The 10 Best Romantic K-Dramas To Binge Watch This Spring

Full confession: I honestly didn’t want to watch this at first. I thought a small seaside village romance would bore me, but boy, was I wrong. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a popular romantic drama for a reason; it entices you with the premise and then pulls you in with its wholesome, irresistible warmth. When her employer spreads rumors about her, dentist Yoon Hye-jin moves to Gongjin where she meets the town’s Mr. Reliable, jack of all trades handyman, Hong Du-sik, a man who houses his own mysteries. 

The real magic of the drama doesn’t come from any mind-blowing plot twists, but the slow-burn, organic romance and how it makes us care about not just the main couple, but all of the town’s residents and their arcs. The chemistry between the leads is electric; they start out as kind-of enemies, constantly getting on each other’s nerves, but end up with a happy ending. The humor lands and the emotional depth is present, and anyone who loves character-driven stories with emotional payoffs that actually feel worth it, like Virgin River, will love Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha. I totally understand the hype now; come for the small-town comfort and stay for the plot that feels intentional without tipping into fantasy. 

Leaving everything you know behind and starting from scratch isn’t easy (especially when you have a disapproving mother), but Love Next Door proves that with the right support system, it is possible to rebuild a life you’re passionate about. Bae Seok-ryu and Choi Seung-hyo were childhood friends and neighbors, but when the former returns to Korea, their story unfolds as they reconnect once more as adults. Love Next Door is a comparatively lighter watch, but at the same time, it covers a lot of vulnerable moments in the leads’ lives. Though the main lead is rather stoic at the beginning, he begins to thaw as he spends more time (and bickers more) with Seok-ryu and realizes that it’s always been her. 

The chemistry between the leads is adorable and comes from their shared history and the eventual right-person-finally-right-time energy. I’m a sucker for a good friends-to-lovers trope, and if you’re like me, then Love Next Door does it in a way where it doesn’t feel too predictable. Fans of other friends-to-lovers movies where timing and missed chances play a huge role, like in Love, Rosie, will find Love Next Door to be a comfortable binge. This is one of those easy watches, where the main couple is allowed to start over in life and love, and is likeable enough to root for from the very beginning. 

If you’ve spent time rethinking certain decisions you’ve made in your life, and wondered what would’ve happened if you’d chosen differently, then you have a lot in common with Familiar Wife’s male lead, Cha Joo-hyuk. Stuck in the monotony of marriage, kids, and work, with a wife he doesn’t see eye to eye with anymore, Joo-hyuk is suddenly given the chance to go back in time and marry his college crush, giving him a completely different version of his life. And from there begins a series of comedic and heartfelt moments. 

Familiar Wife is an emotionally layered drama that not only focuses a spotlight on the main couple, but also on regrets and second chances, where it talks about how easy it is to take people for granted. The first few episodes are a bit slow as it takes time to set up Joo-hyuk’s life and frustrations, but this is very important as it lays the foundation for everything that comes next. Familiar Wife must go on your watch lists if you’re looking for relationship-focused dramas that don’t shy away from exposing the unglamorous parts of love, rather than just the honeymoon phase. At times I did feel like shaking Joo-hyuk and telling him he’s the problem, but he does redeem himself by the end, as his (ex?) wife and him find their way back to one another (yay!)

Based on 17 Again, the iconic movie starring Zac Efron, 18 Again is just the drama you need if you’re searching for emotional storytelling, humor, and heart in your stories. When burnt-out and unhappy 37-year-old Hong Dae-young gets a chance to literally be young again and revert back to his 18-year-old self, it’s a do-over for him to get to know his kids better, own up to his mistakes, and fix things with his wife who’s intent on divorcing him. The stakes aren’t low; Dae-young is given this opportunity to possibly change his life and watching him navigate his second chance at youth, but with adult regrets, is weirdly refreshing. 

Now the same age as his children, it was endearing to see him creating bonds with them from a different perspective. The chemistry between the leads was sweet, especially as they rediscovered their love for one another (their reconciliation on the bridge made me tear up.) 17 Again did a lot in its 1 hour 42 minute runtime, but 18 Again takes things further drama-wise (probably because in total, the runtime of this drama is almost 20 hours!) Familiar Wife also plays with the concept of fate giving the protagonist a second chance (for better or for worse), though Joo-hyuk is able to literally go back and forth in time whereas Dae-young’s timeline remains the same, only he changes. All in all, high-school, romance, and family drama lovers will enjoy the funny and emotional moments 18 Again provides. 

Ever wondered what the world of celebrity management looks like? Well, Shooting Stars is your answer. The story follows Gong Tae-sung, a top actor and his sassy PR manager Oh Han-byul, whose prickly attitude towards each other will have you giggling (it seems like they just can’t get along, but we all know where this is headed, don’t we?) Every quirky side character adds extra sparkle to the scenes, though there’s one adorable side character who I thought stole the show. If you want something punchy, fast-paced, and high energy, where romance and humor coexist and the conflicts are resolved smoothly, then look no further than Shooting Stars. 

Fans of enemies-to-lovers and workplace romance will find themselves spoilt with this drama. I couldn’t get enough of Han-byul and Tae-sung’s banter which is top-tier, and the latter’s expressions when she annoys him are gold (for someone who claims she gets on his nerves, he can’t seem to stay away from her either. He so loves her!) While the plot itself is interesting, I love the main couple’s chemistry which thrives on teasing, the timing of which is impeccable. The glitzy life of performers and the off-camera chaos of their team adds an extra layer of fun and drama. Extremely bingeable, entertaining, and laugh-out-loud hilarious, Shooting Stars is one guilty pleasure drama you don’t want to miss out on.  

