Please recommend me dramas with feel-good rom-com vibes, great chemistry, and low angst. I am looking for dramas that have plenty of humor, wholesome interactions, and an overall lighthearted atmosphere without heavy melodrama or tragic storylines.

Dramas I've seen & my thoughts

• Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo — Liked: Loved the cozy youth setting, the hilarious banter, and the main couple's chemistry. Disliked: The crush subplot in the first few episodes felt a bit slow to get through.
• King the Land — Liked: Super easy, low-stress watch. Loved that it leaned heavily into classic tropes with pure fluff and great chemistry. Disliked: The plot was pretty predictable, but still fun.
• Love Next Door — Liked: Big fan of the friends-to-lovers trope and the whole neighborhood vibe. Disliked: Some of the family side plots dragged out a little too long for my taste.
• Itaewon Class — Liked: The underdog story and group dynamics were super motivating and fun to follow. Disliked: The romance side of things felt a bit rushed/pushed to the very end.

All the dramas I’ve watched so far

Here is my complete watch history so you can see what I’ve already seen:

1. A Business Proposal
2. Boys Over Flowers
3. Crash Landing on You
4. Family by Choice
5. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
6. Itaewon Class
7. King the Land
8. Love Next Door
9. My Demon
10. My Roommate Is a Gumiho
11. Our Beloved Summer
12. Perfect Crown
13. Start-Up
14. Tale of the Nine-Tailed
15. Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938
16. The Heavenly Idol
17. The Legend of the Blue Sea
18. Twinkling Watermelon
19. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
20. Welcome to Samdal-ri

hi. Please recommend me dramas with romance, wholesome interactions and compelling storytelling. i want a relatively recent kdrama that has a good classic kdrama vibe where we see side couples, modern day settings and overall organic, feel good interactions.

dramas i liked with that vibe:

- run on 1. i like the parallels between the couple 2. i liked how they were interacting with eachother as well and forming bonds of bromance etc

- business proposal

- nevertheless (even tho it was kinda toxic) 1. i liked the party settings 2. i liked to see how they were giving advices to eachother

- coffee prince (old ik but....)

these are it at the top of my head.

i dont have a mal but these are the kdramas i have watched besides what i mentioned.

My watch history:

- autumn in my heart

- boys over flowers

- full house (my beloved)

- dream high

- scarlet heart

- my name

- the 8 show

- strangers from hell

- flowers of evil

- mouse

- trigger

- gangnam b side

- bad guy (2010)

- true beauty

- cheese in the trap

- save me

- its ok not to be ok

- heirs/ inheritors

- sky castle

- penthouse

- twinkling watermelon

- the glory

- manager kim

- mr plankton

- weak hero class

- the worst of evil

- the legend of the blue sea

- welcome to waikiki

- killer's paradox

- s line

- study group

I'm looking for dramas (romcom) that will destroy my heart and make me cry like Queen of Tears did so many times but also make my heart giddy with their cute playful romantic chemistry.

What I really liked about Queen of Tears is no matter how many times I watch it (I'm on my 4th now), it still crushes my heart like no other show ever has. But the show also gives the opposite feeling during the non-serious moments where the ML and FL are playful with each other when showing how much they love and care for the other person.

This is my watch history:

Repeat shows are:

• Queen of Tears (2024)
• Lie to Me (2011)
• My Princess (2011)
• What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018)

A few other shows I've watched:

• Full House (2004)
• Only You (2005)
• Sassy Girl Chun-Hyang (2005)
• Princess Hours (2006)
• Personal Taste (2010)

I'm looking for dramas with caring and protective ml, with an engaging plot (chemistry > plot). Plus points if the FL is strong as well (Happiness leads are my all time favs I can't stop giggling even when they appear on my feed but they are one of a kind, I don't expect chemistry exactly to be like them). This is my already watched playlist and the are stars are my all time favourites, I know too many

