This article lists 14 must-watch romantic dramas produced in Korea
Do you like K-dramas? This list covers 14 of the most romantic Korean
television dramas. Some are funny, some feature elements of crime, and
some delve deep into love, family, and loyalty. What they all have in
common is that they are chock-full of romance and melodrama. Each show's
description is followed by a trailer or a short clip, so be sure to
check those out if you want to get a feel for any of these shows before
diving in. If you've seen these shows before, be sure to vote in the
poll at the end of the list!
The 14 Most Romantic Korean Dramas
14. Heartstrings (15 episodes) 13. Empress Ki (51 episodes) 12. King's Daughter, Soo Baek Hyang (108 episodes) 11. The King in Love (40 episodes) 10. Fight for My Way (16 episodes) 9. Marriage, Not Dating (16 episodes) 8. While You Were Sleeping (32 episodes) 7. My ID Is Gangnam Beauty (16 episodes) 6. Go Back Couple (12 episodes) 5. What's Wrong With Secretary Kim (16 episodes) 4. Chicago Typewriter (16 episodes) 3. Because This Is My First Life (16 episodes) 2. Suspicious Partner/Love in Trouble (40 episodes) 1. I'm Not a Robot (32 episodes)
Heartstrings is an adorable love story about two young musicians.
14. Heartstrings
If you're looking for a romantic K-drama that is cute, adorable, and totally entertaining, then you'll definitely enjoy Heartstrings.
The show hasn't received much technical or critical praise, but it's
not boring to watch, and it really gets you involved. If you like to
watch love-centric shows that are entertaining and relaxing, Heartstrings will definitely appeal to you.
My favorite aspect of this show is the way the two leads slowly fall
in love. Lee Shin, a student majoring in modern music, is the vocalist
and guitarist in a popular local band. He is uninterested in most things
in life besides music. Kyu Won, on the other hand, knows nothing
besides traditional music and is just trying to live up to her family's
expectations. One day, her friends bring her to Lee Shin's band's
concert. As you may have already guessed, she immediately becomes
captivated by their good-looking vocalist. Released: 2011 Starring: Park Shin-hye, Jung Yong-hwa
Empress Ki is a historical drama that doesn't come up short on romance.
13. Empress Ki
If you are looking for a romantic historical drama, Empress Ki is a must-watch for sure. While Empress Ki
is billed as a historical program, it's actually only loosely based on
historical events—plenty of romanticization and melodrama were
incorporated during the writing process.
The main story centers on Seung Nyang. Originally a slave in Goryeo,
she grows up to become a strong woman who saves young girls and prevents
them from being sent away to China to serve the emperor. As the show
progresses, a sort of love triangle develops. I don't want to give too
much away, but let's just say that both of Seung's suitors are royalty. Released: 2013 Starring: Ha Ji-won, Joo Jin-mo, Ji Chang-wook
King's Daughter, Soo Baek Hyang tells a compelling and engaging story court politics and love.
12. King's Daughter, Soo Baek Hyang
This selection is a long historical drama perfect for viewers who
love complicated and well-thought-out stories. Don't be intimidated,
though, The King's Daughter, Soo Baek Hyang is also quite engaging and pretty easy to watch. Despite its focus on court politics, the series is definitely all about love.
The show is set in ancient Korea during the pre-Joseon period. As you
may have already guessed from the title, it revolves around the eldest
daughter of King Muryeong, the leader of one of the Three Kingdoms in
ancient Korea. Because of her righteous character, she doesn't become a
princess. Instead, her evil half-sister takes her place. Sometime later,
she starts spying for her own nation. Released: 2013 Starring: Seo Hyun-jin, Seo Woo, Lee Jae-ryong, Jo Hyun-jae, Jun Tae-soo
The King in Love is yet another period piece about romance and royalty.
11. The King in Love
Get ready . . . here comes another historical period drama about a love triangle. While watching The King in Love,
I felt as if I had actually traveled back in time to the Goryeo period.
