Be it a South Korean chaebol falling for a North Korean soldier in Crash Landing on You or a demon pining for his one true mortal love in shows like My Demon and Goblin, there’s something about K-dramas with the forbidden love trope that seems to strike a chord across the world.
With a captivating tale that explores the complications of an otherworldly romance between demon Jeong Gu-won (played by Song Kang) and a mortal chaebol Do Do-hee (played by Kim Yoo-jung), My Demon tops the list of the best K-dramas about forbidden love. According to Netflix, the 2023 Korean series ranked #2 on the OTT platform’s Global Top 10 TV (Non-English) category.
Meanwhile, a Lee Jung-hyo directorial, the 2019 Korean romance drama Crash Landing on You (CLOY) won hearts globally with its intriguing plot about cross-border scenarios and forbidden love. With a solid 98 per cent Rotten Tomatoes ranking, CLOY is the second-highest-rated cable drama in South Korea. This Son Ye-jin starrer K-drama, which portrays the ‘forbidden love’ trope at its best, enjoyed a nationwide average viewership of 21.7 per cent and over 6.3 million views, according to Nielsen Korea.
Not to forget the 2018 masterpiece The Hymn of Death, inspired by the love story of a real couple living in Japan and Korea during the tumultuous 1920s colonial period. Starring K-drama heartthrob Lee Jong-suk, the title of this popular Korean drama series is taken from the name of Yun Sim-deok’s last (recorded) song about forbidden love, called “Hymn of Death”.
These best K-dramas about forbidden love will tug at your heartstrings
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- My Demon (2023)
- Snowdrop (2021)
- Tale of the Nine-Tailed (2020)
- Crash Landing on You (2019)
- The Hymn of Death (2018)
- Something in the Rain (2018)
- The Legend of the Blue Sea (2016)
- Goblin (2016)
- Secret Love Affair (2014)
- My Love from the Star (2013)
1 /10
Directed by: Kim Jang-han
Cast: Song Kang, Kim Yoo-jung
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: When demon Jung Koo-won (Song) gets entangled with human heiress Do Do-hee (Kim) and ends up losing his powers to her. To regain his special abilities, Koo-won must now get into a contractual marriage with Do-hee. This leads the duo to fall for each other. But will fate favour their otherworldly love?
2 /10
Directed by: Jo Hyun-taek
Cast: Jung Hae-in, Jisoo, Jang Seung-jo
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: In 1987 Seoul, university student Run Young-ro (Jisoo) falls in love with North Korean spy Lim Soo-ho (Jae). Despite the duo’s will to stay with each other, Young Ro has no choice but to move, according to the command in order and then go back to his home country.
About the show: It is a K-drama adaptation of the handwritten journal of a North Korean defector.
Directed by: Kang Shin-hyo and Jo Nam-hyeong
Cast: Lee Dong-wook, Jo Bo-ah, Kim Jung-nan, Kim Beom
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Gumiho Lee Yeon (Lee) is now leading his life in the city and eradicating otherworldly beings that threaten the mortal world. However, he catches the attention of reporter Nam Ji-ah (Jo), who suspects him of being from the otherworld and begins tailing his every move. Amid their cat-and-mouse chase, Yeon grows fond of Ji-ah.
About the show: One of the most popular forbidden love K-dramas, Tale of the Nine-Tailed got its second instalment in 2023. It is rumoured to return for a third season soon.
Directed by: Lee Jung-hyo
Cast: Son Ye-jin, Hyun Bin, Seo Ji-hye, Kim Jung-hyun
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: When heiress Yoon Se-ri (Son) of South Korea crash-lands in a quaint North Korean hamlet after a paragliding mishap, she is rescued by soldier Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun). With time, Jeong-hyeok helps her survive in North Korea and soon develops feelings for her. As the couple aspires to be with each other, several cross-border circ*mstances pose a threat to their love.