Watched

1. Hospital playlist⭐

2. Reply 1988 ⭐

3. One Spring Night⭐

4. Law School ⭐

5. Because this is my first life

6. Racket boys

7. My ID is gangnam beauty

8. When the Camellia blooms

9. Mouse ⭐

10. Start-up(C-tier)

11. 25-21 ⭐

12. Stranger(B-tier)

13. Twinkling Watermelon ⭐

14. Something in the rain (first half)⭐

15. Suspicious Partner

16. Daily dose of sunshine

17. Our beloved summer ⭐

18. Healer

19. Happiness⭐

20. Flower of evil⭐

21. Tomorrow⭐️

22. Weightlifting fairy Kim bok joo

23. Mr. Queen⭐️

24. W two worlds apart

25. When life gives you tangerines⭐️

26. Her private life

27. While you were sleeping

28. Come and hug me

29. Misaeng⭐️

30. The smile has left your eyes

31. The K2

32. Alchemy of souls ⭐️

33. A time called you

34. Vincenzo ⭐

35. Destined with you

36. Shooting stars⭐

37. Dali & Cocky prince

38. Dr. Romantic S1

39. Dr. Romantic S2

40. Dr. Romantic S3

41. King the land (dropped at ep 10)

42. The tale of lady Ok

43. Angel's last mission love

44. He is psychometric

45. 100 days my prince

46. Sky Castle⭐

47. Our Universe

48. Love all play

49. Our blooming youth

50. Flex X cop

51. Perfect Marriage Revenge

52. The tale of nokdu

53. Love next door

54. Just between lovers

55. Teach you a lesson⭐

56. Hi Bye Mama⭐

57. The East Palace

58. The first responders S1 & S2

59. The Glory

60. Resident Playbook⭐

61. Uncanny counter S1

62. Head over heels

63. Under the queen's umbrella

64. Military prosecutor doberman

Thursday Therapy, is r/kdramarecommends’ weekly community chat. A place in which Korean drama addicts both recent and those moving towards recovery can freely discuss anything and everything!

You may want to:

• Introduce yourself or remain anonymous (share your My Drama List page or similar)
• Share what you’ve been watching and whether you love or hate it (it doesn’t have to be a Korean drama)
• Ask for recommendations unrelated to Korean dramas (books, movies, podcasts, other country’s television series, etc)
• Share a great recommendation thread you found whilst digging through the archives
• Talk about what is coming out on [insert drama service name]
• Give thanks to the community for helping you find your new favourite drama

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are unsure of how to use spoiler tags here is r/KDRAMA’s easy to follow guide.

I'm looking for dramas that are romantic and bingeworthy, that you really get attached to, or that you think about pretty often after you've finished watching them! I've enjoyed both comforting, slice-of-life shows and suspenseful shows with lots of plot twists so far, so I'm generally pretty open genre-wise (but I would prefer a modern setting over a historical one, and I'm not usually a fan of office dramas).

I prefer green-flag, caring relationships where both leads are very equal in and actually reciprocate their love for one another (in other words, not a passive female lead). I also love beautiful cinematography and a cast of characters/settings that you get attached to. In general, my criteria for a good K-drama is that it makes me cry at least once (not necessarily out of sadness, although I love super emotional shows)! One or many of the following tropes generally achieve this: soulmates/destined in every lifetime, found family, opposites attract, and any form of hurt/comfort.

My favorite dramas and why:

-Because This is My First Life: Gorgeous/realistic perspectives on life and its issues, very emotional/heartwarming romance, thoughtful FMC that is not afraid to stand up for herself even if she's soft-spoken (oddly specific, I know), awkward/stoic male lead that opens up, adorable female friendships, incredible OST

-Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha: Healing/comforting feeling, small-town seaside setting, opposites-attract, realistic and flawed FL and ML that both grow throughout, amazing chemistry, and actually giving us romantic follow-through

-Crash Landing on You: Forbidden romance, found family, star-crossed/destined lovers, emotional intensity, fish-out-of-water trope, plot twists/dramatic scenes

-A Time Called You: Incredibly written, suspenseful time-travel plot that kept me thinking, gorgeous cinematography and visuals, OST, bingeworthiness, emotional intensity

-Twinkling Watermelon: Humorous parts of the time-travel plot, emotional family moments (I appreciated how beautifully the love between Eun-gyeol and his parents was portrayed), music/band plot, nostalgic setting, pure/sweet romance

-Lovely Runner: Destined lovers, romantic chemistry, suspense/plot twists, down-bad male lead (we love loser Sunjae)

Watch history (other than the above):

-Destined with You

-Business Proposal

-Her Private Life

-My Demon

Thank you so much! <333

I'm looking for dramas with dark school / survival / mind games, creepy horror vibe, psychological twists, and no draggy romance.

