Favourite Romance K-dramas

This romance is too sweet to be bitter and too bitter to be sweet. It's really a well written and well acted piece of drama. I was smiling in the first half and bawling in the second half. As well as falling for the love story between the main leads, I also fell for the bond between the FL and her friends. Women had it tough and I think they did a remarkable job illustrating that on screen. They weren't afraid to show the harsh realities and to balance the romantic fantasy of the romance genre with the very real historical story.  

Another near perfect rom-com. The only reason why WWWSK is not at the top is because I think love triangles take away from k-drama romances. I know if done right it can add a great deal to it but so far, I've yet to see it done right. This is an otherwise magnificent romance drama. The production level is top tier. The camera visuals are like a Hollywood movie. 

These top three are near perfect rom-coms. The lead characters are very charismatic and dynamic as characters, which makes the romance not only enjoyable but the comedy also elevates the romance. 

This is another rom-com that could have easily been at the top of my list. I actually have no critiques. It's just that the above two were a bit more impactful due to the magnetism of their lead performances. 

This and Strong Woman Do Bong Soon are the epitome of a perfect Korean rom-com. This is A-tier. If I could watch romance dramas like these for the rest of my life, I would be very happy indeed. 

Usually a romance drama such as this would not be so high on my list but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The superpower element could have easily overshadowed the romance aspect (like in other favourite dramas not on this list) but it instead bolsters it, making it pure romance through and through. 

I know this drama was overshadowed by other more popular dramas released the same year but this drama had a profound impact on me. It, along with another drama on this list single-handily sparked my love for the Korean romance genre. Prior to this I was a teen/young adult who se only foray into k-drama romance were the teen rom-coms (some of which I did absolutely love) but didn't think much of substance-wise. This drama 'woke me up' in that regard. The love story was so beautiful. I'm a sucker for romances starting from childhood and when the FL found out his identity; there have been very few romances since this that have had emotion in a scene be so palpable. One of the best releases of story climaxes I've seen in a drama. Truly impactful.

Along with a lot of other dramas on this list, this is a firm favourite that I can go back to and watch time and time again. I did not realise that the ML in this had also acted in a few of my other faves until this year. I'm the last to notice these things but his acting/characters are so versatile. Each role feels like a completely different character. Definitely a comfort series and one of the dramas that can be considered the prime of k-drama romances. 

This is another one from that golden period when k-drama romances were effortless in their execution. Far from perfect but dramas like this represented a high degree of capability in producing a romance of a high caliber. 

This is the second drama that got me into k-drama romances way back when. Similar to Angel eyes, the traumatic nature of the plot made the fact that the leads found each in adulthood all the more emotional and beautiful. The longing and the separation along with the bitter-sweet memories of meeting each other in childhood only to lose each other, built up such a palpable romance story. Interestingly I wasn't as bothered with the 'love triangle' as I usually am because each characters' actions and motivations made so much sense. So much of it was informed by trauma, which made the cathartic release of the leads reuniting so emotional.

There are k-drama rom-coms that you just enjoy. They are not stellar but they understand the assignment. This is such a one. 

I've watched this a few times now and I remember loving this so much after the first watch. Enough so it could have been in my top five but after the second and third watch, I started paying more attention to the supporting characters and a lot of their characterisation/actions didn't sit right with me and lessened my love for the lead couple's romance somewhat. This is definitely a biased opinion but I also think it is quite objective and it is that adding SML and SFL to create love triangles and squares do in fact serve as an unnecessary foil to the enjoyment of a romance drama. Whatever enjoyment you would get without it is lessened by it's presence as they are usually only there to serve as an obstacle and the contrived-ness of it is so jarring and does not pay off. 

I know that noona romances get a bad rep but I kinda fell in love with this drama when it was airing. Both leads are so orphan-like and utterly loveable. I'm a sucker for found family. 

I'd say this is somewhat a cross between the hay-day of k-drama romances and the new style which has less direction/identity imo. It's actually the romance aspect that elevates this drama. Take that away and this would not be the classic it is today. Thankfully, you don't have to take that away and can enjoy the romance of the main leads which is reminiscent of the k-romance golden era.   

There are k-drama rom-coms that you just enjoy. They are not stellar but they understand the assignment. This is such a one.

There are k-drama rom-coms that you just enjoy. Usually they are very charming and memorable even though they are not 10/10 dramas.

What an epic romance.  Still, they don't make them quite like they used to, otherwise along with the sheer power of the leads' performances; this would be at the top of the list. As much as I enjoyed the romance and loved the way their relationship was written; it was actually the love of family and the healing and the feeling of hope that I completely fell in love with in this drama. If I had a list for familial love, this would be near the top. 

This is another drama that overall is very high on my all time favourite list and as much as I love the romance (and I do), judging it just on the romance aspect keeps it out of my top ten. At this stage in the list - because it is a list full of dramas that I enjoy - it starts to become about why it doesn't make top ten. It doesn't mean I don't love the romance. It wouldn't be on this list if I didn't.

Another enjoyable romance that started from childhood (my fave) and the great job they did in making each reincarnation feel like the same person must be mentioned. I enjoyed this drama and the romance more than I initially thought I would. 

