5 Romances Guaranteed to Set Your Heart on Fire

The best part of being a kdrama fan is the romance! Korean dramas do romance oh-so-well — they make me swoon, they make me cheer, and they sometimes make me scream. But as all kdrama fans know, there are different levels of romance in each kdrama, perfect for all different kinds of romance moods. Come check out these five dramas and find the one that will set your heart on fire!

#1 –  My Secret, Terrius

Burn Ranking: Slow and Steady

What It’s All About: Jung In Sun is brilliant and relatable as Go Ae Rin, a sharp housewife and young mother who’s reentering the workforce. She literally stumbles into the life of her neighbor, super spy Kim Bon, who is hiding out from his former employers and solving a mystery that will change his life and Ae Rin’s life forever. 

My Secret, Terrius is a delightful blend of thriller and comedy. Ae Rin’s friends and neighbors support her throughout the drama, bringing humor and love into the story between herself and Kim Bon. Kim Bon becoming her unlikely babysitter adds another charming dimension as we watch the bond between him and the family that has adopted him grow. Sun Ho Jun is a lot of fun as Go Ae Rin’s shady boss, becoming the kind of villain that you almost want to root for.

Who Should Watch: If a man who is great with kids makes your heart melt, this is the drama for you. Same for anyone who loves well-timed comedic moments, a well-written spy plot with twists that will keep you guessing, and strong female characters!

[maxbutton id=”420″ ]  [maxbutton id=”425″ ] 

#2 – Still 17

Burn Ranking: Sweet as Pie

What It’s All About: Shin Hye Sun plays Woo Seo Ri, a genius teenage violinist who ends up in a coma for 13 years. When she wakes up, she has no one to rely on and a very difficult time accepting that she’s not 17 anymore. She happens upon the eccentric Gong Woo Jin, played by Yang Se Jong, a set designer who is more interested in measuring things than connecting with people. They end up living in his house with his adorable puppy of a nephew Yoo Chan, and their monotone housekeeper Jennifer, who has a habit of quoting wise sayings in response to almost every question asked of her. 

Seo Ri makes new friends as she builds a new life, and love slowly blooms in the household as everyone works to overcome the scars that are holding them back. Shin Hye Sun’s comedic timing is on full display in this drama, and her chemistry with Yang Se Jong is sweetly perfect.

Who Should Watch: Jennifer and Puppy Nephew are characters who will stay with you for a long time to come. I even find myself chanting, “Don’t think, feel!” from time to time. If you love dramas that tug at your heartstrings but skip over the standard tropes, this is the drama for you.

[maxbutton id=”421″ ]  [maxbutton id=”425″ ] 

#3 – Go Back Couple

Burn Ranking: Enemies to Lovers

What It’s All About: Jang Na Ra plays Ma Jin Joo, a mother who is fed up with her life and her husband Choi Ban Do, played by Son Ho Jun. They accidentally travel back in time to their university days, where Jin Joo confronts the choices that led her to Ban Do, and Ban Do realizes what his future actually means to him. There are plenty of heartfelt moments as Jin Joo and Ban Do reconnect with their families in the past, and comedic moments as they are reminded how silly their friends were. Lee Yi Kyung’s university hairstyle is a hoot all by itself!

Who Should Watch: Anyone who has had regrets about choices they made in the past might find this to be a healing drama. Also, fans of Jang Ki Yong should watch for his understated performance as a college senior who has his eyes on Jin Joo.  

[maxbutton id=”421″ ]  [maxbutton id=”425″ ] 

#4 – Come and Hug Me

Burn Ranking: Love Conquers All

What It’s All About: Jin Ki Joo plays Nak Won and Jang Ki Yong plays Na Moo, who endured an unimaginable tragedy as teenagers and are dealing with the consequences of it in the future. They meet again after 13 years, only to realize that the past is still haunting them in the form of Na Moo’s father and brother. But in the midst of it all, fate keeps bringing them together. Nak Won and Na Moo find themselves discovering what holds more power — their sad past or their hope for the future.

Who Should Watch: If you love intense psychological thrillers, this is definitely a drama that should be on your list. Heon Joon Ho and Kim Kyung Nam are both brilliant as mentally damaged men whose choices alter the worlds of the people around them, and Seo Jung Yeon is the protective mother we all need. Add in Jang Ki Yong’s constancy and Jin Ki Joo’s strength and this is the character-driven drama that dreams are made of. 

[maxbutton id=”423″ ]  [maxbutton id=”425″ ] 

#5 – Good Manager

Burn Ranking: With Enemies Like These, Who Needs Love?

What It’s All About: Namgoong Min plays Kim Sung Ryong, an accountant for gangsters who has to escape to Seoul. He makes his way into the TQ Group and finds himself fighting injustice instead of pursuing his original goal. He becomes Chief Kim, the team lead of the accounting department, and soon discovers he’s up against the corporate crooks who are trying to take the company down. When the office rival wears Jun Ho’s face, you know it’s going to be difficult to know who to root for!

Who Should Watch: Good Manager has smart writing and great comedy. There are characters who make you laugh and characters who make you scream, and multiple shining redemption arcs that make it memorable for ages after you watch it. There’s very little romance, but the bromance is strong, and it’s a delight to watch Chief Kim take down the bad guys one by one through his own genius and unbelievable confidence.

[maxbutton id=”424″ ]  [maxbutton id=”425″ ] 

So what kind of fire is your heart looking for, drama fans? A sweet, constant love like Still 17? A thriller like Come and Hug Me? Or do you need less romance and more plotting against the bad guys like Good Manager? Let us know! 

Written by Karie Crawford