5 K-Dramas That Deliver More Than Just Drinks

Anyone familiar with the K-drama landscape is well aware that soju, makgeolli, and beer often play more than background props; they are practically supporting characters. A shot of the preferred tipple can easily spark a conversation, loosen tongues to make a heartfelt confession, or spill long-held secrets. Alcohol even serves as a fall back crutch to drown one’s sorrows and, just as often, be the fuel to get the party started. Rare is a K-drama that doesn’t feature at least one drinking scene followed by a bowl of hangover soup.

Though these episodes are usually treated with a light-hearted and comedic touch, there has been growing scrutiny as new dramas focus on the underlining issues and effects of alcohol consumption. Beyond that, these shows also upend several gender dynamics. Here are five K-drama which delivered more than just drinks.

Han Geum Ju (Girl’s Generation’s Sooyoung) is a successful mechanical engineer at one of the top corporations. She is all set to be married, and it seems she has the gears of her life well in control except for one factor: her alcohol consumption. She chugs down alcohol like water and refuses to acknowledge that this dependency on spirits signals a far deeper problem. She calls off her wedding after discovering her fiancé had been cheating on her, and she has loses her job and returns to her hometown. Her only constant throughout these challenges is her bottle of soju or beer.

Upon returning to her hometown, she meets her high school friend, Seo Ui Jun (Gong Myoung). Ui Jun is a doctor who left a thriving practice in Seoul and returned back to Bochum. Once a drinker himself, Ui Jun now abhors alcohol and helps others to overcome their addiction.

Guem Ju and Ui Jun have been estranged for over a decade. Now thrown back together in Bochum, they are prickly in each other’s presence. Ui Jun repeatedly asks Guem Ju to give up drinking while she perceives him as being condescending. After all, wasn’t he the one who could drown pints and still walk straight?

“Second Shot at Love” has a unique premise. It tackles the theme of alcohol addiction sensitively through the lens of an independent and successful woman. Geum Ju is strong, astute, self-reliant, and talented. However, she tends to bottle her emotions in her efforts to appear invincible. Alcohol is her coping mechanism, as she does not like burdening others and insists on maintaining control. Reuniting with Ui Jun, she comes to understand that he also has his own demons to fight.

Sooyoung excels in her role and is well supported by Gong Myoung. The drama is not preachy; rather, it is refreshing in its treatment of addiction and emotional codependency, shedding light on the complex causes behind alcohol abuse.

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Chae Yong Ju (Kim Se Jeong) is a driven sales manager at a liquor company. She is so adept at her job that, under her influence, no deal can ever fall through, and no one can hoard her company’s stocks illegally.

However, she is faced with her biggest challenge yet: Yong Ju needs to convince Yun Min Ju (Lee Jong Won), a master brewery owner, to collaborate with her company. Yun Min Ju is a recluse who is also super sensitive to the energies of those around him. He is not one to commercialize and overtly promote his excellent beer and least of all enter into any partnerships with any company.

As Yong Ju tries her best to persuade Min Ju, the two discover a past connection. Both carry emotional baggage, but their coping mechanisms differ. While Young Ju is cheerful and laughs her way through life, her selflessness has an adverse effect on her well-being. Min Ju tends to withdraw into himself, which is his way of self-protection.

“Brewing Love” is frothy romantic drama, but it also sheds light on issues such as family, societal conditioning, and more. Kim Se Jeong’s comedic timing is on point, and her vivacity as a performer shines once again, while Lee Jong Won aces the part of the gentle yet headstrong Min Ju.

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It is the Joseon era. Prohibition laws are strict, but not for Kang Ro Seo (Hyeri). A struggling aristocrat living a life of penury, Ro Seo begins making alcohol to pay off her debts. Nam Young (Yoo Seung Ho), a morally upright inspector, is hot on the heels of bootleggers and illegal liquor manufacturers. A twist in the plot occurs when both Ro Seo and Nam Young start sharing living quarters. To add to the confusion, the two get entangled with the alcoholic Crown Prince Lee Pyo (Byeon Woo Seok). Lee Pyo loves his tipple, and Ro Seo is more than happy to serve him. After all, who says no to the crown prince?

Nam Young on the other hand is busy investigating both the crown prince and his supplier. However, a strange dynamic develops between the trio as Lee Pyo, Ro Seo, and Nam Young strike a friendship amidst the chaos. There is, of course, palace intrigue to add to the thrills, along with the burgeoning romance between Ro Seo and Nam Young.

“Moonshine” is fun fare with misadventures aplenty. Despite its feudal setting, the series highlights the resourcefulness of women and them being up to speed when it comes to being enterprising. The engaging performances by the three principal actors makes this one an easy, breezy watch.

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Kang Ji Goo (Apink’s Jung Eun Ji) is an origami YouTuber, Han Ji Yeon (Han Sun Hwa) is a yoga instructor, and Ahn So Hee (Lee Sun Bin) is a television writer. The three are friends who love to hang out together, which usually means to grab a drink and chat. It is their downtime together as they deal with professional and personal issues. The three lean on and support each other, and their conversations are unfiltered as they navigate through their stresses of work and life.

The chemistry among these three actors is excellent and hilarious. An underrated drama, the show offers plenty of “sismance” and is the perfect watch with your girl tribe.

Jin Jung Seok (Ha Seok Jin) is highly pretentious but is a hotshot lecturer at the Noryangjin Academy. Aloof to the point of being arrogant, he isolates himself from people and relationships of any sort. He loves treating himself to expensive drinks and tasty food in a classy ambience. Enter the newbie teacher, Park Ha Na (Park Ha Sun). She is sassy and a go-getter. An unlikely romance develops between the two, who are opposites in every way. As Jung Seok finally opens up to Ha Na, one learns that he is lonely rich boy with a dark past. All he needs is a bit of love and healing.

“Drinking Solo” looks at the many reasons why people choose to drink and turn to alcohol. Even though the show tends to drag at times, the characters and the story make it a wholesome watch.

Hey Soompiers, which of these dramas is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!

Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yoo Yeon Seok and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on @puja_talwar7 on Instagram.