Best 10 Throwback Romance K-Dramas You Need To Re-watch

Just as Korean popular culture is getting more loved around the world, K-Dramas are also getting well-known.

K-dramas, which stands for Korean drama, are television shows from South Korea in the Korean language but have subtitles and are watched globally. The most popular K-drama is The World of the Married with the highest rating of 28.371%.

Among the many K-dramas, romance ones are very successful and loved worldwide. There is a variety of them that mix in fantasy, action, comedy, traditional Korean history and more. 

While there is so much information on current and new K-dramas, I always struggle to find good, older romance series. When I finish watching new ones and the old popular ones, I don't know other good shows to watch. For those like me, I made a list of older romance K-dramas that you need to watch or re-watch. 

The best part is that since they're all finished, you can binge-watch them all at once or take your time however you like. Therefore, here's a list of some popular and lesser-known K-dramas for romance lovers (and it's subjectively ranked by my opinion).

10 Great Romance K-dramas You Should Watch

1. Crash Landing on You (2019)

One of the first K-dramas I watched was Crash Landing on You. It's something I always feel like re-watching for the romance but also the action and comedy. Moreover, it was the first K-drama that made me cry - it truly has everything you need. Crash Landing on You was so successful that it became the highest-rated show on channel tvN and the second-highest-rated in the history of Korean TV. Its popularity is notably due to the well-known, talented cast. 

While at first, I thought it would be like a Romeo and Juliet love story, it's so much more than that. The complex, interesting storyline kept me engaged all the time and I fell in love with the side characters' stories and the actors.

Crash Landing on You is even on Netflix and it was released from 14 December 2019 - 16 February 2020 and directed by Lee Jung Hyo. Furthermore, there are 16 episodes, each roughly 1 hour, 25 minutes long.

Crash Landing on You's plot

Yoon Se Ri (Son Ye Jin), an heiress to a South Korean conglomerate, gets in an accident while paragliding and lands in North Korea. She meets Ri Jeong Hyeok (Hyun Bin), a North Korean army officer who agrees to help hide her and get her back to South Korea. However, they both start falling in love with each other. 

Cast

Firstly, the great cast features Son Ye Jin as Yoon Se Ri, and Hyun Bin (born Kim Tae Pyung) as Ri Jeong Hyeok. Son Ye Jin has received the Best Actress award many times for movies including My Wife Got Married and The Last Princess, and Hyun Bin was nominated at the Baeksang Arts Awards five times and more. Additionally, Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin have revealed that they're dating on 1 January 2021.

Together with these stars, Seo Ji Hye (also in Heart Surgeons and Jealousy Incarnate) plays Seo Dan and Kim Jung Hyun (also in School 2017 and Welcome to Waikiki) plays Gu Seung Jung - the amazing lead characters. 

2. 18 Again (2020)

While I first watched it for the idol Bomin from Golden Child, I fell in love with the other actors (mostly Hwang In Yeop) and it's one of my favourite shows. The actors gave a great performance, especially the well-known Lee Do Hyun. Secondly, this romance-comedy was filled with entertaining laughs and is a great drama for all ages.

It was a familiar concept in a remake of U.S.'s 17 Again in 2009. This gives us warm nostalgia and I think they did an amazing job of putting it into a TV series. For one thing, I was always anxiously excited and waiting to see if his identity would get revealed - I was not let down but it would've been interesting to see more reactions to the secret. (There's also rumours for season 2 of 18 Again).

Directed by Ha Byung Hoon, 18 Again was released from 7 September - 10 November 2020. Similarly, it has 16 episodes and each are about 1 hour 10 minutes long. 

18 Again's plot

Jung Da Jung (Kim Ha Neul) is a hard-working rookie announcer with an 18-year-old daughter and son. But she can't handle her husband, Hong Dae Young (Yoon Sang Hyun), so she gives him divorce papers. He's a 37-year-old man and after just being fired from his job and feeling hopeless, he somehow transforms into his 18-year-old body (Lee Do Hyun) but with his present mind.

When he was a teenager he was popular and great at basketball. So, with this chance to live a new life, Dae Young changes his name to Ko Woo Young and goes to the same school his children attend. Due to seeing the world differently, he learns and understands new things. 

