Fated to Love or better known as You are my Destiny, is one of the top dramas for any K-drama fanatic. This Taiwanese-adopted drama beautifully showcased the intertwined fates of the main leads and how they ended up falling for each other despite not intending to.
Other than the romance, there are various aspects of the drama that captivates the viewers, such as the suspicious coincidences or, more known by the K-drama fans as fate or destiny, the rich-man poor-woman. Though typical and cliché, it still manages to hold its fame.
Most dramas made today, too, have this concept, as it seems to be something the audience is attracted to—last but not least, the cold-hearted, tsundere male lead, which turns soft for his lover. Everything is woven together perfectly story and the actors complement it well, professionally showcasing the emotion of the characters. It surely is a feast for rom-com lovers!
The central concept of the drama is fate or destiny, which keeps bringing the couple together despite any difficulties that life may pose to them. We watch the main leads fall in love and keep us anticipated throughout the drama, wondering if they will end up together despite the difficult circumstances. Both the main leads, Jang Hyuk and Jang Na Ri, did an immaculate job of carrying the characters and the drama throughout. Fated to Love is a classic K-drama that is a must-watch for everyone who believes in fate or destiny.
A few dramas that are quite similar to Fated to Love are:
1. Goblin: The Lonely and Great God
An ancient Joseon warrior who was punished and given eternal life is the Goblin, played by Gong Yoo. The only person who can free him from this eternal hell is the Goblin’s bride. Now, in the 21st century, an abused high school girl is raised by her aunt after her mother’s death.
Both their paths cross because of a birthday wish as we see the series of events that happen, wondering who will die first. Since the first few episodes, it was made quite clear that both of them wouldn’t end up together for a long time. But fate does have different plans, following them throughout their life and even their next.
Goblin is a must-watch for anyone who’s into romantic dramas. The show will keep you hooked throughout, wondering what will come next. It will keep going on because there is no end to eternity, nor their love and sorrow. This is a classic drama that will never get old, no matter how many times you watch it. Filled with the right amount of comedy, love, and departure, Goblin will move you to tears both through laughing and crying.
- Director: Lee Eung Bok, Kwon Hyuk Chan, Yoon Jong Ho
- Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, Lee Dong Wook
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Viki
2. Hotel Del Luna
Another drama that has a little bit of a Joseon-era background is Hotel Del Luna. In this drama, the female lead is cursed to run a hotel that is bound to her soul for the dead for eternity.
Hotel Del Luna is one of a kind drama with a unique plot line and powerful characters. Humans can only see or visit this hotel if they are dead. But a single living father can visit it while he is alive, causing him to be cursed and asked to give his life right then and there. But, the man promises that if he lets him go now, his son will work for her 20 years later.
When the time arrives, Jang Man Weol, the female lead, comes to take the son to make him work for her. Once he knows about the deal, he starts working as the manager of Hotel Del Luna and reveals a lot of mysteries and secrets of not only the hotel but also of the owner.
Another drama about two fates being intertwined due to a few circumstances. This drama has been on the top of some lists as a favorite and a must-watch drama for romance and fantasy lovers. Whether the two main leads will end up together or not is the question that keeps the viewers hooked to the show.
- Director: Oh Choong Hwan
- Cast: Lee Ji Eun, Yeo Jin Goo
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
3. Strong Woman: Do Bong Soon
This drama is more of the rich CEO and a middle-class or poor woman kind of a plot. Following a normal-looking girl with supernatural powers that are passed down the family lineage and how she works as a bodyguard for a young and rich CEO forms the main storyline.
Though they start on love-hate terms, we watch as the love blooms between them, and they can’t live without each other. Having amazing comedic elements as well as good plot progression, this drama is binge-worthy. Not only saving the CEO from physical threats but also his mental demons, Do Bong Soon also solves a serial killer case on the side, which would put her in danger in the latter half.
