If you finished the series and want to continue in the same atmosphere, check out below a more in-depth analysis of five K-dramas with similar proposals.
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5 K-Dramas Similar to If You Wish Upon Me
Our Blues
Where to watch: Netflix
Set on Jeju Island, just like the main K-drama, Our Blues constructs its narrative from multiple interconnected stories.
Each arc follows characters in different phases of life — from young people facing unexpected pregnancy to adults dealing with regrets from the past.
The great differentiator lies in the fragmented structure: episodes shift narrative focus, allowing viewers to deeply know each character. There are stories about friendship, motherhood, failed relationships, and family reconciliations.
One of the most impactful storylines involves a mother who must deal with her son's disability and society's prejudice — a sensitive portrayal that dialogues with real social issues.
Just as in If You Wish Upon Me, the island is not just scenery but an essential part of the narrative, influencing characters' decisions, memories, and emotions.
My Mister
Where to watch: Rakuten Viki
Considered one of the most profound K-dramas ever produced, My Mister presents a dense and emotionally intense narrative.
The story revolves around Park Dong Hoon, a middle-aged engineer trapped in a frustrating life marked by family problems, marital betrayal, and workplace pressure.
On the other side is Lee Ji An, played by IU, a young woman in debt living in precarious conditions while caring for her sick grandmother.
The meeting between the two doesn't begin friendly: Ji An tries to use compromising information against Dong Hoon. However, the relationship evolves into a deep emotional connection based on empathy and survival.
The K-drama addresses themes such as loneliness, social inequality, workplace exploitation, and mental health — extremely current issues in Brazil as well.
Unlike traditional romances, the focus here is on building a genuine human bond, which brings it even closer to the proposal of If You Wish Upon Me.
Twenty Five, Twenty One
Where to watch: Netflix
Set during the Asian financial crisis of the 1990s, Twenty Five, Twenty One combines romance, youth, and social transformation.
The plot follows Na Hee Do, a determined young fencer pursuing her dream despite the dismantling of her school team as a direct consequence of the economic crisis.
In parallel, we follow Baek Yi Jin, a young man whose family loses everything financially, forcing him to rebuild his life from scratch.
The relationship between the two evolves over the years, showing different phases of life — adolescence, youth, and early adulthood.
The K-drama stands out for portraying the impact of economic crises on people's lives, something that finds parallels in the Brazilian context, especially during periods of instability.
Additionally, the narrative works with memory and nostalgia, alternating between past and present, which reinforces the emotional tone.
Crash Course in Romance
Where to watch: Netflix
Crash Course in Romance mixes romance with social criticism and explores themes of education and personal growth in contemporary society.
