#romance kdrama recommendation

[myromancedramas]

My Master Lists

Hi welcome to my little blog :,) Here are my recommendation lists! I try to keep these updated but I'm not always punctual, forgive me. Let me know if you have any questions or trouble with the links!

My main is @softandorsweet <3

currently rewatching: Doom at your service

just finished: Love for Love's Sake

MY TOP 5 FAVORITES (see google doc list for plot descriptions and my full list of recommendations)

Romance Kdramas

DOOM: AT YOUR SERVICE (TW death, terminal illness, parent death, themes of su*cide)

TWENTY-FIVE TWENTY-ONE (TW anti-fatness, mild bullying, themes of depression)

HOMETOWN CHA-CHA-CHA (TW anti-fatness, themes of su*cide, ensemble character death)

YUMI'S CELLS (1 & 2) (TW anti-fatness)

 LOVE FOR LOVE’S SAKE (BL) (TW homophobia, su*cidal ideation, shown su*cide, death, blood)

Romance Thrillers Kdramas

VINCENZO (TW multiple characters death, murder, gun violence, homophobia, torture)

W: BETWEEN TWO WORLDS (TW themes of & su*cide, gun violence, parent death, homophobia, sexism, anti-fatness)

HEALER (TW parent death, murder, childhood abuse, kidnapping, themes of su*cide)

WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING (TW childhood trauma, parent death, so much anti-fatness, homophobia, sexism, main character death, murder, slipping someone a drug, themes of & shown attempted su*cide, gun violence)

HAPPINESS (TW self h*rm, murder, zombies basically so lots of blood, classism, gun violence)

Thai Romance Dramas

NOT ME (BL) (TW physical altercations, gun violence, arson, kidnapping, commentary on ableism, racism, capitalism and more)

BAD BUDDY (BL) (TW physical altercations, blood, family violence, gun violence, unwanted public outing) 

MY SCHOOL PRESIDENT (BL) (TW mild manipulation, shove, slap, punch, homophobia, non con photo taking, unwanted public outing)

KINNPORSCHE (BL) (TW gun violence, murder, torture, kidnapping, mafia altercations, physical altercations, under the influence sex scene, dubious consent) 

THE ECLIPSE (BL) (TW homophobia, minimal physical altercations, outing someone)

Japanese Romance Dramas

MY LOVE MIX-UP (BL) (TW homophobia)

ALICE IN BORDERLAND (TW shown death, su*cide, extreme violence, sexual assault, severe psychological trauma)

CHERRY MAGIC (BL) (TW age gap)

SEVEN DAYS (BL) (TW cheating)

ONLY JUST MARRIED (TW fake marriage, unrequited love)

Taiwanese Romance Dramas

ABOUT YOUTH (BL) (TW family stress)

WE BEST LOVE (BL) (TW blackmail, dubious consent, manipulation, non con kiss, violence)

MY TOOTH YOUR LOVE (BL) (TW trauma, parent death, physical abuse, family abuse)

HISTORY 3: TRAPPED (BL) (TW gun violence, kidnapping, gun violence, blood)

BE LOVED IN HOUSE: I DO (BL) (TW manipulation)

Chinese Romance Dramas

PUT YOUR HEAD ON MY SHOULDER (TW anti-fatness) 

i wanted to include any warnings i noticed while watching these shows, as to reduce any harm to anyone taking my recommendations! these are still my favorite shows and have as many nuanced positives as nuanced negatives!

key: FL = female lead, ML = male lead, TW = trigger warning

message about south korean dramas: i think so many of us are drawn to kdramas for their depth and analysis of different forms of oppression and traumas. however, kdramas are lacking so much in so many ways thus the TWs. i recently found out that studio dragon, the largest production company in south korea is a monopoly company (bought out all smaller independent businesses and now has total control over most production in south korea). studio dragon alone has produced vincenzo, hometown cha cha cha, happiness, twenty-five twenty-one, yumis cells, my roommate is a gumiho, doom at your service, true beauty, start-up, tale of the nine tailed, flower of evil, it’s okay to not be okay, hi bye mama, my holo love, love alarm, hotel del luna, because this is my first life and way way more. plus they just signed with Netflix in the last year or two, and will only be continuing to expand. if you regularly watch kdramas there’s not much we can do, expect support the dramas that have become more inclusive. knowledge is power and having perspectives on why studio dragon is not perfect is more beneficial than living in the dark.

