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Similar K-Dramas To These...

maidenholmes

One thing I might mention about foreign language dramas generally: Once you're past a certain age, hearing isn't as sharp. Subtitles are a good thing. Heck, that goes for dramas in my own language, at times.

Terius Behind Me is a very good one. It's about a spy hiding from his own government after a mission went bad (starts with an action scene which isn't typical of the rest). He lives in a family-oriented apartment complex, jogging after dark. Although keeping to himself, he becomes involved in a minor way with the young housewife across the hall and her six-year-old twins, helping out when she is going through a rough patch. From there, he meets the playground parents.  The Korean government intelligence service could learn something from the playground parents. He is in contact with some of his former colleagues, whose "front" is a shop that sells luxury purses.

The Go Back Couple - fantasy in which a divorcing couple finds themselves back in university, just before they met. This is a second chance, but mentally they are in their late 30's. They can put into perspective things which used to be important. Example: he had a crush on a young dance student and didn't dare talk to her. Now his reaction is "Nice kid - seems to be under a lot of stress."

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lanzhanya
 maidenholmes:
One thing I might mention about foreign language dramas generally: Once you're past a certain age, hearing isn't as sharp. Subtitles are a good thing. Heck, that goes for dramas in my own language, at times.

Subtitles are definitely very important, regardless of what language drama or movie they're watching, they need their Chinese subtitles to understand clearly. 

Thanks for the extra recs! ^^

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lanzhanya

An update: they dropped It's Okay to Not Be Okay and The Beauty Inside. Reasons are updated on my original post, so if there are any more updated recs based on that, please drop them ^^ 

I'm currently showing them The Master's Sun, so I'll see how that one goes for them. 

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Chun Mo Rionnag

Have you tried "Oh My Venus" (2014), or "Introverted Boss" (2017)? No mystery, but "Love to Hate You" or "So I Married an Anti-Fan" (2021). Maybe "I Picked Up a Star on the Road" (2018), too?

Moving away from romance "One Dollar Lawyer" (2022) may be worth a try.

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lanzhanya
 Chun Mo Rionnag:

Have you tried "Oh My Venus" (2014), or "Introverted Boss" (2017)? No mystery, but "Love to Hate You" or "So I Married an Anti-Fan" (2021). Maybe "I Picked Up a Star on the Road" (2018), too?

Moving away from romance "One Dollar Lawyer" (2022) may be worth a try.

Thanks for the recs!! I'll consider Oh My Venus, Love to Hate You, and So I Married an Anti-Fan ^^ I'll check out IPUASOTR for myself :p

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lanzhanya

Update: my parents dropped Love to Hate You, and The Master's Sun. I'm now showing them Crash Landing On You. 

Are there any good office related dramas with romance? They keep on asking for office based dramas.

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maidenholmes

Protect the Boss

Boss & Me (Chinese).

I'd avoid Jugglers unless you're okay with absolutely horrific back stories (I'm not).

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lanzhanya
 maidenholmes:

Protect the Boss

Boss & Me (Chinese).

I'd avoid Jugglers unless you're okay with absolutely horrific back stories (I'm not).

They don't like C-dramas, but thanks anyways :p I don't know if you've watched Kill Me Heal Me, but are the backstories of Jugglers as horrific as that drama, how horrific are the backstories? Protect the Boss sounds so cute, I'll add that into consideration!

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et_865

Familiar Wife

Twenty Again

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lanzhanya
 et_865:

Familiar Wife

Twenty Again

Thankyou!! ^^

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Pinwheel

Definitely +1 to Oh My Venus and here are some other recs:

Healer - I have not seen action- romance dramas dropped by your parents yet, so I thought I’d try.  This one had me so hooked, I even got my mom to watch it and she actually finished it. Sad backstory though (I have not watched Kill me heal me, so I don’t know how they compare).

Some office romances:

Romance is a Bonus Book - This is a 10 to me, the office related issues actually interested me, but I don’t think it is a super exciting drama, it’s very mellow, so there is that to consider.

She would never know - Office romance but a bit more on the soap opera side.

 Start up - Not exactly office romance since the get go. But it is business related and romance. Sad backstory unfortunately haha.

