What does a couple weathering a contractual marriage, a Goblin’s quest to change the fate of his human lover and the secret love story between a South Korean heiress and a North Korean soldier have in common? They are all plotlines of some of the best romantic K-drama titles of the 21st century. From Hwang In-roi’s 2006 classic Princess Hours to tvN hits like Crash Landing on You and Queen of Tears, here is a list of the 25 top romantic Korean dramas released in the 21st century.
Leading the list is the Kim Ji-won and Son Suk-kyu starrer 2022 series My Liberation Notes. Penned by Park Hae-young, the series gained critical and commercial acclaim for its depiction of social and economic pressures that challenge young adults and their relationships in South Korea. It was further praised for avoiding cliche K-drama romance tropes and focusing on a love that leads to personal liberation. According to its streaming platform Netflix, this 21st-century romantic K-drama debuted at #9 on Netflix’s Global Top 10 TV (non-English) category in 2022.
Multiple tvN gems like Hotel Del Luna (2019), Crash Landing on You (2019) and Queen of Tears (2024) also make it to our list of the 25 best romantic K-drama titles of the 21st century.
With themes of fantasy, comedy and horror, Hotel Del Luna starring superstar IU is a lighthearted tale of a ghost’s romance with a human. One of the highest-rated K-dramas, the critically acclaimed horror-comedy garnered a solid 12 per cent finale viewership rating, according to Nielsen Korea.
Additionally, Son Ye-jin and Hyun Bin’s career-defining project Crash Landing on You enjoyed a nationwide average viewership of 21.7 per cent and over 6.3 million views, according to Nielsen Korea.
Lest we forget, the 2024 Korean romance Queen of Tears starring popular actor Kim Soo-hyun ranked for 13 consecutive weeks on Netflix’s Top 10 (global Non-English) chart and surpassed over 600 million, as of 5 June 2024. The tvN original K-drama is directed by Kim Hee-won and received great critical reviews due to its plot, direction, performances and necessary portrayal of reversed gender roles.
25 best romantic K-drama titles of the 21st century: Scroll away to see if your favourite made the cut
1 /25
Directed by: Kim Seok-yoon
Cast: Kim Ji-won, Son Suk-ku
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.2
Synopsis: Yeom Mi-jeong (Kim) commutes to Seoul to escape her monotonous life in Sanpo, Gyeonggi-do. On her way, she is joined by the mysterious Mr Gu (Son), who works at Mi-jeong’s father’s factory. Will the duo be able to find freedom and fulfilment in Seoul? Or, will they return to their lives in Sanpo?
About the show: Multiple Korean actors have praised the drama on social media. Goblin star Gong Yoo even posted a review for My Liberation Notes in his fan cafe, praising the direction, screenplay and performances.
Awards won: Best Screenplay for Park Hae-young at the 2023 Baeksang Arts Awards and Best Writer (Drama Category) at the 2022 Korean Broadcasting Writers Awards.
2 /25
Directed by: Park Shin-woo
Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ye-ji, Oh Jeong-se, Jang Young-nam
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.6
Synopsis: Psych ward caretaker Moon Kang-tae’s (Kim) autistic elder brother (Oh) insists on meeting the latter’s favourite writer Ko Moon-young (Son). After getting to know each other, Kang-tae and Moon-young grow close and fall for each other. However, when the duo’s tragic past comes to light, their bond is tested.
Awards won: Most Popular Actress Television for Seo Yea-ji and Best Supporting Actor Television for Oh Jung-se at the 2021 Baeksang Arts Awards.
3 /25
Directed by: Kim kyu-tae
Cast: Gong Yoo, Seo Hyun-jin
Episodes: 8
IMDb rating: 7
Synopsis: Music producer Jeong-won (Gong) is forced by his ex-wife to get into a contractual marriage with In-ji (Seo), a wife-for-hire working for NM company. As In-ji starts developing feelings for Jeong-won, secrets from her past and a mysterious trunk threaten her newfound peace.
Also read: The Trunk ending, explained
4 /25
Directed by: Je Won-yu
Cast: Shin Min-ah, Kim Seon-ho, Gina Su
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.3
Synopsis: Fed up with her life in Seoul, dentist Yoon Hye-jin (Shin) sets up her practice in the seaside village of Gongjin in Korea. There, she falls for a jack-of-all-trades, Hong Du-sik (Kim). However, the road to love seems difficult with Du-sik’s secrets and mysterious past.
