A subgenre of romantic K-dramas of the nuanced trope of once-estranged lovers is quite popular. While series like “Fight For My Way” (2017) depict the transition from friendship to love, others like “Twenty Again” (2015) deal with ex-lovers rekindling a romance that had been cut short.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, directed by Park Shin-woo and nominated for an Emmy in 2020, uses time jumps to tell the story of two children from broken homes who form a deep bond before being separated and falling apart. in love years later. Starring Kim Soo-hyun and Soo Ye-ji, this love story has captured the hearts of fans around the world. Check out the best K-dramas about destined couples who find each other below.
- It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)
- Directed by: Park Shin-woo
- Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ye-ji, Oh Jeong-se
- Episodes: 16
The lives of impulsive and antisocial writer Ko Moon-young (Son) and altruistic mental hospital caregiver Moon Kang-tae (Kim) intersect because of the latter’s brother, who is a fan of Moon-young. As the trio begins a journey of self-discovery, Moon-young and Sang-tae realize that they knew each other as children. With beautiful memories of the past resurfacing, the duo grows closer.
This romantic K-drama received eight nominations at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards in South Korea. The television series was also nominated at the 49th International Emmy Awards in the Outstanding Television Movie or Miniseries category.
- Her Private Life (2019)
- Directed by: Hong Jong-chan
- Cast: Kim Jae-wook, Park Min-young, One
- Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Art curator Sung Deok-mi (Park) leads a double life as a fan of K-pop idol Cha Si An (One) until she is pursued by her boss Ryan Gold ( Kim). However, a series of events leads the duo to realize that Ryan’s past is inexplicably linked to Deok-mi and her mother. This romantic K-drama is adapted from the 2007 novel “Noona Paen Datkom” by South Korean writer Kim Sung-yeon.
- What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018)
- Directed by: Park Joon-hwa
- Distribution : Park Seo-joon, Park Min-young, Lee Tae-hwan
- Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Businessman Lee Young-joon (Park Seo-joon) tries to stop his perfectionist secretary Kim Mi-so (Park Min-young) from leaving his company. Meanwhile, Mi-so tries to reconnect with a boy she was kidnapped with as a child. Coincidentally, fragments of her memory lead her to Young-joon.
This romantic K-drama is based on the 2013 novel Kimbiseoga Wae Geureolgga by famous South Korean writer Jung Kyung-yoo.
- Fight For My Way (2017)
- Directed by: Lee Na-jeong
- Cast: Park Seo-joon, Kim Ji-won, Ahn Jae-hong
- Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Former professional taekwondo player Ko Dong-man (Park) is now a mixed martial arts fighter. The only person who knows about her painful past is her longtime best friend, Choi Ae-ra (Kim). While striving to succeed in their careers in the present, childhood friends become closer and eventually fall in love.
- Just Between Lovers (2017)
- Directed by: Kim Jin-won
- Cast: Lee Junho, Won Jin-ah, Lee Ki-woo
- Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Lee Kang-do (Lee) and Ha Moon-soo (Won) survived the same accident at the age of 15. Years later, when their paths cross again, they form a deeper bond as they share their sorrows and struggles. VShe romance K-drama won the 2018 APAN Star Award in the “Best New Actress” category.
- Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (2016)
- Directed by: Oh Hyun-jong and Nam Sung-woo
- Distribution : Lee Sung-kyung, Nam joo hyuk
- Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Weightlifting champion Kim Bok-joo (Lee) attracts the attention of Joon Hyung (Nam), a talented swimmer. When Bok-joo is a spirited young girl who pushes Hyung to pursue her, the former realizes that Hyung has always known her and was a part of her elementary school.
- K!ll Me, Heal Me (2015)
- Directed by: Kim Jin-man
- Distribution : Ji Sung, Hwang Jung-eum, Park Seo-joon
- Episodes: 20
Synopsis: Ri Jin (Hwang), a psychiatric intern, and Do Hyun (Ji), the son of the head of a Korean conglomerate, shared a troubled past when they were children. The latter’s memories led him to develop dissociative identity disorder as an adult. As Do Hyun struggles with six other personalities, each of which appears based on the triggers he faces on a daily basis, Ri Jin begins to help him cope with the situation.
- I Remember You (2015)
- Directed by: Kim Jin-won and No Sang-hoon
- Cast: Jang Nara, Park Bo-gum, Seo In-guk
- Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Profiler Lee Hyun (Seo) returned to Korea to find his missing brother. Detective Cha Ji-an (Jang), who has been investigating the case for years, discovers that Hyun was her childhood friend. As Ji-an and Lee-hyun begin to work together toward a common goal, they begin to fall for each other.
- Twenty Again (2015)
- Directed by: Kim Hyung-shik, childhood friends
- Cast: Choi Ji-woo, Kim Min-jae, Lee Sang-yoon, Choi Won-young
- Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Ha No-ra (Choi Ji-woo) drops out of school due to an unexpected pregnancy. Married at the age of 19, she spent two decades as an unhappy housewife. When her 20-year-old son Kim Min-soo (Kim) enters college, No-ra decides to enroll as well. However, things become complicated when her husband, Kim Woo-chul (Choi Won-young) and her childhood sweetheart, Cha Hyun-seok (Lee) become her teachers.
- Healer (2014)
- Directed by: Lee Jung-sub and Kim Jin-woo
- Cast: Ji Chang-wook, Park Min-young, Yoo Ji-tae
- Episodes: 20
Synopsis: Mercenary Seo Jung-hoo (Ji), aka Healer, is given the task of acquiring the DNA sample of journalist Chae Young-shin (Park). To get closer to her, he takes on the identity of a media apprentice. Soon, Jung Hoo and Young Shin begin working together only to discover that their paths have crossed before and that the case they are investigating is related to their childhood.