7 K-Dramas with the Heartwarming Childhood Friends-To-Lovers Trope

In the realm of cinema and television rom-coms, the sweet childhood friends-to-lovers trope remains a timeless favorite. Capturing the beauty of childhood connections, the magic of rekindling love, and the undeniable chemistry that leads to happily ever after, these 7 K-dramas suggest a unique and heart-warming take on the beloved by many romantic trope.

7. Romance Is a Bonus Book (2019)

This heartwarming series falls under the romantic comedy genre as it follows the story of Cha Eun Ho, a successful writer and the youngest editor-in-chief at a publishing company. When he reconnects with his childhood friend Kang Dan Yi, who is struggling with life as a divorced single mother, their lives take a romantic turn.

As their lives become increasingly intertwined, a beautiful love story unfolds between these two grown-up childhood friends, making it a must-see for K-drama fans.

6. Chocolate (2019)

Chocolate tells the compelling story of Lee Kang, a talented neurosurgeon, and Moon Cha Young, a compassionate chef. When they first meet at a seaside restaurant, Moon Cha Young sparks Lee Kang's culinary passion.

Years later, their paths cross in a hospital, where they work together to prepare meals for patients, finding solace and emotional healing in the process. Chocolate is a drama with a delicious blend of bittersweet memories, mouth-watering dishes, and a love that stands the test of time.

5. Bubblegum (2015)

Bubblegum introduces us to charming childhood friends Park Ri Hwan, a wealthy oriental medicine doctor, and Kim Haeng Ah, a radio producer, who have been inseparable since their youth as Haeng Ah was raised by Ri Hwan's mother after her parents died.

The drama explores the complexities of their relationship as they both have feelings for each other, but Ri Hwan's resistance to them being together creates tension and caution in their romance. Bubblegum sweetens the screen with genuine emotions, heartwarming moments, and the ever bubbling chemistry of its leads.

4. See You in My 19th Life (2023)

This new Korean romantic drama follows Ban Ji Eum, a young woman with extraordinary abilities, as she has the power to recall memories from all of her past lives, having experienced reincarnation for nearly a thousand years.

After a tragic accident that shortened her previous life, she is determined to reunite with people from her past in her present life, especially Moon Seo Ha, a man she met in her 18th life and whom she deeply loves.

3. Thirty But Seventeen (2018)

In Thirty But Seventeen, Woo Seo Ri is a seventeen-year-old violin prodigy who falls into a coma after a bus accident. She wakes up thirteen years later, still mentally a teenager but now inhabiting a thirty-year-old body. Her path crosses with Gong Woo Jin, who avoids getting into relationships because of his past trauma.

The show beautifully unfolds the lives of these two individuals who seem to have stopped aging emotionally at seventeen. Together, they embark on a journey to find happiness and reopen doors they thought were permanently closed.

2. 20th Century Boy and Girl (2017)

This romantic drama focuses on the relationship between two childhood best friends: Sa Jin Jin, a famous actress known for her single status, and Gong Ji Won, an investment banker. Despite their long separation, fate brings them back together.

What's particularly striking about their relationship is how they both respect each other's career and personal aspirations. They don't stand in each other's way, and this mutual understanding and support add depth to their friendship, eventually leading to a romantic connection as the series progresses.

1. My First First Love (2019)

As the title suggests, My First First Love paints the perfect picture of first love rekindled as Yoon Tae Oh's house becomes an unexpected hub for his group of childhood friends, igniting a tale of love and friendship under one roof.

Song Yi, a lifelong friend, Choi Hoon, an aspiring actor, Ga Rin, an heiress, and Do Hyeon, a reserved individual, fill the house with their unique personalities. When Song Yi and Do Hyeon's paths cross, it puts their friendship to the test, especially since Tae Oh has a torch for Song Yi.