If Harry Potter Was A C-Drama
Wow, there are so many Kdrama romance-comedies! That we just had to write another article for the recommendations. After Part 1, which recommended modern rom-coms, Anushka and Blizzardahm are back with another article, mostly focusing on historical and fantasy/supernatural Kdrama rom-coms, with a few modern(er) dramas thrown into the mix. As rom-com lovers, we love many of these rom-coms and are ready to share more of these gems with you Kdrama lovers. Enjoy!
Drama topics (color-coded):
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Note: When a drama is in a certain category, then it has the same tag as the others in the category if stated. (For example, Hello, Me! does not have the tag "Time/Travel Manipulation" in its slot, but it does have the tag because all dramas under the category have the tag.)
Note (2): This article (like part 1) DOES NOT contain all Kdrama rom-coms in the categories, but there are a good amount of them. We choose the dramas based on what we watched and would recommend.
Note (3): Dramas in each category are listed in random order.
Note (4): We added some notes to each category about some of the Kdramas in our perspectives.
TERMS: To reduce the space that certain tags take to make more room, Female Lead=FL and Male Lead=ML.
Classic Rom-Coms |
| Old is gold! All dramas in this category consist of all those cliches and overused tropes... Oops, we can't call them overused because these dramas were the origin of the tropes. Jerk ML (Yeah, he gets a personality development, but still, his behavior only changes towards the FL), and I shouldn't forget the Rich Man/Poor Woman common trope...So if you want to explore some Kdrama classics, here's the collection, but beware, as they aren't like more modern dramas. |
Time/Travel Manipulation Dramas |
| Time travel sounds fascinating, right? Rom-coms with time travel is a cherry on the top. With time travel being quite common... another thing you find in them is that each drama gives us a life lesson. For example, Hello, Me! teaches us self-love. Go Back Couple has led with great chemistry. Their bickering and fights can be extreme sometimes, but their love and care for each other are beautifully portrayed, and that's the speciality of it! The Light in Your Eyes is my personal favorite in this section. I love it for many reasons. The acting is just phenomenal; it has one of the most hilarious scenes I've ever seen... but is it just that? NO. You will get the biggest shock that is way better than many thriller twists. I guess Longing Heart might be a drama...that no one has an awareness of. |
Sci-Fi Rom-Coms (Common Genre: Sci-Fi) |
| Please Don't Date Him isn't a normal-length drama as it has 10 episodes. I'll guarantee that it has one of the most lovable MLs; he is just so adorable; talking about character here, not looks, but you can count both ;D. We live in the 21st century... so rather than aliens and mermaids, we have 'Robot' in interspecies romance. But Are You Human Too? really did a great job (Maybe best in this genre) Of course, the drama industry loves 'Phobia', and I'm Not a Robot may have the most different one (or weird, perhaps). But still, it's quite enjoyable and interesting to watch. |
Modern Fantasy/Supernatural Rom-Coms |
| When it comes to fantasy, it all depends on creativity and imagination. So every drama here is very different from each other, each has its uniqueness, but the common thing is that they're all fantasy genres. Although Handmade Love isn't a full-length drama, it's a mini-series, but in terms of every aspect from the story, cinematography, and the acting, it's well made. 18 Again is an adaptation of an American movie (17 Again). But it is not the same as K-dramas have always been brilliantly portraying all emotions. So this has that emotional touch with being hilarious. Is Extraordinary You a common high school drama? It seems like it at first glance, right? Nope, you are entering the world of fantasy that has many surprises and twists in it. |
Historical Fantasy/Supernatural Rom-Coms |
| I have to admit that in this criteria, K-dramas don't have many options. So we're left with only one drama. It has a great cast... so definitely not disappointing regarding the acting. It's extremely funny in the initial episodes. Does 2012 worry you? Yeah, it's a little old, but it's always great to explore something new ;D |
