K and C Romantic Comedies Watchlist

My Lovely Liar

• Korean: 소용없어 거짓말
• Wiki
• 5/5 

Two star-crossed lovers, a Manchester United fan (who still wears a Rooney jersey in 2023) and a Liverpool fan who, against all odds, help each other overcome their poor life choices, especially their choices of football teams once they realise that those teams suck major... — see full review.

While You Were Sleeping

• Korean: 당신이 잠든 사이에
• Wiki
• 5/5 

The show interweaves several themes: premonition (the protagonists are able to dream about future events), determinism (a very minor theme that goes away at the end of the first episode once the MMC was able to change the future), and a bit of “with great power comes great responsibility.” But at its heart, the show is a legal drama that follows a monster-of-the-week format where you get different cases spreading over a few episodes; this is my favourite format which explains why I love shows like Midsomer Murders, Supernatural, Lucifer, etc.

Where the show excels is that it also mixes and matches romantic comedy elements so well you hardly get a whiplash from seeing the silliness and campiness in one scene to the gravitas of the courtroom the next scene. Combined with incredible acting and charm from all the FMC and MMC, this is one of those shows where everything comes together perfectly to make a perfect TV show that also has great rewatchability.

Queen of Tears (ongoing)

• Korean: 눈물의 여왕
• Wiki
• 5/5 

I feel bad for the MMC, first he has to deal with a diva girlfriend while being an alien, then he has to survive a murderous situation with a femme fatale and his autistic brother, now he has to tread the most dangerous waters of them all: married life and the complacency that seeps.

I think this show hits differently for married couples. It's both a warning and a reminder that marriage cannot be the end goal of your relationship, it is a delicate flower that needs the both of you to put efforts into for as long as you are committed, and soon as one of you has given up or thought it no longer worth doing, it wilts, it withers, and you won't realise what you've lost until it's too late.

The biggest mistake I made while watching the show is that I started watching it when all 16 episodes had not been released. If you are someone who cannot deal with cliffhangers and get anxious waiting a week, just come back to the show later.

Her Private Life

• Korean: 그녀의 사생활
• Wiki
• 5/5 

Of all the shows I've watched, I think this is the gold standard for what a romantic comedy should be. The show is silly and hilarious at times, but it can just as easily hit the high emotional note. The chemistry between FMC and MMC is just 👩‍🍳😘👨‍🍳. The show is also pretty progressive considering it dedicates very much 50% of its 5th episode to a topic that just one year ago, in the show What's Wrong with Secretary Kim (also with same actress playing the FMC) was considered a taboo put in for comedic effect.

My Roommate Is a Gumiho

• Korean: 간 떨어지는 동거
• Wiki
• 5/5 

If Her Private Life is the gold standard then this show is the silver standard. The show is generally just fun and wholesome all around. For many K drama enthusiasts (including me), this is the undisputed GOAT entry to being a lifetime fan of Korean romantic comedy TV shows.

Also, this show has way more eating scenes than any other shows I've seen, which is actually thematically a good fit for the show.

The Legend of the Blue Sea

• Korean: 푸른 바다의 전설
• Wiki
• 5/5 

The year is 2024. I had just bought some sushi and wanted to watch something that thematically fits. I saw The Little Mermaid remake was available so I gave it a shot. And so wasted two hours of my life that I'm never getting back.

To reset my palate, and since I just recently came off the high of My Love from the Star, I decided to watch The Legend of the Blue Sea and see for myself what all the rage is about. 21 episodes later, this proved to be the second-best decision I've made in the year of 2024. — see full review.

My Princess

• Korean: 마이 프린세스
• Wiki
• 5/5 

If Her Private Life is the gold standard and My Roommate is a Gumiho the silver standard, then this show is the standard for what a standard should be. An extremely bingeable show with great rewatchability, and the chemistry between FMC and MMC is second to none.

I'm Not a Robot

• Korean: 로봇이 아니야
• Wiki
• 5/5 

A contemporary commentary on the rise of artificial intelligence, the show explores the concept of love and companionship in the modern world where AI virtual assistants are becoming evermore ubiquitous. By giving the MMC a human allergy (he cannot be in physical contact with other people lest he risks his life), the romantic comedy sets up an interesting premise about a man so derived of meaningful interpersonal interaction that he becomes smitten at the first sight of a human-like robot who shows him even a little bit of affection. Shenanigans ensue, love blossoms, this romantic comedy is as sweet and as wholesome as it can get.

