When people think of K-dramas, they instantly think of soap operas and the qualities that they carry: cheesy romances, corny storylines, cliches, and overused plot tropes. Sure, some of that is the case when it comes to romantic K-dramas, but that is essentially what viewers look for in a romance. Sometimes, however, K-dramas offer a refreshing take on the romance genre; after all, plenty of Korean dramas feature romance, so it’s not hard to invent new tropes or new ideas.
Some favorite K-dramas frequently feature protector and savior types (Goblin,The King’s Affection), while others focus primarily on an enemies-to-lovers approach (Boys Over Flowers,So I Married an Anti-fan).While many K-dramas carry some form of familiarity, one thing is for certain: K-dramas know how to perfect a romance story. Through romantic comedies, historical romances, and true stories, here are the best romantic K-dramas to grace K-dramaland.
10’Touch Your Heart' (2019)
Starring Yoo In-na and Lee Dong-wook
Oh Yoon-seo (Yoon In-ah) is an actress enveloped in plenty of scandals. To prepare herself for a new drama, Yoon-seo is to work alongside Lawyer Kwon Jung-rok (Lee Dong-wook) in a lawyer’s office. Jung-rok, although not happy with the arrangement, assists Yoon-seo, and the two embark on a journey to lovers as they spend time in the office together.
Touch Your Heartwas initially popular due to In-ah and Dong-wook’s chemistry inthe rewatchable K-drama titledGoblin, where the two were ultimately destined to love each other but had to suffer the repercussions of their past. The two were then assigned as the leads inTouch Your Heart, whereviewers could see their on-screen chemistry blossom with every heartfelt moment between Dong-wook’s cold and reserved character Jung-rok and In-ah’s sweet Yoon-seo. Not to mention, the story includes the very lovable rivals-to-lovers pipeline that viewers tend to love in K-dramas, creating one of the best romantic K-dramas in the modern market.
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9’Descendants of the Sun' (2016)
Starring Song Joong-ki and Song Hye-kyo
In a war-torn country, Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki), a Korean Special Forces captain, and Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo), a medical doctor and surgeon at Haesung Hospital, date one another, though duty tends to call Si-jin away from home. The two, though completely different, tend to appear inseparable, as they are often meeting one another time and time again.
Descendants of the Sunis a love story that is reminiscent of one’s first love. It is in the fiery passion between the two and their desire to be with each other that, despite their differing ideologies, fate continuously brings them together again, time after time, proving that the two are meant to be. Viewers who love an honest love story that traverses through thick and thin, through disease and sickness and death, will undoubtedly loveDescendants of the Sun.
Descendants of the Sun
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8’Uncontrollably Fond' (2016)
Starring Suzy Bae and Kim Woo-bin
Noh Eul (Suzy Bae) is a documentary producer, and she is assigned to film a documentary about Shin Joon-young (Kim Woo-bin), a top actor and singer who she has known since her high school days. The two had dated in high school, but due to unfortunate circumstances surrounding the both of them, their young relationship came to an end. Now, as adults, Joon-young attempts to win Noh Eul back as they maneuver through the documentary assignment.
Uncontrollably Fondis a melodrama starring Suzy Bae and Kim Woo-bin. It revisits an old love, one that was still blossoming, before tragedy strikes the lives of the K-dramas two leads, leading them to their separate lives. However, while the build-up of their love is one to swoon for,thisK-drama also focuses on the tragedyin their love, making for an extremely emotional watchthat will bring viewers to tears. This is a love story to cry for.
7’Gu Family Book' (2013)
Starring Lee Seung Gi, Suzy Bae, Choi Jin-hyuk, and Lee Yeon-hee
Gumiho Gu Wol-ryung (Choi Jin-hyuk) one day witnesses the capture of an innocent woman by the name of Seo-hwa (Lee Yeon-hee). Before her suffering continues, as she is forced to work as a gisaeng, Wol-ryung saves Se-hwa from her demise and takes her into his forest, vowing to protect her. The two begin to fall in love with one another, until one fateful day when Seo-hwa learns of Wol-ryung’s real identity as the mythical gumiho. Wol-ryung is then killed, and Seo-hwa, learning that she is pregnant with his child, gives her child to a monk, who then passes the child onto a noble family. This child, Kang-chi (Lee Seung-gi), lives his life peacefully for the most part until his adopted family is torn apart, and he learns of his ancestry. He then meets and falls in love with Dam Yeo-wool (Suzy Bae), and the two work together as Kang-chi attempts to turn himself fully human.
Gu Family Bookfeatures two love stories, both of which have tragic means and ends. The first few episodes follow Wol-ryung and Seo-hwa, solidifying their love story as a tragic one as Wol-ryung wishes nothing more than to protect Seo-hwa, but to do so, he feels the need to hide his own identity and attempts to become human so that they could live together happily. While their love story ends tragically, another one is born anew from their child born of love, and this journey, though just as sad due to the complications and circumstances of the characters, is one to fall in love with.