| MDL rating: 7.9 (10,954 users) | |||
| Genres: Suspense, Historical, Mystery, Comedy, Romance, Supernatural Tags: Ghost, Amnesia, Interspecies Romance, Joseon Dynasty, Strong Female Lead, Nice Male Lead, Stubborn Female Lead |
Historical Rom-Coms (Common Tag: Joseon Dynasty) |
| K-Historical rom-coms almost have one thing in common, even if the maximum time they stick to is the rom-com genre, but near the end, they tend to add some political issues. So keep that in mind! Love in the Moonlight is such a fun ride... and soo funny and leads look so cute together. And it has the most entertaining dance of the century (Am I exaggerating? Maybe, but you can't deny it) The Tale of Nokdu has cross-dressing as well, but this time it's different because here, the ML is pretending to be a woman, it becomes serious later, but it's extremely hilarious. |
| MDL rating: 8.4 (13, 001 users) | MDL rating: 8.3 (14, 004 users) | ||
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Historical, Action Tags: Cross-Dressing, Smart Male Lead, Smart Female Lead, Gender Bender, Hidden Identity, Birth Secret |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Historical, Drama Tags: Amnesia, Prince Lead, Hidden Identity, Marriage of Convenience, Arrogant Male Lead, Royalty |
| MDL rating: 8.2 (10, 246 users) | MDL rating: 8.2 (23, 699 users) | ||
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Historical, Drama, Political Tags: Strong Female Characters, Nice Male Lead, Sismance, Prince Lead, Writer, Older Woman/Younger Man |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Historical, Drama Tags: Cross-Dressing, Hidden Identity, Prince Lead, First Love, Male Chases Female First, Lovers Separated, Love Triangle |
| MDL rating: 7.7 (3, 060 users) | MDL rating: 7.7 (5, 268 users) | ||
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Historical, Drama, Political Tags: Love Triangle, Marriage Proposal, Tragic Past, Childhood Friends, Character Development, |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Historical Tags: Scholar, Sassy Female Lead, Love/Hate Relationship, Politics, First Love, Nice Male Lead, Princess, Tomboy |
Historical Time Travel Rom-Coms(Common Tag: Time Travel) |
| My Lovely Love Song is a low-budget drama, so the cinematography and aesthetics might be not the best, but in terms of content, story, and entertainment, it won't disappoint you. Is being soo funny the only special thing about Rooftop Prince? Definitely not. The squad we are getting here...one definitely is part of the most memorable squads in K-dramaland. Live Up to Your Name... making us smile a lot sure lives up to its genre. What can I say about the couple's chemistry here? It's splendid! Splash Splash LOVE only has 2 episodes; still, it managed to execute the story so well, fitting everything perfectly in just a short amount of time. Mr. Queen... As being historical, it does have politics, but it's way too hilarious. It has its own charm that will make you fall for it for sure! |
| MDL rating: 8.5 (19, 120 users) | MDL rating: 8.3 (7, 481 users) | ||
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Historical, Supernatural Tags: Joseon Dynasty, Actress, Nice Male Lead, Amnesia, Past and Present, Scholar, Sismance, Female Chases Male First |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Historical, Fantasy, Medical Tags: Joseon Dynasty, Doctor, Acupuncturist, Strong Female Lead, Character Development, Cohabitation |
| MDL rating: 8.2 (24, 947 users) | MDL rating: 7.9 (7, 688 users) | ||
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Historical, Supernatural, Mystery Tags: Joseon Dynasty, Reincarnation, Prince Lead, Lost Child, Sisterhood, Mistaken Identity, Sibling Rivalry, Different Timelines |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Historical, Fantasy, Drama Tags: Goguryeo Dynasty, Love/Hate Relationship, Sassy Female Lead, First Love, Secondary Couple, Steamy Kiss |
| MDL rating: 9.0 (14, 488 users) | MDL rating: 8.5 (20, 259 users) | ||
