If you are a K-Drama addict, you might have watched most of them (if not all), if not you should watch them right now. Let us know in the comment which one for you are the ones you would advise your friend to watch. Note: This list was first published in 2019 and updated several times with new releases. Latest update: December 2022. This is not a ranking.
1. “My Love from the Star”
When: 2013-2014 Cast: Kim SooHyun, Jun JiHyun, Park HaeJin, Yoo InNa Summary: It tells the romance of an alien that arrived on earth 400 years ago and a blunt top Hallyu actress star. For: Viewers looking for an addictive love story with hilarious scenes, an OTP, and a thrilling plot. Why watch?: The reason is quite simple: perfect acting and perfect plot. While being hilarious (e.g. at the origin of legendary gifs), it is also a heart-fluttering romance on an action and mysterious background.
2. “Legend of the Blue Sea”
When: 2016-2017 Cast: Jun JiHyun, Lee MinHo Summary: It tells the romance of a mermaid and a son of a rich businessman turned into a con-man. For: Viewers looking for a fantasy drama with funny characters and a beautiful love story. Why watch?: First of all, the drama is a fantasy drama on the original subject of mermaids. Also, the two top Hallyu actors were cast in this high-budget drama. The drama caught attention with hilarious scenes, the love line, and magical elements.
3. “I’m Not a Robot”
When: 2017-2018 Cast: Yoo SeungHo, Chae SooBin Summary: A man who has never loved someone due to his allergy to other people, starts to meet a woman pretending to be an android robot and falls for her. For: Viewers looking for an easy-to-watch romantic comedy with a cute couple. Why watch?: Both actor’s chemistry is great and viewers are quickly hooked to the plot. Both characters are struggling with their own issues and have a cute and innocent love. Yoo SeungHo’s smile and tears earned him a lot of new fans after the drama.
4. “Weightlifting Fairy Kim BokJoo”
When: 2016-2017 Cast: Nam JooHyuk, Lee SungKyung Summary: It tells the dreams and love story of students in the college of Sports. For: Viewers looking for a hilarious and adorable campus romance. Why watch?: The sweetest and hilarious campus romance among K-Dramas. The main female character is amazing with her bubbly personality and the main male lead is also one of a kind. The combination of both of them with perfect chemistry gave birth to this must-watch romantic comedy romance.
5. “Strong Girl BongSoon”
When: 2017 Cast: Park BoYoung, Park HyungSik, Ji Soo Summary: Do BongSoon was born with superhuman strength. Her ideal type is her friend In GukDoo. Thanks to her skills, she got to be the bodyguard of the rich CEO Ahn MinHyuk. In her neighborhood, a series of kidnapping cases and their relationship started to change. For: Viewers looking for a fun drama with a strong female lead and a cute male lead. Why watch?: A light romantic comedy on a thriller background. The main female character is as strong as Superman and the male character is deep in love with her. Both relationships are many’s goals and made viewers fall for their perfect chemistry.
6. “My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho”
When: 2010 Cast: Lee SeungGi, Shin MinAh, No MinWoo Summary: It tells the story of a man that falls in love with a Gumiho (a nine-tailed fox). For: Viewers looking for a mysterious and fun love story. Why watch?: It is a funny yet touching love story. The male character is scared that the Gumiho eats his liver at first but both of them started to have real feelings for each other. The theme of gumiho is interesting and catchy and the characters’ story is captivating.
7. “My ID Is Gangnam Beauty”
When: 2018 Cast: ASTRO’s Cha EunWoo, Im SooHyang, Kwak DongYeon, Jo WooRi Summary: The story of a woman living a new life through plastic surgery. She meets Do KyungSuk at the college, while everyone thinks that appearance is important, he thinks differently. She will learn what is real “beauty”. For: Viewers looking for a “real” and heart-fluttering campus romance. Why watch?: This campus romance has an interesting theme on “what is real beauty”. Actors are also great. The plot is mainly focusing on romance but also other issues of university students making the whole story very interesting.
8. “You’re Beautiful”
When: 2009 Cast: Park ShinHye, Jang KeunSuk, CNBLUE’s Jung YongHwa, F.T. Island’s Lee HongGi Summary: Ko MiNyeo (dreaming to become a nun) has to pretend to be her twin brother the time he recovers from his botched plastic surgery. She poses for him and enters the popular band A.N.Jell. There, she meets the three members. For: Viewers looking for a music drama with a love triangle and a lot of funny scenes. Why watch?: This drama might be getting old but the story still hilarious and cute. The love triangle and the story is very addictive to the point to be an unforgettable drama.
