7 K-Dramas To Watch If You Loved ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’

IU and Park Bo-gum starrer When Life Gives You Tangerines on Netflix has managed to capture the hearts of millions of K-drama fans around the world. Not only has it become one of the most popular shows on the OTT platform, it has even managed to amass an impressive 98% on Rotten Tomatoes.

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Set in the 60s on Jeju Island, the drama follows the ever-dependable Gwan-sik who falls in love with the troubled but talented writer Ae-sun. The story spans over five decades, chronicling their lives and how it was shaped because of the political and economic events of the era.

The show’s poignant storytelling, breathtaking island visuals and superlative performances have ensured its place on the list of the best dramas of 2025. If you, like us, can’t get enough of the show, here are a few other K-dramas to add to your watchlists…

K-Dramas Like Netflix’s ‘When Life Gives You Tangerines’

When the Camellia Blooms

Aside from sharing the same creator, Lim Sang-choon, the two shows have a lot in common. The stories follow an ensemble of quirky characters and explore small-town dynamics in shaping relationships. When The Camellia Blooms also features a resilient female lead of its own in the form of Dong-baek, a single mother who moves to a small town to start a new business. In the show, she meets local police officer Hwang Yong-sik and slowly begins to form a sweet connection with him over time.

Watch it here.

Our Blues

If you can’t get enough of the breathtaking beauty of Jeju Island as seen on When Life Gives You Tangerines, you have to watch Our Blues. Interconnected stories play out in an anthology style, telling tales of family, unexpected connections, and trauma. The show captures the island’s unique culture, just like the IU and Park Bo-gum starrer, and weaves a disarming tapestry of human experiences. 

Watch it here.

Pachinko

Based on Min Jin Lee’s widely acclaimed novel, the show follows four generations of a Korean family who emigrated to Japan. It expertly takes us through the lives of the family over the decades as they seek to build a life for themselves, despite various adversities. Both shows feature tales of ordinary lives that are shaped by political and social events.

Watch it here.

Reply 1988

The Reply anthology series holds a special place in the hearts of fans and many have termed When Life Gives You Tnagerines a successor in spirit to the beloved trilogy. Reply 1988 also stars Park Bo-gum and follows the lives of five families in a close-knit neighbourhood. It has a similar portrayal of community and an old-world charm that informed dynamics between people in the years gone by.

Watch it here.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

Also starring Kim Seon-ho, this slice-of-life romance is going to delight and charm any fan of When Life Gives You Tangerines. It follows the unlikely love story of a high-maintenance dentist, who moves to a small town, and a local handyman who is beloved in the community. Aside from wonderfully exhibiting the small-town dynamics of a community, both shows feature unexpected moments of connection.

Watch it here.

Rain Or Shine

One thing that resonated with many fans of the new Netflix show was how it dealt with tragedy and trauma shaping life. Another show like that is Rain Or Shine, where two people have to make the journey towards healing after a devastating tragedy destroys life as they knew it.

Watch it here.

Youth of May

The drama is set during the Gwangju uprising, a series of student-led demonstrations against military dictatorship, in the 1980s. It follows a medical student and a nurse’s budding relationship against the backdrop of political turmoil and violence. If you liked how When Life Gives You Tangerines intertwined human stories with significant historical events, this one is right up your alley. Both shows depict stories where events beyond the characters’ control shape their lives.

Watch it here.