, they soon find themselves relying on each other for hope and comfort.

How it’s similar to Reply 1988: If you’re looking for those oh-so-good heartaches that the Reply series gave us, then look no further than My Mister. The whole feel of this show is a little more grim than that of the lighthearted Reply 1988, because the characters come from more unfortunate backgrounds. But regardless, the realism of the k-drama mixed with the abundance of heartwarming family moments will make you reach for the tissues in no time!

Where to watch My Mister in the Philippines: Netflix

Read more about the show on IMDB.

6. One Spring Night

Cast: Jung Hae-in & Han Ji-min

Synopsis: One Spring Night is about a Lee Jong-in, a librarian who hits a major roadblock when she realizes that her long-term boyfriend is not really who she wants to be with forever. Amidst all this, she meets and falls in love with single dad pharmacist, Yu Ji-ho. They navigate the difficulties of their relationship together as they go against the societal standard of needing to marry someone with a high social standing.

Jong-in’s father disapproves of Ji-ho due to his status as a single parent, and her much-more-successful boyfriend isn’t making things easier for her.

How it’s similar to Reply 1988: We’ve talked about the cousin of this k-drama before, Something in the Rain. Both of them feel so grounded to reality, that it’s hard not to put yourself in the characters’ shoes.

In Reply 1988, we got a hint of how harsh South Korean society can be when the parents of Bo-ra and Sun-woo disapproved of their relationship because they had the same surname. We also see this in One Spring Night when Jong-in goes through a lot of hurdles just to start a relationship with a single dad in his thirties.

Aside from that, both k-dramas rely on character moments as opposed to spectacles and complicated plot devices to hook viewers in.

Where to watch One Spring Night in the Philippines: Netflix

Read more about the show on IMDB.

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Do you have any suggestions to add to our list of realistic k-dramas similar to Reply 1988? Feel free to leave them down in the comments section below!

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Featured Image: Left – tvN via Netflix, Right – MBC via Netflix