Top 10 Most Romantic Scenes in K-Dramas

“Lovestruck in the City[a]” (2020-21)
One of the things fans love about K-Dramas is how male characters are not afraid to show their vulnerable side. In this scene, Jae-won is drunk and in despair about his once-wife Eun-o leaving him out of the blue. He’s so deep in his feels that when Eun-o decides to accompany him quietly, he believes it’s a dream. His pain gives way to tears and he softly confronts her but he isn’t really looking for answers. Jae-won is venting, comforting himself with the liminal presence of his lover. He’s sensitive like a lost puppy and seeks affection in his reveries. Eun-o is stronger than we are because if Jae-won was crying that prettily in front of us, we would have folded like a lawn chair.

“Love in the Big City” (2024)
Trust this K-Drama to juxtapose the most heart-wrenching scenes with the sweetest ones. Here, our protagonist Go Young[b] is musing on his golden days with Gyu-ho in Bangkok. The pair had previously swanned around the Thai capital, passionately in love. The most mundane, touristy routines became magical and we see those moments in a touching montage, bathed in nostalgia. Go Young and Gyu-ho are just like any other ordinary couple, playing around without a care in the world. However, ‘Kylie’ – the name Go Young gives his HIV diagnosis – looms over them like a shadow he’s painfully aware of. At this point in the show, we know our OTP has parted ways but like Go Young, we’re just happy to look back at their romance fondly.

“Guardian: The Lonely and Great God” (2016-17)
This scene single-handedly turned innumerable K-Drama fans into Korean literature aficionados. Our hero, Kim Shin[c] a.k.a Goblin, watches his to-be-bride Ji Eun-tak from afar as she beams with a pure, innocent glow. Mesmerized, he turns the road between them into a magical red carpet, leaving the girl starry-eyed. As he realizes that he is experiencing love for the first time in hundreds of years, Shin is both exhilarated and terrified. The poem he had been reading earlier, “The Physics of Love” by Kim In-yook, hits him like a ton of bricks, as he finds himself irrevocably drawn to her against his better judgment.

“Descendants of the Sun” (2016)
Song Hye-kyo[d] and Song Joong-ki are two of the most charming actors to come out of South Korea. Regardless of how their real-life relationship panned out, this scene showcases their characters’ chemistry like no other. Doctor Kang is downing wine straight from the bottle after a long day and Captain Yoo is intoxicated by her pluck. Sparks fly in the form of banter while the rain outside adds to the palpable tension between them. When Kang keeps offering Yoo a drink he can’t accept, he comes up with a solution that should be in a handbook of seduction. Instead of sipping from a glass or a bottle, he goes for her lips instead. Go ahead and squeal into your pillow. We did too!

“Hospital Playlist” (2020-21)
If you’re on the hunt for the healthiest K-Drama romance, look no further than Ik-jun[e] and Song-hwa. While we could totally make a list solely of the most romantic moments between these two, we picked Song-hwa’s confession because of how long overdue it was. She has taken the time to sit with her feelings after he confessed to her and understands them well enough not to confuse love with any other emotion. Only when she is sure of her heart does she propose they date and he answers with an adoring kiss. They’re just starting their relationship, but the way they look at each other shows a level of comfort you’ll see in married couples. That’s what makes them so special.

“Strong Girl Bong-soon” (2017)
This scene will have you praying for a love like this. Our heroine Do Bong-soon[f] and her boss, Ahn Min-hyuk, are in the early stages of falling in love. Who could blame them for not being able to keep their hands to themselves? When Min-hyuk spots Bong-soon looking for him in the office, he calls her inside an empty hall to spend some time together. He’s giddy about being alone with her and promises to protect her, although we know her strength could rival Superman’s. Min-hyuk’s excitement is amplified knowing she’s into him too and he can barely contain his cute aggression. The scene ends in the most adorable way, as Min-hyuk plants a kiss on a nervous Bong-soon’s forehead.

“Queen of Tears” (2024)
This show should be called the ‘Try Not to Cry’ challenge and fair warning, it’s impossible to win. In this poignant sequence, Hong Hae-in[g] is faced with a terrible dilemma. She’s living with rare brain tumors that have a surgical cure but the procedure will erase her memories. She decides life is not worth it if she can’t remember the feeling of loving and being loved by her husband, Baek Hyun-woo, and her family. Meanwhile, for him, all that matters is that she’s alive. He breaks down in tears, trembling in fear of losing her but is firm as a rock as he convinces her to get the surgery, reassuring her that they’ll love again. Naturally, she can’t help but want to live after that!

“The King: Eternal Monarch” (2020)
We love a queen who doesn’t need a knight in shining armor but a king on a white horse is a different matter entirely. Gon[h], King of the fictional alternate-dimension Corea falls in love with Jeong Tae-eul from the Republic of Korea. When Tae-eul is abducted and wakes up in his Kingdom, she fights like a warrior to save herself. However, the poor girl can only last so long against an army of enemies. On the brink of losing consciousness, she manages to alert the palace about her whereabouts. Within moments, her King arrives, looking dashing, as he commands his troops to protect the future queen. It is only when she sees him that she lets her guard down, collapsing right into his arms.

