7 Seaside Town K-Dramas With Close-Knit Communities

Let's face it, we all dream from time to time of leaving our old lives behind and fleeing to some cozy little town where we can start over and find a real connection with other people.

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Unfortunately, these wholesome, tight-knit communities and picturesque places exist mostly in fictional universes. And with time, you realize that happiness does not depend on the view that surrounds your home.

Still, you can immerse yourself in the therapeutic environment by watching shows set in quaint towns and friendly neighborhoods. Here are seven K-dramas that are sure to do the trick.

Once Upon a Small Town (2022)

IMDb Rating: 7.0/10

Where to stream: Netflix

When Han Ji-yul moves to a quaint village to take over his grandfather's veterinary practice, he doesn't expect the transition to be so difficult. Fortunately, he soon makes new friends, a local policeman and a cafe owner, who are willing to help him integrate into local society.

Modern Farmer (2014)

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

Where to stream: Prime Video, Viki, kocowa+

Excellent Souls used to be a successful rock band, but since they haven't released any new hits lately, they've been forgotten by the general public. In order to make a big comeback, the band members decide to move to a country farm that one of them has inherited and work the land to earn the money they need to record a new album. But this turns out to be no easy task.

Like Flowers in Sand (2023)

IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

Where to stream: Netflix

Set in a tight-knit seaside community, this story of the struggle to save a small-town ssireum (Korean wrestling) team is extremely character-driven. The main characters are a wrestling prodigy and a management team leader who happen to be each other's first loves and reunite to work together for the good of the town.

When the Camellia Blooms (2019)

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

Where to stream: Netflix

A single mother moves to a charming fictional town and opens a bar. Years later, she is settled and ready to call this place home and even open her heart to love, but a mysterious serial killer chooses her as his next victim.

Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023)

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Where to stream: Netflix, Plex

A successful fashion photographer returns to her hometown on Jeju Island after her life falls apart. There, she reconnects with a childhood friend who has become a weather forecaster and known troublemaker, and the two fall in love.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Where to stream: Netflix

This show has everything you could want in a small town atmosphere. The protagonist is a big-city dentist who escapes her old life to an idyllic seaside village, where she opens a practice and meets a man with a heart of gold.

Our Blues (2022)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

Where to stream: Netflix

When it comes to tight-knit communities, Our Blues is probably the best example of it out there. The drama follows the slice-of-life stories of various residents of the isolated island of Jeju. From romantic and sweet to heartbreaking and hard to swallow, they have a unique therapeutic effect on the viewer.