The romantic genre is a popular one that has secured its niche worldwide. However, after the Hallyu wave, romantic Korean Dramas emerged as a new trend, steadily growing each day. Korean shows have gained immense popularity, attracting viewers from different platforms and languages long after their initial broadcast. Their storylines, which focus on family bonds, life’s hardships, loyal friendships, and enduring love, satisfy our cravings and strike a chord of relatability.
Read more: 10 Best Korean Dramas Of 2023 That Are A Must Watch
Here are the 15 Most addictive Romantic Korean Dramas to add to your must-watch list
1. Goblin/Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (2016-2017)
IMDb rating: 8.6/10
Watch on: Netflix / Rakuten Viki
The story starts with Kim Shin, a warrior in the Goryeo dynasty of Korea being cursed with immortality, thus turning into a Goblin. The only way out is to find the Goblin’s wife and find a peaceful death. However, this fantasy romance show takes a sharp turn when the Goblin falls for the bride for real! This show is full of unexpected twists and many hidden pasts revealed throughout the series.
2. Twenty-Five Twenty-One (2022)
IMDb rating: 8.6/10
Watch on: Netflix
Set in the backdrop of Korea’s ongoing financial crisis in 1997, the show captures the beautiful tale of two youngsters who cross paths when they were 18 and 21 and navigate through life’s hardships while also finding love and solace in each other. It is a romantic coming-of-age captivating story set in the aesthetics of the 90s Seoul.
3. Business Proposal/ The Office Blind Date (2022)
IMDb rating: 8.1/10
Watch on: Netflix
This show will get you to ROFL in multiple moments! Business Proposal is a romantic comedy show about the CEO of a big company who is set up on a blind date forcefully by his grandfather. However, the woman who is set up with switches sends her best friend in her place to disrupt the marriage plans. The woman- Ha-ri who plays the role of an eccentric woman finds out that the man he is trying to trick is also her employee. The rest of the series is filled with errors of comedy, a lot of corporate drama, and of course-romance!
4. Our Beloved Summer (2021)
IMDb rating: 8.2/10
Watch on: Netflix
It is a romantic comedy and coming-of-age story that portrays the story of two students studying in the same class- the girl being a topper, and the boy being the last one. The two start to interact when a documentary film is made on these two. Their close proximity on a daily basis makes them fall in love with each other. Parted just after spending a lovelorn summer, the two ex-lovers are brought together to shoot the same documentary as the first one was a success. The show exudes summer vibes, love, maturing of characters over time and so much more to fall in love with it.
5. Crash Landing on You (2019-2020)
IMDb rating: 8.7/10
Watch on: Netflix
It is an interesting romantic-comedy series that will show you that love blurs all borders created by humans. It starts with a successful businesswoman paragliding and accidentally crash-landing in North Korea! She tries to run away but is caught by the army officers. One of the officers tries to keep the woman hidden until safely getting back to South Korea. Their time in North Korea together gradually makes them fall in love. But, what happens after she returns? or did she not return? The rest of the series answers all these questions. It was the most popular romantic show of 2019 and if you haven’t watched it till now- this is your sign to go watch it!
6. True Beauty (220-2021)
IMDb rating: 8/10
Watch on: Netflix / Rakuten Viki / Amazon Prime
True Beauty is a K-drama based on a famous and long-running Webtoon that goes by the name-. Lim Ju Kyun is a high-school student who is bullied for her looks. Desperately, she changes schools and also learns to cover her face under a hood of makeup. Unexpectedly, she becomes a popular girl in her new school due to her extraordinary beauty! But, one of the students knows her from her past and so he knows her secret too. The series beautifully depicts the importance of inner beauty over outward experience. The show is full of hilarious scenes, high-school drama, and romance.
7. Descendants of the Sun (2016)
IMDb rating: 8.2/10
Watch on: Netflix/ Rakuten Viki
The show was released in 2016 but is still considered one of the best romantic K-dramas. It narrates the story of an injured soldier who falls for an army surgeon. Their colliding lives and life principles, their love for each other, and their burning chemistry create magic for the viewers! It has got everything that you would expect from a K-drama- romance, action, melodrama, and comedy. The show gained international popularity upon its release and ever since its release it is considered one of the finest shows in the Korean romance category.
8. It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)
IMDb rating: 8.6/10
Watch on: Netflix
It is a romantic comedy show that takes the viewers on a journey of a lonesome children’s book author and an employee in a psychiatric ward healing and finding love together. The show became popular because of its healing concept, the chemistry between the actors, and the visually appealing cinematography. It was released in 2020 and gained instant popularity.
9. What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018)
IMDb rating: 8.1/10
Watch on: Netflix/ Rakuten Viki
A narcissistic CEO of a giant multimillionaire company in Seoul and his secretary have had a very professional relationship for 9 years. But, suddenly one day Secretary Kim gives her a letter of resignation and this baffles the CEO. However, he is not so shocked only because his experienced employee is leaving but also because he has unexpressed feelings towards her!
10. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
IMDb rating: 8.4/10
Watch on: Netflix
A slow slice-of-life romantic show- Home Town Cha Cha Cha shows the story of a dentist moving from a big city to move to a seaside village and find some peace. On moving there, she meets a kind handyman who helps his neighbors. Her initial fears are subsided when she speaks her heart out at a party. As the dentist tries to adjust to the village life, the handyman helps her-leading to the two falling in love.
11. Romance Is a Bonus Book (2019)
IMDb rating: 8.6/10
Watch on: Netflix
The old friendship between a young boy who helps a few years older girl by bringing her books to the hospital also develops an interest in books. Years later, the two old friends reconcile as the now-famous lawyer helps his friend- now single and a divorced mother to regain her footing in life. The two fall for each other despite so many obstacles and hardships.
12. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo (2016-2017)
IMDb rating: 8.3/10
Watch on: Netflix /Rakuten Viki
This romantic sports drama narrates the story of a weightlifting woman and a swimming athlete who are friends since their school days. Despite them being good friends, Kim Bok-Joo has a crush on her friend’s older brother who is also a doctor. As the story progresses, Kim realizes that her biggest motivator and friend is also the one she could find love in. The show is successful in showing how friends and partners could play a big part in motivating us to grow in life.
13. My Secret Romance (2017)
IMDb rating: 8.6/10
Watch on: Netflix / Rakuten Viki
A 2017 romantic-drama-comedy series that starts with an heir of a big business conglomerate of South Korea and a woman who coincidentally meets at a wedding but their pleasant encounter is cut short when the woman disappears without information. Many years later, the two meet each other as boss and employee and a lot of misunderstandings, comedy, and an unresolved past comes up between the two.
14. My Love from Another Star/ My Love from the Star (2013–2014)
IMDb rating: 8.2/10
Watch on: Netflix / Rakuten Viki
“My Love from the Star” is a fantasy romance series about an alien who gets stranded on Earth and despises humans for their ways. However, his views are changed when he stumbles upon a childish actress, and the love blossoms between the two. It is a light-hearted show with a good dose of romance, comedy, and fantasy!
15. When The Camellia Blooms (2019)
IMDb rating: 7.9/10
Watch on: Netflix
This romantic-thriller show is about a woman opening a bar called Camellia in the small town- Ongsan. There she meets an interesting set of people including a cheery police officer and her life was on track until she becomes the next target of the serial killer roaming the town! The show is set with a thrilling investigation and a blooming love story between the officer and the bar owner.
Which of these have you watched and which you are planning to watch? Tell us your preferences from the above list of 15 Most addictive Romantic Korean Dramas in the comments section!