[survivalistghost]

my fatal flaw is that i watch edits of the couple and ruin their moments for me before watching the series

[deafening-enthusiastic-dreamer]

Family By Choice

She is so adorable and talented, I have seen her in so many dramas lately, she is doing a great job.

Father- Daughter duo I didn't think I needed, but love anyway.

Feeling a chaotic vibe- Just how I want it to be... I am genuinely excited for this.

Going to be a fun ride!

[keehomania]

cr: nyellaa_ (tiktok)

this is THE drama like this is THE ultimate drama. guys moon lovers is such a timeless masterpiece, idk if i regret not watching it when it was popular or if i regret watching it at all. youth of may, 2521, snowdrop, etc have nothing on moon lovers wallah. this is the most heartbreaking show i’ve ever watched and also one of the best. they ease you into the show with the first ten episodes, make you think you’re in for a historical rom-com. loud and wrong! every twist and death was heartbreaking and the ending ruined me because it’s not even a regular, oh she’s dead, type shit. it's like, he thinks she’s dead and he’ll NEVER see her again because it’s the past, but she’s alive and has to spend the rest of her life remembering him and she can never go back because IT’S THE PAST. that’s so painful fuck this show ngl it’s the one drama i’ll never rewatch. hope this HELPS! 💜

[pammies-world]

Lovely Runner recommendations

For those who love reading and KDramas, I am in serious need of recommendations.

I finished Lovely Runner and I think I am having withdrawals - I literally cannot stop thinking about the show and the characters. I haven't read for the past month because I have been so hung up on this show.

All of this being said, I am open to any book and KDrama recommendations to help scratch this itch. Shows and books that are heavy in the romance department are preferred since I am such a romantic at heart and that is the main component of Lovely Runner that I absolutely adored. I would also love to read about a male main character similar to Sunjae - obsessed with the female lead and would do just about anything for her (and is such a golden retriever/cinnamon roll character).

I have been out of the loop concerning KDramas for the past couple of years (with maybe the exception of a couple of random shows here and there) so there are definitely shows that I missed out on. I have also started a handful of them but just never finished them.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

[penguinsnoot]

East Asian Dramas You Should Watch

1) Put Your Head on My Shoulder {China} (1 season, 24 episodes) [Romance, Comedy, Coming-of-age]

Close to graduating and unsure of her future, Situ Mo ends up living with a genius physics student and finds love along the way. 

2) A Love So Beautiful {China} (1 season, 23 episodes) [Romance, Comedy, Coming-of-age]

Five friends endure high school life together and become closer at time goes on, with friends and neighbors Xiao Xi and Jiang Chen figuring out their relationship as they grow older. 

3) My ID is Gangnam Beauty {South Korea} (1 season, 16 episodes) [Romance, Comedy, Coming-of-age, Drama]

Bullied for her looks growing up, Mi-rae decides to get plastic surgery before starting college in the hopes of avoiding ridicule, but instead faces new challenges that wear at her self-esteem. 

4) My Secret Romance {South Korea} (1 season, 14 episodes) [Romance, Comedy]

Jin-wook and Yoo-mi, two people with drastically different personalities, fall in love amidst a series of misunderstandings and accidents.

5) Find Yourself {China} (1 season, 41 episodes) [Romance, Comedy]

Fanzing is caught in a love triangle between a young employee and an older executive, leading to tough decisions about love and life. 

6) Wait, My Youth {China} (1 season, 24 episodes) [Romance, Coming-of-age]

A group of friends experience the ups-and-downs of life together as they face hardships in love and life. 

7) Moonshine and Valentine {China} (1 season, 25 episodes) [Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, Drama]

An ancient deity helps his soulmate with an ancient curse believe in love.

8) Alice in Borderland {Japan} (2 seasons, 16 episodes) [Thriller, Drama, Sci-fi]

Arisu finds himself in a desolate Tokyo where he must compete in dangerous games to survive. 

9) Sweet Home {South Korea} (1 season, 10 episodes) [Drama, Horror]

As humans are turning into dangerous monsters, an apartment complex’s tenants fight to survive together. 

