K-drama rom-coms have gained immense popularity worldwide with their unique blend of heartwarming romance, humor, and relatable characters, whether it’s the recently released My Dearest or the classic My Love From The Star. K-dramas offer a refreshing and addictive twist on the classic romantic comedy genre, making them a global trend that continues to charm viewers and inspire remakes in different cultures. Thus, given this trend, Netflix has released numerous exceptional romantic comedies, allowing fans to indulge and fully immerse themselves in the enchanting world of romance.
While numerous South Korean TV shows thrill, scare, and make audiences cry, the most common K-dramas loved by all are romantic comedies. Adding a splash of romance to a comical plot and vice versa is the ideal combination to make someone feel better. Pair that with Rotten Tomatoes ratings, and viewers can check out some of the best South Korean rom-coms on Netflix.
25
‘Destined With You’ (2023)
Audience Rotten Tomatoes Score: 72%
A magical mishap sets the stage for an enchanting love story in Destined With You. Lee Hong-jo (Jo Bo-ah), a civil servant, finds herself entangled in the mysterious world of Jang Shin-yu (Rowoon), a charismatic lawyer cursed by forces beyond his control. Their fates intertwine when Hong-jo discovers a mysterious wooden chest that’s linked to Shin-yu’s strange affliction. What follows is a hilarious and heartwarming journey filled with magical mishaps and romantic entanglements.
Destined With You is such a joy to watch due largely to the playful chemistry between the leads.
Rowoon, with his charm, nails the balance between a cursed man’s vulnerability and comedic confusion, while Jo brings warmth and determination to her role. Though the fantasy elements sometimes fail to hit the mark, the show’s humorous banter and tender moments keep viewers enchanted.
24
‘When the Camellia Blooms’ (2019)
Audience Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%
When the Camellia Blooms stars Princess Gong Hyo-jin and the comedic actor/action star Kang Ha-neul who leads this lovely yet slightly offbeat romance about a bar owner and a local cop. Dong-baek (Gong) moves to a small village with her son and opens a bar named “Camellia.” Yong-sik (Kang) is a cop who always accidentally catches the bad guy. He’s rather tactless, and Dong-baek is stubborn.
Their chemistry on-screen is palpable, although some dialogue bits may be a bit dated for modern times. Despite that, this rom-com tackles the social stigma on single mothers in South Korea. Additionally, the series has a thriller twist, as a killer lurks around the village. The show brought Kang Ha-neul the Best Actor Award at the 2019 Baeksang Arts Awards and Gong Hyo-jin the Grand Prize at the 2019 KBS Drama Awards.
When The Camellia Blooms
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Kong Hyo-jin
Oh Dong-baek
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Kim Ji-seok
Kang Jong-ryeol
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Ji E-Suu
Jessica Park Sang-mi
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Kang Ha-neul
Hwang Yong-sik
23
‘Thirty-Nine’ (2022)
Audience Rotten Tomatoes Score: 79%
What seems to be a loose South Korean homage to the HBO comedy show Sex and the City, Thirty-Nine dives into the friendship of three women on the verge of turning forty. The show depicts their lives, romantic interests, and how getting older, being single, and juggling work and private life functions for each.
Here, the three women in focus are all protagonists in their own way…
This romantic comedy doesn’t just rely on the main protagonists being a man and a woman. Here, the three women in focus are all protagonists in their own way, although many would argue Crash Landing on You‘s Son Ye-jin carries the torch. Thirty-Nine is a heartwarming K-Drama series that lets viewers enjoy the ride of true friendship, giving the entire rom-com angle more depth.
22
‘The Trunk’ (2024)
Audience Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%
Known for his famous thriller roles in Squid Game and Train to Busan, Gong Yoo turns on his charm in this beguiling, mysterious and emotional love story. He plays a millionaire horror soundtrack composer who enters a one-year contract marriage arranged by a futuristic company that offers a “pure” form of marriage. His new spouse is one of the company’s best workers (Seo Hyeon-jin), who is on her fifth marriage after the death of her most recent, and they enter a mature romance filled with moments of levity that contrast the more noir-ish qualities of the show.
While the plot often snakes in around itself due to all the moving elements, and thus can be confusing, The Trunk offers more than a twist on the romantic trope of a contract marriage. It pulls on dark, emotional threads and makes the love aspects of the story feel earned, and thus satisfying. The show is definitely a darker take on the typical rom-com, but it still filled the same two-potential-lovers-getting-to-know-each-other plot points that we adore. —Jasneet Singh
The Trunk
- Release Date
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2024 – 2024-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Kim Kyoo-tae
- Writers
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Park Eun-young
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Seo Hyeon-jin
Han Jeong-won
21
‘Once Upon a Small Town’ (2022)
Audience Rotten Tomatoes Score: 80%
Adapted from a web novel by Park Ha-min, Once Upon a Small Town follows a veterinarian from Seoul named Han Ji-yul (Choo Young-woo) who is forcibly relocated to the village of Heedong. He meets Lee Sang-hyeon (Baek Seong-cheol), a local “nuclear man,” and Ahn Ja-young (Park Soo-young), a friendly policewoman who works in the area.