Some of these I am going by memory alone and its mostly the memory of the feeling that has stayed with me since watching these dramas. I don't remember much of the plot but I do remember this one scene and the way it made me feel. I might re-watch this one. 

I did not expect to love this romance as much as I did. Great chemistry from the two leads and a very endearing FL. 

A lot like Gangnam Beauty in that this drama is on the cusp of the golden era along with some of the bad habits of the new-age k-drama romances. The performances absolutely makes it a classic but it's one that almost could have gone the other way and with a different cast, it probably would have. In fact, I think I've seen dramas with a similar story that just did not work. I perhaps don't love this romance story as much as the majority of other viewers but I like it enough and appreciate the well-done performances. 

This drama was probably one of the last 'good' k-drama romances that made you feel like writers still knew how to create solid rom-coms that understood the assignment. 

A classic and a well acted romance. It has all the elements you need, believability and commitment to character, great chemistry and a satisfying romance.

I know people have thoughts about this drama but I loved the romance aspect. It reminded me of the fun enjoyment we used to get from Korean rom-coms. It had the industry actors of old,who say what you want about them; they used to know what was expected of MLs and FLs. They might not have been masterpieces, but they understood who their characters were and what we wanted out of a romance as an audience. 

Noona romances get some heat but I've enjoyed the one's I've seen so far. This is no exception. It's a nice enough romance story and the leads have good chemistry.

A**hole ML done right? One thing's for sure, we never used to wonder if the ML truly cared about the FL, it's why we put up with their a**hattery. 

I used to like this romance drama a lot more. I still like it but not at the level I used to. It still gives me warm feelings when I rewatch it and I've come to love the side characters more and more.

As much as I do like the romance in this, it is the part of the first half of the story that I found the least impactful but then they brought it home in the second half, where I completely bought into their love for each other.  

This is another drama where for me the romance was the part that I enjoyed the least but still enjoyed because I liked the drama so much. It was like the romance was an 8 while the rest of the story was a 9.5. 

I enjoyed the Korean adaptation of this love story. I love their dynamic more so as students than when they were adults but I found the romance to be sweet and memorable. 

Their love story carried this drama for me. I love sci-fi but if their love was not so well portrayed, I think I would have gotten bored. Gotta love a man who would travel across space and time to save the woman he loves. It's a tale as old as time. 

This is just pure unadulterated indulgence and shameless enjoyment. It's no Shakespeare but what it is, is really heartfelt and utterly charming.  

I've loved this drama too long to stop loving it now. It may not be sophisticated or may be seen as uncouthed now but I love it all the same. It's one of the remnants of my late teens and it's filled with fond memories, so sue me.

I think if I had watched this in its hey-day, I would have appreciated it more but still, I did quite enjoy the romance aspect and can say it does follow the formula of the golden era.

This drama was on the cusp of the last 'good' k-drama romances in that the story execution was more of the clumsy new-style but the romance was still reminiscent of when romances were good/decent. 

I loved the concept of this and their romance. Their only fault was that the leads, as well performed as they were, aren't as magnetic performers as some others in the industry. 

The last of the decent k-drama rom-coms where you don't leave feeling shortchanged about even the romance. 

Cool concept and a solid romance story.

I did not think I would enjoy this romance as much as I did. The story was a little all over the place but the blossoming of their relationship felt very genuine and made up for it.

Another of the last 'good' k-drama rom-coms.

This is my #2 pure indulgence on this list. The production is low quality but the chemistry, the leads' stage presence and perhaps even the love story was too good for the production it was in. I think given a bigger budget and better writers, they would have stayed this story and become an instant classic.

This is very low on my list because the depiction of Africa just left a sour note on all aspects of this drama meaning I couldn't enjoy the romance as much as I usually would (even though I did enjoy it) and even though technically this drama is from the golden era of k-drama romances.

Love the romance between the leads but pretty much everything else in this drama annoyed me enough to only enjoy the relationship between the leads.

Hated by many but I quite enjoyed it. I certainly don't think it was awful. It's worst crime is probably being an average romance story. 

Another actor whose performance/caliber is too good for the production they are in. It's the production that lets this drama down but the romance is the highlight. 

A cute, fluffy, easy-going romance.

I do prefer the original version but I do like this version also because of the romance. I didn't really find the rest of the plot interesting. 

Overall I really like this drama and I like the romance even, but every drama ahead of this one, I  liked the love story a little more. I do think this has a great written relationship and I'm glad they bucked a lot of the k-drama trends. 

This was actually so heartfelt and romantic despite the low-budget production. 

I for one enjoyed this series. I found it decent and I enjoyed the blossoming romance between the leads. 

Short and sweet. Cute and fluffy. Sometimes that's all you need.

I actually think this was an above average k-drama. It obviously could have been better and a lot of potential was lost but it's better than most give it credit for. The story was actually really well done (at least until the last chapter), the characters were really interesting and nuanced, and the (unexpected for me) romance was developed well. I love how their relationship developed. 

Watched this on a whim and I always enjoy interesting concepts even if the director is no Steven Spielberg. It won't win any awards. Overall it's average at best but I like what they did with this romance concept. It's something different than the usual mundane.  

This drama was overshadowed by more popular dramas released that year but it's a fun watch and the romance concept is something different.