No one can deny that K-dramas have mastered the art of romance. Something about these stories just makes you want to believe in love all over again, even in the most unusual of places. The way most Korean dramas compel you to cry, laugh, and explore human connections in their messy, raw glory is unlike any other. Even if the genre isn’t something that draws you in, these romantic K-dramas offer something for everyone.
10 ‘Business Proposal’ (2022)
The premise of Business Proposal might come off as a little cliché, but trust me, that’s part of the fun. This K-drama delivers the perfect mix of humor, romance, and complex characters. The story follows Shin Ha-ri (Kin Se-jeong), who mistakenly ends up on a blind date with her boss, Kang Tae-moo (Ahn Hyo-seop). We can all agree that the workplace romance trope has been overdone, but if not for anything else, you need to watch this K-drama for Se-jeong and Hyo-seop’s chemistry. Not to mention that Ha-ri is far from the typical K-drama female leads, which makes the show all the more enjoyable. Her fierce independence is incredibly refreshing and stands as the perfect contrast against Tae-moo’s cold, stoic personality.
I really like that the show doesn’t try to be edgy and break away from rom-com clichés, and leans on them to drive its storytelling. As light-hearted and fun as it is to watch, Business Proposal also explores deeper themes like self-growth and the reality of dating someone you work for. Some might think that the plot of a show like this is bound to be predictable, but with Business Proposal, you really never know what’s next. I’m a little sad that the show had to end with just 12 episodes, because I could have watched Ha-ri and Tae-moo’s banter for way longer. ‘
9 ‘Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’ (2021)
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a remake of the 2004 South Korean film, Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong, and is the perfect feel-good escape from reality. The show is set in the coastal village of Gongjin, and you’re transported to this dream-like world from the very first episode. The story follows Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a), a dentist from Seoul, and Hong Du-sik (Kim Seon-ho), a charming handyman known as “Chief Hong.” Coming from two completely different worlds, the two leads find themselves drawn to each other, and we get to see their love blossom in the span of 16 brilliantly made episodes. Once again, I have to commend the actors and their chemistry for delivering a fresh take on the familiar city-girl and laid-back-guy premise.
While I do love K-dramas for how complex they are in terms of their stories and world-building, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha keeps things simple, and sometimes, that’s really all you need. The conflicts in the show are grounded in real, relatable struggles, and the show is full of everyday people dealing with their own problems, chasing their dreams, and surviving heartbreaks. I love that the show doesn’t have a traditional antagonist just for the sake of it, since this allows the story to dive deep into who Hye-jin and Du-sik are as people. Even side characters, side Grandma Kim Gam-ri (Kin Young-ok) and one-hit-wonder Oh Cheon-jae (Jo Han-chul), add depth to the story and bring the vibrant community of Gongjin to life. The slice-of-life, small-town vibe makes Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha the perfect weekend binge.
8 ‘Something in the Rain’ (2018)
If you’re looking for a K-drama that breaks taboos and gives you the most heart-warming, genuine exploration of unconventional love, Something in the Rain has to be your next watch. Instead of relying on the usual melodrama or tropes that K-dramas are known and loved for, this show focuses on the raw and messy journey of falling in love while juggling societal expectations. The story revolves around Yoon Jin-ah (Son Ye-jin), a district supervisor in her 30s who starts to fall for her best friend’s younger brother Seo Jun-hui (Jung Hae-in) after he returns from working abroad. Despite their 6-year age difference, the leads first rekindle their friendship and soon enough, they find themselves giving in to their feelings.
The love story in Something in the Rain never feels rushed or unnecessarily dramatic. The chemistry between Jin-ah and Jun-hui is magnetic, but the beauty of their connection lies in the quiet, simple moments they spend together. We have to take a moment for the show’s brilliant cinematography and how it presents the rain as central to the couple’s journey. Something in the Rain packs a punch in its 16 episodes with its bold storytelling and compelling performances. By the time you’re done, I’m sure your idea of love will have gone through a total transformation.