Breaking rules that would threaten her powers and how she overcomes all these challenges to win as a good and righteous person and lover is admired by many audiences, making them root for her until the very end. Strong Woman: Do Bong Soon follows the romantic plot with a little bit of supernatural and fantasy elements and gives the viewers one of the best experiences.
- Director: Lee Hyung Min
- Cast: Park Bo Young, Park Hyung Sik, Kim Ji Soo
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Viki
4. The King: Eternal Monarch
This romance fantasy drama talks about parallel worlds. One that is run by a monarchy and the other by a democracy. The king of one world tries to cross the barrier to the other in search of his father’s assassinator. After a lot of failed attempts, he finally succeeds in doing so and comes across a lady who works in the police force before he can accomplish his mission.
At first, she definitely doesn’t believe in the existence of another world and tries to arrest him for illegal immigration, but once she starts to notice a few things, she does everything to delve deeper into this other world and once even ends up there.
This story of two people in two different worlds but one fate that brings them together is quite similar to Fated to Love You, as no matter how dire the circumstance is, both lovers find ways to be together. If their efforts will be fruitful or not forms the basic plot line, keeping the audience anticipating to watch further. This drama is a must-watch for anyone who believes in fate, destiny, and the romance that blooms out of it.
- Director: Baek Sang Hoon, Jung Ji Hyun, Yoo Je Won
- Cast: Lee Min Ho, Kim Go Eun
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
5. Tale of the Nine-tailed
Another fantasy drama starring Lee Dong Wook in the role of Gumiho. A Gumiho is a Korean mythical creature- a fox with nine tails that guards a place. His job is to stop supernatural forces from interrupting human lives.
In a quest to capture a fox that threatens human lives, he comes across a producer of a tv channel who makes things a little difficult for him. This producer, the female lead in her past life, was the first love of Lee Yeon, and he had been saving her since her childhood from demons that could potentially harm her. While trying to fight his feelings and being in denial that the female lead isn’t his first love, he also has to face difficulties from his brother due to an old grudge.
With so many supernatural challenges standing between them, they have to win against all odds to be together. Whether they will be successful or not is for the viewers to find out once they watch the whole drama. The drama of intertwined fates currently has an ongoing sequel where the main lead time travels back to Japan-occupied Korea. We are yet to know about what is to unfold in this sequel.
- Director: Kang Shin Hyo, Jo Nam Hyung
- Cast: Lee Dong Wook, Jo Bo Ah
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Viki
Also Read: Top 30 Richest Kpop Idols In 2023 & Ranked By Net Worth [Updated]
6. Suspicious Partner
This mind-boggling drama leaves the viewers at the end of their seats, anticipating the next scene. We follow the story of a prosecutor who later leaves the profession to become a private attorney and a trainee who used to work with the prosecutor to solve different cases.
As they try to find out the criminal of the new crimes, which are strangely similar to a past case, the female lead finds herself to be a suspect. Both the main leads find out that they were deeply connected in the past, and how they work together to solve this mystery forms the main plot. With a lot of twisted memories in their past and fighting their demons, they will also have to fight the criminals of their world as well as their feelings for each other at a point.
The viewers are left to merely guess whether they will end up together or not, leaving us pulling our hairs at times at the number of twists in the drama. This drama is surely a must-watch for crime fanatics and also has the destiny element that draws the main leads closer the more they run away from each other and their feelings for the other.
- Director: Park Sun Ho
- Cast: Ji Chang Wook, Nam Ji Hyun
- Number of episodes: 40
- Where to watch: Viki
7. Business Proposal
This rom-com series is based on a webtoon of the same name. We follow two couples that get together because of some misunderstanding but still manage to find love.
In one, the female lead, Shin Ha Ri, decides to go on a blind date instead of her friend, but what she doesn’t know is that the guy she is going to meet is her boss. Unfortunately, her boss like her antics to end the date as soon as possible and arranges for more, over which they both find themselves falling for each other.
