Korean Dramas That Will Make You Cry Like WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU TANGERINES, Melodrama Lovers Must Watch

Kapanlagi.com - Korean Drama that makes you cry like a baby similar to WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU TANGERINES comes with an emotional story full of life meaning and a touching love story. This drama tells the journey of Ae Sun in pursuing her dreams, finding her identity, and experiencing true love with Gwan Sik from childhood to adulthood.

Through a relationship that grows slowly but is full of sincerity, the story of Ae Sun and Gwan Sik successfully makes many viewers feel touched with emotions of joy and sadness. Many viewers admitted to crying because this drama released at the end of 2025 presents a warm, realistic love story filled with the wounds of life.

Interestingly, WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU TANGERINES actually has several other Korean dramas with a similar thread, ranging from family stories, life struggles, to heartwarming romances. This series of dramas also brings mixed emotions and can make the heart feel warm yet achy at the same time. Curious about the titles? Let's take a look.

1. 18 AGAIN (2020)

sitting on the grass/mydramalist.com

Genre: Fantasy, Comedy, Romance, Drama
Platform: Netflix, WeTV, HBO Max, TVING
Rating: 8.7/10 | Duration: 70 Minutes per Episode
Cast: Kim Ha Neul, Yoon Sang Hyun, Lee Do Hyun

Carrying the theme of second chances and past regrets, the drama 18 AGAIN (2020) tells the story of a middle-aged man named Hong Dae Young who suddenly returns to his 18-year-old body. The story focuses on his efforts to mend his relationship with his wife and their twin children, which had become strained due to his youthful ego.

Watching this series is guaranteed to make viewers cry because of its similarity to the project at the end of 2025 in terms of presenting a flashback of a sincere love struggle from scratch. The warmth of family bonds and youthful love filled with sacrifice feels very relatable to the pure emotions present in WHEN LIFE GIVES YOU TANGERINES.

KLovers must watch this fantasy melodrama series because each episode presents a deep moral message about the importance of cherishing time with loved ones before it's too late. The fresh comedic touches combined with sweet family moments make the storyline flow so naturally without feeling preachy. This meaningful watch is perfect for viewers who miss family warmth or those who enjoy heartwarming second chance stories.

2. TWENTY FIVE TWENTY ONE (2022)

speaking on the cliff/mydramalist.com

Genre: Romance, Drama, Life, Youth
Platform: Netflix
Rating: 8.8/10 | Duration: 73 Minutes per Episode
Cast: Kim Tae Ri, Nam Joo Hyuk

Set against the backdrop of the IMF financial crisis in the late 1990s, TWENTY FIVE TWENTY ONE (2022) weaves an emotional growth story between an ambitious fencing athlete and a young man trying to rebuild his shattered life. The dynamics of their relationship evolve from close friends to a couple who support each other amidst the storms of teenage life towards adulthood.

This legendary melodrama is sure to make its loyal viewers cry because it has a strong emotional resemblance in depicting the bittersweet nature of chasing youthful dreams with a soulmate. The realistic fate of love and the ups and downs of its characters' lives have a melancholic vibe similar to Ae Sun's life journey.

The main reason you must watch this masterpiece is the vibrant acting quality of its cast and the dialogue filled with motivational phrases that ignite passion. KLovers will be taken back to beautiful school days while also feeling the pain of a farewell that matures. This melancholic romance series is perfect for viewers who enjoy retro-set dramas or anyone who wants to nostalgically remember the beauty of timeless first love.

3. OUR BLUES (2022)

at the market/mydramalist.com

Genre: Romance, Life, Drama, Melodrama
Platform: Netflix, TVING
Rating: 8.6/10 | Duration: 70 Minutes per Episode
Cast: Lee Byung Hun, Shin Min Ah, Cha Seung Won, Lee Jung Eun

Set against the beautiful backdrop of the exotic Jeju Island, OUR BLUES (2022) is an omnibus drama that highlights the life stories of a group of people from various backgrounds facing conflicts ranging from rekindled old love, the harsh life of fishermen, to painful family secrets. Each character has their own inner wounds that are slowly healed by the presence of a solid and caring local community.

This multi-generational story is sure to make viewers cry thanks to the similarities in setting and the warm depiction of neighborly relationships reminiscent of Ae Sun's childhood love story. The depth of emotion and the reality of coastal community life here touch the heart deeply due to the very grounded portrayal of conflicts.

KLovers should not miss this star-studded masterpiece as each short story within offers a new perspective on how to forgive oneself and others. The visually stunning cinematography of Jeju Island perfectly complements the top-notch performances from a lineup of South Korea's leading actors and actresses. This emotionally charged local series is perfect for viewers who enjoy realistic life stories or those who appreciate soul-healing dramas (healing drama).

