Family by Choice

Loved it! Watch it!

I have only seen part of the drama Go Ahead (I didn't really like the cast and it was veryyy long and I got a bit bored) so I wasn't really comparing this to it all that much. Either way, this was an amazing drama!
The cast was perfect and the acting was on point. Man, I really loved some of the characters! The only thing I wish that this drama was a tiny bit shorter. I really enjoyed it, and the last few episodes still kept you at least a little bit hooked (even if it was only by the side characters) but the last few episodes felt a bit like filler episodes, for the main couple at least.
Sanha's mom was infuriating! But I ended up loving Haejun and rooting for him in all the drama! He was amazing at acting and I loved his character. Definitely worth the watch even if it was just to see Haejun!
And the music!!! The background music was awesome and there was a beautiful sad song by Kim Feel that I will definitely be adding to my playlist! I really enjoyed the whole drama and, though it may be a lot different than the parts of Go Ahead that I have seen, I would say that it is still worth watching even if it doesn't quite live up to people's expectations of Go Ahead remake. I found it to be amazing! Don't miss out on seeing Haejun, believe me!

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Perfect combination of friendship, family, emotional trauma, healing and love

OMG! How did it take me this long to watch this masterpiece?! I am obsessed and completely in love. Also did not expect to cry as much as I did. My traumatised but perfect babies. I love you all! 😭🥺😍🤌😭😫💙

It took longer than I expected for them to leave and 10 year time skip so I didn't enjoy it at the beginning as much as I should have as I kept waiting for the episode where they leave and then come back. But I loved that the whole backstory and years together were shown.

Also I was impatiently waiting for Ju Won and San Ha's romance togther and when it did, it was perfect. Ugh we didn't get enough time with them togther. I want more episodes uptil their wedding and lives togther. It's not enough!!! 😫🥺

I hate San Ha's mother so much though. She deserved the karma she got but still was such a b*tch. Ugh I get so mad whenever I think of how my baby suffered 😭😫🥺 But Ju won was there thank god! 💙 Though she forgave them too quickly when they came back. Should have tortured and made them grovel more 😑

This drama was sooo good. It made me emotional, cry, laugh, giggle, and love every single part of this drama! 😭😍🤌🤭😭🥺😫😍😍💙

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A Heartwarming, Healing Drama — Truly a “Family by Choice”

I finally finished Family by Choice and I’m so glad I decided to watch it now. I held off last year because I wanted to finish Go Ahead first, but Hwang In-yeop’s guesting on Dear X made me curious again... and honestly, no regrets.

This drama made me laugh, cry, and reflect on so many things about family, friendship, and love. It’s one of those shows that hugs you emotionally but also punches you when you least expect it. The life lessons were beautiful without feeling preachy, and the way the characters grew felt so real.

The main couple’s chemistry was amazing! Natural, warm, and so genuinely compatible that I found myself smiling at the smallest moments between them. Their relationship is one of the strongest parts of the drama. The acting across the entire cast was also superb. Everyone delivered, from the leads to the supporting characters. The found-family dynamic was especially touching and felt authentic.

What I love most is how the drama shows that family isn’t only about blood. Sometimes the people who choose to stay beside you are the real home you need. It’s comforting, bittersweet, and full of heart.

If you’re looking for a drama that’s emotional but healing, funny but meaningful, and full of relatable moments, Family by Choice is absolutely worth the watch. I wish I had seen it sooner… but watching it now felt just right.

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Choice is the keyword

Let me get this out of the way: the romance made no sense in this drama. I wasn't feeling it and it was unnecessary.

Yes, we see SanHa falling in love and remaining in love but there was never a clue about JuWon's feelings until after Sana confesses. She always saw him as a brother, they grew up as siblings or maybe as cousins, since they didn't live in the same house. A cousin is still family and family love is nothing like romantic love. It was brotherly love and it was a choice. A family of choice is still a family, blood is absolutely meaningless.

I enjoyed the drama because of the family theme. It's a theme that resonates with me because I too was brought up in an unconventional family. My family is and will always be my mother and my grandma. They raised me and protected me the best they could.
I found it strange that the men were the ones who stayed when statistically the women are the ones who tend to raise their children alone.

The one cultural difference I can't seem to get past has to do with family and with how bonds are broken with the children as if they're disposable once the adults' relationship ends. I see that a lot in Korean and Japanese dramas and movies and I know some people who dealt with that irl.

