The vast majority of K-dramas focus on the hustle and bustle of big cities, but some of the best stories are set in smaller locales. Whether it’s a gripping mystery or an unforgettable K-drama romance, series that take place in small towns, tight-knit villages, and idyllic islands provide a sense of intimacy that lends itself to a cozy, comforting watch.
Unsurprisingly, one of the biggest K-drama tropes involves a cosmopolitan character — sometimes called a Seoulite for their urban habits — being suddenly thrust into a rural setting. Once they get past the initial animosity and culture shock, it becomes clear that small-town stories offer something invaluable that cityscapes struggle to capture: community (and, notably, the heartwarming process of fostering it).
My Liberation Notes
2022
My Liberation Notes moves like molasses, which makes it an immensely divisive slice-of-life K-drama. While some viewers think the slow-burn format is simply too slow, others praise how grounded the characters are. Each member of the main cast has their own quirks, but they come together to form a delightfully mundane crew of siblings and one mysterious outsider.
When the main characters aren’t making an exhausting commute to Seoul for work, they’re learning to appreciate life in their hometown — and all the seemingly boring perks that come with it once time offers a little perspective.
The Potato Lab
2025
There are countless K-dramas about workplace romances, but a niche subgroup has emerged in recent years: female protagonists with culinary skills falling for their boss. From Bon Appétit, Your Majesty’s historical fantasy to Business Proposal’s tongue-in-cheek melodrama, each title occupies its own niche. For 2025’s The Potato Lab, its major selling point is its countryside setting.
The male lead is clearly out of his depth, treading gravel roads in three-piece suits and a semi-permanent scowl. The female lead, in stark contrast, is a perpetually informal researcher with a surprising degree of devotion to potatoes. Though the premise sounds somewhat pedestrian, The Potato Lab has hidden depth that unravels throughout its feel-good romance.
Behind Your Touch
2023
Behind Your Touch takes captivating sci-fi K-drama elements and blends them with a gripping small-town mystery. Bong Ye-bun (Han Ji-min) was born with the power of psychometry — the ability to read objects and living things through the power of touch— and, up until the start of the series, has used her supernatural powers to treat local livestock.
When detective Moon Jang-yeol (Lee Min-ki) is transferred from Seoul to Ye-bun’s hometown of Mujin, he begrudgingly takes on a developing serial killer investigation. After a series of misunderstandings, Ye-bun joins the case as a fantastical consultant, using her powers to glean valuable information regarding the true killer.
100 Days My Prince
2018
Out of the plentiful historical K-dramas on the market, few are as lighthearted as 100 Days My Prince. Though the main characters go through some heartbreak right off the bat, their unconventional romance is shockingly sweet for a Joseon Dynasty period piece.
When a sudden bout of amnesia leaves crown prince Lee Yul (Doh Kyung-soo) stranded in a small village, he winds up in a fake engagement with Yoon Yi-seo (Nam Ji-hyun), who has to get married per a royal decree. The setup quickly breeds real feelings, but the royal runs into hilarious trouble trying to adjust to life as a peasant.
Beyond Evil
2021
Just like a good murder mystery can make a cozy novel, the right circumstances turn a thrilling crime K-drama into the perfect binge-watch. Beyond Evil follows two detectives, Lee Dong-sik (Shin Ha-kyun) and Han Joo-woon (Yeo Jin-goo), who get caught up in a whirlwind serial killer case at the Manyang Police Substation.
The constant twists and turns leave the viewer on the edge of their seat, but the central mystery comes to an incredibly satisfying close, seamlessly tying up each loose end. Beyond Evil could have been even grittier had it been set in a big city, but the localized setting only raised the stakes and left nowhere to hide.
The Good Bad Mother
2023
It’s rare for a family-focused K-drama to offer such a realistic, complicated snapshot of parenthood, but that’s exactly what put The Good Bad Mother on the map. After her son, Choi Kang-ho (Lee Do-hyun), narrowly survives a tragic accident, Jin Young-soon (Ra Mi-ran) gets a second chance at being his mother.
As the title indicates, The Good Bad Mother operates in shades of grey, prioritizing the humanity of its characters over straightforward labels like hero and villain. The small town setting only makes the repair of their strained relationship all the more intimate for the viewer.
Chocolate
2019
Chocolate has a reputation as a tear-jerking K-drama, but the 2019 series is still worth watching. The drama centers on Moon Cha-yeong (Ha Ji-won) and Lee Kang (Yoon Kye-sang), two lost souls who meet by chance and bond over a delicious meal.
Years later, Lee Kang abandoned cooking to become a neurosurgeon, while Cha-yeong gave up her acting career to become a chef. When the two reunite in the beautiful seaside town of Wando, a second chance at romance blooms into something deeper.
Welcome to Samdal-ri
2023
Welcome to Samdal-ri is a quintessential friends-to-lovers K-drama set against the gorgeous backdrop of Jeju Island. While Cho Yong-pil (Ji Chang-wook) stayed in their hometown and became a renowned forecaster, Cho Sam-dal (Shin Hye-sun) moved to the big city to pursue photography.
Extenuating circumstances force Sam-dal to return home, but she can’t avoid her unresolved baggage with Yong-pil. As the main characters soon learn, there’s nowhere for their true feelings to hide in their scenic, close-knit town.
Diary of a Prosecutor
2019
Most legal K-dramas thrive in the busy capital city of Seoul, but Diary of a Prosecutor takes a unique approach by sending its attorneys to a fictional town called Jinyoung. The prosecutors’ office only becomes more complicated when it’s revealed that Lee Sun-woong (Lee Sun-kyun) and Cha Myung-joo (Jung Ryeo-won) have a hostile history.
Myung-joo disdains Sun-woong for his privileged lifestyle, and she’s been holding a grudge since the pair graduated from university. Now forced to be coworkers in Jinyoung, the two have nothing but time to reflect on what caused their disconnect in the first place.
When Life Gives You Tangerines
2025
Much of When Life Gives You Tangerines technically takes place in Seoul, but many pivotal moments happen in Oh Ae-sun’s (IU) island hometown. She eventually escapes alongside Yang Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum), but the story flashes back and forth to different time periods and settings.
The distinct eras it captures helped make When Life Gives You Tangerines the best K-drama of 2025, and it’s sure to be remembered as a modern classic for years to come. The beauty of the series, however, comes in its balance: the Seoul and Jeju Island timelines are inextricable, gaining meaning only through dichotomy.
