After six weeks of exploring struggles with alcoholism, friendship, and romance, “Second Shot At Love” wrapped up last week and left viewers wanting more. If you’re in the mood for a K-drama where alcohol practically becomes a character of its own, check out these five K-dramas that serve more than just drinks.
However, if you’re especially missing Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung and are craving more of her stellar acting, these picks will definitely quench your thirst.
“Not Others”
Based on the popular webtoon “Strangers” by Jung Young Rong, “Not Others” is a heartfelt slice-of-life drama that follows the messy, complicated, and deeply loving bond between a single mother and her adult daughter. Kim Eun Mi (Jeon Hye Jin) became a mother as a high schooler and chose to raise her daughter, Jin Hee (played by Girl’s Generation’s Sooyoung), on her own. Now in her 40s, Eun Mi works as a physical therapist, while 29-year-old Jin Hee is a police officer who still lives at home.
Their daily routine is filled with arguments, teasing, and affection. Things take a turn when Eun Mi meets the awkward but kind Dr. Park Jin Hong (Ahn Jae Wook), while Jin Hee struggles to navigate her tense dynamic with her new boss, Eun Jae Won (Park Sung Hoon). As both women confront change, love, and unresolved issues from the past, “Not Others” captures the push and pull of family life with humor, warmth, and emotional honesty.
If you’re looking for something refreshingly real and emotionally grounded, “Not Others” is it. The mother-daughter bond is so relatable and layered, and the drama finds a way to make the ordinary feel meaningful. It’s funny, heartwarming, and sometimes bittersweet—but always genuine.
Start watching “Not Others”:
“Fanletter, Please”
“Fanletter, Please” is a tender and heartwarming mini-drama about healing, love, and the quiet power of words. Han Kang Hee (Sooyoung), a once-beloved child actress-turned-top star, finds herself struggling with low self-esteem after being plagued by harsh criticism and negative press. Emotionally withdrawn, she distances herself from her fans until fate brings her back in touch with Jung Seok (Yoon Bak), her first love from school who is now a single father caring for his ill daughter, Yu Na (Shin Yeon Woo). When Yu Na writes a fan letter to her favorite actress, Kang Hee, but it fails to reach her, Jung Seok secretly replies in Kang Hee’s name, hoping to protect his daughter’s fragile hopes. What starts as a small act of kindness soon blossoms into a deeper story of connection between a star, her devoted fan, and a man from her past. “Fanletter, Please” is a comforting tale of second chances and emotional rediscovery.
“Fanletter, Please” is short, sweet, and surprisingly touching. It’s the kind of drama that makes you smile and tear up at the same time. The chemistry feels natural, the pacing never drags, and the emotional payoff is just right for something only four episodes long.
Start watching “Fanletter, Please”:
“If You Wish Upon Me”
“If You Wish Upon Me” is a deeply emotional drama about finding purpose, healing, and hope in unexpected places. Yoon Gyeo Re (Ji Chang Wook), a man hardened by a life of abuse, abandonment, and incarceration, finds himself at a crossroads when he’s assigned community service at a hospice for terminally ill patients. There, he meets Kang Tae Shik (Sung Dong Il), the warm-hearted leader of Team Genie, a volunteer group that grants patients their final wishes, and Seo Yeon Joo (Sooyoung), a spirited nurse who brings joy and strength to those in her care.
As Gyeo Re slowly becomes involved in helping others find peace in their final days, he begins to confront his own pain and trauma. Through moments of kindness, humor, and deep sorrow, “If You Wish Upon Me” tells a moving story of redemption and the quiet power of compassion, proving it’s never too late to change the course of one’s life.
This one hits you in the heart. “If You Wish Upon Me” is raw, emotional, and sometimes painfully real, but it never loses hope. It reminds you that even in the darkest moments, people can grow, heal, and find meaning. Just have tissues nearby.
Start watching “If You Wish Upon Me”:
“So I Married the Anti-Fan”
“So I Married the Anti-Fan” is a playful enemies-to-lovers rom-com about fame, misunderstandings, and unexpected romance. Magazine reporter Lee Geun Young’s (Sooyoung) life unravels after a disastrous encounter with superstar Hoo Joon (Choi Tae Joon), one that ends in public embarrassment and her sudden firing. Convinced he’s to blame, she stages a protest outside his agency, quickly gaining media attention and the label of an “anti-fan.” When a TV producer offers her a chance to join a reality show where she must live with her celebrity nemesis, she accepts out of desperation. Hoo Joon, seeing it as a PR opportunity, agrees too.
What starts as mutual sabotage soon turns into a genuine connection as the two navigate life under the cameras. Full of lighthearted chaos, heartfelt moments, and romantic tension, “So I Married the Anti-Fan” is a charming tale of how love can blossom in the unlikeliest of situations.
If you love bickering couples with slow-burn chemistry, this is a fun one to add to your list. “So I Married the Anti-Fan” doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it adds enough charm and heart to keep things exciting and surprisingly sweet.
Start watching “So I Married the Anti-Fan”:
“Tell Me What You Saw”
“Tell Me What You Saw” is a gripping crime thriller that follows Oh Hyun Jae (Jang Hyuk), a once-renowned criminal profiler who vanished from the public eye after a serial killer’s explosion killed his fiancée. Now living in isolation, he’s pulled back into the world of crime solving when the same killer, believed to be dead, strikes again. Hyun Jae teams up with rookie detective Cha Soo Young (Sooyoung), whose photographic memory makes her a valuable partner. Together, they navigate chilling cases and personal demons to hunt down the elusive “Peppermint Killer.”
This drama keeps you on edge in the best way. “Tell Me What You Saw” is intense, clever, and never predictable. If you enjoy smart characters, psychological tension, and a few jaw-dropping twists, this one will definitely keep you bingeing.
Start watching “Tell Me What You Saw”:
Hello Soompiers! Are there any other K-dramas starring Sooyoung that you would like to add to this list? Feel free to comment down below!
Javeria is a binge-watching specialist who loves devouring entire K-dramas in one sitting. Good screenwriting, beautiful cinematography, and a lack of cliches are the way to her heart. As a music fanatic, she listens to multiple artists across different genres and stans the self-producing idol group SEVENTEEN. You can talk to her on Instagram @javeriayousufs.
Currently watching: “Spring of Youth,” “Squid Game Season 3,” and “Our Unwritten Seoul”
Looking forward to: “Good Boy”
