14 KDramas to watch this Valentine's Day
From your friends down to your family, everyone is already immersed in the Hallyu wave. Korean dramas are becoming a trend, and not just a fad, nowadays. Why don't you try it out too? Whether you're going out or staying at home this Valentine's Day, you shouldn't miss out these KDramas that give you the right amount of feels that can last throughout this season of love!
1. Reply 1988/Answer Me 1988
20 episodes
This third installment of the Reply series has garnered the most attention and ratings, and currently holds the most watched Korean TV drama in cable networks nationwide with 18.8%, followed by another phenomenal success, Goblin (Nielsen, 2016) (Note that cable networks in South Korea have relatively smaller audiences, thus, 1-2% viewership rating is considered acceptable). It boosted the popularity of then rising stars Park Bo Gum, Ryu Jun Yeol, and Girl’s Day Lee Hyeri.
Although it focuses more on the filial bond between the characters, it realistically portrayed how one matures in love and life.
Set in the 80s, the drama follows the growing up years of five childhood friends living in the same neighborhood with their respective families, who are also entangled with each other. They all went through the hardships of studying, reaching their goals, exploring their lives, and finding love. As a trademark of the Reply series, it gives clues and drops hints all throughout the drama about the main couple who flourished in the story, and the "who" will only be revealed at the latter part of the drama.
This 20-episode drama gives a sentimental mood, perhaps a trip down memory lane of how life was before technology and social media have taken over. It surely creates a nostalgic feeling about life in its entirety, especially the exceptional bliss of young love and dreams. Although lengthy per episode, it still remains as one of the best Korean TV dramas ever made! All in all 4.7 stars!
Check out the 5 cool kids in the 80s!
2. My Love From The Star
21 episodes
If you have seen Avatar, ET, and Prometheus, you might probably have a vivid image of an extraterrestrial being. Aliens are always portrayed as something unattractive and so out-of-this-world with their unproportionate body and non-human like features. But have you ever wondered if aliens do exist in real life? What if they camouflage with human beings on earth?
This romantic-fantasy drama revolves around an alien who landed on Earth during the Joseon Dynasty, and lived his life until the 21st century for 400 years. Do Min Joon (Kim Soo Hyun) looks like no other. Aside from his great looks and physique, he has enhanced vision, hearing, and other unearthly powers that make him advanced and superior amongst human beings. In the modern day, Do Min Joon falls in love with top actress Cheon Seong Yi (Jun Ji Hyun). Will their love defy the odds of the cosmic world? Sounds stellarly interesting!
This drama was highly regarded in Korea, hitting the 30% mark on ratings (which hasn’t happened for years). Aside from the vibrant characterization and brilliant plot that brings fictionality in life, the charisma and chemistry of the main leads, added with the cosmic conflicts inhibiting them together, proved that this drama is one for the books! 4.2 stars!
Watch this funny scene from MLFTS! Don’t forget to turn on the CC button!
3. That Winter The Wind Blows
16 episodes
This drama epitomizes the famous love quote, “love is blind”. Is it actually blind? The female lead is!
“I pretended to be a long lost brother to a blind heiress because I need money to continue to live, only to find myself waking up wanting to protect my fake little sister every single day.” This line from this melodramatic drama comprises the whole plot.
That Winter The Wind Blows, the only melodrama that entered the list, adequately portrayed an emotional story that would provoke our eyes to swell and weep for tears, literally. It surely captivated viewers with its beautiful cinematography (genuinely exquisite!), unique storyline, and of course, gorgeous actors. Who wouldn’t want to miss the chemistry between Song Hye Kyo and Jo In Sung? They are two of the most fine-looking actors to date!
Sometimes, you are just on the verge of choosing to let go or to stay and love. After all, being blind and genuinely loving someone is purely faith-based beyond any reason, and loving someone who is blind takes courage and bravery beyond faith. Thus, this drama will make you think of all the what ifs and what is in love that is literally blind. This is absolutely emotionally stunning! Worth every teardrop! 4 out of 5 stars!
Even the music would make you feel so emotional!
