It’s the month of love, so why not celebrate with a marathon of sizzling, unforgettable k-dramas?
Whether you like to celebrate Valentine’s Day from the comfort of your own home, or you’re single and want to feel some love, we’ve compiled a list of romantic series with happy endings (spoiler alert!) that will brighten up this special day.
Let’s face it: Korean broadcasters have the magic formula when it comes to romantic dramas, and South Korean media audiences have only grown in recent years.
We promise you that the following series have exciting premises, captivating characters, magnetic actors, and offer fans a complete Valentine’s Day package. From action romances to romantic thrillers to office romances, we’ve included the most popular series in our selection, as well as some underrated gems.
If you want to feel the love on the small screen, we urge you to try these iconic stories with dreamy endings.
Doctor Slump (닥터슬럼프)
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Medical Drama
Directed by: Oh Hyun-jong
Starring: Park Shin-hye, Park Hyung-sik, Yoon Park
Watch on: Netflix
Starring Park Shin-hye as Nam Ha-neul and Park Hyung-sik as Yeo Jeong-woo, Doctor Slump (2024) is a thrilling mix of medical drama, slow-burning romance, and goofy comedy. And who could ask for anything more on Valentine’s Day?
The Netflix series, which became an instant hit, tells the story of Nam Ha-neul and Yeo Jung-woo, two brilliant doctors and former academic rivals who reunite after 14 years of estrangement, just at the most difficult and bitter moments of their lives. This is one of those rivalry-ending-in-love series, a theme we never tire of seeing.
Although Yeo Jung-woo and Nam Ha-neul have landed their dream jobs and are established in their health careers, each faces a terrible and irreversible crossroads. Yeo Jung-woo is a well-known plastic surgeon going through the worst crisis of his life due to a mysterious medical accident. For her part, Nam Ha-neul is an anaesthesiologist suffering from burnout syndrome after years of harassment and exploitation by her immediate superior.
Over the course of sixteen episodes, we witness the beautiful reconnection and transformation that takes place between them from academic rivals to forced neighbours, unlikely friends and, finally, dream lovers. Of course, it’s not a bed of roses, but by the end of the show, their love manages to conquer all obstacles.
A valuable aspect is that, despite its light-hearted tone, Doctor Slump never shies away from the harsh realities of South Korea’s demanding work culture.
Crash Course in Romance (일타 스캔들)
Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
Directed by: Yoo Je-won
Starring: Jeon Do-yeon, Jung Kyung-ho
Watch on: Netflix
This Valentine’s Day, you will be pleasantly surprised by Crash Course in Romance (2023), a bittersweet but empowering story about second chances in life and in love.
Directed by the talented Yoo Je-Won and written by Yang Hee-Seung, the series revolves around the blossoming love story between Choi Chi-Yeol (Jung Kyung-Ho), a renowned and wealthy mathematics instructor, and Nam Haeng-Seon (Jeon Do-Yeon), a kind-hearted woman who runs a banchan shop and cares for her autistic brother and young niece.
In Crash Course in Romance, Nam Haeng-Seon has feelings for Choi Chi-Yeol, her niece’s maths teacher, but the romance has little chance of developing because she is pretending to be married. And the fact is, to avoid her niece being ostracised for not having a real mother, Nam Haeng-Seon pretends to be her biological mother instead of her aunt.
This romantic series has a lot of depth and heart, and examines middle-aged love, the intense pressure of Korean education systems, and overcoming social expectations.
And yes, the lead characters find their happily ever after at the end.
King the Land (킹더랜드)
Genre: Romantic comedy
Directed by: Im Hyun-wook
Starring: Lee Jun-ho, Im Yoon-ah
Watch on: Netflix
King the Land (2023) follows Goo Won (Lee Jun-ho) in the midst of a tense battle for the inheritance of the powerful King Group. Smart, elegant, and with a rare charm, Goo-won has everything but the true story of his mother’s whereabouts. In an attempt to retrieve the truth, he returns to the luxurious King Hotel to dig into his past.
There, his path crosses that of Cheon Sa-rang (Im Yoon-ah), a prominent concierge, known as the “queen of smiles” and hospitality. Although the protagonists start off on the wrong foot, it doesn’t take long for Goo Won to develop feelings for Cheon Sa-rang. And the fact is, the young woman’s kind heart and fervent dedication to service gradually break down the businessman’s emotional walls, leading to a full and meaningful connection.
Following in the tradition of Korean romance series, King the Land draws on some classic clichés such as “rich boy falls in love with poor girl”, “office romance” and “colleagues who hate each other before they fall in love”.
Over the course of 16 episodes, there is plenty of glitz and glamour, fireworks and fairground rides, romantic gestures and sensual make-out sessions here and there.
Business Proposal (사내맞선)
Genre: Romantic comedy
Directed by: Park Sun-ho
Starring: Ahn Hyo-seop, Kim Se-jeong, Kim Min-kyu, Seol In-ah
Watch on: Netflix
Business Proposal (2022) is based on a web novel written by HaeHwa and is a perfect binge watch for the holiday of love.
The story follows in the footsteps of Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong), a talented food researcher who tries to help her best friend by impersonating her and going on a blind date to scare off a new suitor.
However, it all gets out of hand. Shin Ha-ri soon discovers a delicate truth: the CEO of her company, Kang Tae-moo (Ahn Hyo-seop), is her date, and her original plan falls apart. Then, unexpectedly, Tae-mu proposes a fake relationship to Shin Ha-ri to save face. As you can imagine, this leads to amusing romantic entanglements and corporate adversity.
