6. “SKY Castle”
- Aired: 2018-2019
- Episodes: 20
- Director: Jo Hyun Taek
- Screenwriter: Yoo Hyun Mi
“SKY Castle” focuses on the life story of four families who are willing to do anything to make sure their children go to a top university. The Kdrama emphasizes the children who are dealing with the pressures of having to do well academically for the sake of their family’s prestige.
It is heartbreaking to see how those children study hard to meet their parents’ demands. As a result, they suffer breakdowns and become depressed. “SKY Castle” becomes such an eye-opener about the issue that needs to be discussed seriously in society.
7. “Clean with Passion for Now”
- Aired: 2018-2019
- Episodes: 16
- Director: Noh Jong Chan
- Screenwriter: Han Hee Jung
“Clean with Passion for Now” is a rom-com with mental health issues. Jung Sun Gyeol (Yoon Kyun Sang) has severe OCD caused by his childhood traumatic experience. Additionally, Sun Gyeol has been a complete germaphobe, preventing him from having such a normal relationship and life. Fortunately, his life changes when he meets Gil Oh Sol (Kim Yoo Jung), an employee in his cleaning service company.
Despite its serious topic of OCD issues, “Clean with Passion for Now” is an adorable romance that will make you smile and laugh.
8. “It’s Okay To Not Be Okay”
- Aired: 2020
- Episodes: 16
- Director: Park Shin Woo, Jung Dong Yoon
- Screenwriter: Jo Yong
Moon Kang Tae (Kim Soo Hyun) is a caregiver in a psychiatric hospital, where he meets a woman named Moon Ga Young (Seo Ye Ji). She writes dark children’s books and suffers from an antisocial personality disorder. After meeting Kang Tae, Ga Young is determined to win his heart. However, Kang Tae doesn’t want to be in a relationship because he has to take care of his autistic older brother, Moon Sang Tae (Oh Jung Se).
“It’s Okay To Not Be Okay” is one of the Kdramas that tackles mental health issues. The characters deal with different trauma that affects their adult lives. However, they can finally overcome their problems by leaning on each other.
9. “Beautiful Love Wonderful Life”
- Aired: 2019-2020
- Episodes: 100
- Director: Han Joon Seo
- Screenwriter: Bae Yoo Mi
“Beautiful Love Wonderful Life” follows three families intertwined with each other. The families have their issues that are developed throughout the Kdrama series. The story covers marriages, divorces, and deception.
One of the characters, Kim Chung Ah (Seol In Ah), has been through tough times, but her whole family seems ignorant of it. She has been bullied at school, which makes her depressed and makes her plan to commit suicide. Fortunately, she second-guesses her plan and decides to continue her life.
It is relieving to see how Chung Ah eventually finds hope within herself. Finally, despite all the hardships she has gone through, she can live her life and find love.
10. “Tomorrow”
- Aired: 2022
- Episodes: 16
- Director: Kim Tae Yoon, Sung Chi Wook
- Screenwriter: Park Ran, Park Ja Kyung, Kim Yu Jin
One of the most recent Kdramas discussing a mental health issue is “Tomorrow.” Choi Jun Woong (Rowoon) tries to save a homeless man from jumping into the Han River. Unfortunately, it makes him in a coma, and he has to take the job as a Grim Reaper.
Jun Woong joins the Management Risk Team with Koo Ryeon (Kim Hee Sun) and Lim Ryung Gu (Yun Ji On). They are responsible for ensuring people live their lives until their destined last day and stop them from committing suicide. We can see several mental health issues during the story, from a traumatic experience to feeling useless or guilty.
“Tomorrow” teaches us to respect and live the life we have. No matter the hardships, there must be ways to overcome them. It is one best Kdrama that contains both triggering contents as well as healing power.
“As long as you live, you can fix it.”
Choi Jun Woong, “Tomorrow”
11. “The Sound of Magic”
- Aired: 2022
- Episodes: 6
- Director: Kim Seong Yoon
- Screenwriter: Kim Min Jung
“The Sound of Magic” is a Korean musical drama with an intriguing story. The main characters have to struggle with their own mental health issues. Ri Eul (Ji Chang Wook) is a mysterious magician who has a traumatic childhood.
Meanwhile, Yoon Ah Yi (Choi Sung Eun) is a teenage girl who has to live with her sister and juggle between school and part-time jobs, making her depressed. Na Il Deung (Hwang In Youp) also suffers from an anxiety disorder because his parents forced him to study hard and become a prestigious lawyer.
It is very relieving to see how the three characters struggle to find the right path in their lives. “The Sound of Magic” opens our eyes to the reality of how social standards become such a burden for teenagers. This is one Kdrama that has the magical healing power as soon as you finish binge-watching all episodes.
Which of the above Kdramas that deal with mental health issues is your most favorite, and why? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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