10 Best K-Dramas for The Holdovers Fans

Same emotional DNA. Different language. These Korean, Chinese & Japanese dramas share the exact Drama and Comedy energy that makes The Holdovers so addictive.

2023 Drama Comedy
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1
Reply 1994 poster

Reply 1994

22%
K-Drama 21 eps tvN Romance Comedy Drama
Ensemble Cast Flash Forward Mystery Found Family
Why you'll love this

If you loved The Holdovers's ragtag group of people who slowly become each other's whole world, Reply 1994 delivers exactly that. The pacing is genuinely warm without tipping into saccharine.

University students from across Korea share a boarding house in Seoul during 1994, while a future-flashback teases which of the men the central female character eventually marries. Set against the bac…

Vibe Check
Gritty
Fluffy
Slow-Burn
Fast-Paced
Cynical
Heartfelt
Light
Heavy
Where to Watch
▶ Netflix▶ Viki
2
Reply 1997 poster

Reply 1997

19%
K-Drama 16 eps tvN Romance Comedy Drama
Ensemble Cast Flash Forward Mystery Unrequited Love
Why you'll love this

The pacing is genuinely warm without tipping into saccharine.

Six friends navigate high school in Busan in 1997 — the height of the first K-pop idol wave — while a flash-forward wedding reveals that one of the men in the group married one of the women. Figuring …

Vibe Check
Gritty
Fluffy
Slow-Burn
Fast-Paced
Cynical
Heartfelt
Light
Heavy
Where to Watch
▶ Prime Video▶ Viki
3

Sunny

19%
K-Movie Comedy Drama Coming Of Age
Female Ensemble Flashback Structure 80s Nostalgia
Why you'll love this

If you loved The Holdovers's ragtag group of people who slowly become each other's whole world, Sunny delivers exactly that. The pacing is genuinely warm without tipping into saccharine.

A woman caring for her ailing mother-in-law reconnects with a childhood best friend who is dying in hospital — and the film moves between the present and 1986, reconstructing the school-girl friend gr…

Vibe Check
Gritty
Fluffy
Slow-Burn
Fast-Paced
Cynical
Heartfelt
Light
Heavy
Where to Watch
▶ Netflix
4
Prison Playbook poster

Prison Playbook

17%
K-Drama 16 eps tvN Comedy Drama Slice Of Life
Fish Out Of Water Ensemble Cast Bromance
Why you'll love this

If you loved The Holdovers's ragtag group of people who slowly become each other's whole world, Prison Playbook delivers exactly that. The pacing is genuinely warm without tipping into saccharine.

A famous baseball pitcher ends up in prison and navigates life behind bars with colorful cellmates.

Vibe Check
Gritty
Fluffy
Slow-Burn
Fast-Paced
Cynical
Heartfelt
Light
Heavy
Where to Watch
▶ Netflix
5
Coffee Prince poster

Coffee Prince

17%
K-Drama 17 eps MBC Romance Comedy Drama
Gender Bender Poor Girl Rich Boy Slow Burn
Why you'll love this

If you loved The Holdovers's ragtag group of people who slowly become each other's whole world, Coffee Prince delivers exactly that. The pacing is genuinely warm without tipping into saccharine.

A tomboyish woman is mistaken for a man and hired at a coffee shop by its owner who begins to fall for her.

Vibe Check
Gritty
Fluffy
Slow-Burn
Fast-Paced
Cynical
Heartfelt
Light
Heavy
Where to Watch
▶ Viki▶ Kocowa
6
The Atypical Family poster

The Atypical Family

17%
K-Drama 12 eps tvN Romance Fantasy Comedy
Supernatural Romance Con Artist Found Family
Why you'll love this

If you loved The Holdovers's ragtag group of people who slowly become each other's whole world, The Atypical Family delivers exactly that. At its core, it's about grief handled honestly enough to make you feel it. The pacing is genuinely warm without tipping into saccharine.

A family with supernatural abilities is targeted by a con artist woman who ends up falling for one of them.