9. “What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim”
When: 2018 Cast: Park SeoJun, Park MinYoung Summary: A love story between a chaebol and his long-term secretary. She suddenly resigned saying that she will date and get married. The chaebol is shocked by the sudden decision, he starts to realize the nature of their relation. For: Viewers looking for an office romance with a fun and touching story. Why watch?: This office romance is refreshing and these two top Hallyu actors’ chemistry is perfect. Their acting is great and the plot is entertaining from the beginning to the end. Moreover, the supporting actors bring on more fun and laughter to the show.
10. “Suspicious Partner”
When: 2017 Cast: Ji ChangWook, Nam JiHyun, Choi TaeJoon, Kwon Nara Summary: A prosecutor and a prosecutor trainee are working together on a mysterious case involving a psychopath murderer. For: Viewers looking for an intense romance with good acting. Why watch?: Despite being a thriller with a legal background, the drama is still light and funny. The main couple’s chemistry is one of the best. Ji ChangWook’s acting also needs a special mention and is a reason for watching by itself.
11. “True Beauty”
When: 2020-2021 Cast: Moon GaYoung, ASTRO’s Cha EunWoo, Hwang InYoup Summary: It tells the romantic comedy story of JuGyeong who has a complex about her appearance and who turns into a goddess thanks to makeup and of SuHo who keeps hidden scars. The two met and by sharing their secrets they grow and restore their self-esteem. For: Viewers looking for an easy-to-watch and extra heart-fluttering romance with a love triangle (and handsome leads). Why watch?: “True Beauty” has all the elements for viewers to be addicted to it. Starting with god-like male leads (plural because there are two hotties in this drama), the drama brings us an entertaining storyline with a cute heroine, a huge dose of swoon-worthy scenes, and funny secondary characters. Your browser does not support the video tag.
12. “It’s Okay to Not Be Okay”
When: 2020 Cast: Kim SooHyun, Seo YeJi, Oh JungSe, Park GyuYoung Summary: It is the romantic fantasy comedy of a caregiver of a psychiatric ward who refuses to love because of his heavy life’s responsibility and of a fairy tale writer who doesn’t know about love because of the way she was born. The two will meet and embrace and heal each other’s wounds. For: Viewers looking for a one-of-a-kind drama with a fun and touching plot and perfect acting. Why watch?: This is a captivating and uncommon drama with a passion-filled romance on funny yet dark and mysterious vibes. The unique characters and the plot touching on mental health made it even more memorable. Your browser does not support the video tag.
13. “Romance is a Bonus Book”
When: 2019 Cast: Lee JongSuk, Lee NaYoung Summary: It is the romantic comedy of people who work at a publishing company. Cha EunHo is a successful author and works in a publishing company. He found out that his first love -Kang DanI- is now divorced and a single mother who is unemployed. Cha EunHo helps her as she tries to find her way back to the workplace and faces hardships. For: Viewers looking for a mature romance touching on societal issues. If you like books, this is for you. Why watch?: It is a healing and soft romance. Along with the theme of literature, viewers feel at peace with the characters’ sincere and real love story. The spotlight on women’s hardships and other societal issues is also nice. Your browser does not support the video tag.
14. “Crash Landing On You”
When: 2019-2020 Cast: Hyun Bin, Son YeJin, Kim JungHyun, Seo JiHye Summary: The absolute top secret love story of a chaebol heiress who made an emergency landing in North Korea because of a paragliding accident and a North Korean special officer who falls in love with her and who is hiding and protecting her. For: Viewers looking for an epic love story with perfect chemistry. Why watch?: The storyline, to begin with, is addictive and brings viewers to tears and laughter. The lead couple has unforgettable chemistry while secondary and minor roles are hilarious in this drama mainly set in North Korea (that is unique). Your browser does not support the video tag.
