Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, Netflix
These dramas mix sweetness with a dash of angst, creating a recipe where you're rooting for the FL to finally look up and see the love that's been there all along.
It's like watching a one-sided game of tag where he's always "it," but instead of running away, she's just moving towards a different goal, often with a seriousness that makes his unwavering dedication and occasional goofiness even more endearing.
1. "Hyena" (2020)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixCompeting lawyers Jung Geum-ja and Yoon Hee-jae, who use their wits and cunning to represent the top 1% of society in court, find themselves in a tumultuous mix of rivalry, romance, and personal growth as they tackle high-stakes legal cases.
2. "Romance is a Bonus Book" (2019)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixKang Dan-i, a struggling single mother, secretly starts working at a publishing company led by her younger friend, Cha Eun-ho, a successful author and chief editor, leading to revelations, career challenges, and a slowly blossoming romance.
3. "She Would Never Know" (2021)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixA dedicated marketer for a cosmetics company, Yoon Song-ah, finds herself entangled in a complicated relationship with her junior, Chae Hyun-seung, as they navigate personal ambitions, workplace politics, and the nuances of an office romance.
4. "Our Beloved Summer" (2021-2022)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixYears after their breakup, a documentary featuring high school lovers Choi Woong and Kook Yeon-su goes viral, forcing them to reunite in front of the camera, confronting their past feelings and misunderstandings amidst new challenges and growth.
5. "When the Camellia Blooms" (2019)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixSingle mother and bar owner Oh Dong-baek faces societal prejudice in a small town while caught in a love triangle with a good-hearted but bumbling policeman, Hwang Yong-sik, and her ex-boyfriend, a famous baseball player, amidst a murder mystery.
6. "Woman of 9.9 Billion" (2019)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixJung Seo-yeon, after stumbling upon 9.9 billion won, goes on the run from dangerous individuals, including her abusive husband and corrupt cops, while teaming up with a former detective, Kang Tae-woo, seeking justice for his sister's death.
7. "The Goddess of Revenge" (2020)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixKang Hae-ra, once a popular but now disgraced reporter, seeks vengeance against those who wronged her, teaming up with a mysterious lawyer and a computer hacker to expose corruption and reclaim her life and career.
8. "When Our Love Blooms" (2020)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixHan Jae-hyun and Yoon Ji-soo, former lovers who reunited in their 40s, navigate the trials of rekindling their romance amidst the backdrop of their vastly different lives; he's a successful businessman, and she's a struggling single mother.
9. "Coffee Prince" (2007)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixGo Eun-chan, a tomboyish girl, disguises herself as a man to get a job at a cafe that only hires male workers, leading to complicated romantic entanglements with the cafe's heir, Choi Han-gyul, who begins questioning his sexuality.
10. "The King's Affection" (2021)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixIn a historical setting where twins are considered ominous, a female twin is secretly raised as a male and eventually becomes the crown prince; years later, as she struggles to hide her identity, she faces political intrigue, romance, and challenges to her throne.
11. "Secret Garden" (2010)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixA stuntwoman and a wealthy CEO swap bodies after a strange sequence of events, leading them through a series of comedic and romantic mishaps as they try to navigate their swapped lives and discover a mysterious connection linking their fates.
12. "Business Proposal" (2022)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixShin Ha-ri, pretending to be her friend on a blind date to scare away her suitor, finds herself sitting opposite her company's CEO, Kang Tae-moo, sparking a series of misunderstandings, fake dating, and eventual romance amidst corporate challenges.
13. Hello My Teacher (also known as "Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy") (2005)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixNa Bori, a passionate and quirky woman who dreams of being a teacher, disguises herself to work at her old high school, where she encounters old crushes, stubborn students, and the chance to fulfill her dreams despite the odds.
14. "Abyss" (2019)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixAfter dying unexpectedly, Cha Min and Go Se-yeon are resurrected through a mysterious orb called "Abyss" in entirely different bodies, and together, they set out to solve their murders and uncover a complex web of love, betrayal, and justice.
15. "The Glory" (2022-2023)
Image credit: SBS, tvN, jTBC, KBS2, MBC, TV Chosun, NetflixMoon Dong-eun, a woman who suffered brutal school violence, meticulously plans her revenge over years against her bullies and abusers, orchestrating a deep and complex vengeance that affects not just her tormentors but also their families and associates.