A lot of Korean drama fans avidly watch weekly episodes of whatever series they’re currently hooked in because of the inevitable kilig. But what makes these shows extra precious are the golden friendships. Seeing these K-drama barkadas — even if they’re mostly fictional — really makes us think they’re the ultimate squad goals.
F4 from Boys Over Flowers
Some of the people who stick with you through thick and thin are the people you’ve had in your life since you were kids. Just like the four young men of F4 from Boys Over Flowers (Lee Min Ho, Kim Hyun Joong, Kim Beom, Kim Jun). Despite the many differences they’ve had over the years, when one of them needs the others, they never fail to show up. And when one of them needs a strong dose of reality, none of them are afraid to give it. Their friendship and loyalty to each other come before anything else at the most important moments, and maybe that’s what really matters, even through all their petty differences.
Mido and Falasol from Hospital Playlist
Finding people you share a dream with is already amazing. But having those same people share not just one but two passions? You better keep those people for life. Just like the gang of Hospital Playlist (Cho Jung Seok, Yoo Yeon Seok, Jung Kyoung Ho, Kim Dae Myung, Jeon Mi Do). They went through the struggles of medical school and are now practicing their trade in the same hospital, while also still trying to find an audience who’d listen to their band, their one shared guilty pleasure. The strong bond they built over the years shows how valuable their friendship is, and it’s so heartwarming to see.
Ssangmun-dong Squad from Reply 1988
One of the best aspects of Reply 1988 — and the whole Reply series in general — is how it goes beyond the common romantic plotline and delves deeper into the Korean history and culture of its time, all while showing the strong ties of family, whether they be by blood or by neighborhood. We see that in all of the families of the show, but none more so than the five kids of the Ssangmun-dong squad (Hyeri, Park Bo Gum, Ryu Jun Yeol, Go Kyung Pyo, and Lee Dong Hwi) as they go through the challenges of transitioning teenagehood to adulthood and all that comes with it — family, friendships, first loves, and first everythings.
Hwarang Knights from Hwarang
Hwarang is all about a group of elite young warriors of the same name in the kingdom of Silla, training to protect the king. Except unknown to most of them, the king (Park Hyung Sik) is actually training with them. All the young men (Park Seojoon, Park Hyungsik, Minho, Do Jihan, Kim Taehyung) all got their own problems with their families and their past, mixed with some good old underhanded politics, but sincere friendships begrudgingly blossom among them.
The trio of girl power from Because This Is My First Life
While this slice-of-life K-drama had us thinking about the realities of adulthood and love and marriage, the loyalty and friendship of this trio of girls really captured everyone’s hearts.
Swag Squad from Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
There’s almost nothing as heartwarming as a group of friends sincerely supporting each other and basking in each other’s happiness as they work towards their dreams together. Which is exactly what Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo and the Swag Squad (Lee Sung Kyung, Lee Joo Young, and Jo Hye Jung) is all about. Plus enjoying a whole lot of food.
Waikiki residents from Welcome to Waikiki
While trying to follow their dreams, a trio of young men try to run a guesthouse nearing bankruptcy. Sounds straightforward enough, except when you throw in a baby they found after a wild night out, the baby’s mother, the sister of 1/3 of the trio, and a model, and well. It’s a mess. A chaotic mess with a whole lot of romance and friendship.
Alpha Team from Descendants of the Sun
A friendship where you’d literally die for each other? You don’t see that often. But when you and your friends are a special team of soldiers sent on dangerous missions together, that’s another story, and one you’d find in Descendants of the Sun and its Alpha Team (Song Joong Ki, Jin Goo, Park Hoon, Choi Woong, Ahn Bo Hyun). They train together, fight together, accomplish dangerous missions together, save lives together, and fanboy over Red Velvet together. (Even if their respective love interests get mad after.)
Which one is similar to your own barkada? Tell us below!
