“Family by Choice” arrived this year to gift us the heartfelt story of Yoon Ju Won (Jung Chaeyeon), Kim San Ha (Hwang In Youp), and Kang Hae Jun (Bae Hyeon Seong). This trio taught us a lot about resilience, love, and the meaning of family. Though it sometimes felt like a rollercoaster of emotions, this K-drama also brought many relatable and memorable moments, very much like life itself, which is enough to make it a show that will stay on top of many K-drama lists of the year. But this show isn’t the only one that portrays love, friendships, and human relationships in a unique way. Here are a few recommendations to fill the void that this particular family left in our hearts.
1. “Because This Is My First Life”
There’s a saying that goes, “Home is where your heart is,” but for some people having a home means finding a place where you can comfortably rest after a long day of work. For Yoon Ji Ho (Young Sun Min), that turns into something almost impossible. After quitting her job and getting kicked out of the house where she lives with her brother, she finds herself at her lowest point in life. At that moment, she gets an offer from Nam Sae Hee (Lee Min Ki), a pragmatic man who happens to have zero interest in love and a vacant room in his house.
To achieve their common goals, they enter a fake marriage without any thought of falling in love, but life has other plans. As they start to live together, their constant interactions bring them some awkwardness but also new feelings that take them by surprise. Nonetheless, to stay true to themselves, they try to define their relationship on their own terms, without false pretenses or caring about conventionalism. This 2017 show is the perfect remedy if you miss that touch of uniqueness, fun, and a simple yet endearing romance.
Catch “Because This Is My First Life” here:
2. “Twinkling Watermelon”
If there’s something to miss about “Family by Choice,” it is definitely the relationship between Ju Won and her father Yoon Jeong Jae (Choi Won Young). And in “Twinkling Watermelon,” Choi Won Young also wins hearts as Ha Yi Chan, the hardworking and loving father of Ha Eun Gyeol (Ryeoun), who is a CODA (child of deaf adults). Filled with fantasy, this K-drama will take you on a magical journey in which Eun Gyeol meets his father during the year 1995, before the tragic accident that led Yi Chan to lose his hearing forever.
While trying to figure out the purpose of his travel back in time, Eun Gyeol discovers a brand new side of his father and pursues his passion for music alongside him. At the same time, he witnesses the beginning of the relationship between his parents and surprisingly finds himself in a complicated love triangle with none other than his father’s first love Choi Se Kyeong (Seol In Ah). You can join this father-son duo in a story full of music, filial love, and second chances.
Start watching “Twinkling Watermelon” here:
3. “Serendipity’s Embrace”
Just like San Ha and Ju Won had to wait for 10 years to reencounter and be able to be together, in “Serendipity’s Embrace,” Lee Hong Joo (Kim So Hyun) and Kang Hoo Young (Chae Jong Hyeop) face a similar situation. When they met during their high school years, Hoo Young and Hong Joo were known as polar opposites, being merely distant classmates. He was her best friend’s crush, and she acted only as a bridge between them. However, years later we get to learn about the truth behind their fateful relationship.
When Hoo Young returns to South Korea a decade later and meets Hong Joo again, he inevitably recalls his secret crush, without knowing that she also harbored feelings for him. Throughout the eight episodes of this drama, you get to explore the differences in their points of view and how that defined their fates. If you are a true believer in destiny and long-lasting feelings, plus you enjoy watching couples giving a second chance at love, then this is a must-watch show for you.
You can watch “Serendipity’s Embrace” here:
4. “Love Next Door”
Childhood friends-to-lovers is one of the biggest tropes within K-dramas, but if there’s one that portrayed it as nicely as “Family by Choice,” it’s definitely “Love Next Door.” Though it isn’t always easy to show the complex relationship between a man and a woman who sometimes know each other better than themselves, both dramas did a great job at it. Bae Seok Ryu (Young Sun Min) and Choi Seung Hyo (Jung Hae In) have been friends since their infancy, being each other’s shadows and complimenting their lives most perfectly.
However, as they grow up, they follow different paths thus separating for a long time. Despite the struggles they faced and the people they met while being apart, once they reunite, their relationship resumes as naturally as breathing. But are things really bound to stay the same forever, even among two people who seem to be more than just long-time friends? Their story along with the sparkling chemistry between the leads make it a K-drama that you will want to binge-watch right away!
Hey Soompiers! Have you watched any of these K-dramas? Do you miss “Family by Choice”? Let us know all about it in the comments below!
Andy zar is an avid drama watcher, from K-dramas to C-dramas, she believes any weekend is a good weekend to enjoy 12 hours of binge-watching dramas. She loves romance, web comics, and K-pop. She is a declared “Subeom” and “Hyeppyending.” Her favorite groups are EXO, TWICE, and BOL4.
Currently watching: “Love Your Enemy”
Plans to watch: “Brewing Love“