But how will he react once he finds out that Hari is his employee? The other couple is the friend of Hari who didn’t go on that blind date but ended up falling for the CEO’s secretary. After she moves out from her father’s house and into a new apartment, she is more than pleased to find out that her next-door neighbor is none other than the man she has been crushing on.
These weird coincidences cause both couples to fall for each other. However, one partner is rich, while the other is from a middle-class family. So whether their love will be accepted by the families or not is also a challenge they have to overcome.
- Director: Park Seon Ho
- Cast: Ahn Hyo Seop, Kim Se Jeong, Kim Min Kyu, Seol In Ah
- Number of episodes: 12
- Where to watch: Netflix
Also Read: Also know about the cast of Business Proposal that captivated millions of hearts
8. Kill Me, Heal Me
This 2015 K-drama is about the main lead who is dealing with Dissociative Personality Disorder and has seven different personalities due to traumatic incidents from his past and a first-year psychiatric resident who helps him overcome it.
It follows the same plot of the rich guy who needs the help of a poor girl but loves blooms between them, and no one knows whether they will end up together or not. They are challenged when the female lead’s twin brother tries to uncover the evils done by rich people- the male lead is one of them. Whether he will overcome his disorder before the disorder can take over him is the question, and we watch a race between time, fate, and love.
This drama is one of the top Korean dramas that are recommended to others and is also on the list of favorites of a lot of fans. The writing and the actors worked hard to make this routine plot a super hit, and it all paid off. You are sure to cry tears from how the show takes you on an emotional roller coaster and when you realize the significance of the title.
- Director: Sung Chi Uk, Kwak Seung Yeol
- Cast: Ji Sung, Hwang Jung Eum
- Number of episodes: 20
- Where to watch: Viki
9. My Love from the Star
This fantasy rom-com is one of the most famous dramas in its genre, willing a lot of awards for its wonderful execution. We follow the story of the main lead, who is an alien and never ages. He renews his profession and identity every decade, now working as a college professor.
A couple of months before he is about to leave the planet, the female lead moves into the apartment next to his. He ends up helping her in various circumstances and even becoming her manager, only then realizing how similar she looks to his first love. Inevitably, both of them fall in love as new challenges are thrown at them that they have to face. With the male lead’s departure coming close, the female lead’s career downfall, and the growing feelings between them, they have to work together to make everything right.
Even if it does fall right, we are left to wonder if the couple will ever end up together. Will fate work in their favor or be their enemy is the question that the viewers ponder over most parts of the show. This K-drama will surely leave the viewers in shackles with the amount of angst it contains.
- Director: Jang Tae Yoo
- Cast: Jun Ji Hyun, Kim So Hyun
- Number of episodes: 21
- Where to watch: Viki
Also Read: Kill Me Heal Me Review: A Rom-Com Kdrama With A Twist Of 7 Personalities!
10. Go Back Couple
A middle-aged couple who are struggling to make ends meet and keep their family intact is given a chance to go back to their twenties, where they can change their circumstances and make better choices.
But everything has a price, and their decisions start to impact the people around them as well as themselves. Should they consider this a gift from fate or a punishment? This drama also revolves around destiny and fate, which seem to first help them but end up turning their lives upside down instead. But isn’t the beauty in the eyes of the beholder? Will the couple take this as a good thing or a bad one and adjust to the circumstances forming the basic plot line?
No matter what decision they take or what choice they make, they have to take responsibility for it, be it in their twenties or late thirties. This drama, which starts heavily, seems to lighten up a little before picking up the pace again, leaving the audience on the edge of their seats and wondering about what’s about to come next. It is a must-watch for someone who believes that fate can change a lot of things, both good as well as bad.
- Director: Ha Byung Hoon
- Cast: Son Ho Joon, Jang Na Ri
- Number of episodes: 12
- Where to watch: Viki
11. Oh My Venus
We follow the typical rich male lead who suffers from an illness and believes that fitness will cure anything. During this time, he meets an actress who was famous back in the day and wishes to lose weight and go back to her career. In the process, we watch both of them fall for each other.