10) Mr. Heart {South Korea} (1 season, 8 episodes) [Romance]

A pacemaker and marathon runner find themselves falling in love despite a rocky start. 

[thedramadojo]

5 Reasons to Watch The Judge From Hell (2024)

Looking for your next K-drama obsession? The Judge From Hell (2024) is a must-watch. Here are five reasons why it should be at the top of your watchlist!

[lilidawnonthemoon]

[kdramachingoo]

His visuals and their chemistry 🎇🎇🌸🌸

[kdramaxoxo]

Sorry if you've been asked this a million times, but who are your favorite couples from the last couple years?

Congratulations Anon! This ask is AMAZING and I've never been asked it before! Shocking right?? :P

My favorite K-Drama Couples 2023- Spring 2024

NOTE: I tried to include 2022 but my list got too long :)

Moving (Bong-Seok & Hee-Soo, Joo-Won & Hye-Won & Doo-Shik & Mi-Hyun): It's very obvious by this list how much I love this drama and how many blorbo-from-my-shows it created for me. And I know I'm only reviewing couples, but I was blown away by this drama. I don't even LIKE superhero shows, but I made an exception for this one and I'm so glad I did. If you like character development and plays on good vs. evil, I highly rec this! Bong-Seok and Hee-Soo are one of my favorite couples EVER and I loved the softness and epic romance of Joo-Won & Hye-Won. (And we all know that scene at the rainy window with Bong-Seok and Hee-Soo). These couples are really EVERYTHING.

Tale of the Nine Tailed: 1938 (Lee-rang & Yeo-Hee): This is the only time I've ever watched a season two and liked it better than season one. It's probably because it featured my favorite tragic half fox Lee Rang and gave him a love line with a mermaid. The two are SO sweet together---SOB!

Tell me That You Love Me (Mo-Eun & Jin-Woo): Wow. Maybe one of the softest couples I've ever seen in existence. Just watching them together was like a warm blanket in front of a cozy fireplace. I didn't like the ending choice which is a shame, but the drama was super well done and I still think people should watch it. There is also a very cute high school couple too!

The Eighth Sense (Jae-Won & Ji Hyun): not to be dramatic (just kidding!) this is the best bl kdrama I've ever seen. Literally this is it! I don't even want to tell you about the couple because I want you to just watch it! I'm dying for the writer to make another one because we need more queer media like this one!

Crash Course In Romance (Haeng-Seon & Chi-Yeol): Give me a noona romance featuring a man who has not felt warmth in 1000 years (ok not literally but this dude needs to have a warm meal made by an amazing lady!) This drama fell apart at the end (this seems to be a theme this year) but the couple makes it worth watching.

King The Land (Gu-Won & Sa-Rang): If you're looking for a low stakes, totally fluffy, rom com with TONS of chemistry (featuring MY BIAS!), King the Land is for you. Amazing skinship, kisses and just like a really fun duo to watch. Plot? Not so much but there are a billion good moments-- just look at the tags: They are full of cuteness.

Love After Divorce Season 4 (Benita & Jerome): Listen, I know I'm cheating by putting a reality tv show on this list but if you're in the mood for one, I highly recommend this season (it's on Netflix). Benita and Jerome will steal your heart and they are still together! I'm rooting for them. <3

See you in my 19th Life (Ji-Eum & Seo-Ha, Da-Hoon & Cho-Won): My bias Shin Hye Sun kills it in this drama featuring past life romance. Honestly it's not fair because this drama is totally my vibe so I'm obviously going to love the mains. But when a drama gives you more than one love line and they are both interesting and lovely?? Chef's Kiss!

Dr. Slump (Jeong-Woo & Ha-Neul): This drama TOTALLY fell apart at the end and left us all very disappointed, but that's not because our leads weren't a perfect couple! They bonded over mental illness and even took their meds together. Communication: check. Comfort/Healing: check. Chemistry: check!

The Story of Park's Marriage Contract (Yun-Woo & Tae-Ha). You probably don't know this but I've been following Bae In Hyuk's career since we was in silly little web dramas. Seeing him as a lead is really wild! To be fair, he's not nearly the actor that Lee Se Young is, but do we care about that when there's a time slip romance drama featuring a historical lady who's been thrown into the future and has to fake marry someone who looks just like her de*d husband for reasons??