I liked: Pyramid Game, Night Has Come, Goedam / Girigo - I love that short, intense, edge-of-the-seat feeling where you can't stop watching.

Already watched: Mouse, Light Shop, All of Us Are Dead, Squid Game, Alice in Borderland, Sweet Home, Little Women so please don't recommend these.

Please recommend me dramas with similar vibes that are constantly gripping from episode

Preferably available on Netflix / Viki.

Please recommend me dramas with a historical/sageuk setting, good romance, a bit of comedy, and some political drama. Happy endings only please! I’d also like to avoid unnecessary serial killers, though thankfully I don’t see those plots as often in sageuk dramas.
I just finished Alchemy of Souls and really enjoyed the setting and fantasy elements, so feel free to recommend fantasy shows too.
Other than AOS, dramas roughly in this category that I’ve recently watched are:

- Mr. Queen (forever chasing this high tbh)

- Bon Appetite Your Majesty (amazing leads and politics)

- My Royal Nemesis (not quite a sageuk but loved the romance)

- Knight Flower (loved the setting and politics/drama, awesome FL, romance was meh for me)

- The King’s Affection (cute, just ok imo)

And here’s my watch history:

• Goblin
• Strong woman
• Weightlifting fairy
• Business proposal
• Crash course in romance
• Hotel Del Luna
• Hometown Cha cha cha
• Summer strike
• Once upon a small town (unfinished)
• Welcome to samdal-ri
• My demon 
• Bon appetite your majesty 
• Tastefully Yours
• Mr. Queen 
• The king’s affection 
• Sold Out On You
• My Royal Nemesis 
• Knight flower 
• Alchemy of Souls

thanks in advance!!

I'm a big foodie so I quite loved watching Mr Queen and Bon Appetit Your Majesty. What pleasantly surprised me though, was how much I enjoyed watching the political intrigue! I think the royal court system is super interesting, but I don't know if I'd libe something that's 100% politics.

As such, I'm looking for dramas that are something like 50/50 or slightly more politics, or something that features food prominently!

Watch history :

- All of us are dead

- Kingdom

- Mr Queen

- Bon Appetit Your Majesty

As you can tell I'm also a big zombie fan. I tried a few others, like the Happiness zombie show, but they felt a bit too unrealistic and over the top for me.

I liked the politics of Kingdom as well. I also don't mind some romance, Mr Queen did make me feel giddy, but it felt like a good payoff for the plot.

Thank you for your help!

I’m looking for dramas with human, flawed characters that feel somewhat grounded. I’m not against it being fantastical or supernatural, but I like the characters to feel normal. Recommend me dramas with well-written characters please. (that sounds a bit rude, but I'm not allowed to post without those words apparently?)

I’m still somewhat new to Kdramas, but I’ve found some of my favourite shows in this genre, and would love to watch more! But I’m struggling with what to pick, cuz some seem a bit too goofy for me?
This is everything I have seen so far:

The Glory
When Life Gives You Tangerines
Twinkling Watermelon
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Squid Games
All of Us Are Dead