4. Emergency Couple
21 episodes
Many KDramas these days revolve around a medical setting, and this drama is absolutely one of the forerunners. Aside from its playful and sexy get up, your medical knowledge would also lighten up!
The story starts with medical student Chang Min (Choi Jin Hyuk) and dietitian Jin Hee (Song Ji Hyo) who fell in love and got married at a young age despite their family’s strong opposition. Chang Min came from a family of doctors, however, he gave up his medical internship when he married Jin Hee and worked as a salesman. Far too immature and self-centered to endure their young marriage, they eventually divorced and went their separate ways. Years later, they meet again. Will they rekindle another romance this time? Or are the chances too slim for the second time around?
Although this drama lacks a little in every aspect, the humorous side pays for it! The story also teaches about life and its failures, and how standing up after falling is achievable with hardwork and perseverance. 3.2 stars!
See for yourself!
5. Healer
20 episodes
Action and romance in one drama? Healer just sets the standard. With excellent pacing, well-rounded cast, and balanced heart-pounding and comical scenes, this passionate action-romance drama will surely provoke your endorphins and adrenaline in every way.
Seo Jung Hoo (Ji Chang Wook), who goes by the codename Healer, is a skilled illegal night courier who is teamed up with an old woman hacker and a younger and skilled female courier. He steals and delivers items for their clients who are mostly wealthy. He was then commissioned by a client to stalk Chae Young Shin (Park Min Young) and, eventually, gets entangled to a decades-long case linked to both the client and Chae Young Shin. How will the romance go?
Jam-packed with lots of enthusiasm, heart-thumping moments, and a slice of clinginess and sexiness, this 20-episode drama is definitely one for the books! Not to mention its fascinating and stylish cinematography, it also manages to develop a glimpse of a new world – the world of night couriers. 4.2 out of 5!
Be thrilled with the trailer!
6. Full House
16 episodes
Imagine being with a top celebrity in one roof? And a marriage contract on top of that? Yes! This drama is our dream.
Ji Eun Han (Song Hye Kyo) lives in an extravagant “Full House” built by her late father. Her friends tricked her into getting a free travel to China, only to find out that they were already selling her Full House on the market, and has been sold to famous actor Young Jae (Rain). Will she be able to recover her Full House?
This drama, although aired over a decade ago, is one of the pillars of the Korean wave in Asia. It is a classic romantic-comedy drama that tops viewership ratings (always 1st on its time slot with 40% average viewership ratings) during its run in 2004, and its copyright has been sold to numerous countries. 16 episodes back and forth can be tiresome, but the humor and cuteness relieves the exhaustion. 3.6 stars!
Check out this oldie but goodie scene from Full House!
7. W – Two Worlds
16 Episodes
Have you ever wondered if an alternate universe exists that you can just cross and see what’s in there? Or if your favorite fictional character can be breathing alive off the books? If yes, then this drama is a perfect fit!
W, also known as Two Worlds, is a fantasy drama about Kang Chul (Lee Jong Suk) and Yeon Joo (Han Hyo Joo) who are both living in different worlds and dimensions. Yeon Joo is a surgeon living in the real world, while Kang Chul is the main character in a fantasy comic book created by her father. When things started to get interesting, Yeon Joo’s father decides to kill the main character, but somehow Yeon Joo gets pulled into the comic and falls in love with Kang Chul. Likewise, manhwa character Kang Chul also crosses the real world. Will their conflicting dimensions hinder their romance?
With its absolutely fascinating and electrifying graphic animation, W has caught the charms of a dynamic cartoonish drama. Not only does it embody a unique romance, it also builds up a sequence of suspense and thrill as the story develops. The only flaw of this drama is the failure of a mind-blowing ending. It might be a bit disappointing for some, but it was a remarkable conclusion for others. A top-notch and imaginative drama deserves 4 out of 5 stars!
See more of the two worlds!
8. Another Miss Oh/Oh Hae Young Again
18 episodes
This season of love gives us time to reminisce every half-hearted I love yous we received, the betrayals we experienced, and the weakness we felt after all the hardships. There are times that even after going through days of half-lived and giving up moments, we still chose to stay and love. This drama exemplifies the desperation of just wanting to love, and be loved as well. There is an amalgam of love, pain, and adventure. No drama is perfect, but this is surely one of the worth its!
