The “ber” months can have different meanings for different people. For some, they’re a go-signal to kick off their countdowns to Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Meanwhile, others are preparing to visit their deceased loved ones over the Undas weekend.
For the rest of today’s generation, however, the “ber” months may be a window for rest, reflection, and recharging throughout the holidays—a much-needed break from the everyday hustle and bustle at work.
It’s a time for us to catch up on the hobbies and interests we’ve momentarily set aside. If you’re a loud and proud Hallyu fan, your growing Korean drama (K-drama) watch list might be one of them.
Photo: Netflix/YouTube
The K-drama world stepped up its game this year with stories that vividly portray how love prevails against all odds. These three new shows, which premiered throughout 2025, offer hopeful perspectives on life and the unsung beauty of our mundane day-to-day routines. Each series also introduces fans and viewers to the timeless slice-of-life genre—stories that represent ordinary real-life experiences and the striking human emotions that arise from the conversations we have every day.
If you’ve always wanted to binge-watch K-dramas but never had enough time to do so, the holiday season is a great opportunity to catch up on them. You can even start with these three tender and touching shows that have captured our hearts all year round.
When Life Gives You Tangerines
The whole world laughed, cheered, and cried buckets over this 16-episode K-drama that changed our lives for good. IU and Park Bo-gum lead this critically acclaimed story of a humble family, set in two timelines.
We first learn how Oh Ae-sun (IU), a headstrong aspiring poet, falls in love with her childhood friend, Yang Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum), and hopes to start a new life with him despite their families’ initial disapproval. Though hardships and financial struggles put the two through the wringer, they have their hearts set on giving their kids better lives with more opportunities and resources at their disposal.
Decades later, we meet Ae-sun and Gwan-sik’s daughter, Yang Geum-myeong (also played by IU), who is fighting tooth and nail to study overseas despite the persistent obstacles and heartbreak that put her aspirations in jeopardy.
When Life Gives You Tangerines reflects the harrowing realities and sacrifices that parents and their children go through every day to make ends meet. The show sheds light on families who tirelessly work and hope for a better future, even if the lives they’ve always dreamt of aren’t guaranteed.
Tastefully Yours
This vibrant, quick-witted K-drama shows that we should never underestimate the power of good food. Our favorite dishes bring cultures and communities together. And in Tastefully Yours, these hearty meals even turned a heated feud into a delectable love story—one for the (cook)books, at that.
The restaurant industry’s hotshot heir, Han Beom-woo (Kang Ha-neul), is desperate to secure a three-star Michelin rating for his new eatery. When he sets out to find new recipes, striving to appease his stone-cold mother, he runs into Mo Yeon-joo (Go Min-si), a hotheaded, taste-obsessed chef who owns a run-down one-table restaurant in the city’s outskirts.
After multiple squabbles, Beom-woo and Yeon-joo put their differences aside and learn the true magic of cooking. The unlikely duo works together on dishes that turn their customers’ frowns upside down. Meanwhile, viewers catch glimpses of South Korea’s history, culture, and scenic attractions through the show’s intricate gourmet recipes.
You and Everything Else
Slice-of-life K-dramas may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but you can’t deny their power to turn simple, unassuming stories into sentimental masterpieces that tug on our heartstrings. That’s the case for You and Everything Else, an eight-episode melodrama on the complexities of friendship, resentment, and adulthood.
Ryu Eun-jung (Kim Go-eun) and Cheon Sang-yeon (Park Ji-hyun) have known each other since their teenage years, but their friendship is far from perfect. Though they’ve grown apart, their unresolved tension and conflict still haunt them every day. And when Sang-yeon asks Eun-jung to accompany her throughout her final days on earth, the two are forced to confront their rocky past.
You and Everything Else reminds us that even our most cherished friendships are still beautifully flawed. Each episode is an emotional rollercoaster you can resonate with throughout every stage of your life.
You can watch all episodes of When Life Gives You Tangerines, Tastefully Yours, and You and Everything Else on Netflix.
ALSO READ: This Korean Spy Thriller Series Will End Your K-Drama Slump
What are your favorite slice-of-life K-dramas? Share your picks with us in the comments below!
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