Why K-Romance Leaves Us Wanting for More: Hear From the Actors Themselves

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K-dramas have an almost mystical allure that captivate audiences worldwide. The intoxicating blend of romance, drama, and fantasy has earned K-dramas a dedicated fanbase that keeps growing with each passing season. But why are audiences falling head over heels for K-Romance? Well, who better to ask than the actors themselves?

 

Where dreams come true

Ever fantasized about bumping into your celebrity crush and experiencing love at first sight? Whether it's a chance encounter on the street or moving next door to your favorite idol, K-Romance brings your wildest dreams to life—just like in Doona! where college freshman Won-jun and former K-pop idol Doona end up sharing a house together.

Watch the teaser here.

 

Yang Se-jong plays the very ordinary Won-jun, who falls in love with Doona, portrayed by Suzy (a former K-pop star herself). Doona is definitely out of Won-jun’s league but as Yang puts it, K-Romance series are special because that’s when “a dream-like love can come to life.” Don’t miss Doona! premiering on October 20, only on Netflix.

 

When opposites attract

K-Romance has a knack for pairing up characters who are polar opposites. Social status, personalities, you name it—they bring together the unlikeliest couples and make their love stories utterly irresistible. Destined with You puts a hotshot lawyer with a lowly civil servant who might hold the key to breaking his family curse. Will fate be able to bridge the gulf in their social status?

 

Revealing the kind of romance shows she enjoys, Cho Bo-ah, who plays civil servant Lee Hong-jo, says: “I love the traditional kind of romance with an unbreakable bond between two completely different people.”

Watch the trailer here.

 

Another K-Romance classic is when enemies turn into lovers, just like in King the Land when an unlikely romance brews between a wealthy hotel heir who hates smiles and his hardworking employee who’s known for her irresistible smile. Former global K-pop idols Jun-ho and Yoona light up the screen with their sizzling chemistry. “Isn’t a risky workplace romance always the best?” says Jun-ho cheekily. “The emotions are so relatable and real because of the office setting. It can happen to you!”

Watch the trailer here.

 

Love that transcends life and time

Ever wonder if love transcends life and death? K-Romance titles explore this with the “time leap” or “rebirth” theme, posing the question: “Would you still love me if we could do it all over again?”

 

For Shin Hye-sun, who stars in See You in My 19th Life, the answer is a resounding yes. She describes true love as a “powerful affection that’s strong enough to bulldoze through your afterlife and still have your heart set on the same person.” Sure enough, Shin portrays a young girl who can endlessly reincarnate but when her 18th life gets cut short, she dedicates the next one to finding her now grown-up childhood crush who does not remember anything.

Watch the trailer here.

 

Similarly, in A Time Called You, Jeon Yeo-been plays a grieving woman who magically travels through time to 1998, where she meets a man remarkably similar to her late love. To Jeon, K-Romance can offer much hope, as it shows that “no matter how far back in time, no matter how different the person seems to appear, if it's destiny, then you will end up together.”

Watch the trailer here.

 

More than just a Rom-Com

K-dramas have evolved into a hybrid of comedy, romance, and even thriller elements. Behind Your Touch follows a psychic vet and a detective as they join forces to crack small-town cases and end up uncovering a chilling serial killer mystery. Playing the vet with the comic superpower that involves touching butts, rom-com queen Han Ji-min quips that it is a “refreshing new take on love.”

 

Watch the trailer here.

 

With K-Romance gaining global popularity, Netflix has a trove of love stories waiting for you. From heartwarming classics to thrilling time-travel adventures, there’s a K-drama palette for every romantic soul. So, why not dive into this delightful world and find your own reason to get hooked?

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The World Loves K-Romance And We Have Six New Series to Make Your Heart Beat Faster

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If you have been swept off your feet by the unconventional love story in Crash Landing on You, or melted at the first stirrings of connection in Extraordinary Attorney Woo and Business Proposal, then brace yourselves for a heartbeat-skipping announcement.

Audiences worldwide have been growing fonder of K-Romance, and this affection shows no signs of fading. Between 2018 to 2022, global viewership of Netflix’s K-Romance titles tripled. In 2022 alone, more than 90 per cent of this viewing came from outside South Korea.