This drama revolves around two girls who have the same name, Oh Hae Young, but with completely different personalities and identities. The other is tagged as the pretty Oh Hae Young (Jun Hye Bin), while the other as the average Oh Hae Young (Seo Hyun Jin). Not only do they have the same name, but their paths have also become entangled because of the same man, Park Do Kyung (Eric Mun). Park has a clairvoyant ability of foreseeing the future ahead of him. In particular, he always has a recurring vivid image of the average Oh Hae Young despite being a stranger to each other. Will his visions change and fate be twisted if he stays away with both Oh Hae Youngs?
This drama proved to be a big hitter after being well-received in Korea in terms of viewership ratings. One of its strengths, in particular, is the uniqueness of its storyline. It is not your average rom-com drama, it is one of a kind! The rollercoaster of emotions, indecisiveness of every character, and poignant and melancholic situations captured the attention of everyone. It has a balance of light moods, which can make you roll on the floor laughing, and heavy ambiances which can make you sob all day and night. Not to mention, the soundtrack also gives an indie-feel which suits the drama. What a drama, right? 3.8 stars!
What would you do if you were in this kind of situation? Watch and laugh to find out!
9. Descendants of the Sun
16 episodes
This drama was the pioneer of another succession of the Korean Wave. It was not only a massive hit in Korea, but it also gained immense popularity worldwide, and was named as the most popular Korean TV drama in 2016. DOTS was too mainstream that every newbie and novice KDrama fans have watched this show. The finale episode even trended worldwide on Twitter.
The phenomenal success of this drama made the main leads, Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo, receive excessive public attention worldwide. Both actors were always subjected to dating rumors, but their respective agencies have denied it multiple times up until last July 2017 when they publicly announced their engagement. Talk about reel to real!
“The fact that you have gunshot wound means you got shot, does that mean you also shoot guns? It’s either you kill someone or you get killed, that’s the work you do. Everyday, I spend more than 12 hours in the operating room trying to save people from dying. That’s what I do, fighting to save lives. But your fights are about saving lives through the death of others.” said Kang Mo Yeon, a doctor. This dialogue reflects the conflict of the whole plot. 4.5 stars!
Beautiful cast, stunning cinematography, breathtaking action scenes, romantic excitement, melodious soundtrack, and more. Just look at this amazing trailer. No words for it!
10. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
20 episodes
Not all people celebrate Valentine's Day with a partner. Sometimes, they do it alone. This drama is for the sawis out there this heart’s day. Get your tissues ready, because this drama never fails to make your eyes swell in tears!
Although beautifully casted, highly budgeted with pre-production, and star-studded casts, this drama received not-so-good viewership ratings in Korea. However, it hit big in international platform, with numerous countries buying this show. After all, it wasn’t a failure.
In 21st century Korea, Go Ha Jin (IU) drowns in a river during a lunar eclipse and found her consciousness in the body of Hae Soo, the cousin of the wife of the 8th prince (Kang Ha Neul) in the Goryeo era (thousands of years ago). As she time traveled, she assumed the entity of Hae Soo and started to be entangled with the lives of the princes. She was the apple of the eye of different princes, and there comes a fierce battle for Hae Soo between the 4th prince Wang So (Lee Jun Ki) and the 8th prince Wang Wook. Will she end up with one of the princes, or will she come back as Go Ha Jin? Prepare to laugh and cry as you find out!
Usually, people get bored with period dramas, but Scarlet Heart was an exemption. It is sad and heavy, and definitely not a rom-com, but that's what makes it extremely good! The historical context of this drama, together with the intricate details shown, proves how rich the culture and history of Korea is. You get immersed with the humor and suspense offered in this fantasy-filled historical drama. Who would also not be LSS with the OST? This drama has an amazing ear for good music! 4.5 stars!
Meet the princes and Hae Soo!
