Jaehwa Bernardo

Park Bo-young in 'Our Daily Dose of Sunshine.' Photo courtesy of Netflix

Article (news)

8 K-dramas that touch on mental health to add to your watchlist

ABS-CBN News Digital Intern

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1757571097046DailyDoseofSungshine__101_82111001_f1 (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Park Bo-young in &#x27;Our Daily Dose of Sunshine.&#x27;<em> Photo courtesy of Netflix</em></span></span></span></div><p>K-dramas are known for their swoon-worthy romances and <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/03/15/23/10-revenge-k-dramas-that-you-can-stream-online"><strong>gripping revenge</strong></a> plots. But beyond those themes, many series also turn their lens toward the unseen battles of the mind. By portraying mental health, these shows open up space for conversations that are often left unspoken and offer comfort to viewers who recognize pieces of their own struggles on screen.</p><p>Whether you’re feeling weighed down by life or simply seeking a story that resonates, these K-dramas tackling mental health deserve a spot on your watchlist.</p><div><strong>Our Unwritten Seoul (2025)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring: </strong>Park Bo-young, Park Jin-young, Ryu Kyung-soo</p><p><strong>Watch on: </strong>Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZoHfXn7fjv8?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Featuring Park Bo-young in a dual role, “Our Unwritten Seoul” follows the story of twin sisters who lead very different lives but decide to switch places. The series sheds light on a spectrum of mental health struggles, from exhaustion to the lingering effects of unresolved trauma, reminding viewers that mental illness manifests differently for everyone and sometimes the only way to truly understand is to step into another’s shoes.</p><div><strong>Doctor Slump (2024)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring:</strong> Park Shin-hye, Park Hyung-sik</p><p><strong>Watch on:</strong> Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z0nhaG7VOXg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>As its title suggests, “Doctor Slump” follows two burnt-out doctors — an anesthesiologist and a plastic surgeon caught in controversy — who reunite at low points of their lives. Beyond the romance between the leads, the series takes a serious look at depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) experienced by those in the medical field. It also reminds viewers how having a strong support system is essential to finding a way out of a slump.</p><div><strong>Daily Dose of Sunshine (2023) </strong></div><p><strong>Starring: </strong>Park Bo-Young, Yeon Woo-Jin, Jang Dong-Yoon</p><p><strong>Watch on: </strong>Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nG3JBFk3RI0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>“Daily Dose of Sunshine” follows Jung Da-eun (Park Bo-young), a compassionate nurse who begins working in a psychiatric ward. Each episode humanizes the experiences of people living with mental illness, challenging the idea that these conditions are personal flaws. At the same time, the drama shines a light on the unseen struggles of caregivers, reminding viewers that they, too, fight their own battles.</p><div><strong>Our Blues (2022)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring:</strong> Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-a, Cha Seung-won, Uhm Jung-hwa, Han Ji-min, Kim Woo-bin</p><p><strong>Watch on:</strong> Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/THe2nwWSL4g?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>“Our Blues” interweaves the lives of residents on Jeju Island, including Min Seon-ah (Shin Min-a), a woman living with depression. Across 20 episodes, the drama also confronts weighty issues such as child abuse, teenage pregnancy and suicide, all through the lens of a close-knit community. At its heart, the series is a reminder that no one has to face the harsh waves of life alone.</p><div><strong>My Liberation Notes (2022)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring: </strong>Kim Ji-won, Lee Min-ki, Lee El, Son Suk-ku</p><p><strong>Watch on: </strong>Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/plko1oaTzRc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>“My Liberation Notes” follows siblings played by Kim Ji-won, Lee Min-ki, and Lee El, along with their reserved neighbor, portrayed by Son Suk-ku, as they strive to break free from the monotony of everyday life. This slow-paced series thoughtfully captures relatable feelings of emptiness and quiet despair.</p><div><strong>It’s Okay To Not Be Okay (2020)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring: </strong>Seo Yea-ji, Kim Soo-hyun, Oh Jung-se</p><p><strong>Watch on:</strong> Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/89i-Fn2CqQg?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>A romance drama with whimsical, fairy-tale-like elements, “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay” centers on a children’s book author with an antisocial personality disorder and a caregiver who looks after his older brother who has autism. Burdened by their childhood traumas, the three support one another as they embark on journeys of healing. The show’s universal messages have resonated so widely that it even <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/7/21/ph-s-it-s-okay-to-not-be-okay-pilot-highlights-family-duty-trauma-mental-health-0758"><strong>inspired a local adaptation</strong></a>.</p><div><strong>My Mister (2018)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring: </strong>IU, Lee Sun-kyun</p><p><strong>Watch on: </strong>Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5_xO4xNw7DM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>In “My Mister,” popular singer IU portrays Lee Ji-an, a young woman weighed down by debt, who forms a bond with Park Dong-hoon (the late Lee Sun-kyun), an engineer carrying his own wounds. The series touches on depression stemming from societal and familial pressures, showing how even small gestures of kindness can bring comfort to a weary soul.</p><div><strong>It’s Okay, That’s Love (2014)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring: </strong>Kong Hyo-jin, Zo In-sung, Sung Dong-il, Lee Kwang-soo, Doh Kyung-soo</p><p><strong>Watch On: </strong>iQIYI, Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DeovTrB9t28?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>The romantic comedy “It’s Okay, That’s Love” follows a famous writer with obsessive-compulsive disorder (In-sung), who initially clashes with a psychiatrist (Hyo-jin). Their playful bickering gradually blossoms into romance, as the series offers insight into various psychological conditions. It also challenges negative perceptions of therapy, highlighting that seeking professional help is a sign of strength, not weakness.</p><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/P0ANHrORF5w?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><strong></strong><br/></div>

<p>Whether you're feeling weighed down by life or simply seeking a story that resonates, these K-dramas tackling mental health deserve a spot on your watchlist.</p>

Whether you're feeling weighed down by life or simply seeking a story that resonates, these K-dramas tackling mental health deserve a spot on your watchlist.

8 K-dramas that touch on mental health to add to your watchlist

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8 K-dramas that touch on mental health to add to your watchlist

ABS-CBN News Digital Intern,

Jen Esquivel

Published Sep 14, 2025 07:00 AM PHT

Read More:

K-content

K-drama

K-drama recommendations

K-drama listicle

Our Unwritten Seoul

Doctor Slump

Daily Dose of Sunshine

Our Blues

My Liberation Notes

It's Okay To Not Be Okay

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