Pilgu has two dads in the drama: his real dad, Jong-ryul, a baseball star married to a social media celebrity, and his “acting” dad, Yong-sik, the boyfriend of his mother Dong-baek.

Pilgu hates the attention and simply wants quality time with his mum, but the efforts that two dads take to win his approval melts our hearts. Jong-ryul goes as far as putting his marriage and career at stake for Pilgu, while Yong-sik, who understands the kid’s heart, takes Pilgu to play arcade games and protects Dong-baek.

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Captain Ri’s dad in Crash Landing on You

In Crash Landing on You, Captain Ri’s dad was introduced to us as the high-ranking director general Ri Choong-ryeol, feared by his North Korean officers. As the upright Captain Ri became involved with South Korean Yoon Se-ri, we thought his father would disown him to keep his position and the family’s honour. At one point, the director general even arranged to have Se-ri kidnapped.

In the end, he always had his son’s best interests at heart. Not only did he grow fond of Se-ri as the woman Captain Ri liked, he sent men to back up his son in South Korea and used his power to defend him until the end.

Bok-joo’s dad in Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo

Training to be a weightlifting legend, Kim Bok-joo struggles with adolescence, her first love and heartbreak, and a career slump in between. Thankfully, she has her appa Kim Chang-gul, a former weightlifter and owner of Bok Chicken restaurant, to guide her through it all.

When Bok-joo felt demotivated, her dad didn’t push her to continue training and told her to take a break. That time when Bok-joo went to a weight loss clinic because she had a crush on the trainer, Bok-joo’s dad was enraged. Still, he felt guilty afterwards and realised his daughter was like every girl her age experiencing love. Bok-joo’s dad gave her a tube of lipstick to make up for it.

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Sae-royi's dad in Itaewon Class

Park Sae-royi and his dad Park Sung-yeol’s story was short-lived in the drama, but the elder Park’s influence became the driving point of Sae-royi’s life. Mr Park’s unjust death gave Sae-royi the enormous strength to battle his enemies and stand strong for what he believed in.

Mr Park was also a father figure to Oh Soo-ah, who had no parents. Soo-ah felt indebted to Sae-royi’s dad and in the end, she became the key in achieving Sae-royi’s goal to take down the Jangga Group.

Deok-sun's dad in Reply 1988

High-schooler Deok-sun had always felt neglected as the middle child, but her dad Sung Dong-il made up for his inattention through his sweet ways. Later in the drama, we also witness Dong-il’s love for his eldest daughter Bo-ra, whom he has a distant relationship with.

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While all dads in Reply 1988 deserve recognition, we have a soft spot for Dong-il who worked hard and always put his family first.

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