But, of course, fate has other plans. Right when everything seems to be going perfectly for them, life challenges them in various ways as if to test their love and passion for each other. Will they help each other overcomes these difficulties and rise over fate, or will they submit to it and find different paths forms the storyline?
This drama for sure will make the viewers cry rivers of tears because of the amazing execution and perfect acting. Oh my, Venus is a drama that everyone must check out because it not only talks about fate but various valuable lessons about life. Though leaving everyone in shackles, this drama is an amazing watch, making everyone feel content after completing it and wishing for more good dramas like these in the years to come.
- Director: Kim Hyung Suk
- Cast: So Ji Sub, Shin Mina
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Hulu
12. Crash Course in Romance
In this drama, we follow the story of a middle-aged mother who was a former athlete but left her career to raise her sister’s abandoned daughter. This daughter is now preparing for the most important competitive exam that will determine her future. She joins her daughter in a Math Academy to help her score better, and the math lecturer is none other than the main lead.
In a country where top lecturers are considered celebrities, their dating someone else would also cause havoc. But we can’t help feeling, and so both the leads fall in love. Society shuns their relationship and calls them names for falling in love at such an age, and problems keep coming their way. Will the couple last?
This drama also follows a similar trope of the rich main lead, who has a problem, and the poor female lead, who is the only one who can provide the solution. What’s more exciting is that both these characters have a connection in the past. Crash Course in Romance is one of the best K-dramas that you can watch and should be added to your watchlist right away.
- Director: Yoo Je Won
- Cast: Jeon Do Yeon, Jung Kyung Ho
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
13. Crash Landing On You
As most of us already know the tension between North Korea and South Korea, we also know how hard it is for the citizens to go to the other country. But what if fate has such funny plans to send a girl to the other nation?
In Crash Landing on You, the female lead, a successful entrepreneur, quite literally crash lands onto the male lead, who is a soldier in North Korea, while paragliding. How she tries to get back home while fighting against the borders as well as her feelings, and even after she gets back, whether she will be able to stay with her lover, forms the central plot of the story. Here, the roles are a little reversed as the female lead is the rich one while the male lead is poor.
Their longing for each other is felt even by the audience during the whole series, even moving us to tears at various scenes. They can’t stay together because of their nationalities, but love doesn’t see all this, nor do the people who are in love care about that. But at times, the circumstances become so dire that we have no choice but to let go of something to gain something else.
- Director: Lee Jung Hyo
- Cast: Hyun Bin, Son Ye Jin
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
14. Twenty-Five Twenty-One
Set in the late 1990s, this story is narrated by the female lead’s daughter, who is going through her mother’s diary and comes across the story of her first love. An aspiring fencer and a part-timer who moves into the same neighborhood start on bad terms but end up becoming really good friends and even fall in love.
Though they couldn’t clearly express their feelings to each other, fate seems to have different plans as even a few years later, when the female is a successful fencer and the male lead, a reporter, they meet once again. This time, will they be able to tell what’s in their hearts to one another? Even if they do manage to do so, will the situation let them be together? Leaving the audience on a cliffhanger, the series concludes, making us wait eagerly for a sequel.
Loved by millions since its release, twenty-five twenty-one is a must-watch rom-com for anyone that will melt your heart and take you back to the olden days when people had to wait for hours and days to receive a simple message from their lover. Maybe it was this longing that made them so passionate about the other.
- Director: Jung Ji Hyun
- Cast: Kim Tae Ri, Nam Joo Hyeok
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
15. Our Beloved Summer
This coming-of-age rom-com is about two ex-lovers that parted ways and decided never to meet again but still do due to a documentary that went viral and featured them when they were in a relationship. Fate seems to play cupid here as we watch them still hold onto their feelings and unsaid words even after years.
