Top 10 Most Loved South Korean Sitcoms

Family Outing - Part 1 is a South Korean television sitcom. The show revolves around the lives of the Lee family members, a South Korean family living in Seoul. It first aired from winter 2006 to summer 2007. One of the most famous sitcoms in South Korea, it is the only sitcom in Korean television history whose reruns have higher viewership ratings than its initial broadcasts. It's also the only sitcom purchased for broadcast by both major television networks, SBS and KBS.

In this sitcom, most characters use their real names outside of the show. In the three-generation Lee family, the grandfather, although a retired university professor, is not as knowledgeable as his daughter-in-law and often falls asleep at work due to lack of patients. He is conservative, patriarchal, fond of arguing, and places great importance on money and societal order. However, he also shows moments of affection in some episodes. His wife, Na Moon Hee, is a devoted wife and a beloved friend.

The Lees have two sons, Lee Joon-ha and Lee Min-young. The eldest son, Lee Joon-ha, lives a simple life but cares deeply for his loved ones. While his career isn't as successful as his wife Park Hae-mi's, a skilled acupuncturist known for her intelligence, decisiveness, success, and extensive social connections, he has good knowledge, understands computers and the stock market, but is unlucky and often loses money and jobs. Their younger son, Lee Min-young, is a physical education teacher. His love life is complicated as he is dating Min-jeong, a colleague at school and a close friend of Shin Ji, while still longing for his ex-wife.

Lee Min-ho and Lee Yoon-ho are the grandsons of the eldest son of the Lee family. While the older brother, Min-ho, is academically gifted but physically weak, the younger brother, Yoon-ho, is tall, strong, and handsome but academically poor. Min-ho's best friend is Kim Beom, and his girlfriend is Yoo-mi, leading to humorous situations due to their 'love triangle.' Additionally, the sitcom features many other supporting characters, bringing both humor and warmth.

Details:

Director: Kim Byung-wook

Number of episodes: 167 (20 minutes each)

Year of broadcast: 2006

Family is Number One - Part 3 is a South Korean sitcom aired over the span of two years from 2011 to 2012. The story revolves around the lives of the Ahn Nae Sang family and their neighbors, the Park Ha Sun family.

Ahn Nae Sang is the backbone of his family, running a small company. However, after being swindled out of a considerable sum of money by his close friend, his family sinks into debt, forcing them to move in with his sister-in-law. Hurt pride, haunting regrets, and the inability to provide for his wife and children turn Nae Sang from a good, honorable man into a calculating, selfish, and indifferent person, causing his wife much distress despite her unwavering love for him.

During one escape from debt collectors, Ahn Nae Sang stumbles upon a secret tunnel that leads to the house of his neighbor, the student Kim Ji Won, and her cousin Park Ha Sun. This tunnel not only becomes a safe haven for Nae Sang's family but also acts as a bridge connecting strangers through warm, silent, sincere, and enduring bonds of affection.

Produced by the same team but with a fresh, more humorous storyline, the third installment of this popular series continues to receive enthusiastic support from audiences since its inception. The sitcom has garnered numerous prestigious awards in the Korean film industry.

Details:

Director: Kim Byung-wook

Number of episodes: 123

Year of broadcast: 2011

Family is Number One - Part 2 is the sequel to the sitcom series, continuing the story from part 1, revolving around small incidents in the daily life of a traditional family where each member has a different personality and lifestyle but lives together. The show received numerous awards at the MBC Entertainment Awards in 2009 and several other prominent awards.

The series revolves around two families. The Lee family, led by Mr. Lee Sung Jae, consists of members with contrasting personalities, while the Kim Ja Ok family consists of boarders living together. Although seemingly unrelated, the two families are connected by two sisters, Shin Se Kyung, who come down from the mountain in hopes of finding their father. Funny and heartwarming situations arise, creating the humorous story of High Kick 2.

In Mr. Soon Jae's house, the little girl Shin Ae befriends Hae Ri, although she often bullies Shin Ae, she is Shin Ae's only friend, and their friendship becomes increasingly close. Character Se Kyung also receives special attention from Mr. Ji Hoon. Additionally, since Se Kyung appeared in the house, Joon Hyuk, the nephew, has a crush on her and vows to study hard to get closer to her by teaching her what he has learned.

Details:

Director: Kwon Joon Ik

Number of episodes: 126

Year of broadcast: 2009

Loving Family (All my love) is a sitcom that brings lots of laughter to the audience, directed by Kang Young-sun and Hwang Gyo-jin, starring many actors including Kim Kap-soo, Park Mi-sun, Jo Kwon, Ga-in, Yoon Doo-joon, Jun Tae-soo, and Yoon Seung-ah…

The story revolves around the complex relationship between a poor but kind-hearted family and a selfish wealthy family. In the series, the 'Adam couple' Jo Kwon and Gain play the roles of fraternal twins. Their mother (Park Mi Sun) decides to remarry with Academy Director Kim Gab Soo, a wealthy but extremely stingy man, which completely changes their lives. On the poster, veteran actor Kim Gab Soo sits at the center holding a purse in hand and a happy smile on his face.

Family-oriented stories, intergenerational conflicts, are always the focus of attention for the audience. You will find it in Loving Family - a series that blends elements from 3 popular works to create an intriguing and interesting plot. To avoid boredom, the filmmakers chose to produce Loving Family in the sitcom genre, adding many humorous situations to help people relieve stress while watching this series.

