What to Watch When You Want to Feel Good

For me it's Coffee Prince- the main actors make an adorable couple. Watching the interactions between Go Eun Chan and Han Kyul makes me smile (really, Gong Yoo in general makes me smile).  - u/hermionepond

Boys Over Flowers- while it's cheesy and has over-the-top acting (especially from Jandi), it's still a really fun drama and has its comedic moments that'll have you laughing and rooting for the heroine.  - unknown

My Name is Kim Sam Soon- I honestly don't think I can recommend this one enough.  It's a really solid rom-com with a spunky, no-fucks-given heroine that's really likable and relatable.  It sends the message that even someone who's supposedly "chubby" and "undesirable" can find true love.  Plus, Daniel Henney is really hot.  - unknown

Ex-Girlfriend Club and continue hoping in real life that you meet your Soo-Jin or Myeong-Soo before a lion or prepare to get rekt...!  But seriously, this is one funny show with hope, awesome characters each with unique personalities, and crazy antics and cannot recommend it enough.  Always put a smile on my face when I watched it and best opening song! - u/Treaya

My Love From The Star - that's also another one that made me smile. At first I was put off by how old the female lead looked but once I watched it I realised how suitable Gianna Jun was as Song Yi. Honestly, Cheon Song Yi is such a funny character, so besides from the emotional scenes this show will make you smile. - u/Suuki_

Hands down, My Love From Another Star. Not only does the drama showcased great acting chops from the leads, but the story draws you in. There was no boring episode for me. - u/shantutski

My Love From Another Star - I feel that it's a girls dream to meet someone who looks as perfect as Do Min Joon a.k.a. Kim Soo Hyun. After I watched him in Dream High (long ago), this drama made me  fall in love him all over again; but in a different way. He's totally grown up and his acting and voice skills have grown tremendously.  - u/tLeai

Modern Farmer was a pretty happy watch. It made me laugh every episode! Although the show does cover heavy social issues it doesn't make it sad overall and imo adds to what makes the show so great. 

I'd say to watch this after a melodrama when you need a laugh. Also I'd recommend this if you want a drama with decent character development and characters you end up loving as they are so quirky and fun.  - u/rosecoconut

Playful Kiss (fav kdrama) - I'm not sure what it is, I just feel like I relate to Ha Ni's situation when I was in highschool. Though you probably already feel like you know the outcome, it takes alot of your emotions to even continue watching that drama. Seriously, I've re-watched this kdrama more than 30x  - u/tLeai

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon - I rewatch clips all the time and they make me happy every single time. - u/eroverton

Drinking Solo - Sweet slice of life with a cast full of great supporting characters. - u/AlluringRocketry

A Poem a Day - a likeable heroine with two very different suitors in a slice of life drama, sprinkled with comedy and young adult angst. - u/deviantrockstar

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, because the romance has a smidgen of realness. Despite the ever-obvious plastic surgeries on every face, despite the skinny actress pretending to eat and weigh enough to be a weightlifter, the romance is less hyperreal, more grounded. Love starts out with awkward misfires. Kindness happens. Growth happens. No One True Pairings here, just folks who need time to figure out who's good for them.  - unknown

Pinocchio, despite the tragic parts, because HEARTWARMING GRANDPA AND GRUFF DAD!!!  - unknown

Your House Helper, the #MeToo valentine, despite the female lead's lack of facial expressions apart from sad, wistful, and sweet. Man cleans and cooks and nurtures! So warm!  - unknown

Reply 1988. A drama about family and friendship. There are multiple side stories, so many touching moments, and beautiful relationships. It will make you cry at times, but it'll make you laugh more.  - u/kingniel

Extraordinary You - personally. I think it was really cute and funny, I loved all the references about cliches, and the fact that the actual comic book they were in was supposed to be some kind of parody of Boys Over Flowers, which is the definition of cliche tropes. It was refreshing that the main lead in this drama had a personality and character of second leads in most other dramas. Though towards the ending it got more tense than funny, the ending was still pretty good.  - u/kingniel

Fight For My Way: A drama about unobtained dreams and quarter-life crises. Each character has their own dream that they want to pursue and I found myself relating to every one. Great pick-me-up for people who feel lost in life (i.e. students, people who hate their job), don't know what to do, and feel hopeless.  - u/confusdwaffle

Age of Youth: A drama about five housemates, each with their own personalities and problems, and how they live together and bond. Great for people in the mood for something slice-of-life but also murder-mystery/rom-com. There's not a dull moment in this drama and you'll feel happy, sad, guilty, and a bunch of other emotions.  - u/confusdwaffle

Thirty, but Seventeen is a Must for this category!  Shin Hye Sun and Yang Se Jong were so good as a very quirky couple in this.  As well as the side characters (Jennifer!) The feel good put-together-family, forced-living-together situation.  After finishing it, I had to do an immediate re-watch I missed the characters so much!  This is often recommended as a healing drama. - u/LcLou02

