Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Fashion Month
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career & Money
    • Health & Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food & Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex & Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes & Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes & Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • Lived-in Handbags
    • 'Traitors: New Blood'
    • Life in Plastic
    • Brown Denim
    • London Street Style
    1. Culture
    2. TV shows

    The 15 Best Romantic K-Dramas Available to Stream Right Now

    You're sure to fall for these swoon-worthy period dramas and sweet rom-coms hailing from Korea.

    Quinci LeGardye's avatar
    By Quinci LeGardye
    Last updated 20 March 2026 In Features

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    A man and a woman (Seo Kang-jun as Seo Eun-ho and Jisoo as Seo Mi-rae) wear pink and white Letterman jackets while standing outdoors in front of a cherry blossom tree, in 'Boyfriend on Demand.'
    (Image credit: Kim Jeong-won/Netflix)
    Jump to category:
    • Melodrama
    • Fantasy
    • Historical
    • Workplace
    • Young Adult
    • Slice-of-Life
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    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)

    a woman and a soldier sit outside of a fire in a still from the k-drama crash landing on you

    (Image credit: Netflix)

    Starring: Son Ye-jin, Hyun Bin, Seo Ji-hye, and Kim Jung-hyun

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    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.)

    WATCH ON NETFLIX

    You may like
    • A Korean man (actor Song Kang) wears a suit while sitting in front of a blurred orchestra, for the K-drama 'Four Hands, Two Sonatas.' I've Binged Dozens of Netflix K-Dramas. These Are the Ones I've Loved in 2026
    • A teen in a red school blazer (Lee Jun-young as Geum Seongje) fights with another teen in a blue blazer (Park Ji-hoon as Yeon Sieun) in Weak Hero Class 2. You'll Never See the Twists Coming in These 24 Thriller K-Dramas
    • Phillipa Northeast as Sybylla and Christopher Chung as Harry sit astride a horse on Netflix's 'My Brilliant Career.' 20 Shows on Netflix That Prove Period Dramas Are the Best Form of Escapism

    'Queen of Tears' (2024)

    a man holds a woman from behind as they smile in the k-drama 'Queen of Tears'

    (Image credit: Netflix)

    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.

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    WATCH ON NETFLIX

    'When the Camellia Blooms'

    a woman rest her head on her hands and smiles in a still from the k-drama when the camellia blooms

    (Image credit: Moon Hee/Netflix)

    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 who's targeting Dong-baek.

    What to read next
    • halle bailey and rege jean page smiling on a balcony with produce in front of them in you me and tuscany We're Swooning Over the 15 Best Romance Movies of 2026 So Far
    • A man and woman are seen from the back as they stand under a blue sky. The woman is making a square with her fingers, in the still from Netflix's 'Better Late Than Single' season 2. Meet the Season 2 Cast of 'Better Late Than Single,' the Sweet Summer Dating Show You Need to Watch
    • A blonde woman (Elle Fanning) lies on a pink couch with black-and-white striped pillows, resting her head on a pillow in her mother's (Michelle Pfeiffer) lap. The pair sit in a living room with a kitchen behind them, through a circular doorframe, in Apple TV+'s 'Margo's Got Money Troubles.' I Watch Hundreds of TV Shows Each Year. Here Are the Best Series of 2026 So Far

    WATCH ON NETFLIX

    The Best Romantic Fantasy K-Dramas

    'Boyfriend on Demand' (2026)

    A man in a pastel shirt (Lee Soo-hyuk) and a woman in a polka-dot dress (Jisoo) toast champagne flutes while sitting in an outdoor loveseat, in the Netflix K-drama 'Boyfriend on Demand.'

    (Image credit: Kim Jeong-won/Netflix)

    Starring: Jisoo, Seo In-guk, Lee Soo-hyuk, and Seo Kang-joon

    The love story: Webtoon editor Seo Mi-rae (Jisoo) only gets three-and-a-half hours of free time each day, and she isn't spending that on likely lackluster dates. When a tech company releases a super-immersive VR dating experience, her time with the perfect virtual boyfriends opens her up to a real-life connection in this sweet rom-com.

    WATCH ON NETFLIX

    'Lovely Runner' (2024)

    Kim Hye-yoon as Im Sol and Byeon Woo-seok as Ryu Sun-jae standing under an umbrella in 'Lovely Runner'

    (Image credit: tvN)

    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.

    WATCH ON VIKI

    The Best Romantic Historical K-Dramas

    'The King's Affection' (2021)

    a woman disguised as a male warrior and a man in period dressing tumble over each other in the k-drama The King's Affection

    (Image credit: Courtesy)

    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).

    WATCH ON NETFLIX

    'The Red Sleeve' (2021–2022)

    a woman and man in period dressing stand in a forested garden in the k-drama The Red Sleeve

    (Image credit: Courtesy)

    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).

    WATCH ON VIKI

    'When Life Gives You Tangerines' (2025)

    Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik, IU as Oh Ae-sun in When Life Gives You Tangerines

    (Image credit: Yoo Eun-mi/Netflix)

    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.

    WATCH ON NETFLIX

    The Best Romantic Workplace K-Dramas

    'Business Proposal' (2022)

    a man and a woman interact in an office lobby while others in the background are blurred around them in the k-drama Business Proposal

    (Image credit: Courtesy)

    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).