That probably the order I would rank them in too, from favourite to least favourite. I think I like characters that feel human, and while I enjoy some humor, sometimes I can be pulled out of it if it’s too goofy?
I’ve tried watching It’s Okay to not be Okay, twice, and have only gotten as far as episode 4. While I like the premise and characters, the pacing KILLS me. Everything just felt dragged out, so watching it was kind of a chore. I’m currently giving Crash Landing on You a try, just finished episode 2. I have mixed feelings, the premise feels weird, and it’s odd to have a rom-com set in North Korea? I don’t know how accurate the show is or if I should take it seriously, but I’m still giving it a shot.
I’m mainly here in the hopes that, looking at what I’ll enjoy, you guys might know what I’d enjoy.
Shows I’ve added to my to watch list but aren’t too sure if it’s for me are: Goblin, Mr Queen, My Mister, The Good Bad Mother. Would you recommend any of these based on my tastes?
Also, as someone new to Kdramas I feel the need to ask, are 80% of them just wealth porn? It’s odd to say, but in so many of these it has these insanely rich characters, and it’s treated as just normal? Maybe I’m just poor, but the amounts of opulence almost make me uncomfortable XD
Maybe that’s why Tangerines was such a breath of fresh air, lol.

Thursday Therapy, is r/kdramarecommends’ weekly community chat. A place in which Korean drama addicts both recent and those moving towards recovery can freely discuss anything and everything!

You may want to:

• Introduce yourself or remain anonymous (share your My Drama List page or similar)
• Share what you’ve been watching and whether you love or hate it (it doesn’t have to be a Korean drama)
• Ask for recommendations unrelated to Korean dramas (books, movies, podcasts, other country’s television series, etc)
• Share a great recommendation thread you found whilst digging through the archives
• Talk about what is coming out on [insert drama service name]
• Give thanks to the community for helping you find your new favourite drama

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are unsure of how to use spoiler tags here is r/KDRAMA’s easy to follow guide.

I'm looking for dramas similar to four hands two sonatas. I love the bromance here - the way they admire and stick up for each other as friends and stay drawn together even when they're not. Also the struggle they put themselves through for the other, without them knowing. I love the level of drama here, perfectly intense and frustrating, while also moving and sweet. I also adore the music elements, and getting to see them progress.

I am not looking for anything primarily a comedy without a fairly large drama element to it.

similar drama i love:

- twinkling watermelon - heartbreaking but sweet tone, music and its importance to the characters, beautiful friendship

- at a distance spring is green - strong unexpected bromance helping each other through hardships. both characters initially misjudge each other.

- if you wish upon me - likeable lead who can't catch a break and is misjudged despite being kind and selfless. hopeful and dramatic at the same time.

full watch history: flower of evil, move to heaven, taxi driver, pinnochio, uncontrollably fond, the devil judge, signal

thank you any suggestions.

I'm looking for dramas that are plot-driven and have a decent amount of action, but that aren't too dark or gritty. I recently watched Agent Kim Reactivated and while it wasn't perfect, the fun character interactions and elaborate action scenes had me hooked. As such, I'd like to know if there's are any similar dramas out there, as so far, I haven't felt motivated to watch anything else!

Additionally, here are some other dramas I've seen that fit this criteria:

-A Shop for Killers (Another one of my favourites; I especially enjoyed the overarching mystery behind Jeong Jin-man's backstory. I wasn't as keen on season 2, however, as it lost the first season's air of mystery.)

- All of Us Are Dead (I liked the wide variety of characters)

-My Name (Probably a little darker than the kind of drama I'd normally watch; while the plot was somewhat interesting, I wasn't a huge fan of the gritty, dark atmosphere depicted in the show)

-Crash (I particularly liked the car chases, as well as the dynamic between the male and female leads)

-Undercover High School (I'm not sure if this really counts, since it doesn't have that many action scenes compared to the other shows I've mentioned; I found it funny at times, but the plot did start to drag a bit towards the end)

-Not a K-drama, but the Baby Assassins franchise might also qualify; I enjoyed the dynamic between the main characters, as well as how the fight sequences were juxtaposed with comedic daily life scenes.

