If Our Universe Touched You, These K-dramas Will, Too
When raising a child becomes the real love story
The Viki K-drama Our Universe is only 4 episodes old as of writing this article, but it has already won hearts over its tender portrayal of unlikely parents, and more so, the adorable antics of its child actor, the toddler Park Yoo-ho who play Woo-jin. The show follows Roh Jeong-eui and Bae In-hyuk's relationship from reluctant in-laws to unexpected co-parents who now have to put their differences aside to take care of the orphaned Woo-jin after his parents die in an accident.
It's a light watch about an endearing young boy (who acts so well that the showrunners have been accused of using AI to edit his scenes) and the uncle and aunt duo who really just have no idea how to take care you young kids. But then, isn't much of parenting just that? Learning as you go, and hoping to do the best you can by your child? At least these shows agree.
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My Secret Terrius (or Terrius Behind Me)
This one scratches the same itch you got from the mismatched caretaker comedy in Our Universe. At first glance this feels like a spy-comedy mashup, but a large chunk of its warmth comes from the twin toddlers at its core. When a reclusive ex-NIS spy becomes an untrained babysitter, his tactical precision collides hilariously with playground politics, chaos, and genuine paternal tenderness.
Where to watch: Viki
Hospital Playlist
If you haven’t watched this yet, just what are you waiting for? The ensemble cast is phenomenal but one of the breakout delights in Hospital Playlist is young Woo-jo, the son of one of the doctors, the single father Ik-jun. Ik-jun tries his best to give his son enough time and also fulfil his professional commitments, making for some tender, funny, and poignant interactions between father and son.
Where to watch: Netflix
Crash Course in Romance
In this slice of life show, the presence of young Hae-yi gives shape to the adult relationships at the heart of the show. When Nam Haeng-sun takes in her abandoned niece, it reshapes how she sees her own ambitions and vulnerabilities in a tight-knit community that is unfamiliar with their non-traditional family unit. Together, the two must navigate the cut-throat education system as they look for the best maths teacher for Hae-yi.
Where to watch: Netflix
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One Spring Night
One Spring Night is a more grounded take on the unlikely parent trope. The series follows a pharmacist and single dad trying to build a new life and love while reckoning with social stigma around single parenthood. His son isn’t just “there”; he represents all the lived baggage of his past choices and becomes a quiet moral compass in decisions he makes about trust, partnership, and dignity.
Where to watch: Netflix
Welcome to Samdal-ri
One of the key plots in this show involves the family of the female lead, Samdal, returning to her childhood house after life setbacks force her back home. Samdal’s niece is being raised largely by the women in the family after her parents’ marriage breaks down. Her confusion about why adults fight, separate, and still pretend things are fine surfaces in small but pointed moments that push the grown-ups around her to do better for her sake.
Where to watch: Netflix
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
This is another romance centered around the returning to hometowns to find love trope, but the subplot involving the child I-Jun and his struggles with his divorced parents hit unexpectedly deep. I-jun splits his time between them, struggles with loneliness, and often masks his feelings with maturity beyond his age. His attachment to the male lead and other townspeople shows how community fills emotional gaps left by fractured families.
Where to watch: Netflix