Thank you so much for this ask - it was super fun!! Maybe I should do 2022 next?? :D

[kojandra]

✨dramas i watched in 2023 and my ratings for them✨

May contain spoilers and spoiler alert: It was a very very good kdrama year.

1. Business Proposal, SBS  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ idc y’all this broke my kdrama slump. SO GOOD even though I’m not usually into cheesy romcom. Great start to the year. Even tho this drama is from last yr.

2. Jung_E (do kmovies count? i’m making them count), Netflix  ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Good scifi! A lesson in ethics but the production focused on sentiments rather than action...if you’re into that. (Train to Busan’s director!) I did like it but at some times I wasn’t immersed- but I think for movies I should be completely immersed!! anyways. 

3. Somebody, Netflix  ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5 that was some fucked up psychological thriller shit. Excellent ending. Everything v good except that was some fucked UP shit. And I’m judging y’all if y’all simping over male mc -_-....................

4. The Good Detective 2, SBS. ⭐⭐ Bro I gave up on this drama because it was so boring. Season 1 was so much better. This one kinda dragged. I think I stopped watching at ep 10. Two stars for effort (and for oh ji hyuk <3)

5. The Glory part 2, Netflix ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  fuck the ending tho it shoulda ended where she jumped off the building. It just got worse and worse (i think i gave up when i saw jae-jun’s ending). Absolutely loved the high while watching this, hated that they split it up into two parts bc i lost some of the hype at the beginning of season 2. Such good acting oooof

6. Crash course in romance, tvN ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  Suuuccchhh a good romance high from watching this. The ending fell flat for me...like it was bland. Also. Huijae deserved better. Comedy is weightlifting fairy vibes (bc same writer). And jung kyung ho!!!!!

7. Taxi Driver Season 2, SBS  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ i aint even lying wit you this season was better than the first. nuff said. Forever heart eyes for kim dok gi. 100% would not be mad if SBS decided to renew for third season. I mean...Voice is thriving.

8. Queenmaker, Netflix  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ it’s giving....Miss Sloane (2016) (american movie....watch it hahaha). I was just riding the high until the end, honestly. We all need someone that believes in us this much. What i believe to be the slogan of this show: a win is a win.

9. Divorce Attorney Shin, JTBC  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ you know I love my lawyer shit 💖 love this one. It’s wholesome. It’s cozy. It feels like...the law version of hospital playlist. WATCH.

10. Dr. Cha, JTBC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ every episode made me more and more angry. good shit. Good angry though I’m not even lying.

11. The Good Bad Mother, JTBC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️  If you’re looking to feel things...this is for you. Anger, sadness, happiness, fluff, my favourite domestic couple....yeah I got all the feels. Revenge plot was a bit rushed so I wasn’t feeling it near the end.

12. Dr. Romantic 3, SBS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ ooooouuu this was almost a five star but that one arc with nurse euntak and areum kinda ruined the flow for me. loveeed jang do hwa’s arc even though it took a while.

13. Agency, JTBC ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ EXCELLENT. Love my corporate dramas. TF team support all the way 😍 (ALSO giving Miss Sloane (2016)) Dunno why I dropped a star, it just didn’t FEEL like a five star to me. ngl this would have been a five if I hadn’t watched queenmaker first. Very similar (probably why I like both of them).

14. Numbers, MBC ⭐️⭐️⭐️ If i’m not mistaken, this is my first accounting drama (WHICH IS WHY I HAD REALLY HIGH HOPES FOR IT)? Love the characters, plot has potential, but it’s so hard to watch with the bad direction sorry man. I just feel like some parts could have been more smooth, or less cringey. It’s giving....2016 KBS dramas that are 70 episodes long. I did learn some cool things about accounting though. Spoiler but: i didnt feel satisfied by the revenge plot. 

15. The Revenant, SBS   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 So I hate ghosts and ghost stories. This didn’t feel cringey to me? Like I almost believed in ghosts natural? But also it has Kim Tae Ri, Oh Jung Se, and Kim Won Hae as leads sooo am I surprised? I SHOULDNT BE BUT I AM. This got me scared to go to sleep but worth it! I’m still so confused on some holes in the plot but I won’t dwell on them too much. So maybe this was a five star in disguise??