    WATCH ON NETFLIX

    'Coffee Prince' (2007)

    A short woman dressed as a man holds a taller man's face in her hands, in 'Coffee Prince.'

    (Image credit: MBC/Viki)

    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.

    WATCH ON VIKI

    The Best Romantic Teen K-Dramas

    'Our Beloved Summer' (2021–2022)

    kim da mi and choi woo shik in our beloved summer

    (Image credit: Studio N/SBS)

    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?

    WATCH ON NETFLIX

    'True Beauty' (2020–2021)

    A man and a woman stand on the love lock bridge at N Seoul Tower, in 'True Beauty.'

    (Image credit: Viki/tvN)

    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).

    WATCH ON VIKI

    The Best Romantic Slice-of-Life K-Dramas

    'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha' (2021)

    a man holds up an unfolded wallet while on the beach with a woman in a still from the k-drama Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

    (Image credit: Courtesy)

    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.

    WATCH ON NETFLIX

    'Love in the Big City' (2024)

    Two men sit in an apartment with books in front of them, in 'Love in the Big City.'

    (Image credit: TVING/Viki)

    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 in this BL K-drama. (Based on the novel of the same name by Sang Young Park.)

    WATCH ON VIKI

    'Yumi's Cells' (2021–2026)

    a couple sits cross legged outside in a park while smiling in a still from the k-drama Yumi's Cells

    (Image credit: Courtesy)

    Starring: Kim Go-eun, Ahn Bo-hyun, Jinyoung (GOT7), Park Ji-hyun, and Kim Jae-won

    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.

    WATCH ON VIKI

    Explore More
    Drama Romance Korean Entertainment
    Quinci LeGardye
    Quinci LeGardye
    Social Links Navigation
    Culture Writer

    Quinci LeGardye is a Culture Writer at Marie Claire. She currently lives in her hometown of Los Angeles after periods living in NYC and Albuquerque, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in English and Psychology from The University of New Mexico. In 2021, she joined Marie Claire as a contributor, becoming a full-time writer for the brand in 2024. She contributes day-to-day-content covering television, movies, books, and pop culture in general. She has also written features, profiles, recaps, personal essays, and cultural criticism for outlets including Harper’s Bazaar, Elle, HuffPost, Teen Vogue, Vulture, The A.V. Club, Catapult, and others. When she isn't writing or checking Twitter way too often, you can find her watching the latest K-drama, or giving a concert performance in her car.

    Read more
    A Korean man (actor Song Kang) wears a suit while sitting in front of a blurred orchestra, for the K-drama 'Four Hands, Two Sonatas.'
    TV shows I've Binged Dozens of Netflix K-Dramas. These Are the Ones I've Loved in 2026 Plus, the can't-miss Korean shows coming soon.
    By Quinci LeGardye
    a collage of books by romance novelist lauren blakely including big rock wanderlust and more
    Books Lauren Blakely Has Written Over 120 Romance Novels. I Ranked Her 10 Best They're all full of swoon-worthy tropes and spice.
    By Nicole Briese
     
     
    A blonde woman (Elle Fanning) lies on a pink couch with black-and-white striped pillows, resting her head on a pillow in her mother's (Michelle Pfeiffer) lap. The pair sit in a living room with a kitchen behind them, through a circular doorframe, in Apple TV+'s 'Margo's Got Money Troubles.'
    TV shows I Watch Hundreds of TV Shows Each Year. Here Are the Best Series of 2026 So Far There's a lot to watch, from buzzy book adaptations to the final season of 'Hacks.'
    By Quinci LeGardye
    a collage of book covers from author elin hilderbrand
    Books The 20 Best Books by Elin Hilderbrand, A.K.A. the Queen of Beach Reads Mentally, we're in Nantucket, reading one of her novels by the sea.
    By Nicole Briese
     
     
    Latest in TV shows
    jessica barden as nance o'neil wearing 1800s era clothes and a wig performing operatic vocals on a stage in monster the lizzie borden story
    TV shows The True Story of Nance O'Neil, the Real Actress and Friend of Lizzie Borden in 'Monster'
    Host Alan Cumming wears armor and a cape while standing amid cloaked figures with gold masks in a cloud of blue smoke, in NBC's 'The Traitors: New Blood.'
    TV shows Your Guide to the Normies in 'The Traitors: New Blood' Cast—Including How to Follow Them
     
     
    vicky krieps as bridget sullivan wearing a maid's uniofrm standing in a parlor of a victorian era home in a still from monster the lizzie borden story
    TV shows The True Story Behind Bridget Sullivan, Lizzie Borden's Maid and Lover in 'Monster'
    A group of athletes pose for the promotional image for Netflix's 'Physical 100: Mexico.'
    TV shows Meet the Stars of 'Physical 100: Mexico,' From Famed Luchadores to Former Olympians
     
     
    Latest in Features
    blue gel background with two models wearing different color under eye patches
    Skincare Welcome to Eyepatch-Gate
    jenni kayne oak essentials hand wash and blam on cashmere
    Skincare Heads Up: There's a New Status Hand Soap In Town
     
     
    life in plastic next to a barbie with a facelift
    Beauty Meredith Marks Was Back on Her DJ Tour 10 Days Post-Facelift—And Nobody Had a Clue
    julianne moore on an in the mood collage
    Beauty Julianne Hough Is a “Hairless Clean Freak Who Brushes Her Teeth While Peeing,” And She Wants You to Know It
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.