These Are The Romantic K-Dramas We Loved In 2024

From time-travelling tales of love to heartwarming second-chance romances, there was something for everyone…

Feb 19, 2025
  • Best romantic K-dramas 2024

    It was a good year to be a romantic K-drama fan. 2024’s line-up of shows covered a diverse range of sub-genres in the category. Whether it was revenge dramas that had a healthy dose of romance or second-chance romances that were clear tear-jerkers, these K-dramas of 2024 have been some of the highest-rated TV shows of all time.


    Best Romantic K-Dramas Of 2024 On Netflix and Viki


    Now that the year is coming to a close, we took a (short) walk down memory lane and revisited all of our favourite romantic K-dramas of all time. Take a look…

    Queen Of Tears

    Queen Of Tears
    Image credit: Netflix

    The name should have been an indicator of what a tear (nay wild sobs)-inducing show this one is going to be The story follows a married couple in crisis trying to save their relationship and rekindle their love. The drama stars the brilliant Kim Ji-won and Kim Soo-hyun and packs enough adorable moments and heartwrenching twists to make a special place in the hearts of fans. It was not only the most-watched K-dramas of all time on Netflix, but it also ranked seventh amongst the most searched TV shows globally on Google.


    Watch it here

    Lovely Runner

    Lovely Runner
    Image credit: Netflix

    This critically acclaimed drama is based on the popular web novel Tomorrow’s Best and is easily one of the best shows of the year. It follows  Im Sol, who has been a fan of idol Ryu Sun-jae since his songs gave her solace to cope with the accident that left her disabled. When the idol gets into a fatal accident, fate sends Im Sol back 15 years into the past, giving her a chance to rewrite both destinies.


    Watch it here

    No Gain No Love

    No Gain No Love K-drama
    Image credit: Viki

    Shin Min-a starred in this romantic comedy-drama that followed all the clichéd tropes without being a cliché (if that makes sense!). In the show, Son Hae-yeong seeks out a fake relationship to avoid missing out on a promotion at work. Her best bet? A righteous neighbourhood convenience store employee who agrees to help her. The show even spawned a spin-off, Spice Up Our Love, focussing on the second-lead couple.


    Watch it here

    Marry My Husband

    Marry My Husband
    Image credit: Amazon Prime Video

    Who doesn’t love a good revenge drama? And when that utterly delectable revenge plot is mixed with time travel and romance, it’s a brilliant combination. In Marry My Husband, Park Min-young’s Ji-won, who is a terminal cancer patient, discovers that her husband is having an affair with her best friend. When she confronts them for the betrayal, she is murdered by them. However, fate lets Ji-won travel 10 years back in time to give her a chance to take revenge on her husband and best friend and escape her fate.


    Watch it here

    Frankly Speaking

    Frankly Speaking
    Image credit: Netflix

    A workplace romance that made us swoon this year was Frankly Speaking. In this K-drama, radio announcer Song Ki-baek, who is known for his polite and well-mannered way of speaking, mysteriously develops a disorder that causes him to speak without thinking. While it’s a huge problem for him, it becomes the inspiration for entertainment variety show writer On Woo-jin who wants to cast him in her next show. As the two start working together, sparks fly!


    Watch it here

    The Midnight Romance In Hagwon

    Midnight Romance At Hagwon
    Image credit: Viki

    The Korean culture of cram schools, aka Hagwon, has spawned many riveting K-dramas, whether it’s the dark comedy Sky Castle or the immensely watchable romantic comedy-drama Crash Course in Romance. In this one,  romance blossoms between a veteran cram school teacher and one of her former students who returns to teach at the same Hagwon after a decade.


    Watch it here

    Doctor Slump

    Doctor Slump
    Image credit: Netflix

    This unexpectedly poignant drama follows high school rivals who parted ways to become successful doctors in their own right. However, different circumstances lead them back to their home town where they’re forced to start over again, this time together. The drama is one of the highest-rated Korean TV shows of the year.


    Watch it here

    Wedding Impossible

    Wedding Impossible
    Image credit: Viki

    Based on a webtoon of the same name, this drama is chaotic in the best way possible. It follows the complicated story of wealthy heir Lee Do-han, who is gay but cannot come out to his family. He proposes a sham marriage to struggling actress Na A-jeong, who happens to be his closest friend. But Do-han’s brother wants him to get married to the heiress of another wealthy family and decides to do everything he can to stop it.


    Watch it here

    Brewing Love

    Brewing Love
    Image credit: Viki

    We love a good K-drama where two people come together to heal each other and this one delivers just that and more. Chae Yong-ju, a former member of the special forces in the military, is adept at hiding her true emotions and adopting a cheerful disposition. Her special ability allows her to succeed at her new job as a salesperson for a liquor company. Her life changes when she has to work closely with the sensitive and reclusive CEO of the company Yun Min-ji to save the company.


    Watch it here

    Mr Plankton

    Mr Plankton
    Image credit: Netflix

    The mini-series is about a journey that unites two people who couldn’t be more different from each other but are ultimately looking for the same thing. Tired of his aimless existence, Hae Jo figures out that finding out his real father can help him understand his true identity. In his quest to locate his father, he is unexpectedly joined by Jo Jae-mi, a woman who is desperate to have a family and is engaged to the heir of a big food company.


