K-dramas have a unique gift for telling stories that tug at our heartstrings, especially around the theme of "found family." These dramas remind us that family doesn’t always mean being related by blood—it can also be about the bonds we build through shared challenges, laughter, and love. In each story, characters from different walks of life come together, sometimes by chance, sometimes by choice, and create connections that fill the gaps left by traditional family ties. Whether it’s strangers supporting one another, friends who become inseparable, or coworkers blurring the lines between work and home, these stories prove that family is defined by who shows up for you.

Some of the most memorable K-dramas showcase characters who live under the same roof, face challenges together, and form bonds deeper than blood. From teams of misfits to close-knit friends and colleagues, here are some beloved K-dramas that celebrate families by choice, offering stories of companionship, resilience, and unconditional love.

"Prison Playbook" (2017)
Kim Je Hyuk (Park Hae Soo), a baseball star, unexpectedly finds himself behind bars and must adapt to life with an eclectic group of inmates. Through shared struggles, these inmates form a surrogate family, providing each other with support and loyalty amid the harshness of prison life, proving that family can blossom in even the most challenging environments.

"Be Melodramatic" (2019)
This drama follows best friends Im Jin Joo (Chun Woo Hee), Lee Eun Jung (Jeon Yeo Been), and Hwang Han Joo (Han Ji Eun), who face personal and career struggles together. Living as housemates, they support one another like true sisters, sharing the burdens of loss, heartbreak, career issues, and single motherhood, proving that friends can become the family you rely on most.

"Hospital Playlist" (2020)
This installment of the Wise Life series follows five doctors—Lee Ik Jun (Jo Jung Suk), Ahn Jung Won (Yoo Yeon Seok), Kim Jun Wan (Jung Kyung Ho), Yang Seok Hyeong (Kim Dae Myung), and Chae Song Hwa (Jeon Mi Do)—who share an inseparable bond dating back to medical school. Working together through life’s joys and hardships, they create a deep familial connection as each other's unwavering support system.

"Welcome to Waikiki" (2018)
Friends Kang Dong Gu (Kim Jung Hyun), Lee Joon Ki (Lee Yi Kyung), and Bong Doo Sik (Son Seung Won) run a struggling guesthouse. When single mother Han Yoon Ah (Jung In Sun) and her baby enter their lives, they take on various roles to support each other, creating a found family built on acceptance, care, and plenty of laughter.

"Move to Heaven" (2021)
This series follows Han Geu Ru (Tang Joon Sang), a young man with Asperger's, and his estranged ex-convict uncle Cho Sang Gu (Lee Je Hoon) as they run a trauma-cleaning business. Through their work, they confront and heal their family traumas, growing close and transforming into a family that transcends blood ties through love, patience, and acceptance.

"Itaewon Class" (2020)
Park Sae Ro Yi (Park Seo Joon) builds a diverse team at his Itaewon bar-restaurant DanBam, creating a found family from colleagues with various backgrounds and goals. United by shared dreams and resilience, they show how mutual respect and a common purpose can turn strangers into family.

"It’s Okay to Not Be Okay" (2020)
Moon Gang Tae (Kim Soo Hyun), his autistic brother Moon Sang Tae (Oh Jung Se), and the enigmatic Ko Moon Young (Seo Ye Ji) live together, helping each other heal from past traumas. They form a family based on understanding and compassion, proving that family is who truly cares for you.

"Dear My Friends" (2016)
Park Wan (Go Doo-shim) and her lifelong friends support each other through life’s many ups and downs. Their bond is a beautiful testament to friendships that endure, showing that family isn’t just about shared bloodlines but about unwavering companionship and love.

"It’s Okay, That’s Love" (2014)
Jang Jae-yeol (Jo In-sung), a novelist with OCD, and Ji Hae-soo (Gong Hyo-jin), a psychiatrist, along with their housemates, form a support network resembling a family. Their story portrays how empathy and friendship can create a home in each other.

"Hello, My Twenties!" (2016)
Five college students—Yoon Jin-myung (Han Ye-ri), Jung Ye-eun (Han Seung-yeon), Song Ji-won (Park Eun-bin), Kang Yi-na (Ryu Hwa-young), and Yoo Eun-jae (Park Hye-su)—share an apartment and the trials of young adulthood. Though initially strangers, they grow to support each other like family, proving that the strongest bonds are often those we choose.