Doona!

• Korean: 이두나!
• Wiki
• 5/5 

A very slow-paced character study, the show has almost zero plot and almost no antagonists as a result. While a dealbreaker to many viewers (for example, my wife), it makes the show stand out to me even more; at points, I even feel like I'm watching a rare Mike Flanagan romantic comedy, and I'm not sure if that's supposed to be a compliment. What really carries the show is the incredible charm of the FMC, and that there are only 9 episodes, each average 40 minutes, only adds to its bingeability. I will think of this show as the rare delicious side dish that should only be served on the rare occasion and in moderation. There is such a thing as too much Mike Flanagan.

Alchemy of Souls

• Korean: 환혼
• Wiki
• 5/5 

• Episode 1-19 of Part 1: this show is pretty good.
• Episode 20 of Part 1: I hate this show with fury unmatched.
• Episode 1 of Part 2: what is going on?
• Rest of Part 2 and in hindsight: best show ever.

Hotel del Luna

• Korean: 호텔 델루나
• Wiki
• 5/5 

A fun and entertaining little show with sprinkles of horror elements and a few mild jump scares to boot — see full review.

It's Okay to Not Be Okay

• Korean: 사이코지만 괜찮아
• Wiki
• 5/5 

Once you've come to the realisation that the show is not just about an autistic brother of the MMC and an FMC with APD, but instead is about three equally “damaged” and traumatised individuals just trying to make it through, you'll enjoy the show a lot more.

Hidden Love

• Chinese: 偷偷藏不住
• Wiki
• 5/5 

This show appeals to the ultimate male fantasy: to love and be loved in return. The show is so sweet if there's a show that can give people diabetes, this is it.

King the Land

• Korean: 킹더랜드
• Wiki
• 5/5 

One of the few shows where both FMC and MMC have very deep character growth that is not driven solely by romance.

May I Help You?

• Korean: 일당백집사
• Wiki
• 5/5 

This show has everything: love, love triangle, crime, death, drama, supernatural, etc.; maybe only missing horror elements. Deals with very heavy topics with the main themes about loss and closure. DO NOT WATCH if you yourself are not in a good place; but if you are going through tough times, maybe this is the final push you need to make it through.

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim

• Korean: 김비서가 왜 그럴까
• Wiki
• 5/5 

My Love from the Star

• Korean: 별에서 온 그대
• Wiki
• 5/5 

There are so many themes and plot lines in the show, and at times it feels like the MMC was not going be able to grow as a character which makes me think the show may be a repeat of that-which-must-not-be-named. Ultimately, the show pays off immensely, no small thanks to the charm of the FMC. Coincidentally, this show marks the actress' return to TV in 14 years, which makes the plot line about how a top actress can quickly fall out of grace a bit intriguing if not meta. I think one day I will watch this show again and give it a proper full-page review.

Marry My Husband

• Korean: 내 남편과 결혼해줘
• Wiki
• 5/5 

A nice revenge story with time-rewind elements. I would like to write a dedicated review comparing this show with Eve. In my experience, people think ofThe Count of Monte Cristo when they think of the perfect revenge, but more often than not Eve is what they get. Revenge is indiscriminate with its destructive nature; if people actually read the novel, they'd know that the Count eventually comes to this realisation, but only after innocent blood has already been shed — after all, until the day God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words, ‘Wait and Hope’.

Pinocchio

• Korean: 피노키오
• Wiki
• 5/5 

The Pinocchio in the title refers to a fictitious syndrome that causes the FMC to hiccup whenever she tells a lie. It's a cute plot device that is also used to great effect in a few other media, like how Ana de Armas's Marta cannot lie without vomiting in Knives Out, or how Kim So-hyun's Sol-hee can hear lies in My Lovely Liar. Juxtaposed by the FMC being a reporter, the show does an amazing job expounding on the “with great power comes great responsibility” theme in the world of journalism. The only other job that can make a hilarious situation out of a Pinocchio is lawyer which is actually mentioned and made fun of in the show's first episode.