Cast

With great acting, the young Hong Dae Young was played by Lee Do Hyun while the old Dae Young was played by Yoon Sang Hyun. Lee Do Hyun is known for popular shows such as Prison Playbook, Hotel Del Luna and Sweet Home and Yoon Sang Hyun has starred in Secret Garden, My Fair Lady and Shopaholic Louis amongst others. Jung Da Jung was played by model and actress Kim Ha Neul.

Next, their kids were played by great young actors - Roh Jeong Eui as Hong Shi A and Ryeo Un as Hong Shi Woo. The second lead in 18 Again is Wi Ha Joon, who acts as the baseball player, Ye Ji Hoon. The comedy was achieved with the help of Kim Gang Hyun as Ko Deok Jin and Lee Mi Do as Choo Ae Rin.

3. Tempted (2018)

As a K-drama that was popular in its time, Tempted was a great romance series filled with drama that immerses you. My heart really had an emotional rollercoaster with this show through loving and hating the characters. Plus, the main actors were hot. 

Of course, I watched it for the main character, Joy from the K-pop group Red Velvet and I was surprised to see how great of an actress she was but I loved it for the story as well. Although the plot sounds cliche with the boy making a bet that he can make the girl fall in love with him and then he gets feelings for her, it was acted so well with detailed characters that you can't stop watching. Thus, it's perfect for people who love a really good romance-focused drama. 

Tempted was directed by Kang In and Lee Dong Hyun and released from 12 March - 1 May 2018. It has 32 episodes that are each around 35 minutes long. You can also watch Tempted on Netflix.

Tempted's plot

20-year-old Kwon Shi Hyun (Woo Do Hwan) doesn't believe in love and makes a bet that he can seduce Eun Tae Hee (Joy). However, things change when he meets her and starts falling for her. 

Cast

The main female in Tempted is Eun Tae Hee, played by Joy. Though it was the idol Joy's second K-drama, she did amazing with the other main actor Woo Do Hwan, who was in shows including Mad Dog and The King: Eternal Monarch. Moreover, the cast featured Mun Ka Young (also in Welcome to Waikiki 2 and True Beauty) as Choi Soo Ji and Kim Min Jae (also in Dr. Romantic and Do You Like Brahms?) as Lee Se Joo. 

4. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (2017)

As a beloved, creative K-drama by many fans including me, this has to be on this list for its heart-warming romance and hilarious comedy where even the small characters are so memorable because of their funny parts. The action and drama on top of the romance make this series hard to stop watching. 

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon was released from 24 February - 15 April 2017 and was directed by Lee Hyeong Min. The series has 16 episodes roughly 1 hour 10 minutes each. Unfortunately, there is currently no season 2. 

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon's plot

Passed down through her family for generations but only for women, Do Bong Soon (Park Bo Young) has superhuman strength and she dreams of making a video game featuring herself as the main character. When she fights off a bunch of thugs to save a bus driver, she gets noticed by Ahn Min Hyuk (Park Hyung Sik) who is the CEO of Ainsoft, a video game company. 

Min Hyuk, who later falls for Bong Soon, asks her to be his bodyguard since he's been threatened and stalked lately so she accepts, especially because if she does well, she can work in the games planning department. Bong Soon also has a crush on her childhood friend, the police officer Kook Doo (Ji Soo). He's currently investigating the serial women kidnappings in the neighbourhood and the other two end up helping. 

Cast

The lovable star playing Bong Soon, Park Bo Young, has gotten awards for the movie Scandal Makers and the drama Oh My Ghostess. Park Hyung Sik is a member of the boy group ZE:A but acts in many dramas such as The Heirs and Suits. From Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo comes the other man in the love triangle, Ji Soo. 

Additionally, the cast includes An Woo Yeon (also in Hello, My Twenties! 2) as Do Bong Ki and Seol In A (also in School 2017) as Jo Hee Ji. 