15. “Start-Up”
When: 2020 Cast: Suzy, Nam JooHyuk, Kim SeonHo, Kang HanNa Summary: It tells the story of young people who dream of success and who start working in start-ups in the Korean Silicon Valley. It tells their ‘START’ and their growth ‘UP’. For: Viewers looking for a drama about young people going toward their dreams with an atypical love story. Why watch?: If you are used to K-Drama love stories, you might be surprised by this drama’s love story and its not-so-common male lead. The story of young people starting start-ups is addictive and easy to watch. Your browser does not support the video tag.
16. “My Roommate is a Gumiho”
When: 2021 Cast: Jang KiYong, HyeRi, Kang HanNa, Kim DoWan Summary: It is about a 999-year-old gumiho (Korean nine-tailed fox) and a cool female university student born in 1999 who got to live together because she swallowed the gumiho’s fox orb by mistake. For: Viewers looking for a funny and mysterious love story with a refreshing female lead. Why watch?: First and foremost, this drama will make you laugh hard. The leads have opposite personalities (him: polite and calm and her: dynamic and unrefined), leading to K-Dramas classic fun. It is a likable romantic comedy. Your browser does not support the video tag.
17. “Business Proposal”
When: 2022 Cast: Ahn HyoSeop, Kim SeJeong, Kim MinGue, Seorina (Seol InAh) Summary: An ordinary office worker disguises herself and goes on a blind date with her attractive boss in the place of her friend to end this unwanted marriage blind date after her request. For: Viewers looking for a funny and cliché love story between an employee and her boss. Why watch?: Based on webtoon, this drama proved that cliché love stories still can do well. Entertaining from the start to the end, it makes viewers roll in laughter or cringe at the sweet love story of the lead couples. This is for you if you want a drama to boost your mood without too many thoughts.
18. “Soundtrack #1”
When: 2022 Cast: Han SoHee, Park HyungSik Summary: It is a romance music drama about a man and a woman who have been friends for 20 years and how they blur the lines of their friendship after living together for two weeks. For: Viewers looking for a short, simple, and heart-fluttering romance. Why watch?: You know that acting is good if you can understand the feelings from the eyes. There is no surprise that Park HyungSik is such a talented actor for romance, making viewers’ hearts skip beats with his acting. It is one of the warmest and most comfortable best-friends-to-lovers romance K-Dramas. You should not miss this one.
19. “Yumi’s Cells” Season 1 & 2
When: 2021-2022 Cast: Kim GoEun, Ahn BoHyun (S1), GOT7’s Park JinYoung (S2) Summary: It tells the relatable story of YuMi an ordinary office worker in her 30s from the perspective of the cells of her head. For: Viewers looking for relatable romance drama and a unique concept. Why watch?: At first glimpse, you might wonder why animation is mixed with drama but it will turn out to be one of the main reasons why you are watching it. The animated cells are a great show by themselves, drawing you into people’s thoughts. The drama received a lot of love because the romance is down-to-earth and for its human approach to Yumi’s love story. You can also recommend to readers through the poll (opened on June 15, 2021) and the comments. (Note that “Business Proposal”, “Soundtrack #1”, and “Yumi’s Cells” were added around 1 year and a half later than the other dramas in the poll) Check out other K-Drama watchlists below: 6 Best Noona K-Dramas To Watch That Will Give You All The Feels KDRAMA STORIES|Jan 14, 2022 7 Best Makjang And Over The Top K-Dramas To Have On Your Watchlist KDRAMA STORIES|Nov 25, 2021 10 Best Underrated Romantic Comedy K-Dramas To Have On Your Watchlist KDRAMA STORIES|Aug 1, 2019 Top 14 Best School/College Romance K-Dramas To Have On Your Watchlist (2021 Update) KDRAMA STORIES|Aug 4, 2021 16 Best Action Thriller Romance K-Dramas To Have On Your Watchlist (2021 Update) KDRAMA STORIES|Jun 23, 2021 15 Best Romance Historical K-Dramas To Have On Your Watchlist (2021 Update) KDRAMA STORIES|Jun 24, 2021 10 Best Fantasy Romance K-Dramas To Have On Your Watchlist KDRAMA STORIES|Jul 28, 2020 10 Of The Best Thriller K-Dramas Without Romance To Have On Your Watchlist KDRAMA STORIES|Jun 10, 2021 Top 12 Best Romance Korean Web Dramas To Have On Your Watchlist KDRAMA STORIES|Oct 23, 2020
