Image credit: jTBC, Netflix, Viki, tvN, CJ E&M, Kocowa
For all of us fans of May-December romance trope, here's a definitive list of all the best ones.
K-dramas have a special way of telling stories about love, and there's a unique bunch where younger guys fall for older women, showing us that love doesn't care about age; these shows mix romance with fun and sometimes a bit of drama, creating stories that stick with us long after we've finished watching.
1. "Something in the Rain" (2018)
Yoon Jinah, a 30-something career woman, rekindles a deep-seated affection for her best friend's younger brother, Seo Joonhee, upon his return from working abroad; their romance defies age norms and family disapproval, challenging both to choose between love and societal expectations.
2. "Romance is a Bonus Book" (2019)
Kang Dani, a struggling single mother and former successful marketer, secretly starts working at a publishing company by hiding her background, where she reunites with her best friend and famous author, Cha Eunho, leading to unexpected career opportunities and romantic developments.
3. "Why Her?" (2022)
Oh Soojae, a brilliant and ambitious lawyer at a top law firm, faces downfall and becomes a law school professor, where she meets and forms a complex relationship with a law student with a painful past, intertwining their lives in a story of redemption and romance.
4. "Forecasting Love and Weather" (2022)
The personal and professional dynamics at the Korea Meteorological Administration unfold, focusing on a methodical forecaster and a free-spirited weather observer; their unexpected romantic and work-related challenges mirror the unpredictability of weather and love.
5. "Melancholia" (2021)
Set in a prestigious private school, a scandal involving a teacher-student relationship unfolds against a backdrop of math and corruption; the series delves into their fight against societal norms and the school's dark secrets, challenging the viewers' perceptions of right and wrong.
6. "Secret Love Affair" (2014)
A powerful and married arts foundation director begins a passionate and illicit affair with a young musical prodigy; their connection defies societal norms and personal dilemmas, thrusting both into a deep exploration of desire, power, and the complexities of love.
7. "She Would Never Know" (2021)
A younger man's unrequited love for his senior at a cosmetics company leads to unexpected romance; their professional and personal journey explores themes of love, ambition, and the challenges of navigating a workplace relationship.
8. "A Witch's Romance" (2014)
A romance develops between a 39-year-old reporter, who has given up on love, and a 25-year-old younger man, challenging both to overcome their fears of commitment and societal judgments, while they navigate through personal healing and love.
9. "I Hear Your Voice" (2013)
A young man with the supernatural ability to read people's thoughts becomes entangled with a female lawyer; together, they tackle legal cases and confront a shared traumatic past, leading to a complex mix of justice, romance, and redemption.
10. "I Need Romance 3" (2014)
A jaded home-shopping network director's life is upturned when her childhood love returns and begins to challenge her cynical views on love; their evolving relationship tests the boundaries of friendship and love amidst the backdrop of Seoul's fashion industry.
11. "Search: WWW" (2019)
Three women working in the competitive world of web portal companies face professional rivalries and personal challenges; their stories intertwine as they pursue love, career ambitions, and navigate the intricacies of life in the digital age.
12. "I Do, I Do" (2012)
A high-powered shoe designer's one-night stand with a younger man results in an unexpected pregnancy, challenging her views on career, love, and societal expectations, as they both navigate the consequences and transformations in their lives.
13. "Dal-ja's Spring" (2007)
A 33-year-old home shopping manager enters a fake relationship with a younger man to escape societal pressure for marriage; their arrangement leads to real feelings, challenging both to confront their fears and societal norms about age and love.
14. "Cool Guys, Hot Ramen" (also known as "Flower Boy Ramen Shop") (2011)
The lives of a chic heir who poses as a foodie and a passionate ramen shop manager entangle; their story explores love, culinary battles, and the journey of self-discovery in the bustling backdrop of a ramen shop.
15. "Encounter" (2018) The unlikely love story between a daughter of a political family, now a hotel CEO, and a young, free-spirited man challenges both to defy their predetermined paths, exploring themes of love, societal expectations, and personal freedom.