Vibe Check
Gritty
Fluffy
Slow-Burn
Fast-Paced
Cynical
Heartfelt
Light
Heavy
Where to Watch
▶ Netflix
7
Tomorrow poster

Tomorrow

17%
K-Drama 16 eps MBC Fantasy Drama Comedy
Afterlife Found Family Healing Others
Why you'll love this

If you loved The Holdovers's ragtag group of people who slowly become each other's whole world, Tomorrow delivers exactly that. The pacing is genuinely warm without tipping into saccharine.

A young man accidentally joins a team of grim reapers who prevent suicides by helping the living resolve their pain.

Vibe Check
Gritty
Fluffy
Slow-Burn
Fast-Paced
Cynical
Heartfelt
Light
Heavy
Where to Watch
▶ Netflix
8
You're Beautiful poster

You're Beautiful

17%
K-Drama 16 eps MBC Romance Comedy Music
Gender Disguise Love Triangle Idol Romance
Why you'll love this

If you loved The Holdovers's ragtag group of people who slowly become each other's whole world, You're Beautiful delivers exactly that. The emotional territory — belonging — is the same. The pacing is genuinely warm without tipping into saccharine.

A young woman training to be a nun pretends to be her twin brother and joins an idol group. As she navigates disguises, secret identities, and the pressures of K-pop stardom, three very different band…

Vibe Check
Gritty
Fluffy
Slow-Burn
Fast-Paced
Cynical
Heartfelt
Light
Heavy
Where to Watch
▶ Netflix▶ Viki
9
A Gentleman's Dignity poster

A Gentleman's Dignity

17%
K-Drama 20 eps JTBC Romance Comedy Drama
Slow Burn Friends To Lovers Found Family
Why you'll love this

If you loved The Holdovers's ragtag group of people who slowly become each other's whole world, A Gentleman's Dignity delivers exactly that. The pacing is genuinely warm without tipping into saccharine.

Four men in their early 40s — childhood friends who've stayed immature in love — navigate romance, heartbreak, and growing up alongside a high school ethics teacher who won't give one of them the time…

Vibe Check
Gritty
Fluffy
Slow-Burn
Fast-Paced
Cynical
Heartfelt
Light
Heavy
Where to Watch
▶ Prime Video▶ Viki
10
Absolute Boyfriend poster

Absolute Boyfriend

17%
K-Drama 40 eps MBC Romance Comedy Science Fiction
Robot Love Interest Love Triangle Cohabitation
Why you'll love this

If you loved The Holdovers's ragtag group of people who slowly become each other's whole world, Absolute Boyfriend delivers exactly that. The emotional territory — belonging — is the same. The pacing is genuinely warm without tipping into saccharine.

Special effects artist No Eul-hoon has been repeatedly passed over for promotions and love. After accidentally activating Zero Nine — a humanoid robot programmed to be the perfect partner — she become…

Vibe Check
Gritty
Fluffy
Slow-Burn
Fast-Paced
Cynical
Heartfelt
Light
Heavy
Where to Watch
▶ Viki
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K-Dramas for The Holdovers Fans: FAQ

What are the best K-dramas for The Holdovers fans?

The top K-dramas for The Holdovers fans are Reply 1994, Reply 1997, and Sunny. All three share the same Drama and Comedy DNA that makes The Holdovers so compelling.

Are there Korean dramas similar to The Holdovers?

Yes — there are 10 strong K-drama matches for The Holdovers. Korean drama storytelling excels at Drama and Comedy, often in tightly-paced 16-episode seasons. The closest match is Reply 1994 at 22% similarity.

Where can I watch K-dramas like The Holdovers?

Most K-dramas similar to The Holdovers stream on Netflix, Viki, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. Each title on this page has a Watch Now button showing exactly which platforms carry it.

Why do The Holdovers fans love K-dramas?

The Holdovers fans love K-dramas because they deliver the same emotional intensity and genre mastery — especially in Drama and Comedy stories. K-dramas tend to tell complete stories without filler, which fans of binge-worthy series appreciate.

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