Awards won: Top Excellence Award, Actress in a Miniseries for Shin Min-ah at the 2022 APAN Star Awards, National Winner (Korea) – Best Direction (Fiction) for Yoo Je-won at the 2022 Asian Academy Creative Awards and Outstanding Korean Actor for Kim Seon-ho at the 2022 Seoul International Drama Awards
5 /25
Directed by: Pyo Min-soo and Park Chan-yool
Cast: Rain, Song Hye-kyo, Han Eun-jung, Kim Sung-soo
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 7.8
Synopsis: Scriptwriter Han Ji-eun (Son) returns to Korea from her vacation only to discover that her childhood home is now owned by popular actor Lee Young-jae (Rain). To keep the property, Ji-eun gets into a contract marriage with Young-jae but ends up falling in love with him.
About the show: Based on the manhwa of the same name by Won Soo-yeon, the series was adapted into a musical and had its stage run at the Hongik Art Center starting 11 April 2014. Among its other adaptations are the 2007 Philippines show Full House, the 2017 Pakistani show Yeh Raha Dil and the 2020 Chinese show Midsummer Is Full of Love.
Awards won: Top Excellence Award, Actress for Song Hye-kyo; Excellence Award, Actor for Rain; Popularity Award, Actor for Rain; Popularity Award, Actress for Song Hye-kyo and Best Couple for Rain and Song Hye-kyo at the 2004 KBS Drama Awards.
(Image: Courtesy Rain/Song Hye-kyo/Instagram)
6 /25
Directed by: Choi Sung-bum
Cast: Im Soo-hyang, Cha Eun-woo, Jo Woo-ri
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 7.3
Synopsis: Kang Mi-rae (Im) gets bullied for her appearance and decides to get plastic surgery. When she begins college, she enjoys the attention her new look gets. However, the arrival of an old schoolmate named Do Kyung-suk (Cha) causes trouble. Will Mi-rae be able to keep the secret about her surgery?
About the show: Based on the webtoon of the same name by Gi Maeng-gi, the show gained global recognition for highlighting the societal obsession with appearance in South Korea. It specifically highlights the struggles and bullying faced by individuals who don’t fit into the concept of “Gangnam beauty” — the plastic surgery-enhanced looks associated with the affluent Gangnam district of South Korea.
7 /25
Directed by: Cha Young-hoon
Cast: Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hye-sun, Shin Dong-mi
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8
Synopsis: A scandal forces successful Korean photographer Jo Sam-dal (Shin) to leave Seoul. Seeking a change, she returns to her hometown, Samdalri, and meets her friend Jo Yong-pil (Ji), now a weather forecaster. Soon, Sam-dal starts exploring the village with Yong-pil, while reminiscing childhood memories. Meanwhile, Yong-pil heals her past scars.
8 /25
Directed by: Oh Hyun-jong and Nam Sung-woo
Cast: Lee Sung-kyung, Nam joo hyuk, Kyung Soo-jin
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.3
Synopsis: Campus heartthrob and swimmer Jung Joon-hyung (Nam) takes a liking to weightlifting champ Kim Bok-joo (Lee) because of her spunky nature. As Joon-hyung pursues Bok-joo, the latter realises that Joon-hyung has been a part of her life since elementary school.
About the show: Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo’s screenplay is inspired by the life of the well-known South Korean weightlifter Jang Mi-ran.
9 /25
Directed by: Park Shin-woo
Cast: Ji Chang-wook, Kim Ji-won, Kim Min-seok, Han Ji-eun, Ryu Kyung-soo
Episodes: 17
IMDb rating: 7.9
Synopsis: Freelance marketer Lee Eun-o (Kim) starts a beachside romance with architect Park Jae-won (Ji) under a false identity and later leaves him heartbroken. Unable to get her out of his mind, Jae-won goes to Seoul to confront her.
10 /25
Directed by: Lee Eung-bok
Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Yoo In-na, Lee Dong-wook
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.6
Synopsis: When Joseon Dynasty warrior Kim Shin (Gong) is betrayed and brutally murdered, the gods take pity and turn him into an immortal goblin. Decades later, Shin, fed up with his immortality, decides to visit the modern world in search of his bride (Kim), the only human who can give him his freedom.
Awards won: Best Actor for Gong Yoo at the 53rd Baeksang Arts Awards and Outstanding Korean Drama OST for “I Will Go To You Like the First Snow” by Ailee at the 12th Seoul International Drama Awards.
11 /25
Directed by: Hong Jong-chan
Cast: Woo Do-hwan, Lee Yoo-mi, Oh Jung-se, Kim Hae-sook
Episodes: 10
IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: When protagonist Hae-jo (Woo) learns he has a terminal illness and only three months to live, he realises that grief is always difficult and unpredictable. As he embarks on the final journey of his life accompanied by his ex-girlfriend Jae-mi (Lee), hopes, regrets and moments of short-lived joy make his last days memorable.
About the show: Another romance K-drama from the writer of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, Mr. Plankton, a heartwrenching tale of optimism, became a massive global hit after its premiere on Netflix. According to the OTT platform, the series secured a spot in the Top 10 Global (non-English) category in 42 countries, including South Korea, India, Hong Kong and Singapore, receiving overwhelming global acclaim in its second week of release.
