Nobody really prepares you for your 20s.

One minute you’re excited to be an adult just so you can have easy access to bigger meat, and the next you’re googling “how to find purpose” at 2 AM (lol). It’s that awkward phase where you’re supposed to have it together, but deep down, you’re just tired, confused, and constantly questioning your next move.

If that’s you right now, these K-dramas get it. They might be your guide to navigate the era of your 20s.

Summer Strike  

This is the story of Lee Yeo Reum who has had enough of city stress, unrealistic expectations, and a job that makes her feel invisible and so she quits, moves to a seaside town and decides to just exist for a while. There, she meets An Dae Beom, a quiet librarian with his own scars, and together, they find peace in doing nothing, and yet everything. The moral lesson? Sometimes the bravest thing you can do in your 20s is to stop and breathe.

My Lovely Journey

This drama tells the story of people rebuilding their lives after heartbreak, job loss, and disappointment. It’s about starting over when life doesn’t go according to plan and learning to love yourself while you’re at it. Every episode feels like a gentle reminder that failure isn’t the opposite of success; it’s part of it. Obviously, adulting doesn’t come with a manual, but this one makes the confusion feel valid.

Our Unwritten Seoul  

Yoo Mi-ji and Yoo Mi-rae are identical twins with completely opposite lives, one’s a free-spirited ex-athlete in the countryside, the other’s a burnt-out perfectionist in Seoul. When they decide to swap lives, things spiral into a journey of identity, family, and letting go of what people expect you to be. If you’ve ever looked at someone else’s life and thought “they have it better,” watch this.

Record of Youth  

This one follows three young dreamers in the modeling and acting world hustle through rejection, family pressure, and an industry that tests their confidence daily. Starring Park Bo Gum and Park So Dam, it’s a realistic take on chasing dreams in your 20s, when you’re equal parts hopeful and tired. If “trying to make it but my wallet said no” was a drama, this is the one.

Navillera  

In Navillera, a 70-year-old retired postman decides to pursue ballet, a dream he buried decades ago, and teams up with a young dancer who’s losing faith in himself. It’s about chasing dreams regardless of age, and rediscovering purpose when the world tells you you’re too late. This one will humble your excuses and warm your heart at the same time.

Run On  

Ki Seon-gyeom, a national sprinter, walks away from fame after realizing he’s been running other people’s races all his life. Then he meets Oh Mi-joo, a translator who sees the world differently, and together they explore what it means to slow down, speak up, and just be human.
This drama is a soft reminder that peace is a form of success too and even the effort matters.

In short, your 20s aren’t about having it all figured out, they’re about finding meaning in the mess. These K-dramas won’t fix your life, but they’ll make you feel seen, make you laugh, and maybe help you realize that being lost is also part of the journey.