Guest post written by author Chloe Neill
Chloe Neill is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Captain Kit Brightling, Heirs of Chicagoland, Chicagoland Vampires, Devil’s Isle, and Dark Elite novels. She was born and raised in the South, but now makes her home in the Midwest, where she lives with her gamer husband and their bosses/dogs, Baxter and Scout. Chloe is a voracious reader and obsessive Maker of Things; the crafting rotation currently involves baking and quilting. She believes she is exceedingly witty; her husband has been known to disagree. Devouring Darkness, the fourth installment in the Heirs of Chicagoland series, is out now.
A year ago, I’d have told you the possibility I’d become K-drama obsessed was completely out of the question. But now? They’re my go-to for romantic comedy, drama, and paranormal romance.
South Korean dramas are ubiquitous on most subscription networks—including Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Netflix, and (the gold standard, IMO) Rakuten Viki. Although many K-dramas share themes—overcoming trauma, family struggles, workplace blues—the sheer volume of titles can make it difficult for newbies to navigate. So I’ve curated a list of some of my favorite K-dramas and organized them by romance trope. This isn’t an exhaustive list; far from it. But these are a great place to start!
Marriage (or Dating) of Convenience: Pretend relationships, with love and affection coming later, are a romance novel classic. They’re also a popular K-drama theme. In Because This is My First Life, the main characters agree to a contractual, loveless marriage for economic reasons. Business Proposal features the heir to a rich and powerful South Korean corporation (called a “chaebol”) dating an employee—who’s in turn pretending to be a different chaebol heir. Hijinks ensue. Also try: 1% of Something
Enemies to Lovers: This is perhaps my favorite trope: when the main characters begin as enemies and progress to being friends and lovers. (Ethan Sullivan, anyone?) For a paranormal spin, try A Korean Odyssey, in which a god becomes contractually obliged to protect a mortal—although he’d rather eat her soul. That’s some Buffy-level conflict. Also try: Touch Your Heart
Found Family: Found family isn’t a rarity in K-dramas, in part because so many focus on workplace and student life and include subplots involving friends and family of the heroes or heroines. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is one of my absolute favorites. In this romantic comedy, a dentist is forced to move to a small coastal town where she meets a man with a mysterious past who’s beloved by locals. The series features a fantastic ensemble cast and multiple storylines that explore the nature of love and family. Another all-time favorite is Reply 1988, which it set in (you guessed it) 1988 and follows a group of neighborhood friends through high school and beyond as they navigate love, friendship, family expectations, and young adulthood.
Love Triangle: Love triangles are a K-drama classic, especially between the Guy Who Has Always Secretly Loved You and The New Guy. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon is a beloved K-drama classic with a “reverse bodyguard” plot. The heroine has superhero-level strength, and a CEO with a stalker hires her to keep him safe. The cop who wants to protect her doesn’t like it. Also try: Reply 1988; Love in the Moonlight
Office Romance: There are dozens of workplace-oriented K-dramas, many exploring the gap in power between the wealthy families who run chaebols and run-of-the-mill employees. What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim is on many must-watch lists, and it’s in my top five. (Even my husband, who is not a drama fan, loved it!) When a chaebol heir’s extremely skilled admin decides to leave the company, his efforts to make her stay ignite romance and help them understand and overcome a past trauma. Also try: Her Private Life; Touch Your Heart; Business Proposal
Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance: If you love books that toss immortals into the modern world, K-drama is perfect for you. Goblin (also known as Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) is a classic; in addition to a romance, it includes an “odd couple” friendship between demigod and grim reaper that deserves its own series. Also try: Mystic Pop-Up Bar; Tale of the Nine Tailed; Hotel Del Luna; A Korean Odyssey; The Bride of Habaek
K-Dramas about Writing, Reading, and Publishing: If you want to take your love of reading straight into K-drama territory, there are several series that touch on writing and publishing. Romance is a Bonus Book is a romantic comedy involving employees at a publishing company. A misanthropic children’s book writer is the heroine of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. And if you’d like to try a period drama set in an earlier era (also called a “costume drama”), the hero in Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung secretly writes romance novels.
Good luck and happy watching!
