11 Best Classic Korean Romantic Comedies to Put a Smile on Your Face

There’s no shortage of options when it comes to Korean romantic comedies. We’re spoiled with just how many options there are. The genre is known for its heartwarming stories, lovable characters, and witty humor. They’re also the perfect way to escape from the stresses of everyday life and have a good laugh.

So, if you’re looking for a classic Korean romantic comedy series to watch, here are 11 must-watch ones that K-drama lovers will not want to miss!

18 Again

Based on the Zac Efron flick, 17 Again, 18 Again is a Korean romantic comedy that follows the same route. 37-year-old Hong Dae-young ends up revisiting his 18-year-old self just as he’s in the midst of a divorce from his wife Da-Jung. Having regained his 18-year-old body, Dae-young returns to high school under the name Ko Woo-young.

18 Again stars Lee Do-hyun, Kim Ha-neul, Roh Jeong-eui, Ryeo-un, Yoon Sang-hyun, Choi Bo-min, and Hwang In-youp. The series is also available to watch on Netflix.

She Was Pretty

The 2015 Korean romantic comedy stars Hwang Jung-eum and Park Seo-jun as its leads. The drama was so popular it even had a Japanese remake a few years later.

She Was Pretty follows Kim Hye-Jin, who becomes an intern at a fashion company and reunites with her childhood friend Ji Sung-Joon. Hye-Jin remembers him as the chubby kid from school, while Sung-Joon remembers her as a pretty girl, thinking she’s even more beautiful now.

She Was Pretty also stars Choi Si-won and Go Jun-hee.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

The Korean romantic comedy starring Lee Sung-kyung and Nam Joo-hyuk follows the lives and friendships of students at a sports university. Lee plays the titular character, with Nam playing her childhood friend, swimmer Jung Joon-hyung. Bok-joo and Joon-hyung fall in love as they pursue their dreams. The popular series brought Nam and Lee into global stardom, and their chemistry hooks viewers into watching.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo also stars Kyung Soo-jin, Lee Jae-Yoon, Lee Joo-young, Cho Hye-Jung, Oh Eui-sik, Jang Young-Nam, Ji Il-joo, and Choi Woong.

Strong Woman Do Bong-soon

K-Drama fans can’t miss out on watching this series, starring Park Bo-young and Park Hyung-sik. Strong Woman Do Bong-soon follows the titular character who was born with superhuman strength. Wanting to pursue a career in video games, Bong-soon also wants to impress her crush, police officer In Guk-doo. However, she also caught the attention of gaming company CEO Ahn Min-hyuk.

With her strength, Bong-soon becomes Min-hyuk’s bodyguard and they get closer. Min-hyuk also helps train Bong-soon, and their relationship deepens into romance over time.

Strong Woman Do Bong-soon also stars Ji-soo, Ahn Woo-hyeon, Shim Hye-jin, and Yoo Jae-myung.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

One could argue that Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha is a great Korean romantic comedy to watch for beginners. The series follows a dentist named Hye-jin, who leaves her big-time job in the city after catching her boss cheating customers. Hye-jin ends up in the village of Gongjin, where she meets Hong Du-sik, who is loved by the residents.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha stars Shin Min-a, Kim Seon-ho, and Lee Sang-yi.

Business Proposal

The Korean romantic comedy that boosted its leads Ahn Hyo-seop, Kim Se-jeong, Kim Min-gue, and Seol In-a into the mainstream. The story follows Shin Ha-ri, who takes her wealthy friend’s place on a blind date in an effort to make the guy lose interest. However, things get complicated when Ha-ri realizes that the guy her friend is supposed to meet is none other than her boss, Kang Tae-moo.

Mistaken identities and fake marriages, the drama also retains the romance and the humor. It’s no wonder the series is among the most-watched. Business Proposal also stars Lee Deok-hwa, Seo Hye-won, and Lee Ki-young in an ensemble cast.

King the Land

One of the most recent Korean romantic comedies to air, King the Land stars Lee Jun-ho and Lim Yoon-a as Gu Won and Cheon Sa-Rang. Gu Won comes from a wealthy family who manages the King Group. He finds himself in the midst of an inheritance war over the business and to make things worse for him, he’s also not very good at dating.

Cheon Sa-Rang works at the King Hotel and faces some challenges of her own. When the two of them meet, sparks fly and romance soon develops between them.

King The Land also stars Go Won-Hee, Kim Ga-Eun, Kim Young-ok, An Woo-yeon, Ah Se-Ha, Son Byung-Ho, Kim Sun-young, Jung Won-Jo, Kim Dong-ha, Nam Gi-Ae, Jung Min-joo, Han Ji-an, and Chae Yeon-jung.

What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?

Fans of Korean romantic comedies know not to miss out on watching this one. The series follows Kim Mi-so, the longtime secretary of the very cocky vice-chairman Lee Young-joon. Mi-so is quitting after nine years on the job, leaving Young-joon frustrated. She has two months to train her replacement and convince her boss to let her go so she can pursue what she wants to do the most.

What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim stars Park Min-young, Park Seo-Joon, Lee Tae-hwan, Kim Byeong-ok, Kim Hye-ok, and Baek Eun-hye.

Extraordinary You

What happens when you realize you’re a character in a popular comic? Even more, what happens when you realize that you’re not even the main character of the comic?

That sums up the main premise of Extraordinary You. Eun Dan-oh is a student at a prestigious high school. She comes from a wealthy family while also afflicted with a heart disease and doesn’t have much time to live. Oh, and she’s also engaged to a fellow student, Baek Kyung, who doesn’t even like her.

Dan-oh becomes self-aware when she finds out that she’s a side character in a comic, much like everyone else in the school. Determined to be a character on her own terms, she decides to find true love instead. She ends up crashing into a fellow student who doesn’t even have a name. Eun-oh decides to name him Haru and romance blooms along the way.

Extraordinary You stars Kim Hye-yoon, Ro-woon, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Na-eun, Kim Young-dae, Jung Gun-joo, and Lee Tae-ri.

True Beauty

A Korean romantic comedy that focuses on outward appearances, something that the main character Im Ju-kyung is conscious of. When she learns how to put on makeup, she becomes pretty and continues to do so to hide her bare face. This makeover catches the attention of two guys, the handsome tsundere Lee Soo-ho and the school bad boy Han Seo-jun.

True Beauty stars Moon Ga-young, Cha Eun-woo, Hwang In-youp, and Park Yoo-na.

He’s Beautiful

One of the most popular Korean romantic comedies, He’s Beautiful is one that K-Drama fans can’t miss out watching.

The romantic comedy follows a nun named Go Minyeo, who has a twin brother named Go Minam. Go Minam also happens to be a member of the up-and-coming band ANJELL. When Minam gets into an accident, Minyeo is coerced into posing as her brother while he recuperates. The longer she poses as her brother, well, she gets tangled in a love triangle between Tae-kyung and Shin-woo.

He’s Beautiful stars Park Shin-hye, Jang Geun-seuk, Lee Hongki, Jung Yong-hwa, and UEE.

Whether you’re looking for a light-hearted comedy or a more serious K-drama, we’re sure these classic Korean romantic comedies will put a smile on your face. Did we miss one of your favorites? Let us know in the comments.