5. Extraordinary You (2019)

Firstly, something I loved about this K-drama was its creative, unique concept of comic characters never heard of before. It was full of unexpected twists and the whole time, I was hoping for their happy ending. Not to mention, with a great romance and hot male actor, this was an emotional yet fun watch. It's a good K-drama and sadly doesn't have a second season.

Extraordinary You was directed by Kim Sang Hyub and Kim Sang Woo and was released from 2 October - 21 November 2019. It had 32 episodes, all being roughly 35 minutes. Extraordinary You is based on the webtoon July Found by Chance, written in January 2018. 

Extraordinary You's plot

Eun Dan Oh (Kim Hye Yoon) is a high school student who has a heart disease so she won't live to be an adult. When she starts getting short-term memory loss, she discovers that she's a character in a webtoon and much to her dismay, she's only a supporting character. She doesn't have long to live and she wants to live her life instead of following the actions the author draws for her. 

In trying to find her true love, she falls for a student with no character name who she calls Haru (Rowoon). With this extra character, she works to make her own story using her ability to see bits of the future on the storyboard. 

Cast

The popular cast featured Kim Hye Yoon, as Eun Dan Oh, who's well known for Sky Castle. Rowoon, playing Haru, is an idol in the boy group, SF9, but has acted in other dramas like School 2017 and She Would Never Know.

In addition, Baek Kyung was played by Lee Jae Wook (also in Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol), Lee Do Hwa was played by Jung Gun Joo, Oh Nam Joo was played by Kim Young Dae (also in Cheat On Me If You Can and Penthouse), and Yeo Joo Da was played by Lee Na Eun (member of K-pop group April and starred in A-Teen). 

6. True Beauty (2020)

Certainly, one of my favourite K-dramas is True Beauty because it had so many of my favourite actors and they all did amazing. The romance and drama were perfect and while both male leads were the best, I'm team Seo Joon. Moreover, it had a heartwarming message that everyone is beautiful and it makes you more thoughtful of the struggles of people being bullied. 

True Beauty was directed by Kim Sang Hyub and released from 9 December 2020 - 4 February 2021. It has 16 episodes that run for around 1 hour 15 minutes.

True Beauty's plot

Im Ju Kyung (Mun Ka Young) was bullied for her appearance so she wears make-up to hide her bare face. At her new high school, she gets the attention of two guys, the handsome but cold Lee Soo Ho (Cha Eun Woo) and the bad boy Han Seo Joon (Hwang In Yeop). Although she uses her great make-up skills so no one will ever see her bare face, Soo Ho happens to find out her secret. 

Cast

From the great romance series Tempted, Mun Ka Young shows an amazing performance as Im Ju Kyung. Lee Soo Ho is played by Cha Eun Woo, a member of the boy group Astro and the main actor of Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung. Han Seo Joon is played by Hwang In Yeop, from 18 Again. Another known star joins them as Park Yoo Na (from Sky Castle and Hotel Del Luna) plays Kang Soo Jin. 

7. Her Private Life (2019)

This was an interesting show to see the main character that was an adult K-pop fan, which was relatable yet entertaining to see how complex a life she led as she hid it. Of course, the romance and comedy was good 

Her Private Life was released from 10 April - 30 May 2019 and was directed by Hong Jong Chan. 

Her Private Life's plot

Sung Deok Mi (Park Min Young) is a curator at an art gallery but she's also a big fan of the idol Shi An and has a fan website of him. Due to many breakups because of her love for Shi An, Deok Mi does her work for Shi An in secret while concentrates on her job. 

Ryan Gold (Kim Jae Wook), who used to be a famous painter, becomes the art gallery's new director. He starts getting interested in Deok Mi, especially when he finds out his secret she works so hard to hide.

Cast

Playing the role of Sung Deok Mi, Park Min Young was also in What's Wrong With Secretary Kim. Acting as Ryan is Kim Jae Wook, loved for Coffee Prince and Voice. Additionally, they're joined by Ahn Bo Hyun (from Itaewon Class) as Nam Eun Ki, One (rapper, singer-songwriter) as Cha Shi An, and Kim Bo Ra (from Sky Castle) as Cindy. 

