Whether you’re single or have a significant other, K-dramas are a great way to get into the Valentine’s Day spirit.
Recently, Netflix has stepped up their Korean drama game, bringing many amazing shows onto the popular platform. For a virtual Valentine’s Day date idea, download the Google Chrome extension Teleparty, which allows more than one user to watch at the same time.
To help you decide what to watch, here are 14 Netflix K-dramas that are perfect for the 14th of February:
A Love So Beautiful
Adapted from the popular Chinese series of the same name, A Love So Beautiful is a cute school drama that follows Shin Sol-yi (So Ju-yeon) and her huge crush on fellow student Cha Heon (Kim Yo-han). Shin Sol-yi continues to confess to Cha Heon, despite his continuous cold exterior. In reality, Cha Heon is just really bad at expressing his feelings.
Lovestruck in the City
Lovestruck in the City isn’t your average K-drama. Resembling more of a mockumentary, it follows six young people (three men and three women) who pursue romance and happiness while also trying to survive the hustling, busy urban environment of Seoul. The main story is about Park Jae-won (Ji Chang-wook), a 32-year-old architect who can’t forget the woman who stole his heart and left. This woman is Lee Eun-oh (Kim Ji-won), a 29-year-old marketer who met Jae-won as her alter ego, Yoon Seon-a.
Another pairing is Choi Kyung-joon (Kim Min-seok) and Seo Rin-yi (So Ju-yeon), who appear to be in a steady relationship. The last couple is Kang Geon, a 29-year-old novelist who has not dated for two years, and Oh Sun-young, a 30-year-old high school gym teacher. Watch this drama to see how their stories unfold!
Love Alarm
Love Alarm is a Netflix Original drama based on the webtoon of the same name. In a world of technological advancements and the transition to having everything digitized, love lives are also impacted. Love Alarm is the name of a dating app that goes viral in South Korea. It tells users if someone within ten feet has romantic feelings for them, removing the need for a real verbal confession.
The drama follows the impact this app has on Soon Jo-jo (Kim So-hyun) as she finds herself stuck in a love triangle with her childhood friend, Lee Hye-yeong (Jung Ga-ram) and his best friend Hwang Sun-oh (Song Kang), a popular handsome model. The first season of Love Alarm is now available on Netflix, with season two arriving March 12.
Wish You
If you want some LGBTQ+ representation, Wish You: Your Melody from My Heart might be the perfect film for you. Originally an eight-episode web drama, you can find it on Netflix in a movie form with extended scenes. Wish You follows Yoon Sang-yi, a keyboardist working at a big-time record company, who discovers Kang In-soo, a street performer. In-soo is a singer who hopes to make music a full-time career on his own terms. Sang-yi introduces In-soo to his label, where he gets signed. However, one of the contract stipulations is that they share a residence; resulting in the growth of their relationship along with budding feelings. The two must tackle obstacles in the way to make room for love.
Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol
Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol is Netflix Original that tells the story of two people who cross paths by fate. Goo Ra-ra (Go Ara) is a “riches-to-rags” pianist who ends up meeting Sunwoo Joon (Lee Jae-wook) in a small town. In a mishap that leaves Goo Ra-ra with a broken arm, Sunwoo Joon decides to take responsibility and care for her. As they spend more time together, Goo Ra-ra creates a special place in his heart while also trying to deal with her adult life.
Was It Love?
Was it Love? is a K-drama that inspires women to chase their love and dreams as they aren’t defined by their age or past choices. It tells the story of driven, single mom Noh Ae-jung (Song Ji-hyo); who cares for her daughter with the help of her mother as she works toward her goal of becoming a movie producer. After being single for fourteen years, Noh Ae-jung catches the interest of four men — three from her past — who turn her hustle life upside down.
Romance Is a Bonus Book
Romance Is a Bonus Book is a heartwarming series for book lovers that doesn’t follow the clichés of a typical K-romance. Lee Jong-suk plays Eun-ho, a successful author, literature professor, and editor-in-chief at his publishing company. He gets involved in the life of his longtime friend (and longtime crush) Kang Dan-i (Lee Na-young); who’s struggling to find a career as an older divorced woman despite once being a popular advertising copywriter. Dan-i gets a temp job at Eun-ho’s publishing company, and as the two live and work together, their love story begins.
