K-dramas don’t just make viewers fall in love with swoony leads and iconic OSTs. They also serve something that can be even more comforting: the squad. Fiercely loyal, almost chaotic, but always the ones to have your back, they are the reason why friends like family stories hit so hard. Whether they’re bonding over street food, hospital takeout, or soju-fueled vent sessions, these K-drama homies will have you wishing you could pull up a chair and join the table too.
Here are seven unforgettable K-drama crews that would be awesome to tuck in some ramyun with, wolf down pizzas together, binge on ice creams, and say “cheers!” to life, friendships, as well as everything in between.
The “Reply” series
No one does “friends like family” quite like the “Reply” series. Whether it’s the alleyway antics of Ssangmun-dong’s famous five in “Reply 1988,” the chaotic boarding house bonds of “Reply 1994,” or the high school friendships that defined a generation in “Reply 1997,” each version gives us a crew that feels like home. They aren’t just friends you hang out with, they’re the ones your parents seem to be fond of a little more than you, the ones who sneak food from your kitchen, and show up when life gets hard (usually with snacks in hand).
If the “Reply 1988” squad loved bonding over VHS tapes of Hollywood blockbusters as they tucked into ramyun or chomped on slices of pizza, the “Reply 1994” trio was caught between love for baseball and bowls of home-cooked meals. And the “Reply 1997” group loved their football and K-pop in equal measure spiced with boxes of crunchy fried chicken. The shared meals were noisy and messy as well as heartfelt and came with childish banter, mood swings of growing pains, and unconditional loyalty. The grown-up versions of our awesome leads look back nostalgically at the days gone by and tell us their story, drawing in the viewer who also feels like an honorary member who laughed and yelled over dinner, reliving the simpler days under the glow of streetlights.
Start watching “Reply 1988”:
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“Hospital Playlist”
Doctors by day, bandmates by night, and also full-time foodies, the Yuljae quintet are one for all and all for one. Medical school may have brought them together, but our rockstars in scrubs are tighter than any family unit.
Through ER chaos, heartbreak, medical emergencies, and personal predicaments, it’s mandatory for them to gather together in Chae Song Hwa’s (Jeon Mi Do) cabin. The menu is varied and determined by the mood of the day, and the conversations are equally engaging. If they’re not in the cabin, it is the hospital cafeteria where the famous five of Yuljae bring in cheer and good vibes all around.
Their meals aren’t just about food—they’re about ritual. It’s their way to decompress, reconnect, and remind each other that no matter how heavy life gets, there’s always a warm bite waiting and someone who gets it. If Ik Joon (Jo Jung Suk) is not stealing Ahn Jung Won’s (Yoo Yeon Seok) stash, he is happy to lovingly roast his other two mates Jun Wan (Jung Kyung Ho) and Seok Hyung (Kim Dae Myung). Now this is a crew that swirls chopsticks and drumsticks with ease.
“Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo”
There’s friendship, and then there’s Bok Joo (Lee Sung Kyung) and her college mates. This is a squad which proves the strongest bonds are built through training together, laughing together, and bonding over Korean BBQ, especially samgyeopsal, Korean fried chicken from Bok Woo’s father’s shop, and ramyun. These college athletes may be training for medals, but the real gold is the way they show up for each other through love, heartbreaks, and hijinks aplenty.
When Bok Joo decides to go on a diet to impress the doctor she is crushing on, it’s a matter of concern. Enter our star swimmer Jung Joon Hyung (Nam Joo Hyuk), who not only wears his heart on his sleeve but also gets her comfort food, in this case fried chicken, to cheer her up. A meal with Bok Joo’s tribe would be hearty, probably involve a lot of sauce, and would definitely end in karaoke.
Start watching “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo”:
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“Law and The City”
Lawyers by profession, low-key food vloggers at heart, these legal eagles are hawk-eyed when it comes to the legalities in court and are connoisseurs of fine dining once out of their legal robes.
Ahn Ju Hyeong (Lee Jong Suk) has been in the legal profession for so long that it sometimes feels like he could well be on autopilot. It’s no surprise when he advises a young attorney to discard any illusions that being a lawyer is as glam as what one sees in a K-drama. Though he is disillusioned with the profession, the one thing that he looks forward to is having lunch with other lawyers. His daily routine is bound to get spicier with the entry of another lawyer, the ever optimistic Kang Hui Ji (Mun Ka Young).
“Law and The City” gives us a dreamy mix of Seoul eats, rooftop hangs, and legal drama. The main crew isn’t just about justice, they’re also about finding joy in the small things like wine, ramyun, or killer Korean side dish spreads. This is the kind of group you want to drink with after work and cry-laugh about life with over some grilled meat.
Start watching “Law and The City”:
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“Work Later, Drink Now”
The unfiltered queens of after-hours is the “Work Later, Drink Now” trio of Jeong Eun Ji, Han Sun Hwa, and Lee Sun Bin. These three sassy ladies live for their post-work drinking ritual not just to blow off steam—but to really talk. From irritating bosses to fussy clients, tardy dates, love, and heartbreak, they are never short of topics or talk.
Between soju-fueled wisdom, brutal honesty, and the kind of laughter that makes you cry-snort, this crew shows us what real friendship looks like in your 30s: raw, loyal, a little messy, but always ready with a shot glass and a shoulder to cry on. They’re each other’s therapists, hype women, and human safety nets. Dinner with them isn’t just a meal, it is a full emotional release where there are tears, shots, and the best kind of chaos.
Hey Soompiers, which one of these K-drama squads are you inviting for dinner? Let us know in the comments below!
Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yoo Yeon Seok and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on @puja_talwar7 on Instagram.