    Watch it here

    When The Phone Rings

    When The Phone Rings
    Image credit: Netflix

    In this ongoing romantic thriller, Baek Sa-eon is the presidential spokesperson and his wife Hong Hui-ji works as a sign language interpreter in court. While they are married, it’s only for appearance’s sake and they barely communicate with each other, until Hui-ji is kidnapped and everything changes. The show is steadily gaining popularity amongst K-drama fans, if all the fan edits of Baek Sa-eon and Hui-ji are to be believed, and is a must-watch!


    Watch it here

    Cinderella at 2 AM

    Cinderella at 2AM
    Image credit: Viki

    This workplace rom-com follows pragmatic and practical Ha Yun-seo. This is why, when she discovers her boyfriend/co-worker is actually the son of the family who runs the company, she breaks up with him as she believes a prince cannot fall for Cinderella in real life. Now it’s up to her boyfriend to change her mind. If you love dramas that explore complex relationships, this one is for you!


    Watch it here

    The Judge From Hell

    Judge From Hell
    Image credit: Disney+

    This fantasy romance follows Kang Bit-na, a cold and vicious judge who is known for her lack of empathy. What most people don’t know, however, is that she is possessed by a demon from hell who has been tasked with dragging criminals back to hell. Detective Han Da-on is kind and empathetic but is hiding a painful past. What happens when the two meet and fall in love? Will the judge abandon her mission?


    Watch it here

    Love In The Big City

    Love In The Big City
    Image credit: Viki

    Adapted from the novel of the same name by Park Sang-young, the drama is about the friendship between two roommates—a gay man, who is struggling with getting acceptance from his mother, and a straight woman. The show follows them as they navigate love, life and societal pressures. It’s one of the first mainstream shows in Korea that depicted an LGBTQ+ lead and so it, predictably, faced backlash from conservative groups when it was released. However, the coming-of-age story remains one of the best K-dramas of the year.


    Watch it here

    Love Next Door

    Love Next Door K-drama
    Image credit: Netflix

    In the K-drama, childhood friends Bae Seok-ryu and Choi Seung-hyo reunite years after they had a falling out with each other. Now Seok-ryu is down on her luck and her former best friend is the one person who can help her out. Will the reunion spark some of the feelings from the past?


    Watch it here

    My Sweet Mobster

    My Sweet Mobster K-drama
    Image credit: Viki

    It’s easy to see why this drama became a fan-favourite online quickly after its release. The story follows reformed mobster Seo Ji-hwan as he meets and falls in love with Go Eun-ha, a children’s content creator. Their adorable love story is not without complications, and some ridiculous twists and turns. It’s definitely worth a watch.


    Watch it here

    Captivating The King

    Captivating the King
    Image credit: Netflix

    If you like historical dramas with romance, betrayal and intrigue, this one is a no-brainer for you. In the show, miserable King Yi-In is caught in the middle of a power struggle and is surrounded by nobody he can trust. Then there’s Kang Hee-soo who plans to get closer to the king to seduce him and take revenge. Will she succeed? Or will she end up falling for the king herself?


    Watch it here

    - Avarna Jain,
    Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media

    For Manifest to become one of Cambridge Dictionary's most viewed words of 2024 — 1,30,000 hits and counting — it means some of us must have Googled it at least once. I know, I hit that search button over and over again
    because each time I looked at it, I saw a new meaning.

    - Avarna Jain,
    Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media

    Putting together a homegrown title at a time when the demise of print has been long announced may seem surprising...
    ...but it has long been a dream of mine to give India a magazine it deserves. A magazine that is the country.

    - Avarna Jain,
    Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media

    And nothing, absolutely nothing, represents India more than our weddings.It is a time when families are brought together. Traditions come alive as they are adapted to each couple's beliefs. And lives are joined in a way that the romantic in me still enjoys.

    - Avarna Jain,
    Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media

    The fact that it comes with band, baaja and baraat — what's not to love?And that is the reason our first issue celebrates:
    THE NEW BRIDE.

    - Avarna Jain,
    Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media

    If you look at
    'Curate Beautiful, Create Happy'individually, they are powerful but when you put them together, they become a promise. While each section is dedicated to a word, I hope you will see this as your first of many handbooks for happiness.

    - Avarna Jain,
    Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media

    Curate
    Where we give you a fast-paced look into everything you should wish list when you start to think about marriage. What to buy and how to dress, along with modern mithai and the homegrown fragrance makers to bookmark. Make special note of the feature on alta.

    - Avarna Jain,
    Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media

    Beautiful
    It has everything you need to make your wedding special. From the big comeback of red and pink in bridal wear to how the cool kids are wearing corsets to the celebration, there is only one way to get ready for a wedding —with enjoyment.

    - Avarna Jain,
    Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media

    Create
    This section is a building block, a step to a better life. A place where we have all the answers. Or at least the beginning of a great conversation.

    - Avarna Jain,
    Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media

    Happy
    This needs very little description. It has travel with a special focus on incredible India, and a collection of wedding albums, sourced randomly, but collected with abundance because happiness has no limits.

    - Avarna Jain,
    Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media

    This first issue has a lot more, including a carefully edited address book of everything you need to make your wedding perfectly 'gramworthy! But it doesn't stop there. Each issue will be different because each one of you is unique.
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    - Avarna Jain,
    Chairperson RPSG Lifestyle Media