Ushahin writes:

So, I’ve been looking through all the kdramas that have really helped me feel a bit better since the start of the lockdown. I found I am really craving stories that are set somewhere other than a large metropolis like the one I’m currently stuck in.

So, something relaxing and contemporary as opposed to historical and action/suspense oriented. The last one I really loved was Racket Boys; for both characters and settings.

Before that I watched When the Weather is Fine and found it soothing mostly based on the atmosphere. I’m having a hard time finding more though. Your recommendations have never once let me down. Can you help?

All the Love.

Hmm.. I’m sure we’ll be able to think of something.

Dear Ushahin,

I can imagine that if you’ve spent a lot of time in lockdown in a big city, you’d have a hankering for a drama escape to somewhere significantly different!

I did my best to think of shows that aren’t set in the big city, and am sharing them in this post. Fair warning that I didn’t love all of these shows equally, but I hope that this list does give you some potential titles to add to your watch list.

I certainly haven’t seen all the dramas out there, so as always, everyone, feel free to share more titles in the comments!

PS: The extra screenshots I’m sharing in this post, are from Taiwanese drama A Thousand Goodnights.

A SAMPLING OF SHOWS NOT SET IN THE BIG CITY

A Thousand Goodnights [Taiwan]

The thing about this show, is that it’s essentially a love letter to Taiwan. The scenic shots of rural Taiwan are award-worthy, they are truly breathtaking and magnificent.

However, the writing around our characters tends to be a little awkward and stilted, because the writers were clearly working to get our characters into position for some kind of cultural nugget showcase.

Thinking of this as a long, unhurried travelogue experience for Taiwan helps to mitigate this. If you’re only interested in the scenic shots of rural Taiwan, you could consider watching just the first 6 episodes. Those are worthwhile on their own, too.

Flash Review is here.

After The Rain [Drama Special]

An enjoyable little drama special set in a rural small town. Instead of beautiful scenery, you get something more basic and rustic, but still with that small town charm. I found this one earthy, heartfelt and very enjoyable.

Flash Review is here.

Check Out The Event [Drama Special]

90% of this story is set on beautiful Jeju Island, so that’s a plus point. I actually liked this one quite well, but the ending didn’t sit right with me. I’d say that if you liked the ending of Something in the Rain, this one would likely work for you, and vice versa.

Flash Review is here.

Fermentation Family [Kimchi Family]

It’s been years since I saw this one, but I still remember the stunning rural backdrop, and the breathtakingly beautiful food and different types of kimchi that were featured with each episode.

I remember the story as a rather gentle melodrama. I feel like this one’s worth searching for.

Review is here.

Haeundae Lovers

I honestly didn’t enjoy this show all that much, but it is set in the Haeundae area, which is Busan’s most well-known beach.

If you think Kim Kang Woo is handsome, you don’t mind some jerky writing, and you’re hankering after some beach vibes, this might possibly work for you. 😅

Review is here.

Hometown Cha Cha Cha

I’m watching this one right now (shameless plug: I’m covering it on Patreon, if you’d like to join me. I’m just 5 episodes in, and liking it a lot! 🥰).

There’s lots of Pretty to be had, from the seaside village setting and our leads, and there’s also a lot of that small town vibe that you find in Racket Boys.

Update: Review is here!

Life Is Beautiful

Of all the shows on this list, this is the one that I most hope you’ll look for.

It’s set on beautiful Jeju Island, and is such a lovely, warm, cozy blanket of a family drama, that even at 63 episodes, I never wanted it to end.

Review is here.

Little Forest [Movie]

A lovely little movie where Kim Tae Ri’s character moves from the big city back to the small village where she grew up, and finds healing and comfort through farming, food and friends.

Earthy, wholesome and very enjoyable.

Flash Review is here.

Off The Course [Drama Special]

Our story starts in the city, but once the road trip gets going, our characters spend time on the mountains, and also, at the beach, like in this screenshot.

I really liked this one for being funny on the surface, but poignant and uplifting at its heart.

Flash Review is here.

Ojakgyo Brothers

To be fair, I don’t actually remember the setting of this show, but I assume that it’s not in the big city, because the main family of this story owns a duck farm. I don’t think you can do that in the city? 😅

This is my second most favorite family drama of all time, after Life Is Beautiful. Heartwarming and wholesome, and great drama comfort food.

Review is here.

One Fine Day

Ok, full disclosure, I hated this show with a passion, and would never recommend it to anyone. I just.. wanted an excuse to mention Gong Yoo, who looks admittedly great as a beach boy type, and this show is set in some sort of beach locale, if memory serves.

If you’re a total Gong Yoo fangirl or -boy and have lots of fan loyalty to spare, there’s no harm checking this one out (I watched it twice, despite hating it. That was the absolute – never to be repeated – height of my fangirl dedication, truly. 😅).

If you don’t have lots of fan loyalty to spare, then it’s best to steer clear of this one. 😂

One Sunny Day [Mini Series]

A very enjoyable little jaunt to Jeju Island, where serendipity brings our leads, So Ji Sub and Kim Ji Won, together. I found this easy-breezy and charming; a great little drama snack.

Flash Review is here.

Padam Padam

I remember loving this show when I watched it back when it aired, in 2012. I don’t remember the locale exactly, but I have vague memories of the countryside being a backdrop. Fair warning that this is a fantasy story, so it’s not your typical earthy countryside story.

I did think that Jung Woo Sung, Han Ji Min and Kim Bum were all excellent in this, though.

Review is here.

Racket Boys

I feel like this little show deserves more love than it gets. The writing admittedly feels rather scattered, but this one is so full of heart, and the small village sort of charm is so present, that it feels worthwhile.

Plus, Show got me to feel completely invested in competitive badminton at the middle school level, which is an impressive achievement all on its own.

Lots of fresh faces, and it’s great that our middle-schoolers are actually played by young, age-appropriate actors.

Review is here.

Thank You

Our story takes place on a rural island, far away from the big city, and is a gentle healing sort of melodrama, featuring Gong Hyo Jin as a single mom, Seo Shin Ae as her young HIV-positive daughter, and Jang Hyuk as the arrogant-on-the-surface hotshot doctor from the city who comes into their lives.

The Package

Full disclosure; lots of people love this one, but I didn’t. But since lots of people do love it, I’m including it here. Plus, France is very prettily shot in this little show, which runs kinda-sorta like a travelogue to France.

Warm and Cozy

I personally bailed in episode 1 of this (I dunno, I just couldn’t get into it), but because Show does have its fans, I thought I’d include it on this list.

It’s set on beautiful Jeju Island, and is meant to be a warm and mild healing sort of romance.

When The Weather Is Fine

I personally felt that Show could have done some things differently, but this was still a reasonably pleasant watch overall, especially if you’re hungry for the remote, quiet, small town sort of vibe.

Review is here.

IN CLOSING

I really hope that you find some shows to add to your watch list, from this post.

Like I said earlier, if you guys have any other titles, thoughts or insights to add, please share them in the comments!

Thanks, you guys.

Smooches. ❤️

~kfangurl

I hope you enjoy!

POST-SCRIPT:

1. If you feel that I missed anything, or if you have your own insights that you’d like to share with the rest of us, do tell us about it in the comments!

2. Do you have a question of your own? Drop me a comment here or on the Dear kfangurl page, or send me an email!