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K-dramas filmed away from the hustle and bustle of Seoul and Gangnam are becoming a new favourite among fans, especially as a generation swamped by corporate life finds comfort in the warmth of slice-of-life romances. The K-drama industry has caught on, and so has Netflix. The streaming giant has been steadily rolling out series set in South Korea’s most beloved vacation spot, Jeju Island. From Shin Min Ah’s Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha to Ji Chang Wook’s Welcome to Samdalri, and even classics like Lee Min Ho’s Legend of the Blue Sea, these shows have been labelled as the ultimate “healing dramas.” So, if When Life Gives You Tangerines starring Park Bo Gum and IU, left you craving more romance wrapped in scenic charm, here are five binge-worthy K-dramas that will help you escape the Monday blues.
Before we jump into the list, let’s take a moment to give this Netflix original the applause it deserves for reviving the nearly dormant K-drama scene on the platform. With Kim Soo Hyun’s Queen of Tears wrapping up, things were looking a little quiet, until When Life Gives You Tangerines stormed in and started dominating the charts. The IU and Park Bo Gum starrer has been holding strong on Netflix’s non-English TV category for weeks now.
The story follows Oh Ae Sun and her childhood sweetheart Gwan Sik, a man so devoted that he makes sure she never has to settle for anything less than she deserves. True to its title, the show throws its fair share of “tangerines” (read: challenges) at the couple, yet they weather every storm together, proving that love, when treated right, can stand the test of time. If you haven’t watched it yet, now’s your chance. When Life Gives You Tangerines is streaming on Netflix.
IMDb- 9.4/10
If you’re someone who gets bored watching a couple’s love story stretch over 16 episodes, then Our Blues is just what you need. Unlike typical K-drama, this tvN hit is a collection of short stories, each following different people living on Jeju Island. While all these characters are somehow connected, each story evolves in its own way, keeping things packed with emotions as the narrative shifts from one to another. The drama gained extra love for its OST With You, a beautiful duet by BTS’ Jimin and Ha Sung Woon. If you haven’t watched Our Blues yet, this is your sign to watch this Netflix masterpiece.
The drama reunites former Jeju sweethearts played by Shin Min Ah and Lee Byung Hun, whose characters cross paths again when Shin Min Ah’s relationship hits a rough patch in Seoul, and she returns to her hometown. Then there’s Choi Han Su (Cha Seung-Won), a man who left Jeju for the mainland only to return as a city guy, where he unexpectedly reconnects with his first love, Jung Eun Hui (Lee Jung Eun). Meanwhile, Lee Yeong Ok (Han Ji Min) plays a femal diver, a Seoul return and who has been living in jeju as a hanyeo (diver) for a while now, but no matter where she goes, rumours aren’t far behind, especially after she starts getting close to fishing boat captain Park Jeong Jun (Kim Woo Bin). And that’s just the start!
IMDb- 8.6/10
We wouldn’t be recommending this Ji Chang Wook and Shin Hae Sun drama if it were just another feel-good Jeju romance. But Welcome to Samdalri is so much more than that. The story follows Cho Sam Dal (Shin Hae Sun), whose life takes a dramatic turn overnight as she reaches the peak of her career. She’s always dreamed of breaking free from Jeju’s small-town life, chasing bigger things in Seoul and beyond. On the other hand, her childhood sweetheart, Cho Yong Pil (Ji Chang Wook), chose to stay behind. Despite being one of the best weather forecasters, with offers pouring in from Seoul and overseas, he never once considered leaving.
The two dated for nearly a decade before misunderstandings pulled them apart. But when a career-derailing controversy forces Sam Dal to return to the very place she once despised, Jeju unexpectedly becomes the place where she finds herself again, along with the love she thought was long lost. Catch the series streaming on Netflix!
IMDb- 8 /10
If you’ve ever dreamed of ditching your corporate job to open a cozy café on a quiet island, this K-drama might just give you a taste of what’s in store. For someone as privileged as Gun Woo (Yoo Yeon Seok), setting up a café in Jeju is less about survival and more about impressing the woman he loves. But for Jung-Joo (Kang So Ra), a broke young woman who just got fired from her corporate job, moving to Jeju is her last shot at a fresh start.
Their paths first crossed as kids when Jung Joo showed up at Gun Woo’s house with a picture of her father and a woman, convinced she might be his long-lost twin. That theory didn’t pan out, but they made a childhood promise to meet again. Years later, fate brings them back together. Gun Woo mistakenly believes Jung Joo is terminally ill and, out of sympathy, offers her a job at his restaurant, Warm and Cozy. As the lazy, carefree owner of a place he barely manages, Gun Woo has always relied on his family’s wealth to keep things running. But with Jung Joo’s determination, the café finally starts to thrive. Meanwhile, Gun Woo’s older brother, Jung Geun, finds himself falling against his better judgment for the intriguing and complex island woman, Hae Shil. A perfect summer romance with warmth, charm, and a bit of chaos, Warm and Cozy is a must-watch on Netflix.
IMDb- 6.8/10
An all-time classic and one of the best Noona K-dramas, Son Ye Jin and Jung Hae In’s K-drama is a must-watch for fans who want to experience romance in a new light—more mature, with a storyline that feels just as genuine as the chemistry between the lead stars. The show marked Son Ye Jin’s comeback to the small screen after five long years. Though not entirely, a major portion of the K-drama is set on Jeju Island. The show takes you on a heartfelt journey of two acquaintances who grow fond of each other after the male lead returns from abroad. Together, they face the age gap, societal norms, and other difficulties. Jeju plays a very important part in the plot as the location where Jin Ah moves for a fresh start after quitting her job to open a restaurant.
The story revolves around Yoon Jin A, who is in her 30s and single. Though she is an easygoing person and has a decent job at a coffee company, she still feels a void inside her. But when Seo Joon Hee (younger brother of Yoon Jin A’s best friend) returns from abroad, they begin to see each other in a way they never had before, despite knowing each other since childhood. As they start falling for each other, the biggest hurdle is breaking the age taboo, still quite prominent in South Korea. But it’s not just romance, the show also carries a second storyline shedding light on workplace hustle, especially for women, battling issues like “sexual harassment, mistreatment, discrimination, and career sabotage by male managers.”
IMDb- 8.1/10
Want a dose of classic K-drama? Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Min-ho, and Lee Hee-jun’s fantasy romance Legend of the Blue Sea, released in 2016-17, captures some of the most beautiful and serene shots of Jeju. One of the most prominent locations is Seongsan Ilchulbong, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. The second one is Woljeongri Beach. The story is inspired by legends from the Joseon dynasty collection, revolving around a fisherman catching a mermaid, though in the show, the makers twisted Lee Min Ho’s character by making him a con artist rather than a fisherman.
The show is a love story between Shim Cheong, a mermaid, with some past connections to Heo Joon Jae, who is a con man. The story is about rebirth, fantasy, Joseon-era incarnations, and so on.
IMDb- 8.1/10
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