The reason why more and more people have been entering into the world of K-dramas is because of its versatility to produce shows of a variety of genres. From high school coming-of-age Korean shows to romantic comedies and supernatural thrillers, K-dramas never disappoint us in any way. However, when it comes to romance, the Korean entertainment industry will never run out of ideas. Over the years, we have come across some great dramas with an older man falling for a younger woman which has ended up receiving a lot of love from the viewers (Gong Yoo’s Goblin). However, the love story arc where a young man falls in love with a woman relatively older than him (Noona romance) isn’t always received well by the spectators.
This might be because of the lack of chemistry between the leads or the non-fancy characters. However, some K-dramas end up being an exception as they not only excel in having a well-written storyline but also prove that age is just a number! Check out our picks on the top six Noona romance K-dramas where the male lead is younger than the female lead.
6. She Would Never Know (2021)
Director: Lee Dong Yoon
Screenwriter: Chae Yoon
Starring: Rowoon, Won Jin Ah, Lee Hyun Wook, Lee Kyu Han, Lee Joo Bin, Wang Bit Na
Total Number of Episodes: 16
Where to Stream: Netflix, iQiyi
Adapted from the popular Korean manhwa, Senior, Don’t Put on That Lipstick,’ the show revolves around the ambitious Yoon Song Ah, who is a marketer working for a cosmetics brand. She loves her job from the very core of her heart and is determined to launch her own cosmetics brand one day. On the other hand, Chae Hyun Seung, a rookie marketer who joins the company under Song Ah, gets mesmerized by her working ethics, dedication, and personality. He starts pursuing her and does everything in his reach to catch her attention.
However, Yoon Song Ah doesn’t want to date someone who is younger than her, and naturally, she tries to rebuffs his advances. However, Hyun Seung isn’t someone who will give up easily! He is nice, generous, and understanding but also someone who is determined to achieve whatever he wants. ‘She Would Never Know’ is an office romance melodrama involving some engaging side stories that beautifully catches the essence of different relationships in a family.
5. A Witch’s Romance (2014)
Director: Lee Jeong Hyo
Screenwriter: Ban Ki Ri
Starring: Uhm Jung Hwa, Park Seo Joon, Han Jae Suk, Lee Se Chang, Ra Mi Ran, Sa Hee
Total Number of Episodes: 16
Where to Stream: Viki, Prime Video
If you have never really considered watching this K-drama because of the huge age gap of fourteen years, we suggest you reconsider. ‘A Witch’s Romance’ is probably one of the best rom-coms with astonishing chemistry between the main couple! While Ban Ji Yeon is a 39-year-old workaholic reporter who cares about nothing except her work, Yoon Dong Ha is a guy in his mid-twenties who runs a small errand center in partnership with his friend.
However, they have something in common. Ban Ji Yeon has long given up on finding true love after her boyfriend disappears all of a sudden before their wedding. On the other hand, Yoon Dong Ha doesn’t express his pain, but the loss of his girlfriend in an accident still affects him. However, when these two individuals cross paths, sparks fly, and they end up finding love in each other.
4. Something in the Rain (2018)
Director: Ahn Pan Seok
Screenwriter: Kim Eun
Starring: Son Ye Jin, Jung Hae In, Jang So Yeon, Jung Eugene, Lee Joo Young, Lee Hwa Ryong
Total Number of Episodes: 16
Where to Watch: Netflix
The show marks the return of actress Son Ye-jin on the small screen after five years. She plays the character of Jin Ah, a district supervisor at the coffeehouse franchise Coffee Bay in her mid-30s who has no idea of dating properly at all. She has always been dumped by her former boyfriends because of her reckless and clumsy behavior. Just then, Joon-hee, who is an animator working at a video game developer, ‘Smilegate Entertainment,’ makes an unexpected entry into her life. Joon Hee has known Jin Ah since childhood through his older sister, who is her best friend.