4. PACHINKO (2022)

by the river/mydramalist.com

Genre: Drama, Historical, Romance, Melodrama
Platform: Apple TV+
Rating: 8.7/10 | Duration: 55 Minutes per Episode
Cast: Kim Min Ha, Youn Yuh Jung, Jin Ha, Lee Min Ho

An extraordinarily grand historical epic, PACHINKO (2022) tells the life journey of four generations of a Korean immigrant family who must survive and fight for their identity in a discriminatory land of Japan. The narrative focuses on Sunja, a strong woman whose forbidden love and steadfast heart become a protective pillar for her descendants from the colonial era to the modern age.

This cross-era struggle story is guaranteed to make viewers shed tears due to the similarity of the characters, who both demonstrate the resilience of a woman facing the harshness of fate from childhood to old age. The depth of history and the feeling of love seasoned with great sacrifices in this drama have an emotional resonance very similar to the story of Ae Sun.

Watching this international-scale drama is a must due to its production quality on par with Hollywood feature films and the very cinematic storytelling. KLovers will be invited to delve into the dark history of the past filled with love, betrayal, and the extraordinary spirit of survival of a mother. This adaptation of a popular novel is perfect for viewers who enjoy substantial historical melodramas or those who appreciate strong and independent female lead characters.

5. THE GOOD BAD MOTHER (2023)

with the children on the island/mydramalist.com

Genre: Life, Drama, Family, Comedy
Platform: Netflix, TVING
Rating: 8.8/10 | Duration: 70 Minutes per Episode
Cast: Ra Mi Ran, Lee Do Hyun, Ahn Eun Jin

The complicated relationship between a stubborn single mother and her cold prosecutor son forms the core of the story in THE GOOD BAD MOTHER (2023). A tragic accident suddenly causes the son to regain the mental capacity of a seven-year-old, forcing the mother to revisit her strict parenting style for the sake of her child's recovery.

This touching family melodrama is sure to leave viewers with swollen eyes due to its portrayal of childhood love dynamics, sincere village friendships, and deep regrets. The combination of battling illness, the sincerity of a soulmate who faithfully accompanies, and the warmth of village residents creates an atmosphere of both sadness and happiness that feels very familiar.

This drama is highly recommended as it successfully explores the true meaning of a mother's love, which is often misunderstood by her children. The emotional performances of the main cast stir the viewers' feelings, shifting from carefree laughter to poignant tears in just a matter of minutes. This weighty watch is perfect for those who enjoy close-knit family stories or those who love melodramas with a thrilling touch of justice mystery.

6. MY PERFECT STRANGER (2023)

on a green grass field/mydramalist.com

Genre: Mystery, Romance, Drama, Sci-Fi
Platform: Viu, Prime Video, Viki
Rating: 8.5/10 | Duration: 65 Minutes per Episode
Cast: Kim Dong Wook, Jin Ki Joo

An accidental time travel journey brings two strangers back to the year 1987 in the series MY PERFECT STRANGER (2023). There, the woman tries to prevent her parents' unhappy past marriage, while the man seeks to uncover the true identity of a serial killer threatening his future.

This fantasy mystery storyline is sure to make the audience weep due to its plot similarities that explore love stories, dreams, and the identities of their parents when they were young in a remote village. The emotional bond that develops as the child understands her mother's youthful suffering creates a magical moment that is deeply touching.

You must watch this drama because it successfully blends the tension of a detective story with the warmth of family melodrama in a balanced way. KLovers will be intrigued by the murder mystery while also being moved by the sincerity of the innocent and struggling teenage love of the past. This emotional science fiction drama is perfect for viewers who enjoy the time travel genre with a thick plot or mystery lovers wrapped in a touching family story.

7. LOVE NEXT DOOR (2024)

in the middle of the flower garden/mydramalist.com

Genre: Comedy, Romance, Youth, Drama
Platform: Netflix, TVING
Rating: 8.3/10 | Duration: 75 Minutes per Episode
Cast: Jung Hae In, Jung So Min

Inspired by the classic trope of turning from hate to love, LOVE NEXT DOOR (2024) tells the story of a woman trying to reorganize her chaotic life after returning to Korea and reuniting with her mother’s friend’s son, a successful young architect. Their relationship, filled with embarrassing childhood memories, slowly transforms into the most comfortable refuge as the storm of adulthood hits.

This romantic comedy wrapped in melodrama is guaranteed to make viewers cry because of its relatable story depicting character growth from childhood to adulthood with their loyal soulmate. The internal conflict regarding parental expectations and the search for identity experienced by the characters feels very similar to Ae Sun's emotional struggles.

KLovers must watch this drama because it presents an extraordinary adorable chemistry between the two main leads as well as very entertaining everyday dialogues. The conflicts presented are very relatable to today's youth, who often experience a quarter-life crisis (quarter-life crisis). This fresh viewing experience, full of tears of joy, is perfect for viewers who enjoy friends-to-lovers romance or those seeking motivation in the midst of career failures.

