Deviation from a popular novel or thriller dramasThe slice-of-life genre covers a wider range of themes and character relationships. By focusing on more characters and covering more themes, viewers will be able to connect with the stories more easily. From such a classic Reply 1988 to new releases such as Thirty nine or twenty five twenty one — The best slice-of-life dramas bring attention to the most interesting parts of life. Most of the slice-of-life stories explore the funny, heartbreaking, and challenging parts of life all in one episode, so there’s something for everyone.
Slice-of-life K-dramas are not a form of escapism like many suspense or romance K-dramas. However, they still contain intriguing plots and compelling character relationships that keep viewers engaged. Additionally, although many of these Korean dramas touch on different aspects of Korean culture, they can still be understood by everyone, creating a stronger connection with viewers around the world. Workplace dynamics, growing pains of youth, and societal pressure to follow a predetermined path in life are just a few of the themes explored in the best slice-of-life dramas.
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Thirty Nine (2022)
The friendship between three women grows stronger with age.
While most slice-of-life dramas are light-hearted and revolve around young characters figuring out their romantic or professional lives, others in the genre e.g. Thirty ninea little heavier. Thirty nine is about three women (Son Ye Jin, Jeon Mi Do and Kim Ji Hyun) who have been friends for so long that they are practically sisters. IN Thirty ninewomen will soon turn 40. Thirty nine it’s love—the love they have for each other, as well as their difficult experiences with romantic partners. Carefree like Thirty nine Maybe the series is also quite heartwarming.
When one of the women receives a troubling medical diagnosis, the bond between the three women becomes stronger and the others… Thirty nine plays out as they continue to make the most of every moment they have with each other. Considering that much of the drama focuses on the aftermath of one character’s medical diagnosis, Thirty nine not as broad in terms of life as others and has a lower rating. However, Thirty nineThe rating does not reflect its quality as it is a bittersweet watch that is worth checking out.
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Be Melodramatic (2019)
Details about the work and personal lives of three thirty-year-olds
Be melodramatic follows the lives of a group of 30-year-old best friends: Im Jin Joo (Jung Woo Hee), Lee Eun Jung (Jung Yeo Bin), and Hwang Han Joo (Han Ji Eun). Every woman works in the entertainment industry as a screenwriter, documentary director, and marketing team leader. Their daily work life is depicted in Be melodramaticas are their romantic endeavors. Like many other everyday life dramas, Be melodramatic touches on a range of topics such as mental health, obstacles in the workplace, friendship and more. Each of the main characters are complete and well written, making it easy for the audience to root for them.
Be melodramatic never achieved incredibly high ratings like some other popular slice-of-life dramasbut it reached a decent audience. In addition to related topics, Be melodramatic received acclaim for its catchy original soundtrack featuring the voices of actors Jung Woo Hee and Ahn Jae Hong. Two of Be melodramaticThe award nomination was for the soundtrack, while the other nomination went to Jeong Yeo-bin for Best New Actress at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards.
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My Notes on Liberation (2022)
Three siblings wish for changes in their lives
Part of what made the 2022 drama My notes on liberation so popular was his ability to make younger audiences feel seen. The series revolves around three siblings (Lee El, Lee Min Ki and Kim Ji Won) who want to escape the monotony of their daily lives. My notes on liberation It’s one of the slower-paced Korean dramas, but the themes and solid performances from the main cast make it worth watching.
The most important part My notes on liberation is the attention it gives to issues that affect younger audiences. After its release, My notes on liberation was praised for its portrayal of social pressures on young people in Korea.. Despite the specificity of culture and location, this pressure can be understood by any audience when inviting a large group of people to meet the characters of the series. Besides, Squid game actor Gong Yoo gave his approval and praise My notes on liberation‘ script and direction.
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Age of Youth (2016-2017)
College roommates’ lives come together
Youth agealso known as Hello my twenties!is similar to some other slice-of-life dramas in that it follows a group of women brought together under one roof. The girls, all in their twenties, live together and attend college, majoring in fields ranging from journalism to culinary arts. Unlike dramas such as Thirty nine or Be melodramatic, Youth age doesn’t start with the girls’ separate lives being pieced together. Instead of, Youth age begins by detailing each girl’s complex, eventful life, showcasing each roommate’s personal goals and challenges..
Youth ageThe characters then receive equal amounts of screen time, and the emphasis on friendship and community comes to the fore. Similar to: My Mister, Youth age draws attention to the importance that friendship can have in life. No matter how different one character’s life may be from the other, the roommates can always rely on each other to overcome obstacles and survive the growing pains that come with being 20-somethings.
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Misaeng: An Incomplete Life (2014)
Pros and cons of corporate culture
Misaeng: An Incomplete Lifeand the web cartoon of the same name on which it is based takes its name from the strategy board game “baduk” or “go”. Meaning “incomplete life” or “Not Alive Yet” corresponds to the transitional stage in life that the main characters of the series are going through.. It is also a period of life that audiences in their twenties and thirties relate to, which gave the original webtoon a large audience. The series begins with Jang Geu Rae (Im Si Wan), who wants to become a professional baduk player.
