Top 13 Korean Family TV Dramas You Should Watch

Hi Bye, Mama! is a 2020 South Korean television series starring Kim Tae-hee, Lee Kyu-hyung, and Go Bo-gyeol. Directed by Yo Je-won, the series aired on the tvN channel and the Netflix streaming platform from February 22 to April 19, 2020.

Hi Bye, Mama! has a slow-paced narrative, with each episode carrying a meaningful life message. Throughout the initial episodes, the series touches on life and death, opportunities and fate, happiness, and regrets in a gentle and profound manner. All these messages are intricately woven into the storyline with the central theme being the two words, 'family.' It can be said that, 'in the face of death, family is the most important' - this is the core message that defines the value of Hi Bye, Mama!

The Sole One Beside Me (My Only One) tells a story of lives filled with hatred and deception, involving individuals from various social backgrounds in South Korean society, centered around a pitiable girl. Despite differing in status and carrying personal burdens, they all choose to bury their sorrows deep within and try to live happily with what destiny has arranged. Somehow, they are reconnected through a girl, and the long-standing misunderstandings that have bound these characters in torment are gradually resolved.

Not a romantic, sweet drama, but My Only One is not dry either. The romantic elements still appear in episodes, providing relief from the intricate plot twists. From the beginning, the series focuses on exploring stories of human relationships, parent-child bonds, and familial ties. This Korean drama is also the original version of the well-received Vietnamese series, 'Taste of Family Love.'

Returning to 18 (18 Again) is a long-format TV drama produced by JTBC, based on the popular 2009 American film '17 Again.' Despite exploring the familiar family theme, 18 Again leaves a lasting impression on the audience through its creative twists, focusing on character psychology and various aspects of life, catering to the tastes of viewers in East Asia. Moreover, the series features an accomplished cast, including Kim Ha Neul and Yoon Sang Hyun, along with the emerging face Lee Do Hyun - the firefly in Hotel Del Luna.

Returning to 18 tells the story of Hong Dae Young, a man standing on the verge of being fired, facing divorce demands from his wife, and being estranged from his children. Suddenly, his body reverts to the appearance of an 18-year-old, but his mind remains that of a 38-year-old middle-aged man. It seems like a second chance for him. Will he choose to restart his life, pursue the dreams and aspirations of youth, or continue wholeheartedly toward family as his initial choice?

Considered one of the top classics of Korean television, the series Famous Princesses (2009) emphasizes the value of family bonds, highlighting the profound meaning of genuine love and sisterhood. With humorous and engaging situations, along with conflicts and contradictions in love triangles, the show is set to captivate Vietnamese audiences, just as it once conquered Korean viewers.

The storyline revolves around the life of a veteran's family with four daughters, each with different personalities and destinies. With minimal romantic scenes, the series provides a glimpse into modern family life, with a realistic and contemporary touch. Through simple and humorous everyday situations, genuine and close-knit family relationships are portrayed. All the conflicts and comical situations in each episode, combined with a compelling and profound plot, will create a vivid, realistic, and relatable picture of family life in modern society.

In 'Famous Princesses,' we can easily grasp the gentle yet profound lessons about sacrifice, patience, and the power of family ties. The well-coordinated cast and perfect performances make the series even more appealing. If you truly appreciate family-oriented dramas, don't miss out on this captivating show.

Family Comes First is always a name that comes up frequently when talking about family dramas in Korea. Airing in 3 parts, each delivering laughter and deep meanings about family bonds. This sitcom revolves around the Lee family living in Seoul, portraying stories from their everyday life.

Not only filled with romantic stories and a glamorous cast, but the show also attracts viewers with its humorous approach, entertaining plotlines, and high entertainment value. It is one of the most famous sitcoms in Korea, boasting high viewership ratings and having been purchased for broadcast by major Korean television networks KBS and SBS.

Suitable for all ages and conveying valuable messages about life and family relationships, 'Family Comes First' is highly cherished. The show has earned the affection of viewers in Korea and many other Asian countries, truly deserving recognition as an outstanding series even after several years since its release.

Similar to other family dramas, The Wang Family focuses on the issues faced by members living under one roof. The eldest daughter, Wang Soo Bak, originally married into a wealthy family but, due to bankruptcy, she and her in-laws have to move in with her biological parents. The second daughter, Wang Ho Bak, deals with financial problems after her husband loses his job. Meanwhile, the third daughter, Wang Gwang Bak, unexpectedly quits her stable teaching job. The two youngest children, Wang Hae Bak and Wang Dae Bak, also encounter various challenges of young adulthood. With numerous events happening simultaneously, all family members face difficulties.

The strong influence of The Wang Family on Korean audiences is undeniable, as it consistently topped nationwide media ratings and viewership for the entire 50 episodes. In the midst of the Korean television landscape evolving with diverse genres, The Wang Family, with its somewhat familiar plot, still captivates viewers' attention.

Exciting and appealing, the series quickly captures viewers' interest. How will this family resolve their troubles? What comical and tear-inducing situations will arise? These are the elements that attract viewers and offer valuable, profound lessons from this captivating drama.

Myriad Faces of Marriage is a family-themed drama that explores the stories of four married couples living together, filled with both comical and poignant moments. Revealing the hidden challenges within seemingly peaceful marriages of the four families, the series authentically reflects the lives of modern housewives who rely on their husbands' finances and feel out of sync with the world outside, garnering deep empathy from viewers.

Myriad Faces of Marriage also truthfully depicts the typical lives of contemporary Korean housewives who are economically dependent on their husbands and considered 'outdated' in various aspects of life. The series serves as a compass for them to strive for improvement.