8. OUR MOVIE (2025)

listening to music together/mydramalist.com

Genre: Romance, Melodrama, Life, Drama
Platform: Disney+, Hulu
Rating: 8.4/10 | Duration: 60 Minutes per Episode
Cast: Namgoong Min, Jeon Yeo Been

A love story that grows in the shadow of limited time becomes the main focus of the emotional melodrama series OUR MOVIE (2025). The story centers around a perfectionist film director who is experiencing a career decline and a talented actress who has been diagnosed with a terminal illness with little time left to live.

Their professional relationship turns into an intense love story as they both decide to immortalize the final moments of life through a beautiful farewell film project. This tearful tale is guaranteed to make the audience sob as it has a deep emotional resemblance in appreciating every second spent with a life partner until the end of life. The tragic fate faced with a smile and resilience here has the same thread as the touching love story of Gwan Sik.

The main reason why this drama should not be missed is the emotional acting quality of the main cast who can convey pain and love without needing many words. KLovers will be invited to reflect on the meaning of life and how true love can provide extraordinary strength even in the darkest moments. This heart-wrenching melodrama is perfect for viewers who enjoy tearjerker romance stories or those who appreciate poetic film art narratives.

9. OUR UNWRITTEN SEOUL (2025)

above the city/mydramalist.com

Genre: Romance, Life, Drama, Youth
Platform: Netflix, TVING
Rating: 8.5/10 | Duration: 70 Minutes per Episode
Cast: Park Bo Young, Park Jin Young, Ryu Kyung Soo

Set against the glittering backdrop of a harsh metropolitan city, OUR UNWRITTEN SEOUL (2025) tells the story of two young people from the countryside who venture out to chase their big dreams in the competitive creative industry of the capital. Amid despair and loneliness, they accidentally reunite and become pillars of support for each other, writing their own success and love story on the cold pages of the city of Seoul.

This weighty watch is sure to make its loyal viewers cry with emotion due to its portrayal of the struggles of young people in finding their identity and true love from the ground up. The mutual trust and romantic struggles from adolescence to adulthood here reflect the sincerity of the relationship between Gwan Sik and Ae Sun.

KLovers must watch this romantic drama because of its highly aesthetic visualization and the accurate depiction of the harsh realities faced by urban dwellers. The sweet chemistry of the cast brings a unique warmth amidst the cold competition of the working world depicted. This modern melodrama is perfect for viewers who are venturing into big cities or young people who are working hard to achieve their dreams.

10. IN YOUR RADIANT SEASON (2026)

by the beach/mydramalist.com

Genre: Romance, Drama, Melodrama, Fantasy
Platform: Disney+, Hulu
Rating: 8.6/10 | Duration: 65 Minutes per Episode
Cast: Chae Jong Hyeop, Lee Sung Kyung

Amnesia due to a tragic accident separates a pair of lovers for years in the latest series IN YOUR RADIANT SEASON (2026). A mysterious fate then reunites them in a beautiful winter, where the man gradually begins to remember the childhood promises they once made together under the first snowfall.

This warm romantic fantasy story is guaranteed to make the audience cry with its plot's emphasis on the power of true love that cannot be erased by time or the loss of physical memory. The poetic melancholic vibes and emotional struggles to rediscover each other in this drama are very touching, comparable to the beauty of its predecessor dramas.

This drama is a must-watch as it presents unexpected plot twists in every episode, wrapped in stunning and romantic winter cinematography. The soulful performances from the main cast successfully transfer a deep sense of longing directly to the hearts of its loyal viewers. This magical and touching love story is perfect for viewers who enjoy the romantic fantasy melodrama genre or those who love tales of true love filled with the wonders of fate.

How about you, KLovers? Are you ready to prepare plenty of tissues for a marathon of these emotionally charged dramas? If you had to choose, would you prefer a warm countryside love story like in Jeju, or the struggles of modern love amidst the harshness of a big city?

11. FAQ

What is the main similarity of these dramas with When Life Gives You Tangerines?
They all highlight the emotional thread about the struggles of dreams, identity, and the sincerity of true love from youth.

Which drama presents the most similar childhood love story?
LOVE NEXT DOOR (2024) and IN YOUR RADIANT SEASON (2026) are very focused on deep relationships since childhood.

Where can KLovers watch the dramas Our Blues and Twenty Five Twenty One?
Both of these touching melodrama masterpieces can be officially watched through the streaming platform Netflix.

Do all the drama recommendations above have sad endings?
Not all, most present a mix of sad and happy elements that provide warmth and healing for the audience's soul.

Which drama title is most suitable for lovers of historical stories?
KLovers must watch PACHINKO (2022) which tells the extraordinary struggles of life and love across generations.

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