kdrama

Best romantic comedy K-dramas: feel-good rom-coms to watch next

TUREFF• •0
Romantic comedy is the genre K-dramas do best: sharp banter, slow-burn chemistry, a lot of heart and usually a happy ending. If you have finished the beginner picks in our starter guide (Crash Landing on You, Business Proposal, What's Wrong with Secretary Kim), here are more well-loved rom-coms, all spoiler-free. Streaming availability differs by country and changes often, so check your local services.

Light and funny

  • Strong Woman Do Bong-soon (JTBC, 2017): a small woman with superhuman strength becomes the bodyguard of a game company CEO. Silly, sweet and action-packed, with a crime subplot.
  • Oh My Ghost (tvN, 2015): a shy kitchen assistant is possessed by a lustful ghost and suddenly pursues the arrogant chef she works for. Funnier and more touching than it sounds.
  • Her Private Life (tvN, 2019): a respected art curator hides her life as an obsessive fan of a K-pop idol, until her new boss gets involved.
  • King the Land (JTBC, 2023): a hotel heir who cannot stand fake smiles meets an employee whose job is to smile. Glossy and easy to binge.

Grown-up romance

  • Because This Is My First Life (tvN, 2017): two people in their thirties, short of money and tired of dating, sign a contract marriage for practical reasons. Thoughtful about work, money and marriage in modern Korea.
  • Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (tvN, 2021): a city dentist opens a clinic in a seaside village and keeps running into the local jack-of-all-trades. Warm, with a lovable cast of villagers. A remake of the 2004 film Mr. Handy, Mr. Hong.
  • Fight for My Way (KBS2, 2017): childhood friends in their twenties, stuck in jobs far from their dreams, decide to chase them again. Funny, sometimes raw, with great friendship scenes.

Fantasy and time-travel romance

  • Lovely Runner (tvN, 2024): a devoted fan travels back in time to save the singer she loves, and finds herself back at school with him. Became a huge word-of-mouth hit.
  • Queen of Tears (tvN, 2024): a marriage between a department-store heiress and a country boy turned lawyer, hitting the rocks. Big emotions, comedy and family chaos; its finale became tvN's highest-rated ever.

Sports and youth

  • Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (MBC, 2016): a university weightlifter falls for the first time while training for her dream. Sunny, sweet and often recommended as a comfort watch.

Dramedy with romance

  • Extraordinary Attorney Woo (ENA, 2022): a brilliant autistic lawyer starts at a big law firm. Each episode has a legal case, and a gentle romance runs alongside. More a dramedy than a pure rom-com, but loved by many who usually avoid courtroom shows.

Rom-com tropes you will meet

  • Contract or fake relationship that becomes real.
  • The rich heir and the ordinary hard worker.
  • Second lead syndrome: when the kind rival is so appealing you root for the wrong person.
  • The childhood connection revealed late in the story.
  • The piggyback ride home after too much soju.

Tips for choosing

  1. Check the episode count; most are 16 episodes of about an hour, a big commitment compared with Western sitcoms.
  2. Many rom-coms are funniest in the first half and turn more serious towards the end; stick with it.
  3. If you prefer shorter shows, look for 12-episode series or web dramas.
  4. Ratings in Korea do not always match international popularity; some shows found their audience on streaming.
What is your favourite K-drama rom-com, and which second lead deserved better? Share your picks in the comments.

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