The Ultimate Found Family List
Found family is a troupe that highlights family of choice. These shows have friends that form close bonds with each other, similar to that of a family, and can also include older figures adopting a parental role towards non-biological younger characters. Care, loyalty, and love of one another in a platonic manner are common themes that can be found in a fond family dynamic.
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1. 3 Papas
Japanese Drama - 2017, 10 episodes
3 men care for a little boy despite not knowing who out of the 3 fathered the boy. By the end, they are all extremely fond of the kid regardless of the biological outcome.
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2. Eulachacha Waikiki
Korean Drama - 2018, 20 episodes
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3. Gaus Electronics
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
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4. Ghost Doctor
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
Found family is subtle in this in comparison to the other titles on this list. I would classify this more so as "friendship" but some found family aspects can still be seen in the ghost friend group and between the two male leads.
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5. Goo Pil Soo Is Not There
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
A lonely loan shark grandma moves a stranger's family and the son of one of her debtors into her mansion. These strangers slowly grow fond of one another and begin considering themselves as a family as they unravel the past and pursue the future together. As a cherry on top, the friend group show is also very precious.
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6. Konto ga Hajimaru
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
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7. Kotaro wa Hitorigurashi
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
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8. Move to Heaven
Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
More so a rekindling of family relations but one could say that the uncle "finds" his family again through character growth. At first, Sang-Gu (the uncle) does not want to take care of his autistic nephew (Geu-Ru) after the passing of his brother but Sang-Gu becomes protective over his nephews and restores the image he has of his deceased brother. The friendship between Geuru and his next-door neighbor (Na-Mu) is adorable. Na-Mu truly cares for Geuru as she would a brother (in my opinion).
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9. My Father is Strange
Korean Drama - 2017, 52 episodes
This show is definitely a commitment watch-time wise but the father-son relationship the actor Ahn Joong Hee develops with Byun Han Soo is definitely worth the watch and extremely heartwarming. (small spoiler ahead) Ahn Joong Hee originally thought that Byun Han Soo was his father but it turns out Byun Han Soo was a friend of his father. Regardless, Byun Han Soo treats the actor exactly as he does with his other children.
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10. Nanba MG5
Japanese Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
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11. Navillera
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
What happens when an old man wants to learn ballet with a teacher the age of his granddaughter? Found family! Lee Chae Rok, an aspiring ballerino begrudgingly agrees to teach Shim Deok Chul, an elderly man ballet. With a dead mother and a rocky relationship with his father, Deok Chul becomes a parental figure for Chae Rok by cooking for him, caring for him when he is sick, etc. In turn, Chae Rok becomes fond of the elderly man.
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12. Pegasus Market
Korean Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
This show takes a much more light-hearted approach to what could potentially be seen as a "found family" between the employees of Pegasus Market. All the characters are extremely comedic but clearly care for each other in a heartwarming manner.
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13. The Killer's Shopping List
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
Like in Vincenzo, although a bit less so, found family is seen in how the store workers band together to protect one another. It can also be seen in how they protect an abused child and aid the main male lead in doing so. By the end of the show, you can tell how much everyone who works at the grocery store cares for each other.
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14. Two Cops
Korean Drama - 2017, 32 episodes
Main found family seen in bromance between 2 male leads who eventually come to call one another "brother" but some side found family can be felt in how the Violent Crime Team 2 leader calls the other guys in the team his "boys" and looks out for them as well as in the comedic gang that comes to help the male detective lead.
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15. Vincenzo
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
Found family can be seen in how the main male (Vincenzo) lead interacts with the store owners of the show and in the brotherly relationship between Vincenzo and the neglected brother of his enemy. Although Vincenzo starts seeing the store owners as a nuisance, he slowly becomes fond of everyone in the targeted building as they cheer, clumsily attempt to protect, and care for him. Similarly, Vincenzo becomes the brother his enemy's brother never had.