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10 K-dramas about love stories between Prince Charming and Cinderella

Here are 10 K-dramas with the rich guy – poor girl trope.

The love story between a rich guy and a poor girl, a handsome guy and an average-looking girl in TV series has long been a familiar motif. The following Korean dramas give viewers the opportunity to enjoy the most romantic and adorable footage. 

1. True Beauty (2020)

Although the drama is not much appreciated domestically, True Beauty has received enthusiastic support from international viewers for its romantic, funny storyline and a cast with top-notch visuals.

Cha Eun Woo still sparks controversy over his acting skills, but his flawlessly handsome face has undeniably made many girls’ hearts flutter.

Im Ju Gyeong (Moon Ga Young) is a female student with a complex about her look. She is often bullied by her friends, but when she transfers to a new school, she learns the magical power of wearing makeup, which helps her “turn from an ugly duckling into a swan”. She then becomes a goddess that attracts everyone’s attention for how pretty she looks. Im Ju Gyeong falls into a complicated yet humorous love triangle with Lee Su Ho (Cha Eun Woo) and Han Seo Jin (Hwang In Yeob).

 2. What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? (2018)

Korean Dramas

Thanks to the resounding success of What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim, Park Seo Joon‘s popularity rose to another level. He quickly joined the lineup of Korean actors with the largest number of fangirls.

In this drama, Park Seo Joon plays the vice chairman Lee Young Joon (Park Seo Joon) – a smart, talented man who has “a bit exaggerated” narcissism. Problems arise when his personal secretary Kim Mi So (Park Min Young) suddenly quits her job. Lee Young Joon then tries to find ways to keep her, even proposing to marry her, which leaves Kim Mi So surprised and “speechless” because of her boss’s odd personality. 

3. Clean With Passion For Now (2018)

Clean With Passion For Now – a drama with a typical trope of a Cinderella’s story that makes the audiences fall for its adorable scenes of the main couple. Without any nerve-racking drama, the series impresses viewers with its lighthearted, romantic and refreshing vibes.

The storyline revolves around the handsome and rich male lead Jang Sun Kyul (Yoon Kyun Sang) who has a fear of germs. One day, fate “arranges” for him to meet Oh Sol (Kim Yoo Jung), a girl who is not used to tidiness.

As they are completely different, Jang Sun Kyul constantly fails to stay calm because of Oh Sol’s “chaotic” lifestyle, without realizing he somehow develops feelings for her. 

4. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (2017)

With a petite appearance, Do Bong Soon (Park Bo Young) constantly gives viewers a good laugh watching her pretend to be weak in front of her crush. However, when she is with CEO Ahn Min Hyuk (Park Hyung Sik), she is comfortable “flaunting” her super power.

Accidentally getting to know about her invincible ability, Ahn Min Hyuk immediately recruits Do Bong Soon to become his bodyguard. After going through many situations of being beaten and bruised, Ahn Min Hyuk gradually falls in love with the supergirl.

5. 100 Days My Prince (2014)

100 Days My Prince is often said to be the Korean historical version of the classic fairytale story of The Princess and the Frog. Overcoming all doubts about their acting, D.O and Nam Ji Hyun successfully deliver explosive chemistry, making the drama one of the projects with the highest ratings in the history of tvN.

After witnessing his father overthrow the crown, Lee Yul becomes the crown prince of a country, but he still can’t stop thinking of a girl he falls for in the past. During an assassination attempt, Lee Yul is seriously injured and loses his memory. After waking up, he begins to live as a commoner and becomes the husband of Joseon’s oldest bachelorette Hong Shim (Nam Ji Hyun).

6. Fated to Love You (2014)

Korean Dramas

Fated to Love You is a remake of a very successful Taiwanese drama that once rocked the whole of Asia. Lee Gun (Jang Hyuk) used to be very happy with his girlfriend, but they break up unexpectedly. As a result of his grief, he enters the wrong room and has a one-night stand with a poor girl named Kim Mi Young (Jang Nara).

Things get more complicated when she finds out she is pregnant and has to go through an unwilling marriage with Lee Gun. When their love starts to blossom, Lee Gun’s ex-lover returns. Meanwhile, Kim Mi Young’s mental state goes downhill after the loss of her child. As a result, their relationship crumbles. 

7. The Heirs (2013)

Entering 2013, the genre of rich boys who love poor girls has gradually lost its appeal to the audience. However, with the talent of golden screenwriter Kim Eun Sook, The Heirs still quickly caused a frenzy all over Asia and recorded a massive rating in Korea. 

Kim Tan (Lee Min Ho) is a wealthy young man and the heir to a prestigious Korean corporation. Despite his engagement to the haughty Yoo Rachel (Kim Ji Won), he falls in love with the maid’s daughter, Cha Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye). Both must overcome numerous obstacles in order to reach a happy ending.

8. Rooftop Prince (2012)

Rooftop Prince initially drew viewers in with the adorable situations of four boys who traveled to the twenty-first century. Rooftop Prince, on the other hand, left the audience heartbroken by the tragic love story as two main characters belong to two different spatial dimensions.

After the death of the Crown Prince Lee Kak’s wife, the Crown Prince transports 300 years into the future and arrives in 21st century Seoul, South Korea, with his retainers. In present-day Seoul, the Crown Prince meets Joo Se-Na, who has an uncanny resemblance to his deceased Princess.

9. Secret Garden (2010)

Secret Garden is a blockbuster that received awe-inspiring reviews. The work’s strong appeal has helped spread the Hallyu wave throughout Asia, immersing viewers in the love of the two main characters.

The drama tells the story of Kim Joo Won, an arrogant and eccentric CEO who maintains the image of seeming perfection, and Gil Ra Im, a poor and humble stunt woman whose beauty and body are the object of envy amongst top actresses. Their accidental meeting, when Joo Won mistakes Ra Im for actress Park Chae Rin, marks the beginning of a tense, bickering relationship, through which Joo Won tries to hide a growing attraction to Ra Im that both confuses and disturbs him. To complicate matters further, a strange sequence of events results in them swapping bodies.

10. Boys Over Flowers (2009)

Boys Over Flowers is a drama that can’t be overlooked when it comes to the classic Korean prince-cinderella motif. The work has become a turning point in the careers of Lee Min Ho and Goo Hye Sun.

Geum Jan Di comes from a low-income family who owns a dry-cleaning shop. One day, she visits Shinhwa High School, a prestigious school for the wealthy, and saves a student trying to commit suicide because of bullying. For her heroic act, Jan Di receives a swimming scholarship and starts attending the school.

At Shinhwa High, she is constantly being bullied because of her lowly background, and she is also the only one who dares to stand up against the bossy leader Gu Jun Pyo (Lee Min Ho).  However, the two gradually develop feelings for each other and go through countless obstacles before getting back together.

Even though they are unbelievable love stories that only exist on screen, Korean dramas with a Cinderella-prince motif are always able to capture the hearts of viewers, particularly female audiences. Who doesn’t want to fall in love with a handsome, talented, and wealthy partner?

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