Details:

Directors: Kang Young-sun, Hwang Gyo-jin

Number of episodes: 210

Year of broadcast: 2010

Let's Smile is one of the television sitcoms produced by MBC featuring famous actors Shin Goo, Kim Eul Dong, Lee Hye Young, Lee Byung Jin. The series revolves around the Shin family's simple, harmonious, and happy life, owning a small photo studio run by the father, who is a photographer, and the mother, a housewife. Therefore, their photo studio is named Smile.

The family has three children. The eldest sister, Shin Hye Young, is still single. The second son is a swimming coach, while the youngest sister, Shin Yeon Ji, is a university student. Despite their simple life, they are always filled with joy, which is what the family wishes for.

Shin Byung Jin, the third son of the Shin family, falls in love with Jung Soo Young, the daughter of Mrs. Eun Sook, who comes from a wealthy family. Cheese represents Mrs. Eun Sook's family. The two families from different social classes, with different lifestyles, become connected, leading to many conflicts and humorous situations that bring laughter to the audience.

Details:
Directors: Jun Jin Soo
Number of episodes: 121
Year of broadcast: 2007

'Chaotic Family' - Shut Up Family is a sitcom that depicts the chaotic life when two completely different families live together. The Woo Shin Hye family is a wealthy and powerful family, but the members do not care for each other in many life matters. On the other hand, the Yul Suk Hwan family, though less fortunate, leads a humble life filled with love and care for one another. They live by the motto of 'love, trust, and harmony to help each other in life.

Happiness always smiles on their lips after hours of hard work. Especially the sisters, who express affection most clearly. They always listen to the smallest things from each other, making family troubles hard to arise..

The series of hilarious troubles begin when Shin Hye and Suk Hwan decide to get married and their families move in together. The sitcom, with its humor and wit, blends into the conflicts among family members, bringing laughter to the viewers.

Details:

Directors: Jo Joon-hee, Choi Sung-beom

Number of episodes: 120

Year of broadcast: 2012

Fun Behind the Scenes (Standby) is a sitcom that realistically portrays the backstage and daily lives of directors, editors, television producers, and broadcasters at TV11 - a television broadcasting company. The series features 'national' actors such as Ryu Jin, Lee Ki-woo, Ha Seok-jin.

The story revolves around editor Ryu Jin-haeng, played by Ryu Jin, who has made two major mistakes in his life and career. Ryu Jin-haeng is passionate about his job but unfortunate in his endeavors as he repeatedly encounters mishaps during live broadcasts, becoming the most disastrous editor of the television station.

In addition to Ryu Jin-haeng, the series also delves into the issues and situations of those around him. It deeply portrays the bonds of family, friendship, love, and camaraderie among diverse individuals with different lifestyles and personalities.

Details:

Director: Jeon Jin-soo

Number of episodes: 120

Year of broadcast: 2012

Cheerful Housewives is a sitcom comedy depicting the lives of housewives from the middle class in South Korea, featuring actors such as Park Mi-sun, Jung Sun-gyung, Kim Hee-Jung, Choi Eun-guyng…

Park Mi-sun leads the 'neighborhood housewives club' and manages a real estate business. She is the oldest member of this group of housewives and takes on the role of controlling everyone in the club. Jung Sun-gyung owns a bakery, but one day her husband demands a divorce and disappears, leaving her to realize that she has been chasing after his talent like a shadow. Kim Hee-Jung is a typical housewife who devotes all her time to household chores and obsesses over providing the best conditions for her daughter's education. Choi Eun-guyng is a wealthy housewife who has everything other women desire. The last housewife in the group is Hong Ji-man, a daily radio program editor. Her husband, Kim Kuk-jin, loses his job, but she tries to support her family as the pillar of strength.

The series revolves around the lives of these five upper-class women and the neighborhood housewives club with comedic and humorous situations. They help each other in life and also have moments of self-reflection. The show, with its humorous content, brings laughter to the audience while also incorporating and portraying the common difficulties of modern families through a light-hearted and comedic lens.

Details:

Number of episodes: 133

Year of broadcast: 2009

Potato Star is one of the most beloved sitcom comedies in South Korea. It's perhaps the perfect entertainment menu for family members to watch together after a day's work. With its hilarious situations, the show ensures endless laughter with the quirky members of the Noh family.

Exploring the lives of a multi-generational family with countless troubles, Potato Star doesn't depict repetitive 'stormy' situations or familiar messages like the typical Family is Number 1 trope. Instead, each situation and character arc in the show is uniquely crafted. The series begins with news of a mysterious potato-shaped asteroid about to visit Earth, impacting everyone's lives. Each family member has a different personality and approach, often leading to humorous internal conflicts.

But after all the arguments and disputes, everyone realizes the importance of bonding and unity to overcome challenges, understanding the value of the word 'family.' While the storyline may seem ordinary, the sitcom's dynamic execution has attracted a large television audience.

Details:

Director: Kim Byung-wook

Number of episodes: 120

Year of broadcast: 2013

Love Grows is the title of a humorous family film directed by Sa Hwa-kyung, Im Jung-ah, and Kang Young-sun, premiered in 2010. Belonging to the sitcom genre for families, Love Grows revolves around family matters, the relationship between spouses, parents, and children, and how they resolve conflicts and disputes, resulting in natural laughter for the audience. Each character in the film leaves a good impression on the audience, with clear characteristics and unmistakable differences.

Love Grows features interesting and humorous plotlines, profound moments, full of experiences, and touching moments. Through many twists and turns in life, Lim Ha Ryong, Song Ok Sook, Lim Ji Won, Kim Sung Soo, Lee Kyu Han, and others all realize that nothing can replace family, and only their loved ones, their close friends are 'love grows'...

Details:

Directors: Sa Hwa-kyung; Im Jung-ah; Kang Young-sun

Number of episodes: 138

Year of broadcast: 2010