A lot of us are a sucker for romance, and that’s all right. But not everyone is up for so much mush that a dose of comedy can help balance the recipe, just as sugar mellows out the acidity in certain dishes. If you’re craving for some rom-com series, here are 10 of the romance comedies in 2019!
1. When the Camellia Blooms
“When the Camellia Blooms” is a romantic thriller-comedy about the realistic, passionate love between three couples. The drama will follow the story of a woman named Dong Baek and show how her life is tangled up with a good man, a bad man, and a cheap man.
This drama follows the story of a single mother named Dong Baek. Together with her son, she settles into a new town where she puts up a business much to the irritation of the neighborhood wives. She accepted that people will give her the cold shoulder, but that didn’t stop her from succeeding in her venture. However, things change when Hwang Yong Sik returns to his hometown from Seoul. He fell in love with the charming single mother the first time he laid eyes on her. He made efforts to make Dong Baek feel the love she was deprived of.
Meanwhile, Don Baek’s ex-boyfriend, who is a famous baseball player, suddenly waltzes his way back into her life. While Dong Baek tries to find her happiness, trouble starts to brew in the background. A serial killer is on the loose, and apparently, she may be a target.
These pairing between Gong Hyo Jin and Kang Ha Neul was actually charming and heartwarming to watch. While the story may be character-driven, with Gong Hyo Jin at the helm, Ha Neul’s energizing performance created a warm contrast to her passive character. The story deviates from excessive drama, and being a middle-aged romance, the story appeals more to those who are in their 30s.
2. Crash Landing on You
This is a love story that has to be swept under the covers for issues of national security. It started when Yoon Se Ri encountered a paragliding accident and found her way across the borders of North Korea where she literally crash-landed into the arms of Captain Ri Jeong Hyeok. To avert any trouble for his troops who were manning the border, Captain Ri decides to hide Se Ri in his house while finding ways to bring her back home.
Nosy neighbors and a heart-stopping random check of Captain Ri’s house forced him to lie to the authorities that Se Ri was his fiance just to protect her. However, what both did not expect is how they would grow feelings for each other as time went on.
When Se Ri finally found a way back home, she realized that she left her heart back on the other side of the military border. So did Captain Ri, when it was finally time to take her to the safest spot where she can cross back to South Korea.
However, danger is still hot on Se Ri’s trail as a disgruntled North Korean military officer wanted to capture her in an attempt to prove to the government that Captain Ri illegally hid Se Ri. This pushed Captain Ri to sneak his way down south to warn and save Se Ri which eventually concluded in a dramatic goodbye. But is it really the end for these star-crossed lovers?
Hyun Bin and Son ye Jin brought a captivating and memorable performance that left viewers laughing and crying. It was one of 2019’s iconic series and a binge-able one at that, which is why it’s no surprise why ratings went through the roof in 2020, especially as it neared its conclusion.
3. Hotel Del Luna
Right at the heart of Seoul stands a mystical hotel that caters to spirits and prepares them for the afterlife. The story centres on Jang Man Wol, who is a hot-tempered guardian/owner who herself is a ghost serving penance for her sins in the past. She is joined by Kim Seon Bi who works as her bartender, Choi Seo Hee who is her warm and gentle hospitality manager, and frontman Ji Hyun Joong. These characters all had their unfinished businesses, hence they remain with Man Wol for several years.
But, things shake up when Man Wol recruited elite hotelier, Goo Chan Sung. Beyond his expertise in hospitality and management, he also became the person fated to save Man Wol. The two met knowing that Man Wol would eventually leave and that Chan Sung was supposed to eventually send her off. They grew to love each other even though they met with their parting in mind.
IU definitely fit the bill as the cranky and overindulgent Man Wol, while Yeo Jin Goo’s character provided a perfect contrast which he played perfectly. Their relationship evolved with several moments of hilarity, annoyance, and sadness. It’s the kind of drama where it takes a bit more time for the characters to grow on you, but when they do, the story leaves you with withdrawal symptoms.
