Some of these couples even ended up dating in real life!
1- Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo – Joon Hyung and Bok Joo
Joon Hyung and Bok Joo are childhood friends and college athletes, the former a swimmer and the latter a weightlifter. When Bok Joo develops a crush on Joon Hyung’s older brother, Joon Hyung initially teases and helps her, only to eventually find himself infatuated with her.
Why will you love them?
As friends and as a couple, these two have incredible chemistry. Whether it’s bickering and teasing each other like only really good friends can or being all romantic as a couple, you’ll smile at how adorable they are together.
Main distribution: Lee Sung Kyung, Nam Joo Hyuk, Lee Jae Yoon, Kyung Soo Jin
Number of episodes: 16
Watch it if you like:
– Sports and athletes
– Coming-of-age stories
– Romance
– The comedy
– Friendship
– Strong female characters
– Clichés like friends becoming lovers
2- Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo – Wang So and Hae Soo
During a total solar eclipse, Go Ha Jin is transported back in time to the Goryeo era, where she wakes up in Hae Soo’s body. She meets and gets to know the many royal princes, particularly attracting the interest of the kind and warm eighth prince Wang Wook, as well as the cold and fearsome fourth prince Wang So.
Why will you enjoy them together?
Their relationship is full of emotions. They start out hating each other, then become reluctant friends. Wang So falls in love with her first because she is the only one who treats him like a human being, and she doesn’t return his feelings until much later. Prepare yourself for a dose of angst and feelings.
Main distribution: Lee Joon Gi, Lee Ji Eun (IU), and Kang Ha Neul
Number of episodes: 20
Watch it if you like:
– Romance
– Drama
– Sageuk/historical dramas
– Light touches of fantasy / Time travel
– Historical fiction
– Anguish
– Action
– Family / Friendship
3- Her Private Life – Ryan and Deok Mi
Deok Mi is a talented and professional art gallery curator, but she also has a secret identity, she’s a passionate fangirl of a K-pop idol, and she even runs a fan site dedicated to him. When she finds herself embroiled in a dating scandal with said heartthrob, she finds herself having to fake a relationship with her new boss, the aloof Ryan Gold.
Why will you love them together?
The fake relationship is already super cute to burst with happiness, but wait until you see them together for real. They are both sweet and sexy.
Main distribution: Park Min Young and Kim Jae Wook
Number of episodes: 16
Watch it if you like:
– K-pop
– Romance
– Tropes like the fake relationship made real and the boss-employee relationship
– Humor
– Friendship / Family
4- Fight for My Way – Dong Man and Ae Ra
Four friends try to achieve their dreams despite a lack of proper qualifications. Along the way, a romance begins to blossom between longtime friends Dong Man and Ae Ra, whose childlike dynamic hasn’t changed one iota over the years. Meanwhile, couple of six years Joo Man and Seol Hee face a new threat to their relationship.
Why will you love them?
If you like friends turned lovers, then this is the couple for you. The friendship between Dong Man and Ae Ra is so realistic, filled with bickering, but still protective and supportive. And the best part is, they don’t lose that dynamic when they become a couple.
Main distribution: Park Seo Joon, Kim Ji Won, Ahn Jae Hong, and Song Ha Yoon
Number of episodes: 16
Watch it if you like:
– Friendship
– Romance
– Tropes like friends-turned-lovers
– The comedy
5- Queen In Hyun’s Man – Boong Do and Hee Jin
A Joseon dynasty gentry scholar and staunch supporter of the restoration of the deposed Queen In Hyun is transported 300 years into the future to modern-day Seoul, where he meets an actress playing Queen In Hyun in a television drama.
Why will you love them?
Whether they’re trying to solve a mystery or just spending time together, they’re simply perfect for each other. And with life and death stakes threatening to tear them apart at any moment, there’s never a dull moment with these two.
Main distribution: Ji Hyun Woo and Yoo In Na
Number of episodes: 16
To watch if you like:
– Romance
– Light touches of fantasy / Time travel
– Historical fiction
– Sageuk/historical dramas (although this one is half sageuk, half modern)
– Humor (especially with Boong Do trying to adapt to the modern world)
– Mystery
6- My Girlfriend is a Gumiho – Dae Woong and Mi Ho
While visiting a temple, Dae Woong accidentally releases a gumiho (mythical nine-tailed fox) that had been trapped in a painting for 500 years. After said gumiho saves her life, Dae Woong must help her become human.