12 /25
Directed by: Oh Choong-hwan
Cast: IU, Lee Do-hyun, Yeo Jin-goo, Shin Jung-keun, Bae Hae-sun
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: Del Luna, a mysterious Korean hotel, is home to CEO Jang Man-wol (IU), who is tied to the property for eternity due to a past mistake. Chung Myung (Lee), a thousand-year-old firefly, is her loyal guard. However, the playful dynamic between Man-wol and Chung starts changing with the arrival of the hotel’s new manager, Chan-sung (Yeo).
About the show: One of the most-watched tvN dramas of all time, it is written by the popular Hong sisters (Jung-eun and Mi-ran), known for some of the best Korean dramas like Alchemy of Souls (2022-23) and A Korean Odyssey (2017).
13 /25
Directed by: Kang Shin-hyo and Boo Sung-chul
Cast: Lee Min-ho, Park Shin-hye, Kim Woo-bin, Kim Ji-won
Episodes: 20
IMDb rating: 7.5
Synopsis: Kim Tan (Lee), a high school student and the heir to the Jeguk Group is engaged to heiress Yoo Rachael (Kim) due to business obligations. However, he crosses paths with the down-to-earth Cha Eun-sang (Park) and falls in love with her. With Tan’s family against the relationship due to their class difference, will the duo’s growing romance survive?
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
14 /25
Directed by: Boo Sung-chul, Yoon Jong-ho and Kim Tae-yeong
Cast: Byeon Woo-seok, Kim Hye-yoon, Song Geon-hee
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.6
Synopsis: Celebrity Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon) dies due to some unfortunate events. His sudden demise shatters his number one fan Im Sol (Kim). But when she mysteriously travels back in time, she finds Sun-jae alive and in high school. Relieved, Im Sol sets out to alter the events of the past that could lead to his death in the future.
About the show: This Byeon Woo-seok starrer is a Korean drama adaptation of the web novel The Best of Tomorrow by Kim Bbang.
15 /25
Directed by: Kim Hee-won and Jang Young-woo
Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.2
Synopsis: Hong Hae-in (Ji-won) is the heiress of Queens Group and the wife of Baek Hyun-woo (Soo-hyun), the company’s legal director. While the duo act like a happily married couple, they loathe each other behind closed doors. What happens when a crisis forces them to work together?
Awards won: First Korean series to win at both the Asian Academy Creative Awards (Best Direction) and Asian Television Awards (Best Scriptwriting) in 2024; Best Drama award at the 2024 Seoul International Drama Awards; and Artist of the Year (Actor) for Kim Soo-hyun at 2024 Asia Artist Awards.
16 /25
Directed by: Lee Jeong-hyo
Cast: Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin, Seo Ji-hye
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.7
Synopsis: South Korean heiress Yoon Se-Ri (Son) crash-lands in a North Korean village after a paragliding mishap. Her destiny changes when army officer Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun) rescues her and eventually falls in love with her. As the lovers aspire to be with each other, several cross-cultural differences come in the way of their blooming love.
Awards won: Popularity Award for Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin at the 56th Beaksang Arts Awards and Outstanding Korean Drama at the 15th Seoul International Drama Awards.
17 /25
Directed by: Nam Ki-hoon
Cast: Rowoon, Jo Bo-ah, Ha Jun
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 7.6
Synopsis: Lawyer Jang Shin-yu (Rowoon), who suffers from a deadly curse, can only be freed by a forbidden book from a mysterious old chest, owned by civil servant Lee Hong-jo (Jo). As he persuades her to help him, he starts developing feelings for her. What happens when Hong-jo’s long-time crush Jae-kyung (Ha) returns to her life?
18 /25
Directed by: Jin Hyeok
Cast: Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Min-ho, Lee Hee-jun, Shin Won-ho
Episodes: 20
IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: When mermaid Sim Chung’s (Jun) human lover Kim Ryung (Lee) from the Joseon Dynasty is reincarnated, she travels to modern-day Seoul to reconcile. With Ryung struggling to recollect the memory of his past life, will he be able to fall in love with Chung once again?
About the show: The drama takes inspiration from the classic Joseon legend included in South Korea’s first collection of unofficial historical tales about a fisherman who captures a mermaid only to fall for her and release her in the end.
19 /25
Directed by: Jang Tae-yoo, Oh Chung-hwan
Cast: Jun Ji-hyun, Kim Soo-hyun, Park Hae-jin, Yoo In-na, Shin Sung-rok
Episodes: 22
IMDb rating: 8.2
Synopsis: Do Min-joon (Kim) is an alien living on Earth for 400 years ago. His only goal is to find a way to return to his planet. One day, he comes across popular actor Chun Song-Yi (Jun), his new neighbour. As they spend time together, the duo fall for each other. Will Song-yi be able to stop Min-joon from leaving Earth?