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Historical, Fantasy, Drama Tags: Joseon Dynasty, King, Body Swap, Palace, Queen, Fight For the Throne, Gender Swap, Smart Female Lead, Calm Male Lead |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Historical, Supernatural Tags: Joseon Dynasty, Cross-Dressing, Miniseries, Sejong the Great, Cheerful female Lead, Hidden Identity, Hardworking Male Lead |
Short Web Dramas (Common Tag: Web Series) |
| Don't have free time to invest 16-20 hrs? Here's a collection of short, bite-size dramas. Some of these web dramas aren't extremely comedic, but they teach good life lessons about friendship, romance, and youth. They're light and swift to watch! A-Teen is very different, as you'll get many surprises that you didn't expect. Sweet Revenge is the first drama of many. It does have fantasy, but still, it's a cute watch. Do you like EXO? Then EXO Next Door is a must-watch, it might not make sense in many places, but it's a fun ride. |
High School (Common Tag: High School) |
| MDL rating: 8.2 (6, 884 users) | 120 min | MDL rating: 7.8 (3, 864 users) | |
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Life, School, Youth, Friendship Tags: First Love, Multiple Couples, Sismance, Gaming, Friends to Lovers Sequel: A-Teen 2 |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, School, Youth, Drama Tags: Love Triangle, Character Development, Stalker, First Love Sequel: Best Mistake S2 |
330 min | MDL rating: 8.0 (6, 684 users) | 250 min | MDL rating: 7.6 (1, 746 users) |
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, Youth, School Tags: School Bullying, Revenge, Sismance, Nice Male Lead, Love Triangle, Best Friends Sequel: Sweet Revenge S2 |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, School, Youth, Drama Tags: Love Triangle, Childhood Friends, Sly Character, Bromance, Smart Female Lead, Mental Health |
College Life (Common Tag: College Life, Student) |
40 min | MDL rating: 8.0 (2, 731 users) | 96 Min | MDL rating: 7.5 (1, 128 users) |
 | Genres: Romance, Youth, School, Friendship Tags: Unrequited Love, Multiple Mains, Love Triangle, Strong Friendship, Best Friends Sequels: Season 2, Season 3, Season 4 |  | Genres: Romance, Friendship, Drama Tags: Live Streaming, Nice Male Lead, Misunderstanding, Love Triangle, Unrequited Love, Poor Female Lead |
Flower Ever After Series (Listed by sequence) (Common Tag: Marriage) |
150 min | MDL rating: 7.7 (992 users) | 96 min | MDL rating: 7.7(1, 099 users) |
 | Genres: Romance, Friendship, Life, Youth Tags: Multiple Couples, Nice Male Lead, Married Couple |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Friendship, Drama Tags: Second Chance Romance, Love Triangle, Strong Female Lead, Misunderstanding |
180 min | MDL rating: 7.8 (2, 759 users) | ||
 | Genres: Romance, Youth, Drama Tags: Contract Relationship, One-Night Stand, Break Up, Student, Ex-Boyfriend Comes Back, First Love |
Interspecies Romance (Common Tag: Interspecies Romance) |
144 min | MDL rating: 8.0 (4, 051 users) | 210 min | MDL rating: 8.0 (5, 212 users) |
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural Tags: Dokkaebi, Memory Erase, Student, Attempted Murder, Housemates, University |  | Genres: Romance, Music, Supernatural, Drama, Tragedy Tags: Grim Reaper, First Love, Female Chases Male First, Famous Lead/Common Lead, Rich Male Lead, Innocent Female Lead |
Entertainment Industry/Idol-Centered |
240 min | MDL rating: 7.7 (19, 613 users) | MDL rating: 8.2 (4, 241 users) | |
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Friendship, Music Tags: EXO, Bromance, Neighbors, Love Triangle, First Love, Idol Actor |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Drama Tags: Entertainment Industry, Love At First Sight, Rich Man/Poor Woman, Arrogant Male Lead, Overbearing CEO, Male Chases Female Lead First |
156 min | MDL rating: 7.4 (232 users) | 130 min | MDL rating: 8.0 (2, 371 users) |
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Drama Tags: Idol Actress, Love Triangle, Beauty Creator, Smart Male Lead, Multiple Mains, Rivalry, Cosmetic Company |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy Tags: First Love, Idol Actress, Dating Show, Lying, Strong Female Lead, Doppelganger, Secret Relationship Sequel: One Fine Week 2 |
| Attempted Suicide | One-Night Stand | ||
150 min | MDL rating: 8.2 (4, 247 users) | 140 min | MDL rating: 8.2 (5, 078 users) |