This drama easily shows how complicated relationships can be and how even though the person is right, the circumstances might not let them be together. This drama exceptionally shows what it feels like to be in love and love someone with all your heart. This webtoon adaptation shows the growth and progress of a relationship that still lingers behind some love even while vanishing. The next time when the two of them meet, that little love starts blooming, and given the right amount of water and light, it will grow into a healthy relationship.
Without any unrealistic standards or portrayal of relationships and love, this drama is quite simple but leaves you feeling warm and showcases the beauty of being in love perfectly.
- Director: Kim Yoon Jin
- Cast: Choi Woo Shik, Kim Da Mi
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
Also Read: 50 Most Romantic Korean Dramas Ever That You Need To Watch
16. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
This drama is based on a Chinese novel and became a super hit right after its release, gaining fans not just in South Korea but also internationally. We follow the story of a 21st-century woman, played by IU, who is transported back in time to the Goryeo dynasty. Falling for not one but two princes, but eventually surprising everyone by doing something very unexpected, she gets stuck into the palace politics and the prices who fight for the throne.
How she copes with everything, including her feelings, while she finds a way to come back to the 21st century forms the main plot of the series. While she was teleported, she created a lot of make-up as she was quite experienced with it in the 21st century. The main protagonist, played by Lee Joon Gi, is a cold-hearted prince who ends up falling for the female lead’s kind gestures and even begins to change because of her, and his image of a brutal price slowly disappears.
Though the execution was a little messy and got the viewers confused at times, the drama is widely appreciated for its ideas and incredible actors who hold the whole show on their backs.
- Director: Kim Kyu Tae
- Cast: Lee Joon Gi, Lee Ji Eun, Kan Haneul
- Number of episodes: 20
- Where to watch: Viki
17. Hometown Cha Cha Cha
This rom-com is a light-hearted drama that could be watched any day. While it may not closely resemble Fated to Love You, it does have a few elements of fate. The female lead, a dentist, moves to the countryside because of various issues and spontaneously decides to open a dental clinic.
Through the process, she meets the main lead, known as the jack of all trades. Though she isn’t a fan of him at first, she slowly gets adjusted to him, even falling in love with him in the process. With a little bit of a love triangle in a few episodes, the drama never gets too boring and can be enjoyed by anyone. It has the right amount of comedy but also being professional when needed.
Hometown Cha Cha Cha is not just a rom-com but also has various life lessons about today’s world and urbanization. The execution and plot narrative stand out, along with the acting that makes us fall for both the main leads and root for them until the very end. The proposal of love to each other at the right time and how it developed perfectly even after getting into a relationship should be applauded.
- Director: Yoo Je Won
- Cast: Shin Mina, Kim Seon Ho
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
18. Mr. Queen
Parasite Movie Ending Explained: What Happened To The Kim Family? is another drama in which the protagonist goes back in time, but this time, with their gender reversed. A famous male chef, about to be killed for an error, accidentally teleports back in time into a queen’s body.
Though he takes a while to adjust there and finds every way to go back to the current time, the people around him also have a hard time as this queen is very different and eccentric from their previous one. The queen also tries to win the favor of the king’s mother to get back home by cooking her various kinds of delicious food, introducing potato fritters and Mc. Donald’s back in those days itself. Despite the various difficulties, they manage to cope with these difficulties, successfully winning against the various challenges along the way.
Both the main leads have to cope with their trauma as they help each other, even growing some affection towards the end of the drama. Though the drama seems like a serious one, it is hilarious in most of the parts, making the viewers laugh until they cry. Mr. Queen is an amazing drama and of a sort experience for the viewers.
- Director: Yoon Sung Shik
- Cast: Shin Hye Sun, Kim Jung Hyun
- Number of episodes: 20
- Where to watch: Netflix
19. Extraordinary You
Another drama in which the protagonist teleports is Extraordinary You. But instead of teleporting back in time, she teleports into a webcomic, thinking she is the main female lead but realizes that she is only just a side character with heart disease.
