Now one of the most beloved forms of television worldwide, people cannot get enough k-dramas. The South Korean drama industry first had a boom outside of Asia in the mid-2000s, and ever since then, the trajectory of the entertainment industry as a whole has been climbing to all-new heights each year. Romance dramas have been the heart of many people’s love for Korean dramas, and they cannot get enough of the tropes, whether it’s a woman lead shouting out, “Don’t leave,” or a subtle wrist grab as a character turns away.
These dramas have become so beloved that even streaming giants like Netflix have been tapping into the Korean market to get a share of the pie. Although the demographics of these shows statistically primarily appeal to women due to the romance elements, they’re really for everyone with an open mind and a willingness to go beyond the barriers created by the one-inch subtitles on the screen. From the outskirts of South Korea’s provinces, the high-rise towers in contemporary Seoul, and far-off locations set in Europe, these 12 dramas are some of the most romantic Korean dramas on the market.
20
‘When the Camellia Blooms’ (2019)
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Kong Hyo-jin
Oh Dong-baek
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Kim Ji-seok
Kang Jong-ryeol
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Ji E-Suu
Jessica Park Sang-mi
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Kang Ha-neul
Hwang Yong-sik
In When the Camellia Blooms, a single mother follows her dreams when she moves to a small town named Ongsan. She decides to open up her own bar and create a life for herself here, and as the years pass, a local police officer falls in love with her. As their romance brews, a serial killer becomes active in the same town, and it seems like this killer has their eye on her. Forced to keep things somewhat professional as the police officer tries to find the killer before it’s too late, he also has to find a way to make her fall in love with him before he loses his chance. A standout crime thriller meets romance, making this an engaging K-drama great for a broad audience.
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19
‘Descendants of the Sun’ (2016)
Descendants of the Sun is considered to be one of the most iconic Korean dramas to come out in the 2010s. Starring Song Hye-kyo and Song Joong-ki, they portray a doctor and a military captain who accidentally meet in South Korea. Their initial encounter is a brief one by chance, but when the doctor is sent to the same country that the captain is stationed in, sparks fly between them. However, they reside in an active war zone and have to do their jobs there.
18
‘Strong Girl Bong-soon’ (2017)
Strong Girl Bong-soon is a romance drama that was released in 2017. It tells the story of a young woman named Do Bong-soon who wants to create a video game in which she is the main character. What sets Bong-soon apart from the rest of her peers is that she has superhuman strength like all the women in her family, but she wants to become an elegant and delicate woman because that’s what her crush, In Guk-doo, likes.
Thanks to her super strength, she starts working as the bodyguard of Ahn Min-hyuk, the rich gaming company owner. With the help of her new employer, Bong-soon starts to take control of her powers and starts falling in love. But a series of kidnappings in the area makes Bong-soon take action to catch the culprits while balancing her love life and her job. If you love funny and adorable shenanigans, this drama is for you.
17
‘Crash Landing on You’ (2019)
Released in 2019, Crash Landing on You imagines what would happen if a wealthy woman CEO goes paragliding, ends up in a freak accident, and somehow crash lands in North Korea. Rescued by a North Korean captain, he lets her stay in his house despite the consequences of what would happen if they’re caught like this. Although she eventually has to return to South Korea, she does so halfway through the series. The two grow closer, creating a relationship that apparently could heal North and South Korea’s diplomatic relations.
16
‘Business Proposal’ (2022)
After the woman lead in Business Proposal, Shin Ha-ri, pretends to be her friend on a blind date, this proves to be the catalyst for the entire series. The man who she’s now going on a date with is the CEO of the food company Ha-ri works at, and now he thinks she’s someone else. When Ha-ri shows up to work, she now has to hide from him, who she is very aware is a superior, while not blowing her cover by pretending to be her friend. But as it turns out, this will become a boon for them both as they start to catch feelings.
15
‘Youth of May’ (2020)
Based in the 80s, around the time of the Gwangju Uprising, Youth of May tells the stories of a young medical student named Hwang Hee-tae and a nurse named Kim Myung-hee, and how they fall in love despite the ongoing state of affairs around them. The two of them only come across each other by chance, but cannot help the attraction they feel for each other, despite having different goals in life. A heartbreaking story of love, activism, and sacrifice, Youth of May will make you shed a few tears. The series’ actors did a fantastic job portraying the characters, and what is more heartbreaking is that most of these characters are based on real people and events.
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14
‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?’
What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim
Release Date
June 6, 2018
Network
tvN
Directors
Park Joon-hwa
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Jo Deok-hyeon
Kim Young Man [Mi So’s father]
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Lee Byung-joon
Jang Jeong Do [Fashion Designer]
Park Seo-joon and Park Min-young star in the 2018 hit What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?, which is based on a novel and a webtoon of the same name. The series was immensely successful domestically and internationally upon its release and remains a favorite among many South Korean drama fans. Park Seo-joon portrays a vice-chairman of a big company in Korea, and Park Min-young plays his secretary. When she announces she is resigning from her position, he handles it poorly and decides he will do whatever it takes to keep her at his side.
13
‘Twenty-Five Twenty-One’ (2022)
A throwback to the late ’90s in Korea, Twenty-Five Twenty-One stars The Handmaiden’s Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do. She’s an avid fencer in high school, but when the school she attends cuts the fencing program, she decides to transfer to pursue her passion. She goes down a winning path, winning a spot on the National Fencing Team. However, when she meets a local boy (Nam Joo-hyuk) who works multiple jobs to survive with his family, their lives are about to change.
12
‘Flower of Evil’ (2020)
Baek Hee-sung and Cha Ji-won are happily married with a daughter. However, everything is not as it seems at first glance. Baek Hee-sung hides his true identity and his past from his wife. Cha Ji-won, a detective, starts investigating a series of murders from fifteen years ago, and things she did not know about start coming to light. The series is an amazing mystery thriller with an undertone of romance. The two main protagonists were amazing in the series, and their chemistry and storyline make Flower of Evil a worthwhile watch.
11
‘Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha’ (2021)
Set in a beautiful little coastal town in Korea, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha stars Shin Min-a and Kim Seon-ho in the lead roles. A Seoul-based dentist (Shin) visits the town with the intention of stopping there briefly, but when she arrives, she is inspired to open her own practice there. To do so, she befriends the town’s local worker who does everything: Hong Du-sik (Kim). Things won’t be easy transitioning with a big city attitude in these parts, and while she struggles initially, Hong helps her out. Along the way, these two begin to date.
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