Romantic comedy dramas have been such a staple in K-dramas that it is usually the first thing that comes to mind when one talks about the drama scene. Even when the field is diversifying itself and experimenting with new genres, rom-coms are rarely overshadowed. From 2019 until now, these five dramas show the continuous growth of such a fruitful genre.
2019 – Hotel Del Luna
“Hotel Del Luna” is one of the most successful drama series of 2019. It is set in a hotel of the same name with a special function: to welcome and prepare the guests to reach the other side.
IU plays Jang Man Wol, a spirit filled with hatred who has run the hotel for more than 1 millennium as her punishment. Her destiny is tied to a tree; only when it continues its life cycle can Man Wol moves to the other side.
On the other hand, Goo Chan Sung is the only mortal to work at Hotel Del Luna. He is the key to helping Man Wol moves on from her past.
The series is praised for both the story and the acting. It is a perfect story about love, friendship, and family relationship and brings meaningful messages to viewers.
2020 – Crash Landing on You
Taking over the screen in 2019, “Crash Landing on You” created a sensation in early 2020. The series earned a rating of 12.15% and drew an average of 3.331 million viewers per episode.
The main couple is the spotlight of the series. Son Ye Jin plays the daughter of a wealthy family Yoon Se Ri, while Hyun Bin plays a North Korean captain named Ri Jung Hyuk.
Se Ri meets Jung Hyuk when a whirlwind sweeps her to the DMZ, and they gradually develop feelings when Jung Hyuk sneaks Se Ri back to South Korea. They come across many obstacles but enjoy the greatest happiness of being together in the end.
2021 – The Red Sleeve
“The Red Sleeve” tells the royal court romance of Crown Prince Yi San and a consort named Sung Deok Im who yearns for freedom.
Yi San loves Deok Im dearly and wants to keep her by his side. However, Deok Im is hesitant to reciprocate, as she is conflicted between love and personal freedom. She chooses love in the end.
The series brought many nominations for the cast, with Lee Jun Ho being nominated “Best Actor”, and Lee Se Young being nominated “Best Actress” at the 2022 “Baeksang Arts Awards.”
2022 – Extraordinary Attorney Woo
“Extraordinary Attorney Woo” sweeps through all rankings and became a global phenomenon.
In the series, Park Eun Bin plays Woo Young Woo, a talented lawyer with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). She is often ridiculed for her condition and overlooked despite her talent.
Woo Young Woo comes to work at the Hanbada law firm where she is faced with many talents but also meets the greatest people who love and care for her. It is also where she meets Lee Jun Ho (Kang Tae Oh).
It is deemed an excellent series by viewers, as the attraction does not come solely from the romance but also from the relationships between friends and colleagues and from the messages conveyed.
2023 – King the Land
“King the Land” tells the budding romance between Gu Won (Lee Jun Ho), a third-generation wealthy general head manager of the King Hotel, and Cheon Sa Rang (Yoona), a hotelier under his management.
“King the Land” has a transparently tropey take on modern romance but manages to captivate attention thanks to the chemistry between Yoona and Lee Jun Ho.
While viewers’ opinions are divided, “King the Land” is still garnering massive attention from viewers.
However, “King the Land” will have to face tougher competition as more dramas are announcing their airing date. They are “My Lovely Liar” starring Kim Soo Hyun and Hwang Min Hyun, “Behind Your Touch” starring Han Ji Min and Lee Min Ki, “Doctor Slump” starring Park Shin Hye and Park Hyung Sik, and “A Time Called You” starring Ahn Hyo Seop and Jeon Yeo Been.
Source: k14
