Reply 1988 - These Top Korean Dramas Will Take You There Again!

If you’ve ever watched Reply 1988 with tears in your eyes and a soft smile on your face, welcome — you’re one of us. There’s something so beautifully raw and familiar about that show. It wasn’t just a drama. It was a feeling. A memory. A bittersweet look back at the small moments that shaped us.

And when it ended? It felt like saying goodbye to your neighborhood, your childhood friends, and a simpler time that maybe never was... but somehow still felt real.

So where do you go after Reply 1988? What K-dramas give you that same kind of ache-in-your-heart comfort? Here are 12 Korean dramas that, in their own ways, carry the spirit of nostalgia, community, and love that made Reply 1988 so unforgettable.

1. My Liberation Notes (Slice of Life, Drama, Healing)

Quiet, slow, and introspective — just like real life. It’s about three siblings stuck in the routine of their lives, craving something more. It hits different if you’ve ever felt like you were just surviving instead of living.

2. Twenty-Five Twenty-One (Coming-of-Age, Romance, Youth)

Set in the late ‘90s and early 2000s, this one is dripping in nostalgia. First love, heartbreak, dreams, disappointments — all wrapped in the golden glow of youth. It’ll wreck you in the best way.

3. Our Blues (Omnibus, Slice of Life, Jeju Island magic)

Each episode weaves a different story of love, pain, forgiveness, and connection. It feels like sitting down with old friends and hearing their stories. The raw honesty here is beautiful.

4. Prison Playbook (Drama, Comedy, Found Family)

From the same director as Reply 1988, this one somehow makes a prison feel like home. It’s a story of unlikely friendships, second chances, and quiet resilience. Warm, funny, and oddly healing.

5. When the Camellia Blooms (Romance, Small Town, Mystery)

A single mom moves to a sleepy village, and what follows is a sweet, layered story about love, gossip, motherhood, and community. Think of it as Reply 1988 meets a soft thriller.

6. Because This Is My First Life (Romance, Slice of Life, Adulting)

Two strangers marry out of convenience and end up discovering what it means to build a life — not just a relationship. It’s thoughtful, witty, and deeply emotional, especially for millennials navigating adulthood.

7. Go Back Couple (Time Travel, Second Chances, Family)

A married couple gets the chance to return to their college days and re-do everything. It’s not just about romance — it’s about understanding your parents, your choices, and yourself. Quietly devastating and beautiful.

8. Navillera (Healing, Dream-Chasing, Intergenerational Bond)

An elderly man decides to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a ballerino. He meets a young dancer and they both grow through their unlikely friendship. A gentle, profound drama about time, regret, and hope.

9. Hospital Playlist (Medical, Friendship, Life)

Another gem from the Reply team, this one follows five doctors who’ve been friends since college. It’s about life, death, music, and all the moments in between. You'll laugh, cry, and feel like you’re part of their circle.

10. Moment at Eighteen (Youth, School, Emotional Coming-of-Age)

This one captures the loneliness and vulnerability of being 18. It’s raw, delicate, and full of those little moments that stick with you long after. Definitely one for the quiet hearts.

11. Just Between Lovers (Melodrama, Healing, Post-Trauma)

Two people who share a tragic past find comfort in each other as they rebuild their lives. Slow-burn, heart-wrenching, and full of beautiful silences. It’s not loud, but it lingers.

12. 1987: When the Day Comes (Historical, Film Bonus)

Okay — not a drama, but this movie is worth mentioning. Set in the same era as Reply 1988, it covers a darker side of Korean history. Emotional, powerful, and grounded in real events.