Why would you like them together?
Although he’s terrified of her at first, Dae Woong just can’t resist Mi Ho’s sweetness and innocence. And once they fall in love, not only do they make an adorable couple, but they are also so devoted to each other, to the point of being willing to die for each other.
Main distribution: Lee Seung Gi, Shin Min Ah and No Min Woo
To watch if you like:
– Romance
– Fantasy / Supernatural
– Comedy
– Drama
7- My Love from the Star / You Who Came from the Stars – Min Joon and Song Yi
Having landed on Earth during the Joseon dynasty, the alien Min Joon has been stuck on our planet for four centuries. With only three months until his long-awaited return to his home planet, he finds himself embroiled in the crazy and unpredictable situations of Hallyu star Song Yi.
Why will you love them?
Bella and Edward were nothing compared to these two. They couldn’t be more different, she’s vivacious and he’s jaded, but they’re soulmates nonetheless. Despite all the obstacles in their way, they are simply made for each other!
Main distribution: Jun Ji Hyun, Kim Soo Hyun, Park Hae Jin, Yoo In Na and Shin Sung Rok.
Number of episodes: 21
Watch it if you like:
– Romance
– Fantasy / Supernatural / Extraterrestrials
– Drama
– Spicy heroines
– Comedy
– Light touches of sageuk
8- Full House – Young Jae and Ji Eun
When Ji Eun’s house is sold to famous actor Young Jae, they enter into a contractual relationship. They don’t get along and each have different reasons for accepting the contract: she wants to buy back his house, while he wants to make his crush jealous. Complications arise when this contrasting duo begins to fall in love.
Why will you support them?
This couple is like one of the must-see duos in K-dramas. Everyone supported them at the time! They perfectly embody the enemy-turned-lover cliché, with undeniable chemistry that will have you screaming for them to finally get together.
Main distribution: Song Hye Kyo, Rain, Han Da Gam and Kim Sung Soo
Number of episodes: 16
Watch it if you like:
– Romance
– The comedy
– Clichés like contractual relationships, enemies-turned-lovers and romances that take their time
– The adventures of cohabitation
9- Suspicious Partner – Ji Wook and Bong Hee
After a rocky start, two lawyers see their paths cross repeatedly and end up working together on a mysterious case involving a cunning psychopathic murderer.
Why will you love them?
She completely mistakes him for a sexual attacker during their first meeting, it’s the height of an original encounter. And this is only the first misunderstanding between them. These two definitely go through a lot of ups and downs, but in the end, they just can’t stay away from each other. Plus, they make a great team at work.
Main distribution: Ji Chang Wook, Nam Ji Hyun, Choi Tae Joon and Kwon Nara
Number of episodes: 40
Watch it if you like:
– Romance
– Comedy
– Legal dramas
– Crime and crime solving
– Mystery and suspense
– Thrillers
10- Moon Embracing the Sun – Lee Hwon and Yeon Woo
Childhood sweethearts, Crown Prince Lee Hwon and his chosen fiancée, Yeon Woo, are separated by tragic circumstances before they can marry. Eight years later, the tragic couple reunites when Yeon Woo returns as a shaman having lost all of his memories.
Why will you love them?
If angst is your thing, this pairing is for you. They go through so much pain. Don’t let the cute beginning fool you, because it turns tragic very quickly. Plus, a lot of mutual desire. Finding your soul mate takes suffering.
Main distribution: Kim Soo Hyun, Han Ga In, Jung Il Woo and Kim Min Seo (also starring Kim Yoo Jung and Yeo Jin Goo in the youthful roles of Yeon Woo and Lee Hwon respectively).
Number of episodes: 20
Watch it if you like:
– Romance
– Drama / Melodrama
– Anguish
– Light supernatural touches
– Sageuk / historical dramas
– Tropes like amnesia and soulmates
Who would you add to this list?