But all of that play second fiddle to the show's real theme: revenge. Even if a show has many themes, if revenge is one of them, it will eventually end up consuming all other themes, just like how revenge usually goes in real life. I mentioned in the quick review of Marry My Husband my opinion on revenge and I will reiterate it here: revenge is indiscriminate in its destruction; it is a double-edged sword that would wounds its wielder with each cut. The MMC was so keen on getting his revenge that it took until episode 16 for him to finally realise what is actually important to him (it's a romantic comedy so you can generally guess what/who it is).

By the way, if you wonder how Lee Jong-suk (MMC) is a good catch for our IU, watch episode 1.

High-End Crush

• Korean: 고품격 짝사랑
• Chinese: 高品格单恋
• Wiki
• 5/5 

Each episode is only 15-minute long with a total of 20 episodes so the show is as bingeable as it gets. A fun watch.

Business Proposal

• Korean: 사내맞선
• Wiki
• 5/6 

I personally think the ending was rushed; it could use at least one more episode. Would have ranked way higher otherwise. The theme song slaps by the way!

My Secret Romance

• Korean: 애타는 로맨스
• Wiki
• 5/6 

For any Korean TV series, and particularly relevant to romantic comedies, if the characters can be honest to themselves and to each other, the number of episodes would be halved. This show takes that to the next level. Don't get me wrong, it's fun to watch characters falling in love without them realising so, and it's fun rooting for them to get there, enjoying the wild ride along the way — see full review.

Moonshine

• Korean: 꽃 피면 달 생각하고
• Wiki
• 5/6 

My Demon

• Korean: 마이 데몬
• Wiki
• 5/6 

Where Stars Land

• Korean: 여우각시별
• Wiki
• 5/6 

The MMC has an accident that left his right arm unusable and he himself was confined to a wheelchair for a time. He experienced discrimination by onlookers for his physical disability and was very much depressed until an experimental wearable device allowed him to stand again, even gained some form of superpower with his right arm in the process. Just as he thought he could now start living a normal life, he met again the woman that would cause his wearables to malfunction. Can he juggle between his wants of a normal life and his heart? — see full review.

W

• Korean: 더블유
• Wiki
• 5/7 

A unique premise that appeals to the ultimate male and female fantasy: to live out your life in a comic book just the way you want. Unfortunately, while the premise would have allowed for the perfect romantic comedy, the show went in a very different direction of being an action-thriller with supernatural and mild horror elements, and with only sprinkles of romantic comedy here and there to keep the show just barely grounded — see full review.

Heartbeat

• Korean: 가슴이 뛴다
• Wiki
• 5/7 

A less-fun version of My Roommate Is a Gumiho with one notable subversion of expectation: it took 11 episodes (the entire series lasts 16 episodes) for the MMC to realise that the person he truly loves is not someone from his past life, but is the woman that has been by his side all along.

I generally don't like the idea of reincarnation and destiny so any time that trope is subverted, it's a plus for me. Though once too many shows starting doing this, maybe I'll swing back the other way.

A Good Day to Be a Dog

• Korean: 오늘도 사랑스럽개
• Wiki
• 5/7 

Starts strong as a romantic comedy, but midway through the series becomes a serious fantasy drama and by the end the show has largely forgotten its identity.

Destined With You

• Korean: 이 연애는 불가항력
• Wiki
• 5/8 

The few episodes where MMC acts like a jerk because he thinks he's under a love spell is hard to watch. In my first viewing, I didn't like the show at all, but after watching Full House, I decided to give this show a second chance because it cannot be worse than Full House, and the fresh perspective really does wonder for the second viewing.

Full House

• Korean: 풀하우스
• Wiki
• 5/100 

If you saw the show back when you were young, and are re-watching it through rose-coloured glasses, maybe you will find it just as enjoyable as you once did. For me, it was an extremely frustrating watch due to so much backtracking of plot and character development. I was angry by the Part 1 ending of Alchemy of Souls, but the payoff from that show was good. Full House is just not fun — see full review.

I am Sam

• Korean: 아이엠샘
• Wiki
• 5/5 

On the scale of silliness, this show is 11/10. Good writing, good acting, the only reason the show is at the bottom of the list is because I don't want people to know it's actually my favourite guilty pleasure.