The ending credits hints of a second season, but it might be difficult to top this one.
4. Touch Your Heart
This drama tells the story of a famous actress, Oh Yoon Seo, whose life went downhill after she was embroiled in a scandal with a third-generation chaebol. Out of work for two years, she grabs the opportunity when she learned that a famous screenwriter wants her to play the lead female role for a drama series. Since the role that she is set to portray is a secretary for a lawyer, she is required to prepare for it through immersion.
Yoon Seo ends up at Kown Jung Rok’s law firm where his boss told him to let her works as his secretary for three months. Arrogant and cold-hearted, this arrangement did not sit well with him, but he has no choice but to accept.
If you are an avid K-drama fan, seeing Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na back together on screen gives us real Goblin feels. The story even felt like a spin-off of their characters in Goblin who were reincarnated as an actress and a lawyer. Their on-screen chemistry as the Grim Reaper and Sunny in the 2016 hit series has been loved by many fans. In fact, the second video teaser for Touch Your Heart is actually Goblin-inspired.
5. Catch the Ghost
The story revolves around a woman named Yoo Ryung and the Subway Police Department. Yoo Ryung became a police investigator in hopes of finding her twin sister. While on the job, she has shown an insatiable drive for truth and an overflowing sense of justice. What is so interesting is that she is able to solve cases using her exceptional spatial perception, but she also gets herself in a lot of trouble because she often acts rashly.
Ko Ji Seok is Yoo Ryung’s partner who tends to avoid cases as he prefers stability. However, he finds himself always cleaning up after the problems caused by Yoo Ryung. With these dynamics between the two, they work together in solving various subway crimes which leads them closer to catching a serial killer known as “The Ghost.”
Moon Geun Young and Kim Seon Ho keep viewers hooked with their on-screen chemistry. Playing an investigative pair who unknowingly complements each other, they know how to keep followers on their toes as their characters became closer and grew to be more appreciative of each other’s struggles. On the whole, this series offers a delightful mix of action, comedy, mystery, and romance.
6. Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
Set in the conservative Joseon Dynasty at the turn of the 19th century, this story follows the free-spirited Goo Hae Ryung. She is a lady of noble descent, who takes an interest in Western books and ideologies. Her determination landed her a spot as one of the female historians in the royal court. It was there where she meets naive and kind-hearted Prince Dowon Yi Rim, who is second in line to the throne. Unbeknownst to many, Yi Rim actually lives a secret life as the popular romance novelist “Maehwa.” He has penned romance novels that were well-received by female readers all over Hanyang, but not for Hae Ryung.
The aspiring palace historian and the hopeless romantic prince started out on the wrong foot. Soon enough, annoyance turns into love, and together they fight for their principles and gender equality, all while uncovering secrets from their past.
This drama stars Shin Se Kyung, who is known for doing sageuks or historical dramas, including the successful TV series, Deep Rooted Tree in 2011. Cha Eun Woo ( Lee Dong Min in real life), who plays Prince Yi Rim, has proven himself to be more than just a pretty face. Popularly known as a member of the South Korean boy group, ASTRO, he also dabbles in acting.
7. Her Private Life
Sung Deok Mi works as an organized art gallery curator, but behind her reserved exterior, she is actually a hardcore fangirl at heart. Outside of work, she secretly runs a fansite about her K-Pop idol, Shi An.
Investing a good amount of time and money, she’s able to keep tabs on him like an eagle. She learned that Shi An was fond of a certain painting which led her to an auction. It was there that she had a chance meeting with Ryan Gold, a famous painter who decided to shelve his talent. They meet again when Ryan became the new art director in the gallery Deok Mi was working in.
Rumors begin to circulate that Deok Mi is dating Shi An, which resulted in a lot of angry fans attacking her. To help Deok Mi, Ryan suggests that they start pretending to date. Things get more complicated when the manager of a rival fansite starts to work at the museum and becomes suspicious of their front. However, what once was just pretend soon turned into something real.