16. Not Others, ENA  ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 It was cute haha. Soo Young can’t beat Tell Me What You Saw (imo) that one’s goat.

17. Shadow Detective, Disney+ ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Okay ngl it took me a while to get into it because it was so boring. I thought it would be more fast paced bc it’s only eight episodes. It got SUPER interesting at episode 6 and i loved 6, 7, 8. 8 was kinda anti climatic. I tried season 2 but I got so bored soo....we jus gonna leave it at the season 1 ending. (but if anyone else has watched this pls spoil it for me and tell me what happens hahhahha)

18. Celebrity, Netflix  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This was highkey so satisfying (and a great binge watch). Jun Kyung best boi <3

19. A Time Called You, Netflix  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 BIIIITCH THAT WAS GOOD (I cried maybe a bit) (and maybe I only watched it bc my bb ahn hyo seop). A story about destinies and fate. And time travel. Thoroughly enjoyed the group dynamic and all the characters had a purpose. Warning: hella time skips. 0.5 taken off because they did koo yeon jun’s og love line dirty. But the rest? A+. I would watch again. And for this one: I actually liked the ending. I didn’t watch the original Taiwanese drama (Someday or One Day) but this one was definitely giving Your Name by Makoto Shinkai.

20. My Lovely Liar, tvN   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ y’all that was cute!!! It got really slow in the middle. I watched it as it came out but I think if I was bingeing I’d skip chunks haha. The murder plot was kinda boring after a bit. The plot twist was kinda...not necessary. Couple pairing tho???? A+. I want more.

21. The Killing Vote, SBS   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5  I always seem to have problems with the ending right? This one was good. I was already satisfied..it didn’t feel rushed. Story was insane, everything was SO good. MUST BINGE WATCH. The energy definitely flows throughout the drama and ......it gives squid game. Only a bit. Good pacing too! 

22. Doctor Lawyer, MBC  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ SLOW. BURN. But damn was it good. Drama made me so mad like fuh this world is so corrupt. Props to main character for doing that bc that could never be me.

23. Twinkling Watermelon, tvN  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 Everyone that needs a comfort youth fantasy drama gotta watch this. I cried a lot, I got angry, I lived with these characters. MUST WATCH. The only thing I have against this is the ending and epilogue. Ruined the vibes going for me. I wanted more insight to the characters at the end! It wasn’t enough!!!

24. Perfect Marriage Revenge, MBN  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ FOUR WORDS: KDRAMAS ARE SO BACK.

25. The Worst of Evil, Disney+   ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 A good slow burn, in my opinion.

26. Strong Girl Nam Soon, JTBC  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ LOVE!

27. Daily Dose of Sunshine, Netflix  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Excellent excellent drama about mental health disorders and gave me very thoughtful insight into treatment and patient care. Especially loved the character arc of Jung Da-Eun and Min Deul-Re.

please recommend me dramas! what are we watching this year?

dramas i’d rewatch: crash course in romance, queenmaker, agency, twinkling watermelon, daily dose of sunshine

my yearly reviews starting from 2021: 2021 | 2022

[myromancedramas]

made a cute kdrama tiktok <3

[survivalistghost]

excuse me sir that’s my emotional support murderer

[deafening-enthusiastic-dreamer]

Love Next Door

Such adorable eyesssss, I am gonna die.

This Duo is very entertaining, needless to say but I am rooting for them.

I truly love her acting, and by extension her - She never disappoints.

Are you kidding me?? LMAO dieeinggg

This senerio is genuinely very horrible. I can only imagine how it must feel in real life.

[keehomania]

just finished episode 8 of love next door and it’s safe to say that i am NOT watching ts anymore 💀🙏 rom-com my ass bro. she’s gonna die i’m calling it right now she is SO dying and that’s how the memorial center he invested in is gonna come into play. this show stays pissing me off wdym stomach cancer? her ex gotta go too been here 2 episodes too long don’t you know you have thirty minutes??? “love next door” but we got 10 minutes of the love within 8 episodes. i’m dropping this tho this is NOT what i signed up for. when yall finish the show lmk if she dies or not.

[geminithetwins]

cause I'm falling slowly love with you | Young Love | Kdrama Multifandom