The holiday season is now coming to an end, and for anyone missing the festivities, there are severalK-dramashows that can help make the transition to the new year a little smoother. Not only do K-dramas likeWinter SonataandThat Winter, the Wind Blowstake place over winter, but many also include little holiday moments or decorations. Many of these are alsofeel-good K-dramas, even leaning into the romance element of the series when that is the focus of the show.
Romances are not the only K-dramas that can help if viewers miss the holidays.Family-focused K-dramasare also great places to start to keep the season going. If someone is looking for a show to fill the void of the passing holiday season, these cozy K-dramas are the perfect place to start.
10The One And Only (2021)
This Murder Mystery Takes Place In The Winter
Following the stories of three separate women,The One and Onlydoesn’t exactly seem like the most Christmas-focused series at the outset.The series follows three women who have been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and the main plot kicks off when they meet a hitman surrounded by mystery.What will they do, then, when tasked with deciding the one person who is truly precious?
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The meaning of life is something so central to the Christmas season, and that is one of the central themes of this K-drama. It is reminiscent of plots such as that found inIt’s a Wonderful Life,which has become a Christmas movie staple. This, paired with the winter setting, makes for a great K-drama that really captures the essence of the holiday season.
Uncontrollably Fond
Cast
Uncontrollably Fond is a South Korean drama that tells the story of Shin Joon-Young, a free-spirited and charismatic singer, and No Eul, a documentary producer, who reunite after many years and embark on a complex and emotional journey of love, regret, and redemption.
Uncontrollably Fondis a romantic K-drama that focuses on the somewhat tragic relationship between celebrity Shin Joon-young and documentary filmmaker Noh Eul. The show explores their relationship, from when they met as classmates to their working relationship with Noh Eul being in charge of filming a documentary about Joon-young’s life. It can be sad, exploring their lives in painful detail, but at its core the show has heart.
Bae Suzy won a Best Star Award for her performance of Noh Eul.
There is no avoiding it; this show is a sad one.The juxtaposition between the snow and the falling blossoms is a beautiful one, allowing this K-drama to lean into themes of loss that can so often come around wintertime.For any viewers looking for something to make them feel something,Uncontrollably Fondis the right K-drama to watch.
Winter Sonata
Winter Sonata: This romantic drama centers around a woman who encounters a man resembling her deceased first love, leading her to question her impending marriage. As past and present emotions intertwine, the series explores themes of love, loss, and memory, set against a backdrop of wintry landscapes.
Following a group of friends and the complicated relationships that arise among them,Winter Sonatabegins with the tragedy of Joon-sang, who finds himself the victim of a car crash after finally finding someone to love him. Presumed dead, his love interest Yoo-jin moves on. However,it is revealed that Joon-sang survived the crash and lives with amnesia as a result of it.
Winter Sonatahas since been adapted into several different mediums, including an anime, a Japanese live-action series, and a live musical adaptation.
The importance of winter in the story can be seen in the name of the series, as it plays a foundational role in the setting of the story. The show was incredibly popular when it released and is still a great watch today. It is emotional and well-acted, with plenty of moments to keep viewers guessing what will happen next.
Doom at Your Service
Doom at Your Service is a 2021 fantasy romance series centered on a woman facing a terminal diagnosis and a supernatural being who can end the world. As their lives intertwine, they explore themes of love and life’s deeper meanings.
Doom at Your Servicebegins with a variety of painful revelations for main character Tak Dong-kyung. On the anniversary of her parent’s death, she finds out that not only will she die soon, but the boyfriend she had been spending time with is a married man with a family. It is because of this she makes a wish for the world to end, a wish that is heard by a messenger of the gods.
In the end,Doom at Your Serviceis another K-drama reminiscent of the Christmas filmIt’s a Wonderful Life.The value of life is something so important to the holiday season, and this show is an important reminder of that. With plenty of heartwarming moments and equally painful ones,Doom at Your Serviceis a great watch for those looking for something similar to other series and films that take place over Christmas, but with a more supernatural twist.
6That Winter, The Wind Blows (2013)
This K-Drama Is Based On A 2002 Japanese Series
Originally based on the 2002 Japanese romantic drama seriesForget Love,the seriesThat Winter, the Wind Blowsrevolves around a gambling man and an heiress with a visual impairment. Oh Soo, the gambler in question, attempts to worm his way into the heiress' life in an attempt to steal the fortune she is set to inherit. However, as the series progresses, the two grow closer and slowly begin to warm up to each other.
