This Anticipated K-Drama With True Beauty Star Is the Top Hit On Viki Right Now

This Anticipated K-Drama With True Beauty Star Is the Top Hit On Viki Right Now
Image credit: Viki

It's all about family ties.

Ju-won, San-ha, and Hae-jun are a sister and two brothers who are not related by blood and were raised by unusual parents. But that doesn't stop them from being a family.

The series Family by Choice, which began in early October, is already approaching its finale and can claim the title of best k-drama of the year.

What Is Family by Choice About?

Five-year-old Ju-won's mother died three years ago, and the girl is being raised by her father, a kind and fair owner of a snack bar. Ju-won dreams of an older brother, but does not want her father to remarry. Her dreams come true – she gets two brothers at once.

One of them is San-ha, a new neighbor whose parents are going through a crisis after the death of their youngest child. San-ha's mother cannot cope with the loss and eventually leaves the family. The father and the boy himself find support in the person of Ju-won and her father.

The second new brother is Hae-jun. He is raised by a single mother. When she leaves the city for a long time and leaves her son with her sister, she has no time to take care of him. Ju-won's father takes the boy into his home.

Hae-jun, Ju-won, San-ha and their fathers live like a big family, not related by blood. They support each other in difficult times and protect each other from neighborhood gossip.

Difficulties begin a year before Hae-jun and San-ha graduate from high school. Both boys are popular among their peers, and Ju-won must contend with the gossip of envious people. Long-forgotten relatives of the boys also show up, wanting to reestablish communication.

Family by Choice Is Not Your Typical Korean Melodrama

Family by Choice is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. First, the original Chinese series Go Ahead is one of the gems of Chinese dramas. Secondly, one of the main characters is played by Hwang In-youp, the star of True Beauty.

In the first episode, the main characters appear as little children, and viewers are told exactly how they became a family.

The main fear when watching, especially if you are not familiar with the Chinese original, is that the touching family story will not turn into a typical Korean melodrama with a standard love triangle and cat-and-mouse game. Fortunately, this does not happen.

Family by Choice is first and foremost a story about strong family ties. The drama clearly shows that you don't have to be related to be called a family.

Hae-jun's relationship with Ju-won's father is one of the most interesting storylines. Everything about it is wonderful: the introduction, the heart-to-heart talks when Hae-jun's biological father appears in his life, and the touching reunion after a long separation.

Where to Watch Family by Choice?

Family by Choice is available to stream on Viki.