Her Private Life offers one of the cutest chemistry between the beautiful Park Min Young (What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim) and Kim Jae Wook (The Guest). It has all the right recipes: a funny plot, unexpected twists, and a love triangle. It is even considered as a good gateway show for those considering to jump into the world of K-dramas.
8. Welcome to Waikiki 2
The second season kicks off with money problems as business is bad at the guesthouse. To revive the guesthouse from the brink of bankruptcy, Lee Joon Ki convinced his high school friends, Cha Woo Shik and Kook Ki Bong to invest in it. As the three pooled their resources, they decided to live together which paved the way for a heaping dose of mishaps and chaos.
While Joon Ki remains to be an unpopular actor, Cha Woo Sik holds on to his dream of becoming a singer, and Kook Ki Bong finds himself stuck playing in the minor leagues even after being touted as a promising baseball player. The trio seemed to be down on their luck, but they soon found a way to generate revenue — that is by featuring Woo Shik’s strange physical quality in a documentary. Later, they reconnected with their first love, Han Soo Yeon, who was left at the altar on her wedding day. Without a place to go, the boys offered their place until she can get back on her feet.
Overall, Welcome to Waikiki 2 offers the same humour, but different faces. Lee Yi Kyung was the only original cast member as he reprised his role as Lee Joon Ki, who became more optimistic and flexible. The new cast members also came through and delivered a great performance considering the pressure they had from the fan’s expectations. It is well-loved for its smart comic runs and heart-touching moments.
9. I Wanna Hear Your Song
This is a mystery rom-com about a timpanist named Hong Yi Young and a tone-deaf pianist, Jang Yoon. Yi Young witnessed a murder, but she cannot recall anything about what happened. The trauma also caused her to suffer from insomnia.
Yoon takes odd jobs to get by. But he also possesses a special skill as an evening caller who soothes people to sleep by singing despite being tone-deaf. He then joins an orchestra as a pianist where he meets Yi Young for the first time. Unexpectedly, Yoon’s awful songs became the remedy for Yi Young’s insomnia. But, it also made her remember the horrific memories of the crime. Together, they try to piece together Yi Young’s forgotten memories and the murder case that shocked her.
Playing the traumatized pianist is Kim Se Jeong who had her break in the drama School 2017. Beyond acting, she also gained recognition for her other talents such as singing and hosting, which even earned her the nickname, “Variety Cheat Key.” Yoon is played by Yeon Woo Jin, who made his start as a model but shot to popularity in his role in Arang And The Magistrate in which he was nominated for Best New Actor.
This rom-com mixes music and mystery that gives audiences an enthralling experience.
10. Abyss
This drama is about two friends who died in separate accidents, but they were given another chance to live through soul-reviving marbles called the Abyss.
Go Se Yeon was a tough and ambitious prosecutor with looks to kill, while Cha Min was the heir to a cosmetics empire who is humble and kind-hearted. Due to the magical marble, the two came back to life with a totally different appearance. How they looked upon reincarnation is based on how good their spirit was in their previous life. When Go Se Yeon re-embodied, she became an average-looking lady, while Cha Min came back an exceedingly handsome man.
Go Se Yeon and Cha Min then worked as a lawyer and a private law firm administrator respectively. Together, they tried to reckon with their families while trying to solve the murder of Se Yeon’s original self. As the two come to accept their fate, romance also starts to bloom between them.
Abyss stars Park Bo Young who is known for dramas like Strong Girl Do Bong Soon and Oh My Ghost. Cha Min is played by Ahn Hyo Seop who shot to fame for his roles in Dr Romantic 2 and My Father Is Strange. While the story is riddled with mystery, it also has its moments of hilarity and cuteness.
If you’ve already watched any of these, let us know what you think of them in the comments below! These series give viewers a generous amount of chuckles and blush-worthy moments, and then some. But, don’t just take our word for it, and simply dive into these stories!