She tries her best to get more screen time, doing everything she can to win the spotlight and become an essential character. However, every action has a consequence, and she has to pay the price for the changes she made. This time, the destiny she changes for herself causes to have parallels with another webcomic by the same writer, and she has to pay the price for making all the changes.
The lead actors- with hardly any previous experience did a wonderful job of portraying the characters perfectly, leaving everyone in awe. The audience could easily feel every emotion portrayed by them, and it feels so real that we do not question the fiction for a moment. The message is also wonderful, showing us that instead of leaving our lives in the hands of destiny, we can take the front seat and steer it around.
- Director: Kang Sang Hyeop
- Cast: Kim Hye Yoon, Rowoon
- Number of episodes: 32
- Where to watch: Viki
20. What’s wrong with Secretary Kim
In this drama, we follow a CEO and his Secretary. Secretary Kim suddenly wants to resign from her position to work for another CEO, but the main lead, who only cares for himself and not others around him, is determined to keep her as his secretary because of her capable skills and without making any romantic advances towards him for her advantage.
He plans various things to make her stay, making her, as well as the audience, laugh in the process but also fall in love with him. Their blooming feelings for each other grow as they finally accept them and help each other heal from their past trauma. Also adapted from a webtoon, this drama is one of the top dramas that is recommended to a new K-drama fan and tops off the list of most people’s favorites.
Like most dramas, this drama could be a little cliche for everyone, but that’s the beauty of fiction. Though it might seem routine, everyone likes the cliches that are done properly and don’t mind watching them at all. This drama is a must-watch for anyone as it also has some fun elements and is not all that serious.
- Director: Park Joon Hwa
- Cast: Park Seo Joon, Park Min Young
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Viki
Also Read: 41 Best Spy Kdrama That Will Keep You on The Edge of Your Seats
21. When The Camellia Blooms
In this rom-com, we follow the single mother who moves to a new town and opens up a bar, Camellia. The challenges she faces as she tries to settle here and the romance that ensues between a local police officer and her is the main plot of the drama.
While this happens, there is a killer on the loose who they need to catch. This will put them in danger, and how the main leads try to do their best without getting harmed is explored. The drama has both happy as well as sad memories, seen together with good writing and even better execution. The actors carried out their roles very well, resulting in the big success of this drama. Having a little bit of a thriller aspect to it, this series is one of the dramas that can be recommended to anyone, irrespective of their preferred genre.
The show also teaches us a lot of lessons and is quite realistic in depicting real-life issues, such as single mothers struggling to make ends meet and the stigma that usually surrounds them. Beautifully showing that not everyone is perfect and depicting their flaws, this drama seems to be set in a very realistic world.
- Director: Cha Yeong Hoon
- Cast: Gong Hyo Jin, Kang Haneul
- Number of episodes: 40
- Where to watch: Netflix
22. I Married An Anti-Fan
Idols are known for their fan following, and fans shower them with huge amounts of love and support. But sometimes, it gets too toxic, with some delusional fans thinking they can own the idol and invade their privacy by stalking them. Usually, the stalker fans are obsessed with the idols, but in this drama, we see the stalker is, in reality, an anti-fan reporter.
In a reality show where they cast a celebrity and their anti-fan, both the protagonists meet again and try to make things very hard for the other. But of course, fate has different fans, and before either of them can realize it, their plans to make each other’s life difficult turn into feelings of love as they start falling for each other. The drama follows the enemies-to-lovers trope in which we see people who hate each other eventually end up falling in love.
Adopted from a novel with the same title, this drama which may not be that engaging in the starting, builds up well enough to have the audience hooked in the second half. With the main cast being wonderful at their job and playing an important role in keeping the viewers excited for the next episode, this drama is a good watch for someone who’s into the enemies-to-lovers trope.
