Fans of romance movies have countlessK-dramasto choose from if they want long-form storytelling that can be both charming and emotional. From thrillers to romance, there’sa little bit of everything in the K-drama genrefor anyone to watch.
Romantic movies often employ tropes such as the friends-to-lovers storyline or workplace romance, which you will also find in a lot of K-dramas. That said,the best K-dramasare the ones that find ways to do something fresh with all of those tropes. This is why picking the right Korean shows to binge can be difficult, even if you are just looking for a fun, cozy rom-com. However, some romantic K-dramas are definitely worth watching from start to finish.
Love Next Door
Cast
A woman returns to Korea to restart her life and becomes involved with a childhood friend, sharing a complicated history.
A classic tale of friends who become lovers,Love Next Dooris one of the most realistic portrayals of this trope. Starring Jung Hae-in as Choi Seung-hyo and Jung So-min as Bae Seok-ryu, the K-drama’s premise centers around the evolution of their relationship. WhileLove Next Door’s premiseis nothing that hasn’t already been tried and tested, there’s something unique about this particular show.
Seung-hyo and Seok-ryu’s friendship takes a while to develop into a romantic relationship. Although it’s clear to predict that that’s where the storyline is headed,nothing in the K-drama is rushed, which makes it even more realistic. When they do become lovers, Seung-hyo and Seok-ryu have incredible chemistry that shines through in every scene they are in. So, if you enjoyromantic friends-to-lovers movieslikeAlways Be My Maybeor13 Going on 30, thenLove Next Doorwill be right up your alley.
Mr. Plankton
A man facing the end of his life and his former partner, the reluctant bride-to-be, embark on a poignant final journey together. The series examines their complex relationship and the profound impact of confronting mortality, blending emotional exploration with life’s stark realities.
Mr. Planktonwasone of the best K-dramas of 2024, and for good reason.The show doesn’t tell a traditional love storybecause it veers off that path with its tragic and heartbreaking premise. With Woo Do-hwan as Hae Jo and Lee Yoo-mi as Jo Jae-mi,Mr. Planktonfollows these two characters, who happen to be going through a difficult time in their lives, taking one last journey together.
What the TV show does instead is take audiences through an emotional ride filled with happy, funny, and sad moments.
Unlike some romantic K-dramas,Mr. Planktonis not about a traditional happy ending, which is evident from its very first episode. What the show does instead is take audiences through an emotional ride filled with happy, funny, and sad moments.Mr. Planktonis the perfect series for anyone who finds unconventional romantic movies enjoyable and is looking for something with emotional depth but also has hints of humor.
Our Beloved Summer
Years after their documentary in high school made them unwilling stars, two ex-lovers are brought back in front of the camera when the film goes viral. As they reluctantly reunite to shoot the sequel, they confront the reasons behind their painful breakup and discover the unresolved feelings between each other.
Three years after collaborating on the action thriller K-dramaThe Witch: Part One,Choi Woo-shik and Kim Da-mi reunited inOur Beloved Summer. Released in 2021, the TV show chronicles the evolution of Kook Yeon-soo and Choi Woong, a decade after their series was released. Yeon-soo and Choi Woong have a complicated relationship that the show does a great job of portraying.
Every stage of the two leads’ relationship is enjoyable to watch, particularly as they transition from enemies to lovers. Woo Shik and Da-mi are enthralling inOur Beloved Summerand give the K-drama emotional depth. While it can’t be denied that there are various other enemies-to-lovers TV shows,Our Beloved Summeris undoubtedly at the top of the list.
Goblin
In this fantasy romance series, a centuries-old guardian seeking to end his immortality meets a student with a mysterious destiny and forms an unexpected alliance with a grim reaper. Their interconnected fates unravel as they navigate themes of love, loss, and destiny.
Nine years after it was released,Goblinis still considereda K-drama masterpiece, and that’s largely due to its stellar cast, which included Kim Go-eun, Gong Yoo, Yoo In-na, and Lee Dong-wook.Goblintells the tragic story of the titular character as he searches for his bride. The TV show has some dark tones and perfectly blends romance with fantasy.
Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun are incredible inGoblinand take the TV show to new heights. Although Kim Shin and Eun-tak’s love story is the focus of the series, there’s another entertaining subplot mixed into the TV show. Given its somber tones, humor, and unconventional love story, it’s no wonder thatGoblinis one of the best romantic K-dramas of all time.
What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim
What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim follows Lee Young-Joon, an accomplished and self-assured vice-president of a large company, whose world is disrupted when his highly competent secretary, Kim Mi-So, unexpectedly resigns after years of dedicated service. The series explores the dynamics of their professional and personal relationships.
Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young’s What’s Wrong With Secretaryis one of the best workplace romance K-dramas of all time. Funny and emotional,What’s Wrong With Secretary Kimis in a league of its owncompared to similar K-dramas. The series follows Secretary Kim, a woman who has dedicated most of her adult life to taking care of her difficult boss until she decides to quit her job.
One of the reasonsWhat’s Wrong With Secretary Kimis such a great K-drama is the passion between Mi-so and Young-joon. Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young’s characters are evenly matched and complement each other perfectly. Their love story is intriguing, and their chemistry is palpable. With its emotional depth and enjoyable subplots, What’sWrong With Secretary Kimtruly revolutionized workplace romances.
