Noona Romances are a trope in romantic K-Dramas where the woman is older than the man. The popularity of this trope has skyrocketed in the last decade to the point where it’s almost its own genre. Most Korean dramas are known for epic romantic scenes that make us swoon and wish we could teleport into our TVs and computers. But Noona Romances, in particular, are known for dialing up the swoon factor, and posing the question: “Is age really just a number?”
Below are five Noona Romances that’ll make you swoon, and consider trading in calling someone Oppa to having someone call you Noona.
5. Something In The Rain
Yoon Jin Ah (Son Ye Jin) often finds herself going through the motions. As a woman in her thirties with a demanding office job and parents, the pressure is on her to get married. She finds solace and support in her best friend Kyung Sun. When Kyung Sun’s little brother, Joon Hee (Jung Hae In), comes back from living abroad, Jin Ah has a hard time staying away, and they embark on a relationship that could implode both of their lives.
Something in the Rain has cemented itself as one of the most popular Noona Dramas thanks to Son Ye Jin and Jung Hae In’s performances. Their chemistry is palpable, and it boasts one of the best kissing scenes. The understated storytelling is charming, and the heavy themes surrounding age gaps and sexual harassment in the workplace are realistic. My only criticisms are the character development is lacking, many storylines are left unresolved, and the last half of the series drags. But the first half is so beautiful, it’s worth a watch, in my opinion.
4. When The Camellia Blooms
Oh Dong Baek (Gong Hyo Jin) is a single mom who moves to a small town and opens up a bar named Camellia. Settling in isn’t easy. She faces many prejudices but slowly gets to know the interesting and unusual residents. After six years of living in a small town, a police officer named Hwang Yong Sik (Kang Ha Neul) bursts into her life. He’s energetic, playful, and…he’s in love with her. As they try to navigate their relationship, a serial killer makes their presence known.
If you’re looking for a pleasant surprise, When The Camellia Blooms is it, so tear off that gift wrap! Oh Dong Baek is a refreshing character, and you can tell a lot of love was poured into her. Additionally, Hwang Yong Sik has a heart of gold, and watching his devotion to Dong Baek is beautiful. The townspeople are colorful and hilarious, and after initially being annoyed by them, they warmed their way into my heart. To top it all off, the string of murders occurring in the background gives the drama the suspense it needs.
3. Encounter
A chance encounter (Ha! You see what I did there?) in Cuba changes the trajectory of Cha Soo Hyun’s (Song Hye Kyo) and Kim Jin Hyuk’s (Park Bo Gum) lives forever. Cha Soo Hyun is a closed-off politician’s daughter, and Kim Jin Hyuk is a kind college graduate. When the two run into each other in Seoul, they discover life is far more complicated than they anticipated in Cuba.
This is the Noona Romance that revitalized my interest in the trope. The Cuban cinematography is amazing, and it’s the perfect backdrop for all the swoon-worthy scenes that take place there. The role reversal is fresh because you don’t see the Rich Woman/Poor Man dynamic as often. I wouldn’t call Song Hye Kyo and Park Bo Gum’s chemistry explosive, but there are different kinds of chemistry, and I enjoy them all. Rather than explosive, they have this deep, intuitive bond that radiates from the screen.
2. Romance Is A Bonus Book
Cha Eun Ho (Lee Jong Suk) and Kang Dani (Lee Na Young) are childhood friends who’ve never quite gotten their timing right. Dani gets married and gives up her successful marketing career to take care of her daughter, while Eun Ho becomes a famous author and editor-in-chief at a publishing company. When Dani divorces her husband, she’s thrust back into the ruthless job market and faces prejudices she never imagined. This causes her and Eun Ho’s paths to intertwine, and for once, time may be on their side.
I absolutely adore this drama! Watching it is like drinking something warm on a chilly day. The characters’ interactions are subtle yet intimate, the scenes are understated yet impactful, and it’s all against a backdrop of mellow indie rock. Dani and Eun Ho’s progression from friends to lovers also feels natural and realistic. And not many dramas and movies get that right when it comes to the Friends to Lovers trope. Romance Is A Bonus Book has become a comfort watch I highly recommend.
1. Search: WWW
Bae Ta Mi (Im Soo Jung) works for the most popular web portal company in Korea and isn’t afraid to rub it in the competition’s face. She’s forced to re-evaluate her career when the company becomes embroiled in a national scandal. As if that wasn’t enough, she meets Park Morgan (Jang Ki Yong), a young video game composer, who just might be her match in life and love.
This is a top-tier Noona Romance! Im Soo Jung and Jang Ki Yong’s chemistry is undeniable. There were times I couldn’t breathe while watching the drama. Their intensity is stifling! The supporting cast is also very lovable, even characters that seem like horrible people at first. And as much as I love romance, that’s not the only thing the drama focuses on. At its center are strong female friendships. It has a fantastic soundtrack too, but the crowning jewel is the script. It’s witty and heartfelt, and exactly what I’ve come to expect from screenwriter Kwon Do Eun, the woman who wrote 2521.
Now that we’ve set you up to swoon, what are your favorite Noona Romances? Did any of them make it onto the list? If not, check out many other dramas on KOCOWA!