Also, for reference, here is a link to my complete watch history.

https://mydramalist.com/dramalist/OdysseyRL1

Hi, I’d never seen a kdrama until I watched Friendly Rivalry a while ago and loved it. I’ve seen a lot of fans say it’s one of one in terms of quality and substance, but I don’t know enough about Korean dramas to know if that’s accurate or just fans being hyperbolic. Are there any other shows you’d recommend to a non-kdrama watcher who loved Friendly Rivalry? I don’t have strong genre preferences (it doesnt have to be a mystery thriller or GL) but I did appreciate the social commentary, complex female leads, and heavy symbolism in Friendly Rivalry and am ideally looking for shows that have at least two of those three. Thank you!

I’ve been trying to find dynamics like cheongsan and onjo in other kdramas for forever and can’t seem to find anything, but recently Mantis seemed to scratch that itch.

I guess what I’m mainly looking for is a male lead that cares incredibly for the female lead, even to the point of protecting her or attempting to sacrificing himself in situations

I’d love if it was mainly action/horror like AOUAD

This is everything I have seen and enjoyed (I’ve only started watching kdramas in 2023):

-AOUAD

-Mantis

-Squid games

-ONE: Highschool heroes

-#ALIVE

-Bloodhounds

-Duty after school

-When life gives you tangerines

-Flower of evil

-Vagabond

Thursday Therapy, is r/kdramarecommends’ weekly community chat. A place in which Korean drama addicts both recent and those moving towards recovery can freely discuss anything and everything!

You may want to:

• Introduce yourself or remain anonymous (share your My Drama List page or similar)
• Share what you’ve been watching and whether you love or hate it (it doesn’t have to be a Korean drama)
• Ask for recommendations unrelated to Korean dramas (books, movies, podcasts, other country’s television series, etc)
• Share a great recommendation thread you found whilst digging through the archives
• Talk about what is coming out on [insert drama service name]
• Give thanks to the community for helping you find your new favourite drama

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are unsure of how to use spoiler tags here is r/KDRAMA’s easy to follow guide.

I am looking for dramas where the ML is keeping a dark or monstrous secret. Something like scholar who walks the night, Hyde Jekyll and me, zombie detective, bulgasal.

I like themes of split personality, loss of self, or alter egos. Romance is a big plus.

My favorite dramas of all time are Hyde Jekyll and Me, Healer, and Kill me Heal Me. I also loved Oh My Ghostess, even though it wasn’t ML but FL with the alter

I was pleasantly surprised to find I enjoyed Your Honor, and Please come home mister, though they don’t specifically fit my usual style. I don’t usually like gritty crime or period dramas.

Other dramas I’ve watched-
Lovesong for Illusion - felt flat, not enough change between alter egos and female lead was two dimensional
Stranger - I liked the male leads illness but not a huge fan of epic, serious detective plots
Uncontrollably fond - did that hyper masculine shut out to the woman he claimed to love, is just felt so unnecessarily dramatic and mean
Devlish charm - liked it a lot, but ML was a bit cruel to FL towards the end
Flower of evil - I liked a lot about this drama, but ML kept secrets that bordered on cruel to FL again. Like, she’d already proved she can handle your mess, just stop being cruel and cold.

I'm trying to immerse in the Korean language and modern culture. I'm looking for kdramas that are low stakes / don't have an over the top plot and has some sort of 'realism' of modern South Korea interactions.

Recently I've finished Business Proposal which i really enjoyed. It was funny and the story was engaging and didn't drag out.

Also liked Hometown cha cha cha for almost the same reason plus it's a refreshing change of theme showing the country side

Other kdramas I've watched are Oh my venus and Weightlifing Fairy Kim Bok-Joo. I tend to tend to watch romcoms as it's more fun to watch

I used to watch K-dramas a lot, but work got in the way and I haven’t had much time for them in the last few years. Now I finally have some free time again and I’d really like to find a drama that gets me hooked again.

Romance and comedy are definitely my favorite genres. I’m looking for something with a good romance, plenty of funny moments, and characters that are easy to get invested in.

Secret Garden is still my favorite. I loved the mix of romance and comedy and how attached I became to the characters. I also really enjoyed My Love from the Star, The Heirs, Boys Over Flowers, The king, My Lovely Sam Soon, and Business Proposal.