Because This Is My First Life
Because This Is My First Life is a South Korean television series that follows Nam Se-hee, a single man focused on repaying his mortgage, and Yoon Ji-ho, a homeless woman, as they enter a marriage of convenience that slowly evolves into genuine affection and understanding.
While some love stories follow a linear narrative,Because This Is My First Lifetakes a different approach. In the K-drama, two people who accidentally become roommates decide to get married due to the difficult circumstances they are in. Although Nam Se-hee and Yoo Jin-ho’s relationship starts a little differently, they begin to care for each other as they navigate their new dynamic.
Contract marriages are a popular trope in both romance movies and K-dramas. However,Because This Is My First Lifeis different in a variety of ways. Nam Se-hee deviates from the usual K-drama male leads and is obsessed with numbers and facts. The differences in personalities between the two leads are what make their romance even more enjoyable, because they learn to love each other, despite not meaning to get emotionally invested.
Crash Course In Romance
Crash Course In Romance is a South Korean drama that explores the intertwined lives of a former national athlete who now runs a banchan shop and a star mathematics instructor. As both characters navigate their respective challenges, the series delves into themes of romance, societal pressures, and personal growth against the backdrop of South Korea’s competitive educational environment.
Cash Course In Romanceemploys one of the most overused tropes in K-dramas, and yet it still provides a great experience for its audiences. The series focuses on two characters: Nam Haeng-Seon and Choi Chi-Yeol, who are the opposite of each other. However, as they interact more, they begin to see each other in a different light.
Chi-yeol and Haeng-seon are the perfect example of why K-drama couples work well. While Cheo-yeol is cold and indifferent to people,Haeng-seon has a sunny disposition that makes her instantly likable. Ultimately, it’s their personality differences and how they will complement each other that adds some humor to the series and makes them one of the best K-drama couples.
The Red Sleeve
Set in the Joseon Dynasty, The Red Sleeve explores a royal court romance between a duty-bound king and a determined court lady. The series examines their personal and political struggles as they navigate love, loyalty, and the demands of their respective roles.
Told through Lee Se-young’s Seong Deok-im’s perspective,The Red Sleeveis another tragic love story that leaves an indelible mark on its viewers.The Red Sleevetakes place in the Joseon Dynastyand chronicles the love story between King Jeong-jo and royal court lady, Seong Deok-im.
The Red Sleevewas based onThe Red Sleeve Cuffby Kang Mi-kang.
If you are a fan of historical romance dramas like Pride and Prejudice, thenThe Red Sleeveis the perfect series for you.The period K-dramabeautifully outlines the complex romance between a powerful man and a woman who isn’t given as many choices as him. As a result, she suffers for her choice to be with him. AlthoughThe Red Sleeveis a sad love story,its romance story is complex and relatable because it proves that relationships don’t always end up happily.
When The Camellia Blooms
When The Camellia Blooms is a South Korean television series that follows the life of Dong-baek, a single mother who runs a bar named Camellia. Set in the small town of Ongsan, the series explores the challenges she faces, including societal judgment and the complexities of love, as she navigates relationships with local residents. The drama intertwines romance with suspense and human emotions, presenting a heartfelt narrative.
StarringWhen the Stars Goosip’s Gong Hyo-jin,When the Camellia Bloomsheld the record for one of the highest-rated K-dramas of 2019. The premise sees Oh Dong-baek, a single mother who opens and runs a bar called Camellia, begin a new life in a new town. When Yong-sik and Dong-baek meet each other, he professes his love for her, but she isn’t initially interested. However, as they get to know each other better, her feelings for him begin to change.
When the Camellia Bloomsisn’t an ordinary romantic K-drama in the sense that it mixes love with mystery. As Yong-sik and Dong-baek bond with each other, he also has to keep her safe when a notorious killer chooses his lover as his next victim.When the Camellia Bloomsis a slow burn. However,the elements of comedy blended in with a mature romantic relationship contributed to why it’s a K-drama masterpiece.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a South Korean television series starring Shin Min-a as a pragmatic dentist and Kim Seon-ho as her free-spirited counterpart. The narrative unfolds in the seaside village of Gongjin, where personal and professional lives intersect in heartwarming and often humorous ways. Directed by Yu Je-won, the series explores themes of community, love, and personal growth amidst picturesque coastal scenery.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Chais a story about fresh starts and finding love even in the most unlikely places. In the Korean series, Yoon Hye-jin moves to a seaside town with the hope of beginning a new life when she encounters Hong Doo-sik, a local handyman she ends up falling in love with.Hometown Cha-Cha-Chais a slice-of-life K-drama that masterfully uses its traditional love story to create an engaging series.
Doo Sik and Hye-jin’s relationship isn’t particularly easy as they have to overcome several obstacles in order to be together, so it makes it even sweeter when they find their way to each other.
Doo Sik and Hye-jin’s relationship isn’t particularly easy as they have to overcome several obstacles in order to be together, so it makes it even sweeter when they find their way to each other. Shin Min-a and Kim Seon-ho are at the top of their game in the series, and their performances are some of the reasons thatHometown Cha-Cha-Cha is sucha popularK-drama.
