There are some K-Drama characters we adore with all our heart, but they would not make it past a Monday in 2025. Between Gen Z sarcasm, soft blocking, emotional detachment, and digital chaos, some of these faves would be confused, crying, or canceled by lunchtime. No shade, just modern life and reality checks.

Let’s talk about the fictional cuties who thrived in their timelines but would absolutely flop in ours.

Kim Shin (Goblin)   

We love a poetic man with a tragic backstory and 900 years of trauma. But sir, this is 2025. Nobody has time to cry over dried flowers and wait for destiny to align under the first snow. We have AI now. Emotional damage is cute until you realize therapy is literally an app away. Imagine Kim Shin trying to send poetic texts in a generation of “wyd” and “lol k.” Sir, be serious.

Geum Jan-di (Boys Over Flowers)  

In 2009, we were all “Yaaas, stand by your mean, rich man!” But in 2025? Girl, no. Jan-di was gaslit, bullied, and had her wig nearly snatched by life itself, and still said, “I love you.” Try that now, and TikTok will cancel you before episode 3. We are in our self-care and boundaries era. You either choose peace or you block everyone and heal in Bali. There’s no in-between.

Yoo Si-jin (Descendants of the Sun)  

This man casually disappeared to war zones mid-date and expected his love interest to understand. “Sorry babe, I got called to stop a civil war.” In 2025? That’s how you end up ghosted. Literally. Try vanishing without a WhatsApp update today and see how fast you’re removed from the close friends list. Even the group chat will drag you.

Jung Joon-hyung (Weightlifting Fairy)   

Joon-hyung is sweet, loyal, and gives nothing but green flags. But let’s be honest, 2025 might chew him up and spit him out. With all the dating games, talking stages, and situationships in rotation, this boy would be texting “Did I do something wrong?” after every unread message. We would protect him at all costs, but the digital streets are not safe for soft boys anymore.

Na Hee-do (Twenty-Five, Twenty-One)   

We adored her grit, her heart, her fencing skills, but baby girl would be crying on IG stories in 2025 with Frank Ocean playing softly in the background. The love story she had? Yeah, Gen Z will call that “a long-term situationship with Olympic ambition.” These days, we do 6-month timelines, healing arcs, and unfollowing for closure. There’s no time to pine for love that doesn’t answer DMs.

Look, some of these K-Drama faves gave us everything: butterflies, iconic quotes, life lessons. But the world has moved. The vibes have shifted. Rent is due, boundaries are hot, and passive-aggressive love no longer trends. To these characters, we say: Thanks for the memories. But in 2025? You’d get dished on Twitter.

Now tell me, which other K-Drama character would absolutely malfunction in 2025’s reality? Let’s drag them (with love) in the comments.