The show tells the story of a king who has only one loyal friend. There
are few people in the world he can truly trust, and this friend is one
of them. The thing is, they both fall in love with the same woman. She
genuinely loves both of them, and that just makes matters worse. Released: 2017 Starring: Im Si-wan, Im Yoon-ah, Hong Jong-hyun
Fight for My Way is about four friends struggling to grow up, find love, and follow their dreams.
10. Fight for My Way
Fight for My Way focuses on four characters—childhood
friends now in their late twenties—who are struggling either to achieve a
dream or to find a purpose in life. Throughout the show, they try,
fail, learn, stumble, fall, and get back up. No matter what our precious
four are faced with, they make their own way and do their best to live
happy lives. Despite being unlucky in both love and work, they
eventually realize that love lies right on the surface. Give this
awesome best-friends-to-lovers drama a shot—you won't regret it. Released: 2017 Starring: Park Seo-joon, Kim Ji-won, Ahn Jae-hong, Song Ha-yoon
Marriage, Not Dating is a refreshingly funny delve into one man's futile desire to remain single.
While You Were Sleeping adds an element of fantasy to the romantic drama genre.
8. While You Were Sleeping
While You Were Sleeping is a bit of a departure from the
other shows on this list. This drama has an interesting fantasy aspect
in that it incorporates dreams into the characters' romance, everyday
life, and conflicts. The drama is centered around Suzy, a woman who has
visions of other people's catastrophic futures in her dreams. Lee Jong
Suk, a prosecutor, decides to meet with her due to a vision she has in a
dream. Released: 2017 Starring: Lee Jong-suk, Bae Suzy, Jung Hae-in, Lee Sang-yeob
My ID Is Gangnam Beauty explores the relationship between inner beauty and external appearance in a university setting.
7. My ID Is Gangnam Beauty
My ID is Gangnam Beauty is a thought-provoking, romantic
K-drama that focuses on campus romance. An insecure, cautious girl who
was once bullied for her looks genuinely wants to start a new chapter in
her life, so she decides to transform her face with plastic surgery.
After the surgery, however, people continue to tease her, dubbing her
"Gangnam Beauty." When she begins studying at university, she meets a
guy who loves people for what they are like on the inside. Will he stand
up for her and help her discover her true beauty? Released: 2018 Starring: Im Soo-hyang, Cha Eun-woo, Jo Woo-ri, Kwak Dong-yeon
Go Back Couple combines romance with time-travel to explore what it is that makes relationships work.
6. Go Back Couple
This is an amazingly heart-touching K-drama that you would be remiss
to skip. Have you ever found yourself wondering what would you do if you
could go back in time? If your answer is "yes," then Go Back Couple
should be at the top of your must-watch list. A time-travel drama may
not sound all that groundbreaking or original, but the stellar execution
of this series makes it well-worth your watch. It's realistic (well, as
realistic as a time-travel show can be), it plays with your emotions,
and, most importantly, it's incredibly romantic! Go Back Couple revolves around a married couple in their
late 30s. They both regret marrying at such a young age, and they have
begun to resent one another. The show takes us on an epic journey as the
couple travels back in time to when they were 20-year-old students and
had first met each other. Will revisiting their relationship's
conception help them mend their failing marriage? Released: 2017 Starring: Son Ho-jun, Jang Na-ra
What's
Wrong With Secretary Kim is a raucous romantic comedy that explores
what can happen when a professional relationship becomes a personal one.
5. What's Wrong With Secretary Kim
What's Wrong With Secretary Kim tells the story of Kim, a
woman who wants a reset in her life and so decides to resign from her
job. The patient and hardworking secretary has been working diligently
for Lee Young Joon (vice-chairman of an important company) for nine
years. Young Joon, a narcissistic and self-absorbed man, barely thinks
of the people around him—he is the president of his family's company and
thinks only about his own life. He is surprised by Kim's unexpected
resignation and wants to find out why his most diligent worker has
decided to quit.
