Be it American, French, Japanese, Filipino, written, or otherwise, I love the romantic comedy genre. A rom-com story always has that feel-good element to it. Not only does it make you feel and understand what love is all about, super bonus points din na you can get a good laugh out of it. A win-win! And because I'm a self-proclaimed honorary Korean citizen (LOL), I just love love love a good K-drama rom-com, too!
My first Korean rom-com is the Filipino-dubbed version of Full House. I super loved the chemistry of Rain (as Justin or Lee Young Jae) and Song Hye Kyo (as Jessie or Han Ji Eun) and the story was just refreshing. Koreans have a knack for creating a good rom-com and I have thus racked a list of favorites over the years. It’s hard to narrow down the selection, but here’s a list of recent K-drama rom-coms that you can start watching…or rewatching. *wink*
K-drama rom-coms on Netflix, Viu, and iQIYI
1. Crash Landing On You (2019)
Who’s in it: Son Ye Jin, Hyun Bin, Seo Ji Hye, Kim Jung Hyun
Where you can watch it: Netflix
The plot: When successful businesswoman Yoon Se Ri goes on a paragliding adventure to test her new line of extreme sportswear collection, she gets caught in a tornado and is blown all the way to the North… Korea, that is. She lands right in front of North Korean Army Captain Ri Jeong Hyeok who, after much deliberation, decides to hide her identity until they can find a way to get her safely across the demilitarized zone between the two Koreas. The fascinating plot and the palpable chemistry between the leads have paved the way for CLOY to become the highest rating tvN drama to date, among many other recognitions. The #RiRi chemistry is so strong that fans are ecstatic to learn that Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin are actually dating IRL and are soon to get married!
2. Her Private Life (2019)
Who’s in it: Park Min Young, Kim Jae Wook, Ahn Bo Hyun
Where you can watch it: Netflix, Viu, iQIYI
The plot: Deok Mi is an esteemed museum curator by day, and a huge fansite master-nim at night for K-pop idol, Cha Si An. It’s a secret she wants to keep under tight wraps as much as possible, but fate can be playful. When her former boss gets imprisoned for embezzlement, Deok Mi now finds herself reporting to the aloof Ryan Gold, who was once a celebrated painter himself. The two start off at each other's wrong foot, until Ryan learns the other side of Deok Mi and eventually offers to help her out of her fangirl predicament. The show is fun to watch for a lot of reasons, including its relatability (fangirls and fanboys represent!) and Min Young and Jae Wook’s off-the-charts chemistry. But it’s also fun to discover whether Deok Mi would ever give up her love for Si An to make space for a new man in his life.
3. When The Camellia Blooms (2019)
Who’s in it: Gong Hyo Jin, Kang Ha Neul, Kim Ji Seok, Son Dam Bi
Where you can watch it: Netflix
The plot: Dong Baek is a single mother doing the best she could in raising her child, Pil Gu. She runs a bar called "Camellia" in the town of Ongsan, where many of the townsfolk often talk behind her back. Police Officer Hwang Yong Shik, however, is madly in love with her. And as he tries his best to make known his love for her, Yong Shik is also trying his best to keep the town safe from a serial killer on the loose. This show is one of 2019's best and has won the Grand Prize for Television at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards
4. Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol (2020)
Who’s in it: Lee Jae Wook, Go Ara, Kim Joo Hun
Where you can watch it: Netflix
The plot: Lala is one wealthy girl who loses everything she had when her father died on her wedding day. She runs away, lest she is held responsible for all the debts their business incurred, and finds herself in Eunpo with nothing but her dog, some clothes, and car. Here she meets Joon Sun Woo, who works multiple jobs to make ends meet. Lala tries to live on her own footing, but Sun Woo is always there to help her where he can. Their story is surely one that will make you laugh and gush in ~kilig~ but do prepare your tissues because… basta! You must watch to find out why.