“Lovely Runner” (2024)
Cherry blossoms being a timeless sign of blooming love is K-Drama 101. You’ll find them associated with all sorts of whimsical meanings in different shows. Here, Im Sol[i] says they have magical qualities. In true Hallyu fashion, she’s unable to do so until Sun-jae gives her a hand. But he takes her by surprise when he claims his own wish has already come true. Satisfied with her blushing, he playfully peppers a million tiny kisses on her lips. Young and in love, the two run around under the cherry blossoms, filling the air with enchantment.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

Sun Showers Are Said to Signal a Fox’s Wedding and Here, a Nine-Tailed Fox’s Romance

Do-Hee and Gu-Won[j] Dance to a Traumatic Tune to Reclaim Their Power

She Loves to Snuggle in His Arms but He Cheekily Wants More

“Crash Landing on You” (2019-20)
“CLOY” has a way of heightening and then exceeding expectations. After a paragliding accident lands Yoon Se-ri[l] in North Korea, she falls for North Korean army captain, Ri Jeong-hyeok. A whirlwind romance later, she must return to Seoul, leaving him behind. Unable to sleep back home, she wistfully ponders the meaning of love on a snowy stroll. At this moment, we’re all hoping to see Jeong-hyeok in the crowd but no one could have predicted that he would actually be there, standing in front of her. For a second, we’re convinced it’s a vision born out of Se-ri’s desperation but when it becomes certain he’s real, we can finally let go of the breath we had been holding. Such is the effect of this couple.

Which K-Drama character do you think is the ideal romantic partner? Tell us in the comments down below!

EUN-oh https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EC%9D%B4%EC%9D%80%EC%98%A4%0A&op=translate
[b]KOH young https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EA%B3%A0%EC%98%81%20%0A%0A&op=translate
G"YOO-hoh https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EC%8B%AC%EA%B7%9C%ED%98%B8%0A&op=translate
[c]chee eun tak https://translate.google.ca/?sl=auto&tl=en&text=%EC%A7%80%EC%9D%80%ED%83%81%20&op=translate
kim shin https://translate.google.ca/?sl=auto&tl=en&text=%EA%B9%80%EC%8B%A0%20&op=translate
kim EEN-yook https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EA%B9%80%EC%9D%B8%EC%9C%A1&op=translate
[d]soang-HAY-g'yoh https://forvo.com/search/%EC%86%A1%ED%98%9C%EA%B5%90/
sohng joong-ghee https://forvo.com/word/%EC%86%A1%EC%A4%91%EA%B8%B0/#ko
kahng mo-yun https://translate.google.ca/?sl=auto&tl=en&text=%EA%B0%95%EB%AA%A8%EC%97%B0%20&op=translate
yoo-SHEE-jin https://translate.google.ca/?sl=auto&tl=en&text=%EC%9C%A0%EC%8B%9C%EC%A7%84%20&op=translate
[e]EEK-cheun https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EC%9D%B5%EC%A4%80%20%0A%0A&op=translate
SOANG-wah https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EC%86%A1%ED%99%94%0A&op=translate
[f]toh/to boneg seun https://translate.google.ca/?sl=auto&tl=en&text=%EB%8F%84%EB%B4%89%EC%88%9C%20&op=translate
ann meen-YUCK https://translate.google.ca/?sl=auto&tl=en&text=%EC%95%88%EB%AF%BC%ED%98%81%20&op=translate
[g]honeg ay-een https://translate.google.ca/?sl=auto&tl=en&text=%ED%99%8D%ED%95%B4%EC%9D%B8%20&op=translate
pake HYUN-oo https://translate.google.ca/?sl=auto&tl=en&text=%EB%B0%B1%ED%98%84%EC%9A%B0%20&op=translate
[h]cone https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EA%B3%A4%0A%0A&op=translate
i think it's just korea...
chong TAY-eul https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EC%A0%95%ED%83%9C%EC%9D%84%0A&op=translate
[i]eem sole https://translate.google.ca/?sl=auto&tl=en&text=%0A%EC%9E%84%EC%86%94%20%0A&op=translate
HAL-yoo https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ko-%ED%95%9C%EB%A5%98.oga
r'YOO SUN jay https://translate.google.ca/?sl=auto&tl=en&text=%EB%A5%98%EC%84%A0%EC%9E%AC&op=translate
[j]toh-DOH-hee https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EB%8F%84%EB%8F%84%ED%9D%AC%20&op=translate
KOO-wun / GOO-wun https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EA%B5%AC%EC%9B%90&op=translate
[k]SAWMDAL-lee https://translate.google.ca/?sl=ko&tl=en&text=%EC%82%BC%EB%8B%AC%EB%A6%AC&op=translate
[l]yoon say ree https://translate.google.ca/?sl=auto&tl=en&text=%EC%9C%A4%EC%84%B8%EB%A6%AC&op=translate
ree JUNG h'yawck https://translate.google.ca/?sl=auto&tl=en&text=%EB%A6%AC%EC%A0%95%ED%98%81&op=translate