7 ‘Lovely Runner’ (2024)
I might be biased, but K-dramas really know how to do fantasy romances right. Lovely Runner doesn’t exactly reinvent the wheel when it comes to time-travel stories, but it does bring a fun twist to it. From the very first episode, you find yourself drawn into the world of Im Sol (Kim Hye-yoon) and Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon Woo-seok) because of how convincing they are in their roles. The story follows Im Sol, who idolizes A-list celebrity Ryu Sun-jae and finds solace in his music after she goes through a life-changing accident. However, Sol’s world comes crashing down when Sun-jae suddenly dies. When she is given the chance to travel back in time and save Sun-jae, Im Sol will do everything she can to change the course of his life.
The story picks up a few episodes in, and I really recommend sticking around to experience the real magic of it all. Lovely Runner isn’t a one-dimensional show that treats time-travel as a gimmick. When Sol goes into the past, she personally witnesses the turmoil Sun-jae goes through in his life, and she goes from being a heart-eyed fan to one of his closest confidants. Because we know what’s coming if Sol isn’t able to change the course of events, every interaction between her and the singer is meaningful and loaded with purpose. Keeping the heart-fluttering romance aside, Love Runner explores the Butterfly Effect while shedding light on the dark reality of fame, mental health, and societal expectations.
6 ‘Her Private Life’ (2019)
Speaking of fan-girls, Her Private Life is another K-drama that explores the concept really well. The show follows Sun Deok-mi (Park Min-young), a 33-year-old chief curator who is secretly obsessed with K-pop idol Cha Shi-an (Jung Jae-won). Deok-mi’s double life is threatened when rumors spread that she is dating Shi-an. To protect her from the K-pop idol’s rabid fans, Ryan Gold (Kim Jae-wook), the new art director at the museum, pretends to be her partner. As their fake relationship continues, Deok-mi and Ryan find themselves attracted to each other as a hilarious series of events unfolds around them.
Honestly, I love how Her Private Life allows the female lead to embrace her passion without any kind of shame. She eventually stops hiding her fan-girl side and goes on an impressive journey of self-acceptance. It’s interesting to watch Ryan accepting Deok-mi for who she is, despite his initial cold and detached nature. Ryan’s growth as a character is brilliant, and he ends up becoming one of the most sensitive, thoughtful, and supportive male leads I have ever seen in a K-drama. Some might say that Her Private Life is a mix of nearly every other K-drama cliché out there, but hey, if it works, it works.
5 ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim’ (2018)
Another feel-good romantic K-drama that has to be on your list is What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim. The story follows Lee Young-joon (Park Seo-joon), the vice-chairman of a major corporation, and his secretary, Kim Mi-so (Park Min-young), who suddenly announces her resignation. Since she’s the backbone of the company, Young-joon decides to do everything he can to keep her around. However, in doing so, the executive realizes that his feelings for her have taken a romantic turn. Mi-so is on a journey of her own, though, and wants to explore what else the world has to offer.
What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim is unlike any other typical workplace romance because it moves past the predictable power dynamics of a boss and their employee. Young-joon starts off as an emotionally immature, selfish boss who depends on Mi-so for everything, but he undergoes a refreshing character development after realizing she is way more than just that. It’s honestly rare to see an assertive female lead in a K-drama, but What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim really delves into Mi-so’s personal development, rather than letting the romance take over her character. The show is a mix of heartfelt moments, hilarious situations, and relatable, realistic romance. If over-the-top love stories aren’t your cup of tea, I’d really recommend giving this K-drama a shot.
4 Descendants of the Sun (2016)
Any list of K-dramas is incomplete without a military romance, but I have to admit that Descendants of the Sun is way more than just that. he story follows Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki), a special forces captain, and Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo), a talented cardiothoracic surgeon. Given their high-stakes job, the budding romance between the two leads obviously faces its fair share of challenges, especially when Si-jin is deployed on a dangerous mission. The backdrop of Descendants of the Sun sets the stage for a high-stakes, all-consuming story that is both touching and heartbreaking.
While military dramas can easily feel over-the-top, the characters in Descendants of the Sun are well-written with complex emotional arcs. I also really like how realistic the show is in its portrayal of how the characters balance their personal and professional lives, with their careers sometimes taking precedence over love. The action sequences are intense and only elevate the tension that slowly keeps building throughout the show. Even the subplots that showcase the camaraderie between Si-jin and his best friend, Seo Dae-young (Jin Goo) add so much to the show that you can’t help but want more. Add in all the stunning locations and breathtaking cinematography, and you have one of the most immersive K-dramas of all time.
