Every K-drama fan knows that South Korea knows how to make a great romantic TV show. Long before Squid Game, the hallyu wave was built on epic romances that had fans all over the world swooning, and Korean entertainment has kept up the tradition of immersive love stories that fans can't stop watching. There are great Korean dramas within every romance genre, from classic rom-coms to fantasy romances to everyday love stories. And since K-drama writers love genre-mixing, odds are even thriller K-dramas will have at least one romantic subplot (or vice versa).
For those with a spare 16 hours to sink into the sweetest slow-burns and the sexiest chemistry, here are the best romance K-dramas available on Netflix, Viki, and more streamers. (If you have less time, we've also rounded up the best Korean romance movies.)
The Best Melodramatic Romantic K-Dramas
'Crash Landing on You' (2019–2020)
Starring: Son Ye-jin, Hyun Bin, Seo Ji-hye, and Kim Jung-hyun
The love story: A freak paragliding accident brings together a North Korean soldier (Hyun) and a South Korean heiress (Son), in this ultimate tale of star-crossed lovers. (Also, the leads are now married with a baby in real life.)
'Queen of Tears' (2024)
Starring: Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Ji-won, Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon, and Lee Joo-bin
The love story: Three years into their marriage, chaebol heiress Hong Hae-in (Ji-won) and self-made lawyer Baek Hyun-woo (Soo-hyun) are on the brink of divorce. After the pair are shaken by a major health scare and the return of Hae-in's treacherous ex, Hyun-woo and Hae-in find themselves headed toward an unlikely reconciliation.
'When the Camellia Blooms' (2019)
Starring: Gong Hyo-jin, Kang Ha-neul, Kim Ji-seok, and Kim Kang-hoon
The love story: Single mother and bar owner Dong-baek (Gong) forms a friendship with police officer Yong-sik (Kang) who falls in love with her at first sight. Their romance is interspersed with a thrilling storyline, as Yong-sik investigates a serial killer targeting Dong-baek.
The Best Romantic Fantasy K-Dramas
'Destined With You' (2023)
Starring: Jo Bo-ah, Rowoon, Ha Joon, and Yura
The love story: A lawyer (Rowoon) bound by a centuries-old curse becomes entangled with a civil servant (Jo), who becomes the owner of a mysterious wooden chest that holds the key to his freedom.
'Lovely Runner' (2024)
Starring: Kim Hye-yoon, Byeon Woo-seok, Song Geon-hee, and Lee Seung-hyub
The love story: After superstar Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon) seemingly dies by suicide, his biggest fan Im Sol (Kim) is transported 15 years back in time to when the pair were students at neighboring high schools. The now-teenaged Sol is determined to stop Sun-jae's future death by any means necessary, which is just the start of the pair's twist-filled romance.
'Marry My Husband' (2024)
Starring: Park Min-young, Na In-woo, Lee Yi-kyung, and Song Ha-yoon
The love story: Terminally-ill Kang Ji-won discovers that her husband Min-hwan (Lee) is cheating on her with her lifelong best friend Soo-min (Song). When she confronts them and tragically dies, Ji-won wakes up 10 years in the past and uses her second chance at life to ensure that Min-hwan and Soo-min will end up together and assume her tragic fate. Helping her along the way is Yoo Ji-hyuk (Na In-woo), her rich boss and secret admirer.
The Best Romantic Historical K-Dramas
'The King's Affection' (2021)
Starring: Park Eun-bin, Rowoon, Nam Yoon-su, Choi Byung-chan, Bae Yoon-kyung, and Jung Chae-yeon
The love story: This romance takes place during the Joseon era, when twins were considered a bad omen. When the Crown Prince dies in an accident, his secret identical twin sister Dam-yi (Park) must take his place as heir to the throne. Living as the Prince, Dam-yi falls for her royal tutor and former first love, Jung Ji-woon (Rowoon).
