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[Ishani's Picks] Top 10 Philosophical K-Dramas That Will Make You Rethink Your Life

The K-Drama industry never sleeps. With new dramas announced, confirmed, and airing every other day, there's always something for everyone's taste. If you're looking for a K-Drama that will make you re-evaluate your life and help you build a more enlightened future, here are 10 that you will enjoy more than anything else!

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"I Have Not Done My Best"

Starring Park Hae-joon, Kim Do-wan, Kim Kap-soo and more, "I Have Not Done My Best" tells the story of a regular office worker Nam Geum-pil, who suddenly quits his job out of frustration and aspires to become a webtoonist. Tired of giving up on his dreams, he decides to do his best for once in his life, solely because he does not want to disappoint himself. This is a drama unlike anything you've ever seen before and most definitely, a must-watch.

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"My Mister"

Internationally acclaimed K-Drama "My Mister" is one that everyone should watch, at least twice. That is precisely because every time you rewatch it, it becomes imbued with new meaning, especially as time goes by. Starring Lee Sun-kyun and Lee Ji-eun, "My Mister" captures the essence of the human condition like no other and you'll find yourself revisiting it time and time again.

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"The Sound of Magic"

"The Sound of Magic", starring Ji Chang-wook, Choi Sung-eun and Hwang In-youp, comes to each of its viewers in a different way. To some, it is simply a fantasy that can be enjoyed by suspension of disbelief. To others, it is a deeply poignant study on healing the inner child. Either way, it is an immensely entertaining K-Drama that you do not want to miss.

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"When the Devil Calls Your Name"

Based loosely on Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's "Faust", "When the Devil Calls Your Name" tells the story of Harib, a struggling artist who makes a deal with the Devil to gain unparalleled success. When the Devil comes to collect his soul as their contract nears expiration, Harib realizes that his glory came at a catastrophic price. Starring Jung Kyung-ho and Park Sung-woong, this drama is as existential as it gets and you're going to love every second of it.

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"Move to Heaven"

One of the darker dramas on this list yet extraordinarily touching, "Move to Heaven" is driven by novelty, pathos and strangely inspiring optimism. Starring Lee Je-hoon and Tang Jun-sang, the drama revolves around Geu-roo, a young boy with Asperger's syndrome who learns to navigate the world on his own for the first time after his father's untimely passing, accompanied by his estranged uncle Sang-goo. "Move to Heaven" is not your average family drama but it will sure bring you closer to the ones you love.

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"My Liberation Notes"

JTBC's recently concluded hit "My Liberation Notes", starring Kim Ji-won, Son Sukku, Lee Min-ki and Lee El, tells the story of three siblings stuck in an endless Sisyphean cycle of monotony and their path to liberation when a mysterious stranger moves into their neighbourhood. If you enjoy slow burn K-Dramas laced with realism, "My Liberation Notes" is exactly what you're looking for.

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"Be Melodramatic"

Feminist slice-of-life at its finest, "Be Melodramatic" ranges from romance and tragedy, all the way to comedy and you'll find yourself drawn to the colourful variety in no time. "Be Melodramatic" validates the remotest of human emotions, allowing viewers to reach catharsis with the characters. Starring Chun Woo-hee, Jeon Yeo-been and Han Ji-eun, "Be Melodramatic" is as good as it gets.

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"Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha"

One of the most emotionally fulfilling K-Dramas of 2021, "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" starring Kim Seon-ho and Shin Min-a made our hearts flutter effortlessly. With complex characters posited wonderfully on a layered storyline, it almost felt as if the viewers were a part of the "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha" world. Now, that's how you know a K-Drama achieved what it set out to achieve.

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"Navillera"

Sim Deok-cheol (played by Park In-hwan), a seventy-year-old man, who lived his life for others while dreaming of ballet, decides to give it a shot when he comes across a talented young ballet prodigy Lee Chae-rok (played by Song Kang). Inspired by his flight, Deok-cheol finds his own wings and helps Chae-rok overcome a slump in the process. "Navillera" is short, sweet and succinct but it leaves a deep impression, making one rethink their own life.

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"It's Okay to Not Be Okay"

One of the rare K-Dramas that tackle mental health head-on, "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" does not shy away from an honest portrayal of trauma and mental illness and it does so in the most respectful way possible. Starring Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Yea-ji and Oh Jung-se, the drama follows two brothers and a young woman who escape their terribly entangled fates and pursue happiness on their own terms. The overarching dark fairy-tale theme does an incredible job of addressing the intricacies of the philosophy it propagates, which is also what makes the story unique. Without a doubt, "It's Okay to Not Be Okay" deserves to be on your watchlist.

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By Ishani Sarkar.

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