5 /10
Directed by: Park Soo-jin
Cast: Lee Jong-suk, Shin Hye-sun, Kim Myung-soo
Episode: 3
Synopsis: Playwright Kim Woo-jin (Lee) falls for his music student Yun Sim-deok (Shin). However, circ*mstances lead the young lovers to separate. Years later, the duo cross paths once again. Woo-jin is now a married man, while Sim-deok is a professional soprano. As they reunite, old feelings resurface. But with society against them, will Woo-jin and Sim-deok give up on their love?
Directed by: Ahn Pan-seok
Cast: Son Ye-jin Jung Hae-in, Jang So-yeon, Joo Min-kyung
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Yoon Jin-a (Son) unexpectedly gets a chance to reconnect with her friend’s younger brother Seo Joon-hee (Jung) after many years. The two soon fall in love. But in a Korean society that stigmatises older women dating younger men, their road to togetherness seems difficult.
Directed by: Jin Hyeok
Cast: Gianna Jun, Lee Min-ho, Lee Hee-jun, Shin Won-ho
Episodes: 20
Synopsis: Mermaid Sim Chung (Gianna) and her human lover, Crown Prince Kim Ryung (Lee) from the Joseon Dynasty separate following the latter’s brutal murder. As the duo reconcile in modern-day Seoul decades later, will fate repeat itself?
8 /10
Directed by: Lee Eung-bok
Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Yoo In-na, Lee Dong-wook
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: When warrior Kim Shin (Gong) is brutally murdered, the Gods turn him into an immortal goblin. Decades later, Shin wants to get rid of his immortality and visits the modern world in search of his human bride (Kim), the only person who can grant him freedom. Shin finally meets her and in the course of time, develops feelings for her. Will destiny favour their forbidden love?
About the show: One of the highest-rated K-dramas to watch, Goblin is also known as Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.
9 /10
Secret Love Affair (2014)
Directed by: Ahn Pan-seok
Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hee-ae, Shim Hye-jin
Episodes: 16
Synopsis: Hye Won (Kim) is an elite art director married to a piano professor. One day, she comes across a 20-year-old piano prodigy Lee Sun-jae (Yoo), who also works as a delivery man to make ends meet. Soon, she starts spending more time with him and eventually, a passionate love affair begins. But with her family and morals at stake, will Hye Won be able to stay with Sun Jae forever?
About the show: Based on Tokyo Tower, a 2005 Japanese drama film by Takashi Minamoto.
10 /10
Directed by: Jang Tae-yoo and Oh Choong-hwan
Cast: Gianna Jun, Kim Soo-hyun, Park Hae-jin, Yoo In-na
Episodes: 21
Synopsis: Alien Do Min-joon (Kim) from the Joseon Dynasty has been on Earth for 400 years. Over time, he crosses paths with celebrity Cheon Song-yi (Gianna), who turns out to be his neighbour. The duo soon strike a chord and start spending time together. Will this unusual bonding be the beginning of an otherworldly love story or pose a threat to Min-joon’s existence on Earth?
(Hero and Featured image: Courtesy Netflix)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What is the No.1 Korean romantic drama?
Some of the top Korean romantic dramas are Welcome to Samdal-ri, What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, Crash Landing on You, My Demon, Business Proposal, King The Land, The Hymn of Death, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, Goblin, Boys Over Flowers and The Heirs.
– Which Korean drama has the most intimate scenes?
K-dramas with the most intimate scenes are What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, Her Private Life, Nevertheless, Healer, Fight My Way, Coffee Prince, Something in the Rain and The World of the Married.
– Which is the best romantic comedy Korean drama?
Some of the best romantic comedy Korean dramas are Fight My Way, Business Proposal, Strong Girl Bong-Soon, Beauty Inside, Coffee Prince, I Am Not A Robot and Hello My Teacher.
– Why is it called forbidden love?
The forbidden love trope in movies and dramas is mostly used to portray a romantic relationship that seems impossible — for reasons like social or religious limitations, clichéd societal norms and one of the partners already being in a committed relationship. This kind of love is often frowned upon or is ‘forbidden’ in society. To speak of Korean forbidden romances like Goblin and My Demon, these shows have been globally appreciated by K-drama fans and are popular for their intriguing storylines.
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