5. True Beauty (2020)
Who’s in it: Moon Ga Young, Cha Eun Woo, Hwang In Yeop, Park Yoo Na
Where you can watch it: Viu
The plot: This K-drama is the TV adaptation of the popular webtoon of the same name. Ju Kyung isn't pretty, and people around her have made it pretty clear from the get-go. The mean girls at her school hatch an idea to humiliate poor Ju Kyung, until she's made up her mind to leave and start fresh somewhere else. This time, she's determined to turn her fate around by mastering the art of make-up. Ju Kyung triumphs and starts turning heads the moment she steps into her new school. She's gained new friends and catches the attention of the two hottest guys at school, Su Ho and Seojun. But what happens with these new relationships once the make-up starts fading away?
6. Mr. Queen (2020)
Who’s in it: Shin Hye Sun, Kim Jung Hyun, Choi Jin Hyuk
Where you can watch it: Viu
The plot: Jang Bong Hwan is a skillful chef at the Blue House who is so full of himself and is pretty much a lady's man. When he finds himself running for his life amid a law scuffle, Bong Hwan slips and falls into a swimming pool, eventually waking up in the body of a woman. And not just any woman, he’s swapped bodies with Kim So Yong, the future wife of King Cheol Jong of the Joseon Dynasty! What follows is the story of Bong Hwan reluctantly coming to terms with the fact that she is now Lady Kim So Yong, as well as settling her feelings for the King. She also helps the King fight off the evil deeds happening at court while adding a modern flair to the dishes coming out of the royal kitchen. The show is so fun to watch, and many people seem to think so too. It became the 5th highest rating show in tvN's history!
7. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
Who’s in it: Shin Min Ah, Kim Seon Ho, Lee Sang Yi
Where you can watch it: Netflix
The plot: Yoo Hye Jin is a talented dentist who gets fed up with the unscrupulous ways her boss is running their clinic. She leaves Seoul for a while to take a breather in the seaside town of Gongjin. A series of unfortunate events has Hye Jin’s path crossing with erstwhile village handyman, Hong Du Sik. Hye Jin soon realizes that she has a market in Gongjin and decides to open her own dental clinic to salvage her reputation. Initially detached, she soon finds herself liking the town with each passing day, as heart-warming stories unfold and love blossoms between a city girl and a small-town boy. This rom-com is so popular, it topped the Netflix charts for most of its run and earned the highest viewership ratings ever on its final episode!
8. My Roommate Is A Gumiho (2021)
Who’s in it: Jang Ki Yong, Hyeri
Where you can watch it: iQIYI
The plot: Sin Woo Yeo is a gumiho (a nine-tailed fox) whose goal for the past 999 years is to become human. He moonlights as a university professor, where he meets Lee Dam who accidentally swallows his magical fox bead, therefore kick-starting the process of him finally getting his dream. The two figure out a way to co-exist, and step one is to live together so they can navigate this new world they now find themselves in. Will Woo Yeo succeed and finally become human? And will Lee Dam get to help him out while living her best college life?
9. Yumi’s Cells (2021)
Who’s in it: Kim Go Eun, Ahn Bo Hyun
Where you can watch it: iQIYI
The plot: Kim Yumi is your typical, hardworking office worker. She hasn't been in a romantic relationship in years, so she's solely devoting her time to her career. Sure, she has crushes here and there, but things start turning upside down when he meets scruffy but talented game developer Goo Woong. What now? You'd think she’d navigate career, love, and daily decisions all on her own, but Yumi has her brain cells to help her out. Her brain has a variety of cells that take responsibility for a lot of aspects in Yumi’s life: Emotions, logic, hunger, fashion—you name it, she has a cell for it. This rom-com, also adapted from a popular webtoon of the same name, allows us to take a peek into Yumi's life and how these adorable cells help her figure out the ups and downs of adulthood.
10. Our Beloved Summer (2021)
Who’s in it: Kim Da Mi, Choi Woo Shik, Kim Sung Cheol, Noh Jung Ui
Where you can watch it: Netflix
The plot: Choi Woong and Kook Yeonsu used to be mortal enemies in high school until they weren't. Their antagonistic ways in high school somehow led to a romance that ended up in flames. Years later, however, a documentary they filmed together back in high school resurfaces and their paths once again begin to cross, as if by fate. And so we follow the story of Woong and Yeonsu, of them going back to their Tom and Jerry fights, of revelations unfolding, of dreams intertwining, and of a love that they try hard to suppress but has actually never gone away.
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