Those are the dramas I remember watching, although it has been so long that I honestly can’t remember every K-drama I’ve seen over the years.

I’ve been away from K-dramas for quite a while, so I’m especially curious about good dramas I may have missed during that time. What would you recommend based on what I enjoy?

Hi KDR, this year for K-Drama Day 2026 Viki is partnering with r/KDRAMA and r/kdramarecommends to celebrate the dramas we love to watch!

Since KDR is all about giving and receiving recommendations, we thought we’d give it a twist by making a game out of recommending dramas to K-drama characters!

Ever watch a character in K-drama and think "I have a K-drama in mind that would suit this character perfectly!" Now’s your chance to share. You can pick any K-drama character you'd like to give a recommendation for – just make sure you include a reason (and make sure your reasoning doesn't include spoilers!)

To get the game started, we have a few examples below. Feel free to build off of them or start your own!

• Since Grim Reaper from Guardian: The Lonely and Great God loves watching makjang dramas, we wish he’d host a watch party for Perfect Marriage Revenge, featuring delicious makjang and karma well served!
• Jang Hui Won from Positively Yours is faced with the conundrum of navigating a complex relationship with her boss, so we think she could use some pointers from watching My Bias, My Boss and Love Scout about dealing with awkwardness at the workplace!
• Bo Na from A Bona Fide Killer should totally watch IDOL I for pointers on how to be a good fan to bond with her sisters-in-law, and My Sweet Mobster for inspiration of activities to do with her daughter!

I’m looking for fluffy romance dramas with preferably no love triangles and little to no drama. ML and FL that absolutely love and adore each other and are intimate. Traveling, beautiful scenery, and a great soundtrack is a bonus. Enemies to lovers are also very much appreciated. Please and Thank You

I’ve just recently finished King The Land and I absolutely loved it. I loved that the ML and FL absolutely loved and adored each other. I loved the music and the rest of the cast as well. I really enjoyed watching them fall in love.

Dramas that I’ve watched

Crash Landing on You

Love Next Door

Doona!

My Demon

Hometown Cha Cha Cha

Business Proposal

Welcome to Samdal Ri

Her Private Life

Once Upon a Small Town

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim

Love To Hate You

Suspicious Partner

The Secret Life of My Secretary

Our Sticky Love

Hey everyone!

I’ve recently gotten really into Korean horror and I’m looking for more recommendations.

So far, I’ve watched:

• If Wishes Could Kill You
• Revenant
• The Guest
• The Wailing
• Exhuma
• Kingdom

I especially loved the dark atmosphere, supernatural elements, Korean folklore/shamanism, mystery, creepy slow-burn storytelling, and the feeling that something is deeply wrong even when nothing is happening on screen. 😭

I’m looking for more Korean horror movies or dramas with a similar vibe. I’m particularly interested in:

• Supernatural/occult horror
• Korean folklore and mythology
• Shamanism/exorcism
• Haunted places or strange supernatural phenomena
• Mystery + horror
• Psychological horror
• Slow-burn horror with a creepy atmosphere
• Dark historical/supernatural stories

I’m not necessarily looking for jump-scare-heavy horror. I’m much more interested in something unsettling, atmospheric and mysterious like The Wailing or Exhuma.

So, what should I watch next? 👀

Thursday Therapy, is r/kdramarecommends’ weekly community chat. A place in which Korean drama addicts both recent and those moving towards recovery can freely discuss anything and everything!

You may want to:

• Introduce yourself or remain anonymous (share your My Drama List page or similar)
• Share what you’ve been watching and whether you love or hate it (it doesn’t have to be a Korean drama)
• Ask for recommendations unrelated to Korean dramas (books, movies, podcasts, other country’s television series, etc)
• Share a great recommendation thread you found whilst digging through the archives
• Talk about what is coming out on [insert drama service name]
• Give thanks to the community for helping you find your new favourite drama

Please remember to use spoiler tags when discussing major plot points or anything you think should be redacted. If you are unsure of how to use spoiler tags here is r/KDRAMA’s easy to follow guide.