We’re moved by the affection, and we’re eager to return it in kind. As the home for compelling K-Romance, Netflix will be introducing six new Korean romance series over the upcoming five months.

For decades, this genre has captivated audiences in Korea and throughout Asia, a testament to the storytelling prowess and production expertise of gifted Korean content creators, observes Don Kang, Vice President of Content (Korea). “We’re genuinely humbled by how our emotive Korean shows have found a home in the hearts of global audiences through Netflix, stretching from the U.S., Europe, South America, and beyond. Our stories touch on the universal aspects of life - love, heartbreak, and tenderness, while also providing a peek into the unique facets of Korean culture. Netflix's commitment to forging this profound global connection is something we're truly excited about.”

“Creators have dedicated themselves to painting the delicate dynamics and evolving emotions of our characters,” adds Wooyeon Yang, Director of Content (Korea). The crafting of the hallmark slow-burning intensity of K-romances, along with their wholesome appeal, shapes an undeniably “endearing genre that strikes a chord with global viewers”, she believes.

Netflix’s investment in subtitling and dubbing has been instrumental in expanding the K-Romance audiences. “The impact has been more profound than we ever imagined,” shares Yang. “Despite the diversity of languages, the common thread of understanding and accessing Korean content seems to be a key strength that has set Netflix as a trendsetter.” Yang underscores the value of dubbing, noting that “listening to dialogues in their own languages helps K-Romance resonate more deeply with viewers worldwide”.

Continuing the world's love for this genre, Netflix’s upcoming K-Romance shows will each have their own distinct features. Here’s a sneak peek at what these new shows have to tell.

See You in My 19th Life (premiering June 17)

Enchanting Heroine Meets Heart-stirring Rom-com Saga

In this spinoff from a hit webtoon, Shin Hye-sun stars as a heroine who can remember all her past lives. As a young girl in her 18th life, she falls for a thoughtful boy next door. In her 19th life, she tries to make her way back to him, only to find he has become a cold man who doesn’t want to get close to anyone. Can love triumph across lifetimes?

King the Land (premiering June 17)

Dream Match Meets Workplace Romance

A wealthy heir cannot stand fake smiles. He meets a girl whose bright smile is part of her job — in one of his family businesses. He immediately dislikes her, writing her off as someone who hides her true self behind a fake smile. Former global K-Pop idols Jun-ho and Yoona team up for the first time as actors in this much-anticipated “enemies to lovers” K-Romance.

Behind Your Touch

Comedy meets Suspense with a Dash of Romance

Rom-com queen Han Ji-min plays a veterinarian in a small town who has a very strange gift of psychometry. When she convinces a detective of her abilities, they team up to solve neighborhood crimes.

Destined with You

The Most Spellbinding K-Couple meets in a Classic K-Romance

K-Romance powerhouses Cho Boa and Rowoon (also a K-Pop idol) combine their star wattage in this sweeping saga. Rowoon plays a hotshot lawyer who has it all, but is haunted by a family curse. And it turns out that the woman who is key to breaking this curse is none other than the seemingly ordinary civil servant played by Cho.

A Time Called You (Premiering in third quarter of 2023)

Stars from Business Proposal and Vincenzo in a time-slip romance

Ahn Hyo-seop (from Business Proposal) and Jeon Yeo-been (from Vincenzo) star in this remake of classic Taiwanese romance Someday or One Day. Jeon’s character travels back in time to 1998 and meets a man played by Ahn, who bears an uncanny resemblance to her late boyfriend. In fact, each lead takes on the challenge of playing two characters who look identical, but have completely different personalities — and all the complications that create when it comes to love.

Doona! (Premiering in fourth quarter of 2023)

K-romance meets K-pop

A college student (Yang Se-jong) navigates life and school while dealing with a unique predicament — he's living with a former K-Pop sensation, played by real-life former K-Pop star Suzy. Their relationship starts out as one of mutual misunderstanding and dislike, and grows over time into one of love and trust. But can their connection withstand the cruel pressures of fame?

Need more help picking the right K-Romance for you? Check out this handy infographic to help you make your best love match.