Thirty but Seventeen - A perfect rom-com that will have you laughing and feeling full after every episode. The cast is so great and the relationship development is equally great.  - u/Fatooz

Terius Behind Me -- How could you not feel good with black-ops spy So Ji Sub living across the hall from the most adorable set of twins, who he ends up babysitting?  I chose to watch this solely based on the OST songs that kept appearing on my playlist.  So glad I did!  Great balance between spy stuff, the Neighbourhood Watch group of friends, the twins & their mom.  - u/LcLou02

20th Century Boy & Girl -- Wonderful group of adults who have been friends since childhood.  The three women are re-joined by the guy friend who has been gone for many years.  Sweet romances all around. - u/LcLou02

Be Melodramatic - Relaxed drama about a group of friends who work in drama industry. They are all very supportive. Some heavy things happens in the beginning, but somehow it doesn't feel heavy. Bonus: You will learn about how the industry functions.  - u/the-other-otter

Feel Good to Die - You will laugh through the female lead becoming more and more exasperated with reliving the same annoying day, and how it changes her actions on that day. We can all relate to the difficult boss.  - u/the-other-otter

I Picked up a Star on the Road - Short and silly. When you just want to laugh.  - u/the-other-otter

Sungkyunkwan Scandal - Cute Park Min Young pretends to be a male scholar in historic Joseon, and complications occur. - u/the-other-otter

I just finished Romance is a Bonus Book and it’s so good! Its probably my favorite drama of this year. If you’re super busy and swamped in real life, this drama is the one to watch because it progresses nicely and there’s no annoying aspects that make the audience anxious. It’s totally a comfort drama because there are no toxic characters and it’s mostly character-driven.  - u/nxcolechxu

My Mister - My Mister is probably one of the best pieces of media I've ever seen, but it also has plenty of depressing moments. So what makes it feel good? Catharsis. My Mister is probably one of the most cathartic experiences I've had when watching any piece of media, with the story, about various people struggling with life, taking you through a roller-coaster of emotions across its entire runtime.  - u/TotoroTheGreat

Hometown Cha Cha Cha - A woman from Seoul ends up in a small town by the sea after a series of unfortunate events. She ends up setting up a dentist's office there, and although she initially struggles with life in a small town, the people and the town eventually mellows her down and wins her over. Refreshing, breezy and warm, Hometown Cha Cha Cha is a perfect summer treat, with a very colorful cast of characters, wonderful leads and a cute and beautiful setting.  - u/TotoroTheGreat

When the Weather is Fine - A warm and cozy drama about healing. A woman, struggling with life in the city, decides to retreat to a village where she had spent her high school years in. There she meets a quiet and reserved man who slowly enters her life. When the Weather is Fine is like a warm hug in winter. It feels like snuggling by the fire with a warm drink in hand after coming in from the snow.  - u/TotoroTheGreat

18 Again - One of my all time favorite slice of life rom com. It's so heartwarming and breezy, it'll certainly make you feel good. There are some relationships which are broken but get mended slowly slowly and that process is just beautiful to watch. The cinematography and soundtrack are also great and will definitely make you feel good. It's the perfect watch for when you feel you're maybe getting distant from your family.  - u/Fatooz

A Love So Beautiful - It's your typical high school rom-com but I just like how breezy the characters are. There isn't anything complex or annoying, rather most things are handled really nicely. In fact, it's much better than the Chinese Version. The colors are also calm. It's a good watch if you're feeling low. - u/Fatooz

A Piece of Your Mind - This drama is a romance melodrama but it's more about healing. When I say healing, I actually mean it. Not only do characters in the drama heal, but you'll find yourself healing too. The soundtrack, cinematography, the dialogues and the chemistry between the main leads is such that you'll find yourself feeling good and happy but more of a calmed version of yourself.  - u/Fatooz

Moment at Eighteen - This is a coming of age drama where pretty much all characters are going through something at the start but their encounter with the ML changes their lives as they all come together and heal through their pains. It's a beautiful soothing drama, and it's best to watch after you've gone through a tough time in relation to following your dreams.  - u/Fatooz

Move to Heaven - This is a short episodic drama which makes a place in your heart very naturally. You'll find yourself connecting with the characters from the very first episode itself. The character and relationship growth is so great, you're bound to feel good! It's best to watch after you've lost someone extremely close to you. - u/Fatooz

Mystic Pop-Up Bar - My most favorite fantasy slice-of-life drama, another short episodic drama. Every episode teaches you something but at the end of every episode you'll find yourself smiling. Last few episodes are a bit emotional but again, it's a good watch if you're experiencing a distance from your loved ones.  - u/Fatooz

Run On - One of my most favorite breezy and calm romantic dramas. The cinematography and soundtrack are equally breezy and lovely, you'll eventually find yourself feeling good after every episode. - u/Fatooz