'The Red Sleeve' (2021–2022)
Starring: Lee Se-young, Lee Jun-ho, and Kang Hoon
The love story: Based on a novel about real historical figures, this drama depicts the love story between the Crown Prince of Joseon (Jun-ho) and a strong-willed court lady (Se-young).
The Best Romantic Workplace K-Dramas
'Business Proposal' (2022)
Starring: Kim Se-jeong, Ahn Hyo-seop, Seol In-ah, and Kim Min-kyu
The love story: Company worker Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong) agrees to sabotage a blind date for her rich best friend, but hijinks ensue when the date turns out to be Kang Tae-mu (Ahn) the owner of her company. As Ha-ri dodges Tae-mu's proposal for a marriage of convenience, her BFF Young-seo (Seol) falls for Tae-mu's secretary Sung-hoon (Kim Min-kyu).
'Coffee Prince' (2007)
Starring: Yoon Eun-hye, Gong Yoo, Chae Jung-an, and Lee Sun-kyun
The love story: A coffee conglomerate heir meets a tomboy who's the breadwinner for her family. Not realizing she's a woman, he hires her to pretend to be his gay lover to get out of blind dates. She later hides her identity to get a job at his café, Coffee Prince.
The Best Romantic Teen K-Dramas
'Our Beloved Summer' (2021–2022)
Starring: Kim Da-mi, Choi Woo-shik, Kim Sung-cheol, and Roh Jeong-eui
The love story: In high school, brainiac Yeon-soo (Da-mi) and slacker Ung (Choi) fell for each other while starring in a documentary. Now, a decade later, they're exes who haven't seen each other in years. What happens when they're brought together for a new where are they now doc?
'True Beauty' (2020–2021)
Starring: Moon Ga-young, Cha Eun-woo, Hwang In-yeop, and Park Yoo-na
The love story: 18-year-old Ju-kyung (Moon) has been bullied and discriminated against for being ugly her whole life. After learning makeup techniques, she finds popularity at her new school and gets caught between two guys: hidden softie Seo-jun (Hwang) and ice-cold Su-ho (Cha).
The Best Romantic Slice-of-Life K-Dramas
'Fight For My Way' (2017)
Starring: Kim Ji-won, Park Seo-joon, Song Ha-yoon, and Ahn Jae-hong
The love story: An aspiring announcer (Kim) and a rising MMA fighter (Park), who have been friends since school and lived as next-door neighbors throughout their 20s, slowly realize their mutual attraction. Meanwhile, their best friends who have been dating for six years find their relationship tested.
'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha' (2021)
Starring: Shin Min-ah, Kim Seon-ho, and Lee Sang-yi
The love story: This small-town romance shows the bickering-turned-love between a city dentist (Shin) who moves to a seaside village and a jack-of-all-trades (Kim) who does odd jobs for village elders.
'Love in the Big City' (2024)
Starring: Nam Yoon-su, Jin Ho-eun, Kwon Hyuk, Na Hyun-woo, and Lee Soo-kyung
The love story: Over the course of 10 years, Go Young (Nam), a gay man living in Seoul, navigates work, dating, and societal expectations. (Based on the novel of the same name by Sang Young Park.)
'When Life Gives You Tangerines' (2025)
Starring: IU, Moon So-ri, Park Bo-gum, Park Hae-joon, Lee Jun-young, and Kim Seon-ho
The love story: Ae-sun (IU) and Gwan-sik (Park Bo-gum) grew up on Jeju Island attached at the hip, before eventually getting together in their late teens. 20 years later, their daughter, Geum-myeong (also played by IU), has two great loves of her life.
'Yumi's Cells' (2021–2022)
Starring: Kim Go-eun, Ahn Bo-hyun, Jinyoung (GOT7), Park Ji-hyun, and Lee Yu-bi
The love story: An office worker and aspiring writer (Kim) falls for a game developer (Ahn), with her journey told through the animated cells powering her body.