If you're a fan of romantic TV shows but have never immersed yourself in a good K-drama, you're missing out on some of the best love stories available to stream. There are great Korean dramas within every romance genre, from classic rom-coms to epic sagas to everyday love stories. Odds are even engrossing action or thriller K-dramas will have at least one romantic subplot that will leave you swooning.
For those with several spare hours to sink into the sweetest slow-burns and the sexiest chemistry, here are the best romance K-dramas available on Netflix, Viki, and more streamers. (If you have less time, we've also listed the best Korean romance movies.)
Romantic Korean Melodramas
'Crash Landing on You' (2019–2020)
Starring: Son Ye-jin, Hyun Bin, Seo Ji-hye, and Kim Jung-hyun
The love story: A freak paragliding accident brings together a North Korean soldier (Hyun) and a South Korean heiress (Son), in this ultimate tale of star-crossed lovers. (Also, the leads are now married in real life.)
'Flower of Evil' (2020)
Starring: Moon Chae-won, Lee Joon-gi, Jang Hee-jin, and Seo Hyun-woo
The love story: When a detective's (Moon) latest investigation points toward her perfect, devoted husband (Lee) as a suspect, she discovers that her spouse is actually living through an assumed identity and hiding a dark past.
'It's Okay to Not Be Okay' (2020)
Starring: Seo Yea-ji, Kim Soo-hyun, Oh Jung-se, and Park Gyu-young
The love story: A caretaker (Kim) who looks after his autistic older brother (Oh) crosses paths with a children's book writer (Seo) whom he knew as a child. When the trio moves back to their hometown, they all slowly heal from past traumas as the leads fall in love in this dark fairytale.
'Queen of Tears' (2024)
Starring: Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon, and Lee Joo-bin
The love story: Three years into their marriage, chaebol heiress Hong Hae-in (Ji-won) and self-made lawyer Baek Hyun-woo (Soo-hyun) are on the brink of divorce. After the pair are shaken by a major health scare and the return of Hae-in's treacherous ex, Hyun-woo and Hae-in find themselves headed toward an unlikely reconciliation.
Romantic Fantasy K-Dramas
'Destined With You' (2023)
Starring: Jo Bo-ah, Rowoon, Ha Joon, and Yura
The love story: A lawyer (Rowoon) bound by a centuries-old curse becomes entangled with a civil servant (Jo), who becomes the owner of a mysterious wooden chest that holds the key to his freedom.
'Legend of the Blue Sea' (2016–2017)
Starring: Jun Ji-hyun and Lee Min-ho
The love story: This history-spanning romance follows the love between a mermaid and a con artist in the present-day, as well as the mermaid's ancestor and the son of a nobleman in the Joseon era.
'Lovely Runner' (2024)
Starring: Kim Hye-yoon, Byeon Woo-seok, Song Geon-hee, and Lee Seung-hyub
The love story: After superstar Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon) seemingly dies by suicide, his biggest fan Im Sol (Kim) is transported 15 years back in time to when the pair were students at neighboring high schools. The now-teenaged Sol is determined to stop Sun-jae's future death by any means necessary, which is just the start of the pair's twist-filled romance.
'Marry My Husband' (2024)
Starring: Park Min-young, Na In-woo, Lee Yi-kyung, and Song Ha-yoon
The love story: Terminally-ill Kang Ji-won discovers that her husband Min-hwan (Lee) is cheating on her with her lifelong best friend Soo-min (Song). When she confronts them and tragically dies, Ji-won wakes up 10 years in the past and uses her second chance at life to ensure that Min-hwan and Soo-min will end up together and assume her tragic fate. Helping her along the way is Yoo Ji-hyuk (Na In-woo), her rich boss and secret admirer.
Romantic Historical K-Dramas
'The King's Affection' (2021)
Starring: Park Eun-bin, Rowoon, Nam Yoon-su, Choi Byung-chan, Bae Yoon-kyung, and Jung Chae-yeon
The love story: This romance takes place during the Joseon era when twins were considered a bad omen. When the Crown Prince dies in an accident, his secret identical twin sister Dam-yi (Park) must take his place as heir to the throne. Living as the Prince, Dam-yi falls for her royal tutor and former first love, Jung Ji-woon (Rowoon).
'The Red Sleeve' (2021–2022)
Starring: Lee Se-young, Lee Jun-ho, and Kang Hoon
The love story: Based on a novel about real historical figures, this drama depicts the love story between the Crown Prince of Joseon (Jun-ho) and a strong-willed court lady (Se-young).
Romantic Workplace K-Dramas
'Business Proposal' (2022)
Starring: Kim Se-jeong, Ahn Hyo-seop, Seol In-ah, and Kim Min-kyu
The love story: Company worker Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong) agrees to sabotage a blind date for her rich best friend, but hijinks ensue when the date turns out to be Kang Tae-mu (Ahn Hyo-seop) the owner of her company. As Ha-ri dodges Tae-mu's proposal for a marriage of convenience, her BFF Young-seo (Seol In-ah) falls for Tae-mu's secretary Sung-hoon (Kim Min-kyu).
