7 Enjoyable College and Coming of Age K-Dramas

Coming-of-age stories never get old. All generations of viewers find themselves glued to their screens as they watch teenagers and young adults find their place in the world and form those adorable first crushes and true bonds.

If you're in the mood to get lost in the corridors of a fictional college and navigate through its students' first struggles and love adventures, here are seven recommendations that are just perfect for it.

Dear. M (2022)

IMDb Rating: 7.2/10

When an anonymous confession pops up on a student forum and sends the entire university into a frenzy, four students from different departments come together to uncover the identity of the post's elusive author. The result is a suspenseful, political, and thrilling story that will be a refreshing take on college drama.

Gangnam Beauty (2018)

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

The protagonist of this K-drama has been bullied all her life because of her 'ugly' appearance. But when she plucks up the courage to have plastic surgery before going to university, life doesn't get much easier. Looks like the problem was not her looks after all. The show is entertaining and surprisingly profound, proving that inner beauty trumps outer beauty.

At a Distance, Spring Is Green (2021)

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

The drama tells the story of the unlikely friendship between a wealthy college freshman with a lot of pain buried inside, a straight-A student struggling to support his family, and a mediocre teenager trying to stand out. The found family dynamic with an adorable bromance between the two leads leaves no viewer indifferent.

Growing Season (2020)

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

A realistic show about a trio of college girls navigating the complicated landscape of young love, the drama has one of the best portrayals of female friendships in K-dramaland and isn't afraid to tackle issues related to sex that aren't usually talked about in the genre.

Hello, My Twenties! (2016-2017)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

This two-part heartfelt slice-of-life drama about five 20-something girls from different, sometimes tragic, backgrounds living together under one roof gives a realistic and refreshing look at the issues and pains facing the younger generation in South Korea and beyond.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo (2016)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

The comforting and sweet story of an ambitious young weightlifter and her friends who all study at an athletics college. The students fight for their dreams and strive for success while juggling friendship and love. Along the way, the show is filled with adorable, funny moments that will keep you laughing throughout.

Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

This fantastic coming-of-age story about the powerful emotions of first true love, finding support and understanding, pursuing your dreams and standing up for yourself follows a young fencing prodigy in the 1990s.