8. Oh My Ghost (2015)

Recommended by friends, this was truly entertaining with amazing main actresses and it's good to see if you're hungry because of the delicious food. This romance K-drama was mixed with an interesting fantasy of ghosts and possession and great comedy.

Directed by Yoo Je Won, Oh My Ghost was released from 3 July - 22 August 2015. It had 16 episodes, each around 1 hour long. Unfortunately, there is no season 2 currently.

Oh My Ghost's plot

Na Bong Sun (Park Bo Young) is a shy assistant chef with low self-esteem and she has a crush on the star chef, Kang Sun Woo (Cho Jung Seok). Bong Sun gets possessed by a virgin ghost, Shin Soon Ae (Kim Seul Gi), who loves seducing men.

Soon Ae decides to help Bong Sun win over Sun Woo and he begins to notice her after her drastic personality change, even though he seems to still like another girl.

Cast 

The loved actress from Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, Park Bo Young, plays Na Bong Sun. Furthermore, Cho Jung Seok, who plays Kang Sun Woo, was in Hospital Playlist among other dramas. The charming Shin Soon Ae was played by Kim Seul Gi, who's in dramas including Love With Flaws and Find Me in Your Memory. 

9. Cheese in the Trap (2016)

While some people hated it and others loved it, I enjoyed this drama as it was interesting all the way with captivating and diverse characters, where you hate some and love some (I loved Baek In Ho). Cheese in the Trap had a love triangle where Yoo Jung and Baek In Ho have feelings for Hong Seol. It's great for people looking for romance and lots of drama. 

Sadly, Cheese in the Trap didn't have a happy ending and there is no season 2. But it's a really good and intense drama. Even though Jung was a bit of a sociopath and had issues (the actor portrayed it fantastically), Jung truly likes Seol and it was interesting to see their relationship evolve. 

Cheese in the Trap was released from 4 January - 1 March 2016 and directed by Lee Yoon Jung. It has 16 episodes that are roughly just over 1 hour. 

Cheese in the Trap's plot

Hong Seol (Kim Go Eun) is a hardworking university student who also works part-time and returned to college after a one year break because of her poor background. Unfortunately, she gets on the bad side of her senior, Yoo Jung (Park Hae Jin), who is kind, athletic, good looking and gets good grades but he has a dark side. He seems to be the cause of Seol's miserable year but then he suddenly starts being friendly to her.

Cast

Hong Seol is played by Kim Go Eun, who was also in Goblin. Yoo Jung is played by Park Hae Jin, who also acts in My Love From the Star and Doctor Stranger. Additionally, the cast features Seo Kang Joon as Baek In Ho, Lee Sung Kyung (from Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo) as Baek In Ha, Nam Joo Hyuk (from Who Are You: School 2015 and Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo) as Kwon Eun Taek, and Park Min Ji as Jang Bo Ra. 

10. ID: Gangnam Beauty (2018)

With familiar actors, this was a fantastic show for romance where we hope for a boyfriend as caring as the main male lead. It has great drama and shows a different side to the complicated beauty theme. Therefore you should definitely watch it.

You might think of Gangnam Style when you hear Gangnam. But I learnt that in the show, 'Gangnam Beauty' was used as a bad word for people who had lots of plastic surgery. 

ID: Gangnam Beauty was directed by Choi Sung Bum, and released from 27 July - 15 September 2018. It has 16 episodes that are about 1 hour long.

ID: Gangnam Beauty's plot

Kang Mi Rae (Lim Soo Hyang) was bullied for having an ugly appearance so for her first year of university, she gets plastic surgery and looks beautiful, but is still shy. She gets teased and called 'Gangnam beauty' negatively. However, she meets Do Kyung Seok (Cha Eun Woo), who focuses on the beauty within and he falls in love with Mi Rae.

Cast

The male lead of ID: Gangnam Beauty is Do Kyung Seok, played by Cha Eun Woo (member of the boy group Astro). Kang Mi Rae is played by Lim Soo Hyang, who was in many dramas such as When I Was The Most Beautiful. Finally, other main characters are Hyun Soo A played by Jo Woo Ri (also in Descendants of the Sun) and Yeon Woo Young played by Kwak Dong Yeon (also in Vincenzo).