- Director: Kang Cheol Woo
- Cast: Choi Tae Joon, Kang Soo Young
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Viki
23. The Time We Were Not In Love
Having been best friends for around two decades, the protagonists of the story couldn’t come to terms with their feelings because of something or the other showing up in their personal or professional lives. Now, they are 34 and help each other out to find significant others so that they can get married.
However, neither of them isn’t a fan of the other’s partners. In this process, they slowly realize that they might have feelings for each other, which explains their distaste for the other’s suitors. But they have a long way to go to accept their feelings and even confess them to the other.
This sweet romantic love story makes the viewers swoon and sometimes yell in frustration as the main leads have what they want right beside each other but are too many cowards to make the first move. Their pure friendship and the relationship that ensues out of it keep the audience hooked to the show. Though it might lose its pace for some time in the middle, it gets back up with a captivating story and ends it on a satisfactory note.
- Director: Jo Soo Won
- Cast: Ha Ji Won, Lee Jin Wook
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Viki
24. Rich Man, Poor Woman
If the title doesn’t say how this drama is so similar to Fated to Love You, the story does. With the rich male lead CEO trying to find an employee, he comes across the female lead who is perfect for the job. Yet, he keeps putting her down by humiliating her as he did with the rest of the interviewees, but she surprises him by standing up to herself.
Also, the rich man has a poor memory and can’t remember the face of his first love. And the female lead, on the other hand, has a photographic memory- which is perfect for the job. She eventually ends up getting hired, having a little bit of tension with the CEO but even clearing everything off as they come to good terms. Then as something more than a professional relationship blooms between them, fate acts as a catalyst to help them fall harder for each other.
Though the name of the drama was quite a cliche, a fair share of the audience seemed to enjoy the typical story. With great potential and the music, the drama though receiving some criticism, managed to do well, thanks to the actor being a K-pop idol.
- Director: Min Doo Shik
- Cast: Kim Jun Myeong, Ha Yeon Soo
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Viki
25. Temperature of Love
In today’s world, which is filled with the internet and several friendships and relationships even lasting on social media, it isn’t uncommon to meet someone online and develop a sort of relationship out of it. The Temperature of Love is exactly that, wherein the protagonists meet online and start dating.
But because of various challenges in their career, they aren’t unable to maintain a relationship. We see the various challenges that come when two people try to maintain a relationship that slowly seems to be breaking. Even with numerous flaws, they try to hold onto the last strong of love and hope, but would that be successful? The drama shows that everyone has a different way of showing love, and if the other person doesn’t understand this form of affection, it could lead to huge misunderstandings.
The growth and improvement of their relationship are shown beautifully, also conveying the message that loves alone isn’t enough for a long-lasting relationship, but there are various other factors, such as communication and hope, involved.
- Director: Nam Geon
- Cast: Seo Hyun Jin, Yang Se Jong
- Number of episodes: 40
- Where to watch: Viki
Also Read: 6 Kdramas Similar To Imitation Because We Still Cannot Get Over This Kdrama!
26. Something In The Rain
Two people who are just a little familiar with each other and up being lovers. However, they have to stand together against the society that calls them taboo. Due to the female lead being older than the male, they have to find the courage to be exclusive about their relationship in public.
The drama also talked about sexual harassment and sexism in the workplace and was loved and supported by many when it was released because such issues were finally spoken about and addressed. We, as the audience, witness those small heart-fluttering moments that everyone feels as they fall in love, even questioning if their feelings are only one-sided. But once they do fall, it’s hard to undo it. It is at the right pace, despite being different from most dramas.
The chemistry between the couple is incredible to watch, making the viewers swoon and envy what the main leads have. While touching on sensitive but important topics, this drama depicted the real-life situation of working women in South Korea perfectly, receiving tons of appreciation for doing so without misinforming the audience.