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Fantasy Tags: Attempted Suicide, Time Travel, High School, Student, School Bullying, First Love |  | Genres: Romance, Friendship, Drama, Mature Tags: One-Night Stand, Cohabitation, Second Chance, Steamy Kiss, Best Friends, Unrequited Love, Love Triangle |
Other Rom-Coms |
| Ex-Girlfriend Club (12 ep) has the funniest fights (Yup, fights, it's not a typo). It's super entertaining from the start to the end, but you have to excuse the cinematography as it's made back in 2015. I don't think many know of Bubblegum's existence, even with its star-studded cast. It doesn't have much recognition, but it's definitely a fun watch. Hyde, Jekyll, Me and It's Okay, That's Love both have psychological as a genre. Mental health issues are an aspect of them but don't worry; they never stop being rom-com. I Picked Up a Star on the Road (10 ep) has 'Kidnapping'. Does this first tag scare you? But this is where the story actually starts. Well, it's indeed unique and so different with its storyline, you will enjoy it for sure! |
| MDL rating:7.8 (12, 276 users) | MDL rating: 8.2 (19,627 users) | ||
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Drama Tags: Sibling Rivalry, Neighbors, Nice Male Lead, Love Square, Male Chases Female First, Poor Female Lead, Older Man/Younger Woman |  | Genres: Comedy, Romance, Life, Drama Tags: Amnesia, Rich Male Lead, Clingy Male Lead, Hardworking Female Lead, Cohabitation, Poor Female Lead, Rich Man/Poor Woman |
| MDL rating: 7.4 (5, 600 users) | MDL rating: 7.7 (9, 013 users) | ||
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Family Tags: Single Mother, Meet Again, Working Mom, Film Producer, Love Pentagon, First Love, Mother-Daughter Relationship |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Life, Drama, Action, Business Tags: Hardworking Female Lead, Badass FL, Adapted From a Webtoon, Boss/Employee Relationship, Female Chases Male First |
| MDL rating: 7.6 (5, 621 users) | MDL rating: 7.6 (4, 297 users) | ||
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Drama Tags: Webtoon Artist, Love Triangle, Childish Male Lead, Ex-Girlfriend Comes Back, Second Chance, Misunderstanding, Hardworking FL |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Life, Friendship, Drama Tags: Smart Male Lead, Matchmaking, Funny Female Lead, Aquaphobia, Arrogant ML, Heartbreak, First Love, Second Chance |
| MDL rating: 7.5 (4, 188 users) | MDL rating: 7.3 (3, 144 users) | ||
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy Tags: Kidnapping, Actor, Rich Man/Poor Woman, Impulsive Male Lead, Contract Relationship, Neighbors, Entertainment Industry, Hate to Love |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Family, Drama Tags: Childhood Friends, Friends to Lovers, Family, Nice Male Lead, Male Chases Female First |
| MDL rating: 7.8 (11, 032 users) | MDL rating: 7.4 (7, 424 users) | ||
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Friendship, Business, Drama Tags: Nice ML, Rich Man/Poor Woman, Boss/Employee Relationship, Love Triangle, Adapted From a Webtoon, Childhood Friends, First Love |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Business, Friendship, Melodrama Tags: Prosopagnosia, Rich Man/Poor Woman, Prodigy, Idol Actor, Eccentric Male Lead |
| MDL rating: 8.1 (7, 606 users) | MDL rating: 7.4 (11, 452 users) | ||
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Family, Life, Friendship Tags: Personal Growth, Second Chance, Divorce, Male Chases Female Lead First, Successful ML, First Love, Boss/Employee Relationship |  | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Psychological, Drama Tags: Adapted From a Webtoon, Double Identity, Dissociative Identity Disorder, Love Triangle, Idol Actor, Mental Health, Cold Man/Warm Woman |
| MDL rating: 8.6 (32, 058 users) | |||
 | Genres: Romance, Comedy, Friendship, Psychological, Drama Tags: Strong FL, Mental Health, Psychiatry, Trauma, Healing, Adult Romance, Cohabitation, Writer, Rich ML, Hate to Love, Tourette Syndrome |
| And Part 2 wraps up our Kdrama Rom-Com Recommendations article series! Thanks for reading, and we hope that this list has given you plenty (or more than enough) of Korean drama options! (We also sincerely apologize to your Plan-To-Watch lists.) |  |
Edited by: YW (1st editor)