When it becomes clear that Jang Geu Rae will not be able to fulfill his dreams, he finds a job at a trading company. Although he is largely unskilled compared to his colleagues, he moves forward with determination and uses his knowledge of baduk strategy to help him succeed. Misaeng: An Incomplete Life paints a balanced picture of office work, demonstrating workplace camaraderie and typical workplace politics. The struggles that Jang Geu Rae and his colleagues go through have been noted as an accurate portrayal of Korean corporate culture.
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My Master (2018)
Message My Mister simple yet effective, making it one of the best slice-of-life dramas. The series follows the lives of two characters: Park Dong Hoon (Lee Sung Kyun) and Lee Jian (Lee Ji Eun). The two face various stressors in their personal lives, from dealing with sick relatives to coping with marital difficulties. Despite the 20-year age difference, they became friends while working together.
Although it takes some time for each party to open up to each other, they eventually help each other get rid of their emotional baggage. My Mister had consistently high viewership numbers, with the final episode drawing a record number of viewers. The obstacles in the lives of Park Dong Hoon and Lee Jian are presented in an honest and accessible way that viewers can appreciate. Critically speaking, My Mister turned out to be just as successful. Many critics praised the drama for its simple yet touching message.which emphasized the importance of community building.
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Prison Collection (2017–2018)
Monitors the daily lives of prisoners and prison workers
Judging by the name alone, one can assume Prison Game Book is a gripping drama series about the ruthless daily life in prison. However, slice-of-life series are the complete opposite and stand apart from most dramas in the genre. Prison Game Book follows inmate Kim Jae-hyuk (Park Hae-soo), a famous baseball player who is arrested after fatally attacking the man who attacked his sister. Prison Game Book starts with the story of Kim Jae Hyuk, but The character is supported by a variety of prisoners and officers on duty, who quickly become equally important in the series.
Mixing humor and heartfelt moments, Prison Game Book manages to make the audience empathize with its characters. Inmates such as Lee Joo Hyun (Kang Seung Yoon), a habitual thief, Kim Min Chul (Choi Moo Sung), a gang member, and Yoo Han Yang (Lee Kyu Hyun), a repeat drug offender. , are just a few supporting characters that round out the cast. Each character’s backstory is well thought out and presents them as more than just a prisoner.
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Hospital playlist (2020-2021)
Musical connection between five doctors
From the creators Reply series and Prison Game Book comes Hospital playlist. The medical drama has earned positive comparisons to American TV shows such as Gray’s Anatomy And Friends for the hospital setting and charming on-screen friendship. Like the American series, the drama follows a group of friends who work as doctors. The characters have been friends since medical school, and their closeness is immediately noticeable and refreshing for the audience. Each character goes through ups and downs as they try to balance their personal lives with the pressures of working in a hospital. The series remains consistently interesting.
Mixed with Hospital playlistThe occasional sentimental scenes are a collection of musical performances. Most Hospital playlistThe film’s original soundtrack is performed by the series’ cast members, who provide their vocals and instrumental skills. The music helps the characters overcome personal and professional difficulties and is a positive takeaway from the series. Every song on Hospital playlistThe soundtrack charted on the Gaon Digital Chart and won several critics’ awards.
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Twenty Five Twenty One (2022)
A nostalgic look at the youth of the 90s
He managed to fully convey the atmosphere of the 90s with the help of wardrobe, props and filming locations. twenty five twenty one has earned much acclaim for its nostalgic elements and touching storytelling. twenty five twenty one tells the story of five characters from 1998 to 2021. The main characters in this slice of life are Na Hee Do (Kim Tae Ri) and Baek Yi Jin (Nam Joo Hyuk), two of the many people affected by the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. During difficult times, the show’s high school students try to move forward and navigate their teenage years.
twenty five twenty one he has one of the best romances in dramas but the series is much more than just its central love story. Even though Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin are the main romantic leads of the series, the supporting characters are equally well-developed, which is not always what you expect in K-dramas. While attending high school in the ’90s, the characters learn important lessons, including about the unpredictability of life, romantic relationships, and personal dreams for their future. Soon after its release, twenty five twenty one entered Netflix’s global list of the top 10 non-English language TV shows, remaining on the list for 10 weeks.
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Reply 1988 (2015–2016)
Details about close relationships in the Seoul area
Completely Shin Won Ho Reply The anthology series earned praise from critics and viewers. Each installment takes place in its own titular year and is a well-researched look at Korean culture at the time. Reply 1988 no different from important cultural moments serve as the backdrop to the daily activities of the tight-knit Northern Seoul neighborhood.. Everyone in the area, both young and old, is close and Reply 1988 chronicles their daily lives and the valuable life lessons they learn along the way.
Unlike most domestic dramas that follow a group of characters of the same age, Reply 1988 has a wider cast of characters, meaning there’s something for everyone. Both the young teenage characters and their parents are full-bodied and well-rounded, coping with their adversities separately from each other. As mentioned, key cultural moments in Korean history are covered in Reply 1988. Some of these include the Seoul Olympics and student protests that changed the way others outside the country perceived South Korea.