- Director: Ahn Pan Seok
- Cast: Son Ye Jin, Jung Hae Jin
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Netflix
27. Find Me In Your Memory
This plot is similar to Rich Man and Poor Woman but with the roles reversed. The male lead has a photographic memory, and the female lead, a famous actor, has forgotten her past and lives the way she wants.
These two people have quite similar pasts and cross paths, after which they start falling for each other. Whether they will be able to deal with the challenges and solve the issues forms the main storyline. The title itself is apt and perfect because the male lead is asking the female lead to remember him and their feelings for each other. Both the leads have a deep connection, and the plot has the perfect speed of progression.
We find ourselves rooting for the couple so much, crying and laughing with them in certain episodes. Starting quite subtly, we watch the romance develop as it goes deeper and deeper. It shows the beauty of falling in love perfectly. Find Me in Your Memory is a slow burn and has the right amount of soft, warm scenes as well as serious, deep ones.
- Director: Oh Hyun-jong, Lee So Hyun
- Cast: Kim Dong Wook, Moon Ga Young
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Viki
28. Because This Is My First Life
Couples with different lives who agree to get married but live as roommates due to their differing views on marriage and dating end up being more than just roommates due to their past and present circumstances.
This rom-com has various layers and goes deep into its story, and various themes like sexual harassment at the workplace and gender stereotypes were explored. The drama contains three tropes, the typical rich man, poor woman, contract marriage that turns to love, and the struggle of a relationship. Despite seeming cliche, it’s very far from it and unique, not leaving any loopholes in the plot. With three couples living together, this drama is not for the light-hearted, and one needs to have a broad understanding before they start with this series.
The acting, direction, story, and execution had a perfect balance, and this series is a perfect work from a technical point of view. This fun drama is a must-watch as we see how people’s views differ, yet they can manage to come to an agreement point.
- Director: Park Joon-hwa
- Cast: Lee Min Ki, Jung So Min
- Number of episodes: 16
- Where to watch: Viki
29. Finding Mr. Destiny
A female lead who is stuck up on her lover from India, of whom she doesn’t remember anything but the name, the male lead who is from an agency that helps them find people, and the unexpected romance between them forms the basic plot of this movie.
The female lead is struggling to make ends meet in her personal as well as her professional life, while the male lead is obsessed over hygiene and order. These are opposites, but as the rules say, opposites attract. That seems to be true in their case, as in the process of helping the woman find her love, he falls in love with her. Whether she feels the same and would accept these feelings forms is what we wonder about while watching the show. They find various men with her ex-lover’s name, traveling the whole country to find Mr. Destiny by hook or by crook.
Gong Yoo, playing the male protagonist, as always, impressed everyone with how flawlessly he could portray any role- a scary mob boss or a nerdy employee. The story though a little quirky yet captivating, is a new kind of experience.
- Director: Jang Yoo Jeong
- Cast: Gong Yoo, Im Soo Jung
- Number of episodes: 1
- Where to watch: Viki
30. My Secret Romance
Quite similar to the storyline of Fated to Love You, even in this drama, both the protagonists, the male lead being a rich CEO and the female lead coming from a middle-class family, sleep with each other and part ways like it never happened but fate ends up bringing them together after a couple of years.
When they meet after so much time, the male lead mistakes the female lead’s half-brother for his son and feels guilty, now wanting to take responsibility for them. But when the female lead finds out that the rich man is only being kind to her because she thinks they have a son together, she confronts him, and the distance between them grows even more. Whether they will reconcile once again and forgive the other is explored in the rest of the story.
The plot might be quite messy, confusing, and even cliche, but it is for sure a different experience than other dramas. My Secret Romance mostly caters to rom-com fans and might seem boring to someone who doesn’t prefer rom-coms. It’s a light-hearted watch with entertaining actors that you can enjoy at any time.
- Director: Kang Cheol-woo
- Cast: Sung Hoon, Song Ji Eun, Kim Jae Young, Jung Da Seol
- Number of episodes: 13
- Where to watch: Viki
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