6’Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo' (2016)
Starring IU, Lee Joon-gi, and Kang Ha-neul
After going through a tough breakup, make-up artist Ha-jin (IU) drinks by herself near a lake. However, after a young boy begins to drown, she jumps in to rescue him. However, even though he is pulled out, Ha-jin sinks into the lake, and she finds herself transported into the Goryeo era as Hae-soo. There, she learns the ins and outs of the kingdom and is pursued by several of the crown princes, including that of Wang Wook (Kang Ha-neul), Wang Eun (Baek Hyun), Wang Jung (Ji Soo), and the monstrous Wang So (Lee Joon-gi).
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeofollows the journey of Hae-soo as she experiences the hardships as a court lady and learns to live in an era without any way of returning to home.It features several engaging and charming love interests that viewers won’t know who to pickas their favorite, and as many historical dramas are,Scarlet Heartisa tragic love storyfrom beginning to end.
5’Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo' (2016)
Starring Nam Joo-hyuk and Lee Sung-kyung
Kim Bok-joo (Lee Sung-kyung) is a weightlifting athlete at a college with plenty of dreams and aspirations and wants to follow in her weightlifting father’s footsteps. She and her athletic college peers – Jung Joon-hyung (Nam Joo-hyuk), Jung Jae-yi (Lee Jae-yoon), Song Shi-ho (Kyung Soo-jin) – all go through their own tough experiences that ultimately shape their lives and strengthen their relationships between one another. More particularly for Bok-joo and Joon-hyun, the two begin to fall in love.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-jooisa wonderful coming-of-age storythat features the dreams and aspirations of various characters. It features the tough and resilient Bok-joo whose fragility is hidden under her tough exterior. Initially, Bok-joo’s love is unrequited, but as she and Joon-hyun spend more time together, they begin falling in love, and viewers will love the romance that blossoms between the two leads. Not only is this K-drama refreshing in the world of Korean dramas, but the love story is absolutely wholesome.
4’Healer' (2014)
Starring Park Min-young and Ji Chang-wook
Jung-hoo (Ji Chang-wook), also known as Healer, is an illegal night courier who is enlisted to protect Young-shin (Park Min-young), a young internet reporter. Due to some questions about her real identity, Kim Moon-ho (Yoo Ji-tae) believes Young-shin to be Ji-an: a supposedly dead girl. As a result, Young-shin is in trouble and is wanted dead. Jung-hoo is hired to protect her from danger, but in the process, he falls in love with her.
Healeris another K-drama of hidden identity. Unique in its concept,Healerfollows the almost-perfect fighter Jung-hoo who does everything in his power to protect Young-shin. Consequently, he falls in love with her, and she falls in love with Healer, though she is not aware of his real identity as Jung-hoo. This creates tension between the two, as hidden identities lead to accusations of manipulation and deception.This K-drama will undoubtedly put viewers through ups and downs as Jung-hoo attempts to not only protect Young-shin, but also keep her from discovering his true identity.
3’What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim' (2018)
Starring Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young
Yumyung Group corporation vice-chairmen Lee Young-joon (Park Seo-joon) is a highly capable yet narcissistic man whose life is about to change when highly capable secretary Kim Mi-so (Park Min-young) decides to leave the company after nine years due to his narcissism. After this realization, Young-joon stops at nothing to persuade secretary Kim from leaving, even falling in love with her in the process.
First published as a novel and then a webtoon,What’s Wrong with Secretary Kimis anenemies-to-lovers love romantic dramathat watches as two colleagues in a professional relationship, who have stepped on each other toe’s during their nine-year relationship, fall in love with one another when time is of the essence.The chemistry between Young-joon and Mi-so is fun to see unfold, and this K-drama is a lighthearted watchthat will have viewers rooting for this couple from beginning to end.
2’Fight for My Way' (2017)
Starring Park Seo-joon and Kim Ji-won
Childhood friends Dong-man (Park Seo-joon), Ae-ra (Kim Ji-won), Seol-hee (Song Ha-yoon), and Joo-man (Ahn Jae-hong) support each other and their dreams through thick and thin. Despite having big ambitions in their youth, the crew of friends live a more humble lifestyle eleven years later. Through trauma and challenges, Don-man and Ae-ra begin to fall for each other, and they rely on each other as they pursue their ambitions.
Fight for My Wayis based loosely on the real story of a real-life couple. It serves as an extremely inspiring story that will even motivate its viewers to follow their dreams. Undoubtedly, the highlight of this K-drama though is the on-screen chemistry between Dong-man and Ae-ra, who support each other as a real couple would.Both a fun time and an emotional roller coaster,Fight for My Wayis the drama of dreams.
1’Crash Landing on You' (2019)
Starring Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin
Heiress to her father’s company and self-made, CEO Se-ri (Son Ye-Jin) accidentally lands on the border of North Korea after a paragliding accident gone wrong. There, she runs into (and attempts to escape) North Korean soldier Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin). However, despite the tensions between the two of them, Jeong-hyeok vows to help protect her and hide her away. This leads to the love story of a lifetime.
Crash Landing On Youis a very popular K-dramathat is based loosely on a real-life story. It’s one ofthe more popular K-dramas to come out in recent years, with fans falling in love with the on-screen chemistrybetween a North Korean soldier and a South Korean woman who finds herself in a sticky situation. After all, nothing is more romantic than having romantic leads who want to protect one another. It, like many other beloved romantic K-dramas, is an emotional rollercoaster that will have viewers sobbing by the end of the show.
