7 Male-Oriented K-Dramas With Relatable Lead and Real-Life Struggles

Viewers love South Korean dramas for their relatable characters and plots that tug at the heartstrings. Whether you need inspiration or distraction in your life, you can find it in K-dramaland.

The majority of shows are aimed at female audiences and focus on women and the struggles they have to overcome in order to develop as characters. But there are also a number of K-dramas that focus on male leads who feel human and relatable with their less-than-perfect lives and realistic challenges.

If you are looking for such dramas, here are seven highly recommended by fans.

If You Wish Upon Me (2022)

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

Where to stream: Hulu, Viki, Wavve

Yoon Gyeo-ree grew up in an orphanage and had a hard life. After being released from prison, he faces depression and people who want to make his life a living hell. He ends up doing community service at a hospice, where a group of volunteers fulfills the last wishes of dying patients. It turns out to be a healing experience for him.

Hot Stove League (2019)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Where to stream: Netflix, Viki, Kocowa

This slice-of-life sports drama revolves around a failing baseball team as its new general manager, players, and other members fight to save it from corporate liquidation. The main and supporting characters are male and all deal with realistic professional and personal issues.

Live (2018)

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Where to stream: Netflix, iQIYI

The drama follows the personal and professional lives of rookie and veteran police officers working in the same patrol division. The ensemble cast is made up of two male and two female characters, each of whom face a different set of challenges and struggles.

Prison Playbook (2017)

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Where to stream: Netflix, Prime Video, Disney+, iQIYI

Kim Je-hyuk, a famous baseball star, is sentenced to one year in prison after defending his sister from an assault. Inside the prison walls, he slowly gets to know his fellow inmates, the guards, and the problems they face.

The Good Bad Mother (2023)

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Where to stream: Netflix

Choi Kang-ho is a tough prosecutor who gets into a huge car accident and winds up with serious injuries and a childlike mental condition. Now he has to relearn basic skills and moves back home with his estranged mother, who wants to mend their relationship.

Misaeng: Incomplete Life (2014)

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Where to stream: Netflix, Disney+, Viki, Tubi

Jang Geu-rae has been obsessed with the game of baduk since childhood. But when he fails to become a professional player, the young man is forced to join the corporate race as a contract worker in hopes of a permanent position. His new colleagues make his life an uphill battle.

Navillera (2021)

IMDb Rating: 8.7/10

Where to stream: Netflix, TVING

This fan-favorite drama revolves around two male characters. Shim Deok-chul is a 70-year-old retired mailman who has always dreamed of being a ballet dancer. Lee Chae-rok is an aspiring ballerino who is forced to tutor Deok-chul. Both leads and a bunch of supporting characters have plenty of difficulties to work through.