3 ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay’ (2020)
Brace yourself before you watch It’s Okay to Not Be Okay because this show had me ugly-crying for days. I usually stay far away from shows centered on mental health because they tend to reduce the topic to superficial portrayals, but not this one. The best way to describe this K-drama would be a fairytale for adults. The way the story brings in fantastical elements into a narrative that’s grounded in realism makes for a very interesting contrast. Every episode of the show is somewhat of a dark take on popular childhood stories, so you have a sense of familiarity, but at the same time, you don’t really know what’s coming next. The show follows Ko Moon-young (Seo Ye-jin), a children’s author who lives with her autistic brother Moon Sang-tae (Oh Jung-se). The siblings often move towns in an attempt to escape the psychological toll of their mother’s murder.
In doing so, Moon-young crosses paths with Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun), a psychiatric ward caretaker who will do anything he can to avoid emotional connection. Throughout the show’s 16 episodes, the two leads not only fall in love, but they also heal each other from their equally disturbing pasts. What I really like, though, is that the show continues to focus on Sang-tae’s emotional growth, too, instead of tossing his storyline to the side. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay uses a lot of symbolism to point out how people hide their true struggles behind external appearances. In doing so, the writers address the stigma around mental health, which makes the show extremely relatable for anyone who has ever struggled with their own dark chapters. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay is not a perfect fantasy by any means, but the show’s messiness is the whole point.
2 ‘Healer’ (2014)
Healer might be the oldest K-drama on this list, but it remains relevant to this day. I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about an action-romance show, but this one had me hooked until the very end. The story follows Seo Jung-hoo (Ji Chang-wook), an illegal night courier with the code-name “Healer,” who is hired for dangerous, covert tasks. However, when he has to protect reporter Chae Young-shin (Park Min-young), he is drawn into a world of mystery and uncovered secrets. The premise might sound simple, but trust me, Healer slowly pulls back the layers, and the storyline goes through complex twists and turns with every episode.
I really love how the story effortlessly switches between Healer and Young-shin’s romance and high-octane action sequences. The pacing of the show is perfect, which is rare for a lot of other K-dramas. I can guarantee that there are absolutely no filler episodes in Healer, and every single scene counts toward building the overall narrative. Instead of painting a black-and-white picture, the show portrays all its characters as morally gray, despite always being on the side of justice. The idea of a gritty romance might not appeal to many, but Healer has set the bar for the genre.
1 ‘Crash Landing on You’ (2019)
If you haven’t heard of Crash Landing on You, you’re missing out on one of the greatest romantic K-dramas of all time. The show is an unexpected love story between a South Korean heiress, Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin), and a North Korean military officer, Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyn Bin). The story begins with Se-ri literally crashing into the North Korean portion of the DMZ, where Jeong-hyeok finds her. The army captain decides to help her return home while keeping her hidden from the authorities. The show is an eye-opening commentary on how love transcends political and cultural barriers through the two leads’ growing connection. Despite living two completely different lives, Se-ri and Jeong-hyeok learn that they have more in common with each other than they thought.
Not just that, but Crash Landing on You is a great portrayal of the difference between North and South Korea, which serves as a powerful backdrop against the central love story. I really like how the show also depicts a more humanized version of North Koreans and portrays them as individuals capable of kindness, loyalty, and above all, love. Safe to say that Crash Landing on You has become a cultural phenomenon and is considered to be one of the most mainstream K-dramas of modern times. Sure, the series has taken some creative liberties and skirted around difficult topics, but at the end of the day, it asks thought-provoking questions about duty and love.
Your Rating close 10 stars 9 stars 8 stars 7 stars 6 stars 5 stars 4 stars 3 stars 2 stars 1 star Rate Now 0/10 Like Follow Followed Crash Landing On You TV-MA Drama Comedy Romance 9.3/10 Release Date 2019 – 2019 Network tvN Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming
Powered by Expand Collapse
Keep Reading: The 25 Best K-Dramas of All Time, Ranked