What would you do if you had to defend your favorite idol as he was being charged for murder? In Idol I, defense lawyer (and secret fangirl) Maeng Se-na has to put her personal feelings for Do Ra-ik aside and help solve the case. What starts as an unconventional partnership leads to sparks between our couple as they see each other for who they truly are, especially for Se-na who gets a dose of how human Ra-ik is, behind all the fame and success. But now she has to separate her feelings for Ra-ik as a fangirl versus his lawyer, which was intriguing to watch. 

Idol I blends different genres in a seamless way, catering to every type of viewer. If you like mysteries, romance, and legal dramas with high-stakes, then Idol I aims to please. I truly enjoyed the relationship that blossoms between Ra-ik and Se-na and how they end up being each other’s rocks. The murder mystery aspect of the drama also kept me hooked, as I had no idea who the killer actually was and who to trust until the last episode. Much like Shooting Stars, Idol I also showcases the behind the scenes of celebrity life and offers a less romanticized view of the entertainment industry, and how it isn’t all about money and recognition, but also about doubts, rebuilding life after tragedy, and fans taking things to an extreme level. Fans of Lovely Runner will find a similar public figure-normal person dynamic in Idol I. 

The K-pop idol to K-drama actor pipeline isn't something new. Bae Suzy did it with Start-Up and so did IU with When Life Gives You Tangerines. In fact, Sooyoung from our previous entry did it in Idol I where in an ironic turn of events, she played the fangirl instead (so meta!) So Black Pink’s Jisoo breaking into this industry isn't all that shocking, especially since this isn't her first rodeo (remember Snowdrop?) The newest release on our list, Boyfriend on Demand shows Seo Mi-rae, a webtoon producer, who uses a virtual dating service where she can ‘date’ simulated partners. But what happens when the lines blur between the virtual world and her real life? 

The cameos from other K-drama stars who show up as Mi-rae’s dates was a super fun thought (including the male lead from Shooting Stars above!) but the chemistry between Mi-rae and her love interest was genuinely funny and adorable. The settings are also absolutely stunning (with sparkling ballrooms, beaches, and pinkish-blue skies), and the concept of AI dating was interesting (albeit a bit scary because of how prominent technology is becoming in shaping connections nowadays.) Regardless, I feel it’s something that hasn’t been explored a lot in K-dramas, so I got on board with it. With only 10 episodes, as opposed to a traditional drama which usually has 12 to 25 episodes, Boyfriend on Demand is a short, quick binge, perfect for those times when you just need an escapist drama to fall back on. 

Extraordinary Attorney Woo completely changed my perspective on legal dramas; I realized that they’re not all grim, but can actually be exciting and even funny. And when a drama is helmed by a titular character with an excellent memory, who can see patterns most of us miss, and connects dots that we didn’t think were possible, we know we’ve got a hit drama on our hands. 

Brilliant Woo Young-woo on the autism spectrum navigates her career, colleagues, and relationships in this refreshing legal drama for viewers who enjoy warm, optimistic, character-driven stories. Attorney Woo does get her own romance too with Lee Jun-ho, a love story which is soft rather than loud, giving a sincere edge to their chemistry (they’re also the cutest pair!) Park Eun-bin, who plays Young-woo, brings the character to life in a natural way with her layered acting, and you can’t help but cheer for her and take her wins personally, as if she were a close friend. Even if you aren’t a huge fan of legal dramas in general, Extraordinary Attorney Woo is worth giving a shot purely for our main character, if nothing else. Just be warned that you might get attached to our lovable attorney, as I did. 

Forced proximity trope fans, this is your jam! When Yoon Ji-ho and Nam Se-hee enter a contract marriage deal for practical reasons, feelings naturally find their way in. Because This Is My First Life sticks with you because on the surface, it seems simple, and that’s why it’s got charm. Our main leads feel genuinely real in the way they interact and navigate boundaries (and in-laws, of course!) while living together, and not only are the lead couple an interesting pair, but the side couples were engaging as well. 

If you’re looking for instant gratification or grand sweeping gestures, then this drama might fall short, but fans of introspective love stories with awkward protagonists will love this one. Though the will-they-wont-they romance here is quieter and there were times I wanted Se-hee to emote his feelings, their story builds gradually over time. Their romantic dynamic and dates once they become a real pair is satisfying in a “finally!” kind of way. I was pleasantly surprised with how tender this drama was overall even when the last two episodes in particular divided fans because of the direction the writers chose to take the plot (however, I felt their decision made sense for them as a couple.) If you liked The Big Sick, and how it tackled a realistic romance, then Because This Is My First Life will hit those same notes. 

If there’s one drama on this list that portrays the emotional end of winter, and beginning of spring, it’s When the Weather Is Fine. Starring Park Min-young and Seo Kang-joon (who also made a cameo in Boyfriend on Demand), the drama follows Mok Hae-won, a cellist who returns to her hometown after years in Seoul. She meets bookstore owner Im Eun-seob, who might just be the respite her weary heart has been searching for. Slow-burn romance fans who enjoy stories about healing and growth will find a lot to love in this underrated gem. 

The scenes between the main couple were warm and their relationship unfolded without urgency, where the small moments they shared like walking and laughing together were precious. That said, it is a slow-paced storyline, and people who’re expecting hijinks might find themselves checking their phone, and would be better suited to watching Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, which while it features a small town setting too, the pace gallops a bit more. But, if you meet it where it is, then it’s a lovely, quiet drama that focuses on two individuals and their relationship. Like Shooting Stars, When the Weather Is Fine also features short epilogues at the end of each episode in the form of blog posts that Eun-seob authors, giving us insight into his mind.