Meanwhile, Shin Ha-ri’s best friend Jin Young-seo begins an unlikely romance with someone close to Kang Tae-moo. Despite mixing popular tropes like “mistaken identity” and “contract marriage”, Business Proposal executes not one, but two great and compelling love stories.
We can’t overlook that Business Proposal also tackles more serious issues, such as childhood trauma, heartbreak, parental abandonment, and invasion of privacy.
Mad For Each Other (이구역의 미친 X)
Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
Directed by: Lee Tae-gon
Starring: Jung Woo, Oh Yeon-seo
Watch on: Netflix
KakaoTV’s Mad For Each Other (2021) tells the story of two neighbours struggling with personal problems, as they gradually develop a complicated, but rather endearing relationship.
The South Korean romantic comedy centres on the quirky detective, Noh Hwi-oh (Jung Woo), who, after an incident at work, finds himself with anger issues, and almost anything can get on his nerves. Then, Noh Hwi-oh ends up meeting a woman named Lee Min-kyung (Oh Yeon-seo) and realises that not only is she his neighbour, but they also share a therapist. She has problems of her own, and deals with PTSD, delusions, OCD and more.
Over the course of the series Noh Hwi-oh and Lee Min-kyung overcome their difficult pasts, and eventually all the antipathy they feel for each other turns into deep love. Importantly, the characters’ mental health figures prominently in the story.
Crash Landing on You (사랑의 불시착)
Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
Directed by: Lee Jung-hyo
Starring: Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin
Watch on: Netflix
For Valentine’s Day, we can’t forget one of the most beloved and successful Korean dramas: director Lee Jung-hyo’s Crash Landing on You (2019).
At the time, this tale of love and friendship across borders achieved the highest ratings in the history of South Korean broadcaster TVN, and has since captivated audiences around the world. Whether you’re a fan of Korean dramas or new to the genre, Crash Landing on You is likely to win your heart.
The plot, with borderline undertones, tells the story of a wealthy South Korean heiress, Yoon Se-Ri (Son Ye-Jin), who accidentally paraglides to the wrong side of the military demarcation line. There, she meets and falls in love with the brave Captain Ri Jeong-Hyeok (Hyun Bin), a well-connected North Korean soldier, who ventures on a risky mission to return her to Seoul. And, of course, Yoon Se-Ri soon falls in love with her self-sacrificing captain.
The well-written plot is a perfect blend of drama, action, comedy and, most importantly, overflowing with genuine chemistry between the main characters. Although there are no sex scenes in this series, the emotional connections and “healthy” romantic interactions really restore faith in the power of love.
Familiar Wife / Wife That I Know (아는 와이프)
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Drama, Comedy
Directed by: Lee Sang-yeob
Starring: Ji Sung, Han Ji-min, Jang Seung-jo, Kang Han-na
Watch on: Amazon Prime Video
Familiar Wife (2018) also known as Wife That I Know, is a sixteen-episode romantic drama from Studio Dragon, with comedic and fantastical elements. Originally aired on TVN in 2018, the series is about a married couple who can’t even look each other in the eye anymore, and delves into themes such as marital choices, second chances and the impact of decisions on one’s life.
The story follows Cha Joo Hyuk, (Ji Sung), a lower-middle-class bank clerk who feels trapped in his monotonous life and marriage to Seo Woo Jin (Han Ji Min). Due to the stress of working, raising two young children and doing household chores, they both feel they can’t have the life they’ve always wanted, but Cha Joo Hyuk is filled with frustration.
Then, when a meteor crosses the night sky, Cha Joo Hyuk stumbles upon a “mysterious” opportunity to alter his past and, consequently, his current life. After the unexpected event, Cha Joo-hyuk and Seo Woo-jin experience an alternate reality in which their lives are drastically different and they are no longer married.
As Cha Joo-hyuk navigates this new world, he discovers that the grass is not always greener on the other side, and questions the true meaning of love and happiness.
If the mix of fantasy and romance works for you, don’t hesitate to give Familiar Wife a play.
Oh My Venus (오마이비너스)
Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy
Directed by: Kim Hyung Suk
Starring: Shin Min Ah, So Ji-sub
Watch on: Netflix
Directed by Kim Hyung Suk, Oh My Venus (2015) is a 16-episode romantic comedy that aired on the Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) from 16 November 2015 to 5 January 2016. The series is about self-esteem, body positivity, inner beauty, and overcoming insecurities.
In case you haven’t seen this gem yet, the story revolves around Kang Joo-eun (Shin Min-a), who in an effort to be the breadwinner for her family, has become a workaholic lawyer who has no regard for her emotional or physical well-being.
Overweight after an unexpected break-up, Kang Joo-eun decides to regain her figure and her health after meeting Kim Young-ho (So Ji-sub), a renowned personal trainer obsessed with leading a healthy lifestyle.
One of the highlights of Oh My Venus is that it handles the issue of physical appearances respectfully. Thus, Kang Joo-eun undergoes a weight loss process while still embracing her true self, and Kim Young-ho appreciates her for who she is, beyond her physical transformation. As expected, throughout Oh My Venus, Kang Joo-eun and Kim Young-ho fall in love and help each other heal from their traumatic pasts.
Fortunately, the message about inner beauty is a strong one, and by the end of the series Kang Joo-eun does not end up believing that her worth is tied to her looks. Oh My Venus also poses other obstacles to the lovers, such as class differences and a history of medical problems that threaten their future.