Throughout this quest, they learn a lot about each other. This show
is a comedy above all else, so if you pick laughs over complex stories
and don't mind over-the-top comedy at times, What's Wrong With Secretary Kim will definitely have you reeling in your seat. Released: 2018 Starring: Park Seo-joon, Park Min-young
Chicago
Typewriter is a tale of romance that spans multiple lifetimes and makes
poignant statements about how the past can affect the future.
4. Chicago Typewriter
Chicago Typewriter is a little different from most of the
other series on this list. Part drama, part romance, part reincarnation
epic, this is a deep and meaningful story whose melodrama spans
lifetimes. Best of all, there is no shortage of heart-melting kiss
scenes!
The story revolves around three main characters: a reincarnated
bestselling author who is depressed and can't find inspiration to
complete his next novel, a ghostwriter who is determined to help the
author overcome his writer's block, and a caring and devoted fan of the
author's work. Over the course of the series, the trio learns the truth
about their past lives. In doing so, they shed light on why their
present lives are the way that they are. In their attempts to recall
their pasts, the three form an unshakable bond. Released: 2017 Starring: Yoo Ah-in, Im Soo-jung, Go Kyung-pyo
Because
This Is My First Life is a circumstantial romantic drama that follows
three unlikely couples down the bumpy road of love.
3. Because This Is My First Life
Are you familiar with marriage contract storylines? Because This Is My First Life
may sound a bit typical at first—a man and a woman marry each other due
to beneficial circumstances but eventually end up falling for each
other for real. The realistic premise is actually what makes this story
so intriguing. It makes for complex drama and intense scenes that differ
from those found in most innocent love series.
The main story is quite sweet. It centers around a single man in his
early 30s who owns his home but also owes a huge mortgage and a homeless
single woman (who is also in her 30s). The man is considering taking a
tenant in one of his rooms to help him cope with his financial
difficulties. As you may have already guessed, the two become
housemates. Interestingly, Because This Is My First Life doesn't just focus on a single couple. In total, the show includes three couples, each with their own interesting storyline. Released: 2017 Starring: Lee Min-ki, Jung So-min
Suspicious Partner (AKA Love in Trouble) is a suspense-filled, romantic thrill ride steeped in crime, love, and mystery.
2. Suspicious Partner/Love in Trouble
Suspicious Partner successfully blends crime and romance,
which, in my experience, is pretty rare. The show has its fair share of
love, but it also incorporates interesting plot twists and crime-based
suspense in a way that will keep you glued to the screen.
The series tells the story of an intelligent prosecutor who is forced
to become a defense attorney and a strong-but-naive woman (also an
attorney) who is accused of murder. They work as a team to get to the
bottom of the mysterious case, and, as I'm sure you've guessed,
unexpected romance ensues. Released: 2017 Starring: Ji Chang-wook, Nam Ji-hyun, Choi Tae-joon, Kwon Nara
I'm Not a Robot has a fairly wild premise, but the execution is spectacular. This is my favorite romantic comedy hands-down.
1. I'm Not a Robot
I'm Not a Robot is one of the best (if not the best)
rom-coms I have ever watched. It is fluffy, easy to watch, and features
some stellar acting. The concept itself is somewhat unbelievable (maybe
even crazy at times), but the plot is so well-thought-out that you
can't help but fall in love with the show. Incredible writing and acting
bring this unexpected hit from great to almost perfect.
The story follows a man who is allergic to humans. Yes, you read that
right. He has a severe skin allergy that he developed as a result of
trauma he sustained as a child. Even though he is an unbelievably rich,
he has no clue how to get rid of his allergy, so he has been forced to
live by himself for 15 years. One day, he gets a chance to test out a
newly invented robot companion. At the very last moment, however, due to
some unexpected circumstances, a real girl is sent instead of a
machine. That's when the fun begins! Watch this show—you won't regret
it. Released: 2017 Starring: Yoo Seung-ho, Chae Soo-bin, Um Ki-joon
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