'Coffee Prince' (2007)
Starring: Yoon Eun-hye, Gong Yoo, Chae Jung-an, and Lee Sun-kyun
The love story: A coffee conglomerate heir meets a tomboy who's the breadwinner for her family. Not realizing she's a woman, he hires her to pretend to be his gay lover to get out of blind dates. She later hides her identity to get a job at his café, Coffee Prince.
'Her Private Life' (2019)
Starring: Park Min-young, Kim Jae-wook, Ahn Bo-hyun, and Park Jin-joo
The love story: Sung Deok-mi (Park Min-young) works as an art gallery curator and hides her private life as an idol fangirl. When her new boss Ryan Gold (Kim Jae-wook) discovers her secret, he slowly becomes her fanboy.
Romantic Youth K-Dramas
'Our Beloved Summer' (2021–2022)
Starring: Kim Da-mi, Choi Woo-shik, Kim Sung-cheol, and Roh Jeong-eui
The love story: In high school, brainiac Yeon-soo (Da-mi) and slacker Ung (Choi) fell for each other while starring in a documentary. Now, a decade later, they're exes who haven't seen each other in years. What happens when they're brought together for a new "where are they now" doc?
'True Beauty' (2020–2021)
Starring: Moon Ga-young, Cha Eun-woo, Hwang In-yeop, and Park Yoo-na
The love story: 18-year-old Ju-kyung (Moon) has been bullied and discriminated against for being ugly her whole life. After learning makeup techniques, she finds popularity at her new school and gets caught between two guys: hidden softie Seo-jun (Hwang) and ice-cold Su-ho (Cha).
Romantic Slice-of-Life Korean Dramas
'Fight For My Way' (2017)
Starring: Kim Ji-won, Park Seo-joon, Song Ha-yoon, and Ahn Jae-hong
The love story: An aspiring announcer (Kim) and a rising MMA fighter (Park), who have been friends since school and lived as next-door neighbors throughout their 20s, slowly realize their mutual attraction. Meanwhile, their best friends who have been dating for six years find their relationship tested.
'Love Next Door' (2024)
Starring: Jung Hae-in, Jung So-min, Kim Ji-eun, and Yun Ji-on
The love story: When Bae Seok-ryu (So-min) quits her impressive job and moves back home for unknown reasons, she reunites with her mother's best friend's son Choi Seung-hyo (Hae-in). As the former childhood friends get to know each other as adults, lingering feelings from their youth resurface. Meanwhile, Seok-ryu's paramedic bestie Mo-eum (Kim) meets a chivalrous single dad (Yun).
'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha' (2021)
Starring: Shin Min-ah, Kim Seon-ho, and Lee Sang-yi
The love story: This small-town romance shows the bickering-turned-love between a city dentist (Shin) who moves to a seaside village and a jack-of-all-trades (Kim) who does odd jobs for village elders.
'One Spring Night' (2017)
Starring: Han Ji-min, Jung Hae-in, and Kim Jun-han
The love story: A librarian (Han) who has been dating a banker (Kim) for four years and a pharmacist and single dad (Jung) begin to see dating and relationships in a new light after meeting each other.
'Yumi's Cells' (2021–2022)
Starring: Kim Go-eun, Ahn Bo-hyun, Jinyoung (GOT7), Park Ji-hyun, and Lee Yu-bi
The love story: An office worker and aspiring writer (Kim) falls for a game developer (Ahn), with her journey told through the animated cells powering her body.
-
Jennifer Lopez Styles Destroyed Jeans With a Polished Birkin BagShe lives for the contrast.
-
4 Key Layering Pieces I’m Relying on This Fall and WinterFrom snug shackets to tissue turtlenecks.
-
Timothée Chalamet Crashes a Timothée Chalamet Lookalike ContestToday in sentences I never thought I'd write.
-
The Cast of 'Territory': Who Plays Who in the Australian Netflix SeriesThe intense drama follows a cattle-ranching dynasty with a slice of land the size of Belgium.
-
Meet the 'Shrinking' Cast: Who Plays Who in the Apple TV+ SeriesThe series centers on three hilarious therapists, played by Jason Segel, Jessica Williams, and Harrison Ford.
-
'The Lincoln Lawyer' Season 4: Everything We KnowWe're on the case of whether or not Mickey Haller and co. are coming back to Netflix.
-
The 'Lincoln Lawyer' Cast: Who Plays Who in Season 3 of the Netflix SeriesThe legal drama led by Manuel Garcia-Rulfo is one of the streamer’s most popular shows.
-
How Choreographer Kennady Schneider Helped Transform Mikey Madison Into an Expert Pole Dancer in 'Anora'The movement consultant for the new film shares how she collaborated with the star to craft her character’s performances in the club.
-
Who is Tom Ellis? Meet the Actor Who Plays Professor Oliver in 'Tell Me Lies' Season 2Here's what to know about Tom Ellis, who played the villain on this season of the Hulu hit.
-
'Tell Me Lies' Season 3: Everything We KnowHere's what we know about the future of the hit Hulu drama.
-
10 Years Ago, Annalise Keating Took Off Her Wig on 'How to Get Away with Murder' and Made TV HistoryLooking back on the landmark moment that helped Black women feel more free to take off their armor.