Dinner Mate - Also not exactly an office romance, but with plenty of office related moments, plus adult protagonists, not in their twenties.

Refresh Man  - Not Korean, I know you said your parents are not into Chinese dramas, but this one is Taiwanese, so, I had to recommend it since it’s one of my fave office romances. 

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lanzhanya
 u_oui:
Definitely +1 to Oh My Venus

I actually did read the summary of it to them before but they didn't even want to try it ^^' 

 u_oui:
Healer - I have not seen action- romance dramas dropped by your parents yet, so I thought I’d try.  This one had me so hooked, I even got my mom to watch it and she actually finished it. Sad backstory though (I have not watched Kill me heal me, so I don’t know how they compare).

Ohh yes, I've seen a bit of Healer before, I think it's worth a try for them :p

 u_oui:
Romance is a Bonus Book - This is a 10 to me, the office related issues actually interested me, but I don’t think it is a super exciting drama, it’s very mellow, so there is that to consider.

She would never know - Office romance but a bit more on the soap opera side.

 Start up - Not exactly office romance since the get go. But it is business related and romance. Sad backstory unfortunately haha.

Dinner Mate - Also not exactly an office romance, but with plenty of office related moments, plus adult protagonists, not in their twenties.

Refresh Man  - Not Korean, I know you said your parents are not into Chinese dramas, but this one is Taiwanese, so, I had to recommend it since it’s one of my fave office romances. 

I'll have a look at these, thankyou so much ^^ Omg Refresh Man is actually one of my favourite Taiwanese dramas XD Unfortunately, I also don't think they want to watch a Taiwanese drama. They're Chinese (I obviously am too) so they're all too familiar with Chinese and Taiwanese culture. They want to watch something different which is why they're interested in K-dramas and J-dramas XD But because I've only watched youthful J-dramas/movies, I can't rec any J-dramas to them. If you know of any J-dramas in that area, rec away :p

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RSB

Seems like they have a preference for dramas on Netflix/Hulu... is that right?  And they seem to like plots where the ML does most of the chasing, judging by your list.

Here are some k-dramas that match that office romance with underlying intrigue plot - in all of these the ML falls first:

  • Secret Life of My Secretary - this one reminded me a lot of WWWSK and Business Proposal, it also has a murder mystery plot similar to Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
  • Crazy Love - I think this one is on Disney+ (?) and also reminded me of Business Proposal, with that over-the-top but super fun feeling, plus it has a murder mystery
  • +1 Healer - lots of intrigue/mystery but somehow there's also an office romance mixed in. I bet they would love this one
  • Crash Course in Romance - on Netflix, with older main characters, plus a murder mystery subplot
  • Clean with Passion for Now - on Netflix, very cute energy similar to Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
  • +1 Her Private Life - on Netflix, office romance where the FL is trying to keep a secret from her boss (also reminiscent of Business Proposal but more down to earth)
  • Search WWW: on Netflix, older characters with really strong women, I would say this is an office drama first and romance second. The plot is pretty exciting though with plenty of tension and competition.

Other dramas they might like, also where the ML falls/chases first

  • +1 Crash Landing on You - on Netflix, has two fast-paced plotlines with intrigue and romance
  • +1 Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha - on Netflix, a more mature feel but still has a sweet romance. This one is more chill and doesn't have as much mystery, but I would still recommend it. A friend of mine who doesn't usually like k-dramas really loved this one
  • W Two Worlds: this one is a little bit like My Love from the Star, except the ML is the main character in a comic series who steps into the real world.  So *technically* there is some fantasy-ish aspects but the core of the plot is a very exciting and fast-paced mystery/thriller with romance. Main characters are older, the FL is a nurse.
  • +1 Descendants of the Sun - on Netflix, this one's a classic
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lanzhanya
 recipe_stealin_bish:
Seems like they have a preference for dramas on Netflix/Hulu... is that right?  And they seem to like plots where the ML does most of the chasing, judging by your list.

It's definitely more convenient to have it on Netflix but it's not necessary per se :p Oh! I've actually never noticed that similarity, but I don't think that trope is what they're focusing on. It doesn't hurt to have it though XD

Thanks for the recs! I'll consider a lot of them :p 

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