The refined and harmonious performances by the cast, including Kim Ji Young, Lee Jong Hyuk, Baek II Sub, Oh Yoon Ah, Lee Tae Im, combined with the captivating script, contributed to the show's success. According to the Korean Communications Commission, the average ratings for the series were approximately 22.7%, with the final episode reaching 31.7%, surpassing other shows airing during the same period.

Revolving around the theme of preserving ancient values, Family's Honor is an extensive tale of a long-standing family facing the risk of losing ethical values, especially the lifestyle and mindset of the younger generation in modern times. The main character is Ha Dan Ah, the youngest granddaughter of the Ha family.

Her life has repeatedly fallen into unfortunate circumstances: losing her mother at an early age, her husband passing away shortly after their marriage, and rival clans constantly plotting to seize the family's business rights. Can a girl raised with such moral standards like Dan Ah lead her family through life's challenges and find happiness for herself?

The series has also been adapted into a Vietnamese television drama titled ''Rainbow of Love,'' broadcasted on Vietnam's VTV3 channel. It conveyed many appropriate messages consistent with director Park Young Soo's intentions: ''I want to revive ethical values.''

Reply 1988 is the next installment in the beloved Reply series, garnering affection from a vast fan base. Alongside the romantic relationships of the young characters, the series touches upon simple, ordinary yet captivating family stories. The parents in the small neighborhood of Sangmun Dong are portrayed with the utmost authenticity.

Though not wealthy, they exude vitality, rich in love, and provide a solid foundation for their children. Throughout the series, viewers have shed tears multiple times due to the sincere confessions of these parents. ''The divine cannot be everywhere, so the Almighty created mothers. Even when a child becomes a mother, the mother remains the divine protector. Just the sound of a mother's call is enough to touch the heart. A mother is the strongest.''

The show explores the adhesive bond of families Sung, Kim, Choi... Everyday situations and interactions between the characters bring tears to the audience: neighbors exchanging daily meals, assisting with the last bit of money to buy rice at the end of the month, the joy when a child succeeds, the shared sorrow upon hearing news of the neighboring son's accident, or scenes of fathers and mothers staying up at night making snowmen gifts for fatherless girls.

It can be said that if Reply 1997 is an excellent drama about coming of age, Reply 1994 depicts true romantic feelings, then Reply 1988 is an unmissable family drama.

My Daughter Seo Young is a Korean family drama rich in humanity, introduced to the audience by KBS in 2012. The main character is Lee Seo Young (Lee Bo Young), a strong woman who strives to escape poverty with burning ambition. Despite facing hardships, including a gambling-addicted father and witnessing her mother's death, she endures and overcomes. Her hatred leads her to sever ties with her father, but after various events, they reconcile.

The series depicts the transformation of both the father and daughter to better understand each other, dispel past misunderstandings, and learn how to express their emotions. By the end, viewers will be unable to resist a satisfied smile at the beautiful conclusion for the father-daughter relationship, emphasizing that the bond between parent and child endures despite challenges and misunderstandings.

Through Lee Seo Young's story, the drama highlights that family relationships are not merely blood ties but also require bonding and preservation through love. With many touching moments, the series achieved absolute success, consistently topping ratings from September 2012 to March 2013, with an average rating of 40.7%.

As the most successful Korean family drama of 2011, Ojakgyo Brothers captivates audiences with its cleverly crafted storyline by screenwriter Lee Sung Jun. The plot revolves around the Hwang family, including grandmother Shim (Kim Yong Rim), father Hwang Chang Shik (Baek II Sub), mother Park Bo Ja (Kim Ja Ok), and their four sons.

The tranquil life of the family is disrupted by the arrival of Baek In Ho (Lee Young Ha) and his daughter Baek Ja Eun (UEE), who is the owner of the farm where the Hwang family resides. Due to a business failure, she decides to reclaim her property. Faced with the prospect of abandoning the long-held farm, the Hwang family experiences turmoil, and the presence of Baek Ja Eun adds further chaos to their lives.

With dramatic developments and a storyline that emphasizes family solidarity, the series not only resonates with middle-aged viewers but also attracts significant attention from the younger audience. Additionally, the love and marital relationships of the four sons are equally compelling, contributing to the overall success of the drama.

The story revolves around a father (Kim Young Chul in the lead role) who has kept his identity hidden for 35 years until his children have grown up and are all preparing to start their own families. The series brings various emotions to the viewers - from joy to touching moments.

Father is Strange depicts the everyday life of the family of Mr. Byun Han Soo (played by Kim Young Chul) and Mrs. Na Young Shil (played by Kim Hae Sook), a family with four children, three daughters, and one son, living together in the same apartment, leading to many hilarious and heartwarming situations.

Delving into different aspects of family life, this is a topic not new, but the producers of Father is Strange took a bold step by creating a 52-episode series against the current trend of shorter shows. Living up to that expectation, the series, with numerous humorous and profoundly human situations in its dialogues, has created an irresistible appeal that keeps the audience glued to the screen.

And a profound philosophy that the series wants to convey to the audience is that the love of parents for their children knows no bounds; parents can do anything to ensure the happiness of their children. Additionally, if you are a Kpop fan, you can't miss this series with the charming Lee Joon in the cast.

The Eccentric Family, also known as What happens to my family?, is a South Korean television series produced in 2014. The storyline revolves around modern families, where each member leads an independent life. However, they manage to maintain a certain level of cohesion. The key families in the series are the Cha family, the Moon family, and the Kwon family, with the Cha family having the most formidable force.

At the helm is Cha Soon Bong (Yoo Dong Geun), an exemplary father who wholeheartedly loves his children. Upon discovering he has cancer, he strives to make the remaining time bring joy to all family members, helping his children understand that love is a crucial factor in creating a true family. The series features performances by actors such as Yoo Dong Geun, Kim Huyn Joo, Kim Sang Kyung, Yoon Park, and Park Hyung Shik.