I don't understand how a parent leaves their children behind once they remarry and say they're not family anymore. I don't think I'll ever understand how a person can birth and/or raise a child and then abandon them just because they don't love their spouse anymore. A child is a commitment for life.

Anyway, the dynamics were interesting and infuriating at times. That mother really tested my patience.
The acting was OK and the production too. somehow, everything seemed a bit underwhelming but I still enjoyed it anyway.

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I really enjoyed it!

This was the first K-drama I've ever watched so I don't have much knowledge in way of comparison, but I thought it was well done. The actors were well cast for their parts, and they brought the story to life. I enjoyed the setting of the story, and I appreciated the technical aspects. The scenery was lovely, too. The story has humor, drama, and a slice of family life, and it's easy to relate to.

Of course, since this title is a reworking of "Go Ahead", comparisons can't be avoided. That being said, I actually like both versions, but for me this one is easier to watch (I've already completed it twice) because a lot of the secondary characters and secondary storylines have been trimmed down or removed. In my opinion, the Korean version is more like a condensed version of the Chinese version instead of a complete re-make. Whether or not that's a good thing is up to the viewer, I suppose. Of course, the actors in "Go Ahead" are quite talented and their characters are memorable. However, there's no denying the fact: that version of the drama is very, very long, perhaps needlessly so.

I know a lot of people have a soft spot for "Go Ahead", and they weren't pleased that another version was made. I suppose to some it seems like a sacrilege. I understand that. I have favorite dramas as well, and there are some that shouldn't be remade, in my opinion. However, in the case of "Family by Choice" I think condensing the storyline and removing a lot of the extraneous characters was a good thing in the long run. For example: in "Go Ahead", did the viewer really need to know about Ming Yue's parents' divorce? How did that move the story along? Why do we need to worry about Tang Can? She was cute, but in the end, her story seemed unfinished. To me, it made sense to 'weed out' some of those unnecessary scenarios, even if they were in the original IP.

So my advice would be: don't hate this drama just because you love "Go Ahead". Approach it with an open mind and be pleasantly surprised. I was.

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Most heartwarming kdrama

It is about family love and warmth, family nostalgia, loving unconditionally and what a great parent looks like. But what I loved the most was the characters. Such wonderfully written characters, not perfect but loving, accepting and empathetic. The father is a lovely figure, Juwon (the daughter) is a bundle of joy but with self growth, Sanha represents the pain caused by toxic parents, and then there's my favorite, Kang HaeJun. What a deep character, and what a stunning performance did Bae Hyun Sung give. Honestly I only wanted to wirite a review so I could talk about Kang Hae Jun. The pain, the love, the smile, the tears. He's in my heart forever.

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Better than I expected

I usually don't watch remakes, especially when I've watched the original version. But Family by Choice felt like a new experience. While the plot is based on Go Ahead, Family by Choice feels more tame with its portrayal of abuse. But I still loved it. It was comforting to watch.

The casting was perfect. But I didn't really like how much they changed the female lead's character cause she was one of my favourite characters from Go Ahead. Yoon Juwon had her own charms, but it sometimes felt like she didn't have a life outside of her family.

I personally loved the first 10 episodes. The last 6 episodes made me feel like the writers were trying to solve every issue at the same time without dealing with any of them properly. Felt a bit sloppy and messy. I loved how they didn't make an unnecessary love triangle. The sibling-like relationship between Yoon Juwon and Kang Haejun was heartwarming to watch.

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Family by fate

I watched GO AHEAD as my second ever cdrama 2021 and I loved it I cried laughed while watching it. When I heard they were doing a remake of of go ahead at first I thought they might not meet my expectations but they did and they did exceed them. I love how Haejun never had feelings for Juwoon and he only offered marriage to have a certificate that verify he is part of the family. Kim Sanha was a ten , how he portrayed his emotions and feelings. Juwoon showed growth at the right time and was there when she noticed Kim Sanha was not okay , she never pushed for answers or put pressure on him she waited. What I hate is how Sanha's mother never apologized for what she did. And the relationship between Sanha and Haejun was everything they fought when necessary but they had each other's back when needed

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Cute and Cozy Story between Not Blood-Related Family Members

Watched this because of Hwang In Youp (playing Sanha), but ended up falling for the actor playing Haejun. LOL. They look like a younger version of Lee Joon Gi and Park Bo Gum. The main female lead also did so well that I fell for her, too! She has flaws, yet adorable.