As they begin to reconnect, Jin Ah realizes that the person whom she remembers as a little kid has now grown up into a fine man. The series gives the viewers a glimpse into the struggles of being in a relationship where the woman is older than the guy, especially in a judgemental society. It also showcases how they end up garnering the courage to make their relationship public and be happy with each other!
Read: Top 7 Best Mini K-drama Series to Watch in a Day
3. Romance is a Bonus Book (2019)
Director: Lee Jeong Hyo
Screenwriter: Jung Hyun Jung
Starring: Lee Jong Suk, Lee Na Young, Jung Eugene, Wi Ha Joon, Kim Yoo Mi, Kim Tae Woo
Total Number of Episodes: 16
Where to Watch: Netflix
Doesn’t matter if a woman is a divorcee or a single mother, when the one approaching her is Lee Jong Suk, she wouldn’t restrain herself! ‘Romance is a Bonus Book’ is a beautiful rom-com involving the love story of a younger male lead and an older female lead. Cha Eun Ho is a charismatic and skilled editor-in-chief of a publishing company who is by far the youngest person to be this successful in a long time. His life takes a sharp turn when he comes across Kang Dan Yi, a divorced single mother who happens to be the childhood friend and first love of Eun Ho.
She used to live a successful life as a popular copywriter, but her present situation is no better than being an unemployed woman in need of a job desperately. She ends up lying about her life background to land herself a temporary job at the same company with Cha Eun Ho as her boss. As they begin to get involved with each other once again, a perfect office romance blooms. The show makers have tried to paint the story of Kang Dan Yi, a woman who hasn’t given up despite her challenging lifestyle, through books.
2. When the Camellia Blooms (2019)
Screenwriter: Im Sang Choon
Director: Cha Young Hoon
Starring: Kang Ha Neul, Gong Hyo Jin, Kim Ji Suk, Oh Jung Se, Son Dam Bi, Yeom Hye Ran
Total Number of Episodes: 40
Where to Stream: Netflix
The show has been set in a warm and cozy rural town featuring a variety of colorful characters who together explore the relationship dynamic between a child and its parents. It combines a delightful romance between a single mother, Oh Dong-baek, and a just police officer named Yong-sik with a murder mystery. Dong-baek moves to Ongsan, opens a bar-restaurant named ‘Camellia’, and works hard to adapt to living in the small town.
However, her life is full of thorns, a lot of hardships, and sacrifices which she has to face to protect her child. After six years, she comes across the playful Yong-sik who wants to pursue her. Simultaneously, her former boyfriend, Kang Jong Ryeol, shows up in her life again, who is a popular baseball player. When Dong-baek becomes the next target of a notorious serial killer, Yong-sik must find a way to catch the killer along with attempting to win Dong-baek’s heart.
1. I Can Hear Your Voice (2013)
Screenwriter: Park Hye Ryun
Director: Jo Soo Won
Starring: Lee Jong Suk, Lee Bo Young, Yoon Sang Hyun, Lee Da Hee, Jung Woong In, Yoon Joo Sang
Total Number of Episodes: 18
Where to Stream: Netflix, Viki, We TV
If you happen to look for a Noona romance K-drama that also involves a lot of mystery and a little fantasy, this might be the perfect pick for you! The story centers on a bold, self-preserving and materialistic woman named Jang Hye-sung, who, after going through a difficult childhood full of poverty, becomes a public defender. On the other hand, Park Soo-ha is a high school senior who possesses a special ability to read people’s minds just by taking a look into their eyes, which he had gained after witnessing his father’s murder ten years ago.
A younger Jang Hye-sung had helped identify the killer of Soo Ha’s father, and since then, he had been looking for her. When they cross paths again, Hye-sung teams up with him and a slow-witted but pleasant fellow lawyer named Cha Kwan Woo to solve the toughest cases using unconventional methods and find justice in the courtroom.
Read: Top Seven K-dramas with the Best Friendship Storylines