11. Moonlight Drawn by Clouds
18 Episodes
In every aspect of life, we will always experience a love that is forbidden; forbidden by rules, forbidden by nature, forbidden by people, and forbidden by destiny. This 18-episode gender-bender drama exemplifies that love, despite being restrained and forbidden by norms, will always prevail.
Love in the Moonlight is a coming-of-age story and youth romance set during the 19th-century Joseon Dynasty. The story revolves around the relationship of the Crown Prince (Park Bo Gum) to his eunuch Hong Ra-On (Kim Yoo-Jung). Street-smart Hong Ra-On, raised as a disguised man, works as a romance counselor and love advisor. One day, she gets entangled in one of her client’s relationship as she helps him meet his pen-pal love, who is the sister of the Crown Prince. Soon, he meets the Crown Prince and entered the palace as a eunuch.
The relationship of the lead couple was brimming with chemistry. Not only was the drama well-written with stunning stills, it also balances the light and heartfelt truth of love and the sacrifices that comes along with it. This period drama is not purely silly and fluffy, even in the midst of its fun vibe, since we get a glimpse into the poignant layers of every character. 3.9 stars!
Fluttering and funny, indeed! See for yourself!
12. She Was Pretty
16 Episodes
Imagine yourself as someone whose beauty is definitely eye-catching, but as soon as puberty hits you, everything turned upside down. Yikes! But no worries, looks really don’t matter when it comes to true love.
A romantic comedy, set in the backdrop of a fashion magazine publishing office, about two past acquaintances who meet again after they have gone through a reversal of fortunes and appearances. A once beautiful girl Kim Hye Jin (Hwang Jung Eum) finds a job as an intern in The Most, a fashion magazine, where her childhood love Ji Sung Joon (Park Seo Joon) works as her boss. However, Ji Sung only remembers Kim Hye Jin as a pretty friend. Will he recognize her after all those years? What will happen to these childhood sweethearts?
One of the notable things for the success of this drama is the heartfelt performances of the characters. There exists a clash of rudeness and patience, which sums up life’s true self. This drama focuses on self-worth and self-love making it really enjoyable to watch. How this drama wrapped up is probably one of the most satisfying things to watch! 4 out of 5 stars!
Check out what happened when they first met!
13. The Best Hit/Hit the Top
32 Episodes
The idea of a found family is interesting. Valentine’s is not just about couples, it’s about family too. This drama depicts all of that! Come on, slice of life!
In the year 1993, pop idol Yoo Hyun-Jae (Yoon Si Yoon) accidentally travels through time to 2017. Discovering that he mysteriously disappeared in 1994 and is presumed dead, he begins to investigate into the reason for his disappearance while trying to adjust with his life in the future. Meanwhile, Lee Ji Hoon is an aspiring musician and is secretly enrolled as an idol trainee at Star Punch Entertainment. Ji Hoon struggles to hide this from his parents, who believe he has been studying for his civil service exams.
There is really nothing to complain about this drama. How the characters complemented each other is truly heartwarming. The unintended funny stills happened to be one of its strong points too. 4 stars!
Be hip and cool and check it out!
14. Shopping King Louie (2016)
16 Episodes
Losing your memory one day, then falling in love the next. This is what a KDrama is known for! It may sound cliche, but this drama is not your average Joe's show. Be ready for the whirlwind of romance!
Louie (Seo In-Guk) comes from a rich family and lives in France. After his parent’s tragic death, he inherited great wealth. However, inheritance did not solve his unhappiness with life. He is extremely lonely without any real friends, so he spends lavishly. When Louie returns to Korea, he gets into an accident and loses his memory. He regains no knowledge of who he is. He then meets Ko Bok Shil (Nam Ji Hyun), a kindhearted countryside woman who migrated to the city, who took him into her home. This starts their wonderful relationship.
Less people are talking about this drama due to the fact that this drama started slow. However, as it goes by, the storyline unfolds its spark. After a few episodes, you will get used to the pacing of this drama, and you will slowly get involved with the characters and its setting. The slow pacing is actually important to the storyline, as to make it effective. Nice strategy, indeed! This drama portrays the importance of family, romance, and relationships. 3.7 out of 5 stars!
From chaebol to overnight bum!
