There is no doubt that a lot of us Pinoys are avid fans of Korean drama (K-drama) series. We once asked our community of moms and dads at the Smart Parenting Village (SPV) for their most favorite Korean drama, and as expected, hundreds replied with not just one, but several titles!
Well, these 9 Kdramas made it to the most popular list, and it includes the recent hit "Crash Landing On You".
We're sure there's still a long list of K-dramas lined up for your next binge-watching session. But now that you're probably "quarantined" at home in light of the public health emergency, here are lesser-known Kdramas that you need to know about, in case you're looking for one that is particularly about marriage and/or family.
It's Okay, That's Love (2014)
Stars Jo In-sung, Gong Hyo-jin, Sung Dong-il, Lee Kwang-soo and Do Kyung-soo
Mental illness is a delicate topic that can sometimes be borne out of violent family histories. This series vividly captures how physical abuse can leave a lasting negative effect on the whole family.
Emergency Couple (2014)
Stars Song Ji-hyo and Choi Jin-hyuk
What would you do if you suddenly have to spend every single day again with the person you divorced? This medical drama gives a lighthearted take on (un-)married life.
Our SPV mom says:
"Ipinakita doon ang struggle ng mag-asawa at problema ng isang misis sa kanyang mother-in-law. Pinakita din doon na may buhay pa din ang babae after divorce. Na pwede niyang ituloy ang kanyang pangarap. Maganda sya. Nakakakilig, nakakatawa, nakaka-in love at nakakaiyak." - Heidi Nicodemus Feranil
What other parents are reading
What Happens to my Family? (2014-2015)
Stars Yoo Dong-geun, Kim Hyun-joo, Yoon Park and Park Hyung-sik
A terminally-ill father makes a last attempt to put his grown-up kids on track with their lives, as he tries to come to terms with his illness. This heartwarming family drama talks about a parent's love, no matter what his age.
Reply 1988 (2015-2016)
Stars Lee Hye-ri, Park Bo-gum, Go Kyung-pyo, Ryu Jun-yeol and Lee Dong-hwi
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWIf you're looking for melodrama and revenge plots, this is not the series to watch. Reply 1988 stands out in that it is a relatable drama that revolves around love and friendship. The show garnered 8 nominations at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards and won the distinction for Best Director and Best New Actor.
Our SPV moms say:
"It's a family-oriented K-drama. Lahat ng emotion mararamdaman mo. You’ll admire their friendship. You will love the characters’ strength and weaknesses." - Maria Krystle Antenor Banaag-Ebreo
"Five times ko na ito naulit, and up to this day, the clips still make me laugh so hard. K-dramas never fail to make me cry, lalo sa stories about family." - Ginyn Noble-Cadavillo
What other parents are reading
Marriage Contract (2016)
Stars Lee Seo-jin and Uee
Widowed and with a young daughter to raise, Kang Hye Soo accepts his wealthy boss's offer to be his wife but for only a limited time. Will she find happiness and love at the same time?
CONTINUE READING BELOWwatch nowMy Father Is Strange (2017)
Stars Kim Yeong-cheol, Kim Hae-sook, Ryu Soo-young, Lee Yoo-ri, Lee Joon, Jung So-min, Ryu Hwa-young, and Ahn Hyo-seop
Watch what happens to the happy life of a family of six when one day a stranger comes along and introduces himself as part of the family.
What other parents are reading
Because This Is My First Life (2017)
Stars Lee Min-ki and Jung So-min
When two individuals live together as housemates, they are faced with the realities of life and the intricacies of relationships and marriage.
Go Back Couple (2017)
Stars Son Ho-jun and Jang Na-ra
Married and with one child, Choi Ban-do and Ma Jin-joo find themselves in discontent over the current state of their lives — he as a pharmaceutical sales agent and she as a housewife. By a twist of fate (or wishful thinking), both wake up one day back as their 20-year-old selves. Will the choices they make this time give them a happier ending?
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWOur SPV moms say:
"Realization hit me hard with this K-drama." - Mau Mad
"Sobrang ganda po ng story, yun yung totoong struggles talaga pag may asawa, napanood kasi namin yun may baby na kami." - Maria Christina Roi Ann
What other parents are reading
Sky Castle (2018-2019)
Stars Yum Jung-ah, Lee Tae-ran, Yoon Se-ah, Oh Na-ra and Kim Seo-hyung
Sky Castle tells the story of families living in an exclusive neighborhood and how their obsessive desire to give their children the best education can drive them to do unthinkable things.
Our SPV moms say:
"Such great actors, great storyline, and it tackled super relevant issues even here in the Philippines. A must watch for parents." - Annalyn Villegas
"Para sa mga parents na may high expectations sa mga anak, that everything is competition even sa co-parents. In the end di na pala happy ang mga anak." - Zap Marge
Beautiful World (2019)
Stars Park Hee-soon, Choo Ja-hyun, Oh Man-seok, Cho Yeo-jeong, Nam Da-reum and Kim Hwan-hee
ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOWThe series delves on the pervasive issue of bullying that is often unspoken of. Timely and eye-opening, it depicts how the lives of kids and their families can be put on hold as they try to cope with the fact that violence in schools exists, and hope for justice.