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This series is set against a winter backdrop, immediately bringing thoughts of the holidays to mind. Not only that, butThat Winter, the Wind Blowsfocuses on taking the chilly exterior presentations of its characters and melting them, allowing them to learn to love in a way that feels real and dynamic. It is a sweet story, one that leaves the viewer feeling better by the end.
My Mister
My Mister is a South Korean drama series that explores the bond between a young woman and a middle-aged man amid life’s challenges. Released in 2018, it delves into themes of empathy and connection as the characters navigate their struggles and find solace in each other’s presence.
A series mired in drama,My Misterfeatures cheating spouses and more across its single season.Life is miserable for the series' main characters, Dong Hoon and Ji An.However, when the two of them come together, they realize that life doesn’t have to be so bad.
My Misterwon several different awards, including the award for Best Drama at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards.
Although the show does begin a bit sad, the focus on healing and overcoming loneliness together with others. The winter season can often be a lonely one for many people, making it a difficult season to make one’s way through. This series reflects that feeling, allowing for a sort of healing in the way it shows this reality.
4I’ll Go To You When The Weather Is Nice (2020)
Winter Plays A Big Role In This K-Drama
I’ll Go to You When the Weather is Niceis aK-drama about the characters' school days, alternating between the past and the modern-day and reconnecting after so much time apart. It focuses on cellist Mok Hae-won and her one-time classmate and current bookstore owner Im Eun-seob. The two begin to grow close as the winter sets in, making for the perfect setup for a lovely romance story.
Winter is as much of a character as the main love interests in this K-drama, allowing for the two main characters to grow close as a result of it.
Winter is as much of a character as the main love interests in this K-drama, allowing for the two main characters to grow close as a result of it.It feels like something that would be made for Christmas, or at the very least, the holiday season. This romance is cozy and sweet, with a small-town feeling that really makes for a perfect show to watch over the holidays.
Healer
An incident took place 30 years ago involving a group of friends who ran an illegal broadcasting station. Now three people, an illegal courier called “Healer”, a reporter from a second-rate news website and a famous journalist are on a journey to discover the truth about what happened in 1992.
More action-focused than most of the K-dramas that take place over winter,Healerdelves into the story of five friends and their experience running an illegal, pro-democracy broadcasting station.An incident occurred as a result of this broadcast station in 1992 that has since led to a string of murders in the modern day. As the plot continues, the desperate attempt to uncover the truth of these murders is soon revealed.
Not only does this series take place over winter, but it originally aired over Christmas. The cold chill of the season in question adds to the suspense of the story, making the mystery lying at the center of the series that much more engaging. The aesthetic is atmospheric, making for an engaging show to watch over the holiday season that isn’t just romance.
My Roommate Is A Gumiho
My Roommate Is A Gumiho is a South Korean romantic comedy series directed by Nam Sung-woo. The show follows Shin Woo-yeo, a 999-year-old gumiho, played by Jang Ki-yong, who becomes roommates with a college student, Lee Dam, portrayed by Lee Hye-ri. Together, they navigate the complexities of their unique living arrangement while dealing with supernatural occurrences and budding feelings.
My Roommate is a Gumihois the story of a romance between a Gumiho, otherwise known as a nine-tailed fox, and a human woman. The human woman, a college student named Lee Dam, accidentally swallows the Gumiho’s precious bead. This brings the two of them together, leading to an often comedic and unconventional romance.
This series is a passionate one, fun throughout, and originally based on a WebToon. There are scenes that take place during the winter, with snow falling and holidays just around the corner. Aside from this,My Roommate is a Gumihodoes feature scenes with holiday lights, making the holiday feeling that much more festive.
Guardian: The Lonely And Great God
Guardian: The Lonely And Great God is a 2016 South Korean television series following the lives of a modern-day goblin and his human bride. Portrayed by Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun, the show delves into themes of immortality and destiny as the goblin seeks to end his eternal existence. The series blends romance, fantasy, and drama, winning acclaim for its unique storyline and strong performances.
Starring Gong Yoo, who most recently playedThe Salesman inSquid Game, Guardian: The Lonely and Great Godis a show about a god who simply cannot die.This is the result of a curse that forces him to watch those around him die over and over due to his supposed involvement in the death of the king.He later meets Ji Eun-tak, a high school student who may hold the key to finally allowing him to die.
The show has won many awards, most notably at the 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards for Gong Yoo’s acting and Kim Eun-sook’s incredible writing.
It is clear from the beginning that this show will be a tragic one, with death being the end goal for Gong Yoo’s character Kim Shin. The fact that it takes place over Christmas only makes it hit that much harder. It is a beautiful story about life and death, making it one of the bestK-dramasto watch if you’re missing the holidays.