Great watch! One of the best family-themed series I've seen, and the series still stuck with the theme till the very end (though the last few episodes were quite predictable). I like how this did not also focus too much on romance, but more on the sibling-friends relationship between the three main characters. Love this trio's chemistry! So cute.

The downside is the 10-year time skip; it felt like it ruined half of the series a bit.

The best character: Jeong Jae (Juwon and Haejun's dad)

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Incest bait

This show is practically as my header reads. The first half is very pleasant to watch and see how a family doesn’t have to be blood related…until the two leads end up dating each other😐 Sure, it’s not blood related, but still really weird considering they called each other brother and sister before the time skip.

The ending was a slog to get through unfortunately, every other scene was between Juwon and Sanha, which I feel had no chemistry together, which I find unfortunate given I decided to watch this show because of Hwang Inyeop. Although I did really love Haejun and his actor, definitely my favorite part of the show.

Haejun was the star of this drama for me. Despite being dumb and…just really dumb, he was charming to watch. His whole relationship with Dal was my favorite sub-plot by far, I really enjoyed their chemistry. Also Song Jihye is such a great actress and Dal is just so cute. Choi Wonyoung was also superb, but I expected that from him after Twinkling Watermelon.

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Definitely worth to watch!

Family By Choice is definitely a K-drama worth watching anytime you’re in need of a heartwarming and kind-hearted show. You’ll quickly grow attached—and maybe even obsessed—with the mental and emotional journeys of the four kids, Sanha, Haejun, Juwon, and Dal, who carry the story so beautifully. Juwon’s and Sanha’s dads also play a significant role, portraying two touching and resilient single parents who add depth and warmth to the show.

The story is beautifully written, making it easy to feel and connect with the emotions each character faces.
Sanha and Haejun’s stories with their moms are particularly heartbreaking and, at times, infuriating. At first, the reasons behind their mothers abandoning them seem selfish, but as the story unfolds, we slowly begin to understand and empathize with their decisions.

Juwon’s feelings are the sweetest part of the show. She’s a girl who grew up with two brothers and eventually found love with one of them, Sanha. I’m grateful to the screenwriters for avoiding the overused love triangle trope, which wouldn’t have added anything to the plot. Instead, Juwon’s character arc concludes with happy and fulfilling relationships with both Haejun and Sanha.

My favorite character, though, is undoubtedly Park Dal. Her character is touching in so many ways. Her shy nature, combined with her determination to express her true feelings—both for Haejun and her mother—makes her character development feel smooth and authentic. I especially loved how Haejun was oblivious to the depth of her feelings for him, and how Dal worked so hard to show him her love. It made their eventual romance in the finale incredibly satisfying to watch.

I won’t spoil any more for you, but I highly recommend Family By Choice whenever you’re looking for a sweet and heartwarming K-drama. It’s the perfect story to make you feel like you’re living with a comfortable, loving family for a few days or weeks.

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Fluffy And Cute with a touch of Trauma! Well worth your time! ❤️❤️

I recently finished watching this drama and it was such a beautiful watch.. I think the actors they choose for these roles were soo good.. I absolutely loved the fact that they showed the Single Dad's Pov in this show instead of the typical Single Mom.. this is the first time where I saw two single dad who both suffered the loss of their marriages and mates come together as neighbors and friends to create a family unit for their kids... raising them even though they were going through their own pain as well...
They showed how hard working they were and how much they sacrificed to ensure that these kids grew up lacking nothing...
I also loved the sibbling relationship between them.. there was no love triangle at all... loved this for the main lead couple... the other brother was very much uninterested in female lead and just loved her as a sister...

Male lead Hwang In Yeop is actually one of my favorite male leads to watch in Korean Dramas and he did the role well.. he has so much depth and emotions.. I love his personality in dramas... Their connection was so cute and their was no uncessary prolonging of anything... there were minimal issues in this drama and even the ones that it did have ( Family Stuff ) it wasn't pro longed..... the pacing of this drama was very good and I loved every minute of it....
If you're looking for a Comedy Romance with depth and good pacing... this is for you!
We got everything! Depth In Romance, Comedy, Family Trauma but it made all of them stronger, non biological brother and sister falling inlove is one of my favorite genres hehehe......

OVERALL: FIVE STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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