About the show: The TV series earned massive international fame, with its filming locations drawing tourists in scores.
Awards won: Best Actor (Asia) for Kim Soo-hyun at the 8th International Drama Festival in Tokyo.
20 /25
Directed by: Jung Ji-hyun
Cast: Kim Tae-ri, Nam Joo-hyuk
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.6
Synopsis: In 1988, Na Hee-do (Kim) and Baek Yi-jin (Nam) meet when they’re 18 and 22 respectively. They fall in love. The former goes from being a high-school fencing champion to a part of the national team. The latter goes from working part-time jobs to becoming a sports reporter for a broadcasting network. Along the way, the two explore the different stages of love and longing.
About the show: One of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable television history, it gained an overwhelming response due to its strong plotline set against the backdrop of the 1997 Asian financial crisis, paired with relatable characters, strong acting, beautiful cinematography, beautiful soundtrack and a bitter-sweet ending.
Awards won: Best Drama Series at the 2022 Asian Academy Creative Awards and Best Actress and Most Popular Actress for Kim Tae-ri at the 2022 Baeksang Arts Awards.
21 /25
Directed by: Park Sun-ho
Cast: Ahn Hyo-seop, Kim Se-jeong, Seol In-a
Episodes: 12
IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: Shin Ha-ri (Kim) shows up on a blind date in place of her friend to scare away her prospective suitor, Kang Tae-moo (Ahn). Upon discovering that Tae-moo is the CEO of the company she works for, Ha-ri plans to cut the meeting short. However, Tae-moo puts forth an unusual proposal.
About the show: One of the most-watched office-romance K-dramas on Netflix, Business Proposal is based on the 2017 web novel Sanae Matsun by Hae Hwa.
22 /25
Directed by: Ahn Pan-seok
Cast: Son Ye-jin, Jung Hae-in, Jang So-yeon
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: Yoon Jin-a (Son) reconnects with her friend’s younger brother Seo Joon-hee (Jung) after he returns to Korea from a stint abroad. As the duo spend time together, they develop feelings for each other. However, with society stigmatising older women dating younger men, their road to togetherness becomes difficult.
Awards won: Excellence Award for Korean Drama and Outstanding Korean Actress for Son Ye-jin at the 2018 Seoul International Drama Awards; and Excellence Award, Actor in a Miniseries for Jung Hae-in at the 2018 APAN Star Awards.
23 /25
Directed by: Hwang In-roi
Cast: Ju Ji-hoon, Yun Eun-hye, Kim Jeong-hoon
Episodes: 24
IMDb rating: 7.6
Synopsis: High-school student Kyung-shin (Yun) tries to navigate love and life amid the royals after she is unexpectedly married off to Crown Prince Lee Shin (Ju).
About the show: Based on the manhwa Goong by Park So-hee, the show became a hit across Asia, contributing massively to the Korean Wave. According to Nielsen Korea, Princess Hours was the 10th most popular drama of 2006, with a solid viewership rating of 28.3 per cent.
24 /25
Directed by: Park Joon-hwa
Cast: Park Seo-joon, Park Min-young, Lee Tae-hwan
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8
Synopsis: CEO Lee Young-joon (Seo-joon) has been trying to keep his skilled secretary Kim Mi-so (Min-young) from quitting his company. Meanwhile, Mi-so has been trying to reconnect with a boy with whom she had been kidnapped as a child. Co-incidentally, fragments of her memory keep leading her to Young-joon.
About the show: Based on the 2013 novel Kimbiseoga Wae Geureolgga by acclaimed South Korean writer Jung Kyung-yoo, this tvN romance is considered groundbreaking for pushing the boundaries of romantic scenes in Korean dramas by featuring more realistic and passionate moments between the leads, as compared to the prudish and unrealistic portrayal of intimacy seen previously.
25 /25
Directed by: Lee Eung-bok, Baek Sang-hoon
Cast: Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-kyo, Jin Goo, Kim Ji-won
IMDb rating: 8.2
Episodes: 16
Synopsis and about: South Korean Special Forces agent Captain Yoo Shi-jin (Joong-ki) falls for the hardworking Haesung Hospital surgeon Kang Mo-yeon (Hye-kyo) during one of their missions together. Will the two be able to pursue a relationship despite their chaotic schedules?
Awards won: Most Popular Actor for Song Joong-ki at the 52nd Baeksang Arts Awards, Outstanding Korean Actor for Song Joong-ki at the 11th Seoul International Drama Awards, and a Grand Prize (Daesang) for Song Joong-ki at the 5th APAN Star Awards and more.