K-Drama’s Most Iconic Dads

By Jae-Ha Kim
Kocowa.com
June 21, 2020

Sunday is Father’s Day. And of course KOCOWA has curated a list of dad-centric K-Dramas for viewers, which you can see right here.

Let’s take a little time to discuss three of our favorites.

“Go Back Couple”

Based on the webtoon “Do It One More Time” (“한번 더 해요), “Go Back Couple” combines a faltering relationship with a time travel element, where the bickering (and newly divorced) pair are sent back in time to their idealistic days as college students. The series shows how a lack of communication can lead to devastating consequences that can splinter your family. Son Ho-Jun (“My Secret Terrius,” “Mrs. Cop“) plays Ban-do, an overworked salaryman who doesn’t tell his wife what he goes through on a daily basis, having to clean up after his immoral clients’ messes. When he comes home, he has little sympathy for his exhausted wife, who has spent the day cooking, cleaning and taking care of their adorable baby. (His wife, Jin-Joo, is beautifully played by the versatile Jang Na-Ra.)

She gave up her career goals to be a stay-at-home mom and while she loves their child, she also feels resentful about what her life has become. When they each wake up in their childhood bedrooms, decades younger than their 30s, he revels in being an unhindered college student who can pursue the crush he had in school way back when. But as he interacts with his ex-wife on campus, he comes to re-discover why he fell in love with her in the first place. Watching him come to terms with what life without Jin-Joo and their baby would be, he does everything possible to get back to the future. A talented actor who’s witty and funny, Son also shared some poignant moments with Kim Mi-Kyung (Ajumma from “Healer“), who portrayed his mother in law. For this and many other reasons, “Go Back Couple” is my pick for my favorite father-centric series.

“Liver or Die“:

Some people argue that K-Dramas are simply too melodramatic, because plots like the one in “Liver or Die” can’t possibly happen, right? But having selfish relatives who take advantage of a sibling’s good nature is universal and not specifically Korean. Yoo Jun-Sang portrays good-hearted Poong-Sang. After his parents abandon their family, he becomes the defacto father of the bunch. Not that they’re grateful. Most take his generosity for granted and expect him to always be there to bail them out financially and emotionally. Because he’s so busy taking care of his younger siblings — including a much younger half brother — he doesn’t spend as much time with his own wife and their daughter. Now in his late 40s, he reflects on whether his life has been a waste. While some might say it was, and that it was irresponsible of him to coddle his siblings, his actions came from good intentions. As the title implies, there will come a point when he needs a liver transplant. Will his siblings come to his rescue? Or will they leave him to die? Because the characters have issues of their own to deal with, the answer isn’t clear until the end.

“Brilliant Heritage“:

In Korean, there’s a word called 답답해, which translates into a feeling of stifling frustration. There are many such moments in “Brilliant Heritage,” which weaves together a complicated story of an extended family’s  greed, deception and, yes, humor. Young-Bae (played by Park In-Hwan) is a successful restaurateur. When he suffers from a major health issue, he expects his children to be concerned about his well being. The family patriarch is shocked that they are already anticipating his death and squabbling over who will get what after he dies. In an over-the-top reflex to get back at his ungrateful children, he marries a much younger woman. His kids view her as a gold digger, but Young-Bae respects her hard work and forthright attitude. The finale deals with what defines a family, beyond biological ties.

All three of the K-Dramas that we’ve highlighted here deal with fathers and the complicated relationships they have with their families. Some manage better than others, but their love for their families is undeniable.

Be sure to check out more of KOCOWA‘s Father-Day recommendations here.

And finally, to all the dads out there who love K-Dramas — and even those who don’t! — we wish you the happiest of days. Happy Father’s Day!