Mystic Pop-Up Bar
Based on the webtoon Twin Tops Bar, K-drama Mystic Pop-Up Bar is about a mysterious pojangmacha (outdoor drinking establishment) run by Weol-ju (Hwang Jung-eum), who has a dark and interesting past. Weol-ju works side-by-side with Chief Gwi (Choi Won-young), bar manager and former afterlife detective; and the pair becomes acquainted with innocent part-timer Hang Kang-bae (Yook Sung-jae), who has the unwanted ability of making people tell the truth when they physically touch him.
Needing to settle the grudges of 100,000 souls, Weol-ju sees a use for Kang-bae. Using a special elixir, the trio visits people in their dreams to help resolve their problems, hardships, and lingering feelings. Mystic Pop-Up Bar is a great K-drama if you prefer a series in which romance is not the focal point.
My Holo Love
Due to a traumatic experience, Han So-yeon (Go Sung-hee) has trouble recognizing faces. When a mysterious pair of glasses come into her possession, she becomes a beta tester for the artificial intelligence program, Holo. Unexpected love forms as the lonely Se-yeon forms a connection with Holo’s human-like hologram. Unbeknownst to her, it’s actually an identical replication of its creator, Go Nan-do (Yoon Hyun-min); though their personalities are significantly different. Overall, My Holo Love mixes sci-fi and romance with a unique concept that requires a lot of CG effects.
My First First Love
My First First Love is a two-season K-drama that follows five twentysomethings and their experiences with first love. Yun Tae-oh (Ji Soo), a wealthy college student, suddenly finds himself housing three of his friends: Han Song-i (Jung Chae-yeon), who he’s known since they were three years old; Choe Hun (Kang Tae-oh), an aspiring actor and college dropout; and Oh Ga-rin (Choi Ri), an heiress to a rich family who ran away. Tae-oh’s friend Seo Do-hyeon (Jung Jin-young) doesn’t stay in the house; but strikes up a romance with Song-i that causes a strain in the relationship between the two men. Over the course of the series, their love lives, friendships, and futures are tested.
One Spring Night
Lee Jeong-in (Han Ji-min) is a librarian who feels trapped in her long-term relationship with Kwon Gi-seok (Kim Jun Han), a department head at a bank. He’s part of a wealthy family, and both handsome and smart; but even so, she’s hesitant on moving forward with marriage. One morning after a hangover, she stops by a pharmacy. There, she meets single father and pharmacist, Yu Ji-ho (Jung Hae-in). Yu Ji-ho and Lee Jeong-in face building tension in their relationship while also dealing with familial and societal expectations.
The Liar and His Lover
The Liar and His Lover is a cute Korean drama adaptation of the Japanese manga Kanojo Wa Uso Wo Aishisugiteru. It follows the love story between Kang Han-kyeol (Lee Hyun-woo), a great composer, and Yoon So-rim (Joy Park), an everyday high school student with a great voice. The two meet, and fall for each other’s singing voices.
My Secret Romance
My Secret Romance is a 2017 K-drama that plays into the rich boy, normal girl cliché. The wealthy Cha Jin-wook (Sung Hoon) runs a large company, and in the past has only pursued short-term love. This all changes when he meets Lee Yoo-mi (Song Ji-eun), who has never been romantically-involved with anyone before. The couple initially has a one night stand; but meet again three years later, when their shaky budding romance takes off.
Cinderella and the Four Knights
Distant from her father after her mother’s passing, Eun Ha-won (Park So-dam) has dreams of becoming a teacher. Unfortunately, she does not have the financial capabilities to do so; especially because she is treated poorly by her step-mother and step-sister. Ha-won gets the opportunity to live in a mansion called Sky House with three rich and spoiled cousins: Kang Ji-woon (Jung Il-woo), Kang Hyun-min (Ahn Jae-hyun), and Kang Seo-woo (Lee Jung-shin). The Cinderella story unfolds with a bunch of love triangles and drama.
These Valentine’s Day dramas are suitable to watch alone or with someone special. Have you seen any of these dramas before?
What shows would you add to the list?
Header: Romance Is a Bonus Book (Netflix, tvN)
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