When it comes to the story’s essential elements, Once Upon a Small Town strikes all the right notes. It has just the right amount of humor, drama, poignant moments, and—last but not least—the straightforward yet heartfelt romance that will have romantics moving in their seats.
20
‘My Holo Love’ (2020)
Audience Rotten Tomatoes Score: 81%
Released on Netflix in 2020, My Holo Love introduces us to the intriguing world of a woman living with prosopagnosia, a condition that prevents her from recognizing faces. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she encounters “Holo,” an advanced holographic AI designed to be the perfect companion.
With compelling characters and a thought-provoking narrative, My Holo Love delves into the complexities of human connection in an increasingly digital world…
As their relationship develops, viewers are taken on an emotional journey that explores themes of loneliness, love, and the blurred boundaries between humans and technology. With compelling characters and a thought-provoking narrative, My Holo Love delves into the complexities of human connection in an increasingly digital world, making it a must-watch for fans of both romance and sci-fi genres.
19
‘Memories of the Alhambra’ (2018–2019)
Audience Rotten Tomatoes Score: 82%
Memories of the Alhambra, which is primarily set in Spain, is a stirring K-Drama on Netflix that revolves around a company CEO (Huyn Bin) and a hostel owner (Park Shin-hye) who become involved in a string of inexplicable occurrences involving a complex new augmented reality game that was inspired by the legends of the Alhambra Palace.
The utilization of computer games as the focal point of Memories of the Alhambra, supported by the characters’ superb acting and chemistry, makes it quite distinctive. Additionally, the cinematography is excellent, highlighting Alhambra as a strong supporting character and inspiring viewers to immediately plan their next vacation.
18
‘Something in the Rain’ (2018)
Audience Rotten Tomatoes Score: 84%
As the title suggests, this series tugs at the idea of there being something about the rain: of it being full of romance, vitality, or simply clearing the streets away for a new beginning. Something in the Rain follows an age-gap relationship between a thirty-something woman (Son Ye-jin) whose life drastically changes when she reconnects with her younger brother’s twenty-something friend (Jung Hae-in). As they fall in love, they are forced to hide their relationship for various reasons.
The romance in this series unfolds organically in a peaceful, “slice of life” manner that feels like cozying up to a fireplace while it’s raining outside. The show finds value in character-driven scenes and standstill moments rather than in the actual plot, so you have to have a certain mindset while watching it, but you are bound to gain an appreciation for the beauty found in a quotidian atmosphere. —Jasneet Singh
17
‘Itaewon Class’ (2020)
Audience Rotten Tomatoes Score: 85%
The K-Drama Itaewon Class excelled as a dramedy depicting family ties, success, revenge, and love. Its plot focuses on Sae-ro-yi (Park Seo-joon), who, in the past, stands up to a bully at school and gets expelled for it. Coincidentally, that bully ends up killing his father, leaving Sae-ro-yi to seek revenge.
At present, Sae-ro-yi runs a restaurant with a quirky but popular manager Yi-seo (Kim Da-mi). They’re complementary characters whose romance is initially more obvious to the viewers, showing enough potential to be greenlit by Hollywood for a remake. Another Parasite star and heartthrob, Seo-joon, carries the show on his shoulders. He has unique comedic timing and knows when to turn on the charm; Sae-ro-yi may be his most comprehensive character, which should be enough to get through the 16 one-hour episodes.
16
‘Lovestruck in the City’ (2020)
Audience Rotten Tomatoes Score: 87%
Lovestruck in the City takes on a bold mockumentary format that follows six singletons navigating love and break-ups in the city. While each of their love stories is explored, the central story focuses on an architect (Ji Chang-wook) going on vacation and meeting a free-spirited woman (Kim Ji-won). They promise to meet again in Seoul, but when she doesn’t arrive, we find out she is not who we thought she was.
The series is spread out between the six characters, and while the interview format can sometimes be jarring, that’s also what makes this series unique. Hearing their thoughts deepens the character studies and offers alternate perspectives on some of their bizarre actions. But, like many good rom-coms, it is the exploration of a relationship beyond “love at first sight” that makes this journey worth taking. —Jasneet Singh