7 Bittersweet K-Dramas That Can Turn Even the Stoic into Sobbers

Tears can be different. Some result from sadness or hardship, while others come from overwhelming happiness. Either way, they help us cope with intense emotions and make us feel better.

If you are looking for K-dramas that will make you feel so emotional you can't stop crying but aren't too depressing, here are a few suggestions.

Hi Bye, Mama! (2020)

A ghost can return to human form if she gets her old life back within seven weeks. But her husband is now married to someone else and seems happy with his new life. This story is made up of one heartwarming, healing moment after another and is a real tear-jerker.

Reply 1988 (2015-2016)

Set in the 1980s and 1990s, the story of five friends and their families residing in the same neighborhood has kept scores of viewers glued to their screens. The acting is so compelling, and the characters so well-crafted that you can't watch it without being overtaken by emotion. You laugh and cry with the characters, and in the end, you sob because you have to bid them farewell.

Move to Heaven (2021)

After his father dies, a young man with Asperger's gets a new guardian, his estranged uncle, an ex-convict with a traumatic past. As the two try to run the family business, the nephew-uncle relationship slowly evolves, hitting viewers right in the heart.

Prison Playbook (2017-2018)

The show revolves around convicts, their families, and correctional officers, focusing on the protagonist who goes to prison for saving his sister from a sexual assault. The number of scenes filled with humor and tears is off the charts.

Navillera (2021)

The story of a retired postal worker who, at 70, decides to pursue his lifelong dream of learning to dance ballet will leave no one unmoved. You won't be able to hold back the tears watching the never-ending parade of beautiful, therapeutic moments.

18 Again (2020)

The protagonist has a very difficult life full of emotional, heartfelt moments: he loses his family and job, and one day, in desperation, he wishes for a chance to start over and, miraculously, regains his 18-year-old body. He enrolls in school and makes friends with his children, eventually gaining a deeper understanding of them and his own situation.

Hospital Playlist (2020-2021)

The story of five doctors who are also friends, their families, and patients is a perfect blend of sad and happy moments that will make you experience a range of emotions. As a bonus, this K-drama will restore your faith in humanity.