6 K-Dramas Where He Fell First, But She Fell Harder
“Who fell first?” is a favorite timeless question asked to every couple. Sometimes it’s a case of love at first sight, while in others a rough start translates into the love story of a lifetime as the couple tries to recall the moment when they fell for the other. Sometimes it’s the girl who feels the butterflies and her heartbeat escalates at the sight of the man who sweeps her off her feet. But in several cases it’s often the boy who has fallen hook, line, and sinker, but is unsure to confess and make his feelings known. But you see it in the gesture, the expressions, as well as the lengths he can go to for the sake of love. Here are six recent K-dramas where he fell first, but she fell harder.
“Lovely Runner”
Byeon Woo Seok has emerged as K-drama’s beloved prince of hearts, especially after his turn as Ryu Sun Jae in “Lovely Runner.” We are introduced to Sun Jae as he imparts hope to a bedridden Im Sol (Kim Hye Yoon) through a radio show. He is a budding singer, awaiting his breakthrough in music, while she is a young girl who has lost the will to live. This one call goes a long way in transforming Sol’s world. Years later, she is a devoted fangirl of Sun Jae and his band Eclipse. But tragedy strikes when Sun Jae suddenly dies. To change the outcome of their future, Sol travels back in time and also makes several discoveries in the bargain. One of them is that it was Sun Jae who had fallen for Sol first, when she had been oblivious of his existence. It’s so much so that he had penned his first song for her. As Sol realizes the intensity as well as the unconditional love Sun Jae feels toward her, she is overwhelmed.
“Lovely Runner” has achieved a cult-like status. It is one of those dramas which has won hearts for its clever plot and scored with the performance of its lead couple. Byeon Woo Seok as Ryu Sun Jae is so heartbreakingly endearing that you came out rooting for him all the way. Kim Hye Yoon’s vivacity is also appealing, and it’s the scorching chemistry between this time-wrapped couple that had viewers wanting more.
Start watching “Lovely Runner”:
“Queen of Tears”
Baek Hyun Woo (Kim Soo Hyun) and Hong Hae In (Kim Ji Won) make the perfect couple, but their marriage is anything but that. Married for over three years, the couple lead separate lives and hardly have any affection for each other. Hyun Woo is a bright and intelligent lawyer married into the mega-rich Hong family. Hae In, who has an astute business acumen, is devoted to expanding the family business. Though this handsome couple make the ideal power couple, ego, misunderstandings, as well as absolute lack of communication have driven a wedge between the two. Hyun Woo wants out of this loveless marriage, but the day he decides to muster his courage, Hae In is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease. He decides to stall his decision, and it is during the interim that they once again find their way to each other. There are several unscrupulous elements at play, denying this couple their happily every after, but it’s during these times of adversity that Hae In realizes that Hyun Woo has always loved her and can take a bullet for her.
“Queen of Tears” scores for its scorching chemistry between its lead pair, even though the plot at times seems stretched and contrived. The charismatic charm of Kim Soo Hyun as Hyun Woo and the haughty yet vulnerable ice princess Hae In, articulated by Kim Ji Won, give us several tender moments, making them quite the onscreen couple.
“Perfect Marriage Revenge”
Han Yi Joo (Jung Yoo Min) has never had it easy. Her parents have never loved nor nurtured her, and her step-sister has always manipulated things in her own favor. Yi Joo gets married, thinking she would finally have her own happy family, but she is far from it. Bullied by her mother-in-law, Yi Joo’s world falls apart when she discovers her husband is actually in love with her sister. Shocked and betrayed, Yi Joo gets into an accident, and when she wakes up from her coma-like state, she has actually travelled back to the past. It’s her chance to rework the blueprint of her future, and there is also a handsome young man willing to help her do just that. Seo Do Guk (Sung Hoon) is from an affluent family and is a self-made entrepreneur. Yi Joo’s sister has her sights set on him, but it seems Do Guk has his sights on Yi Joo. Do Guk tells Yi Joo she can use him anyway she wants too and that he is more than willing to be a pawn in her game for revenge. As these two broken souls come together, it seems Do Guk knew of Yi Joo even way before she did. But would these two get a chance to enjoy their love story? Especially since their adversaries are way stronger than they think.
“Perfect Marriage Revenge” has an interesting plot, and you can’t help but ship this couple who want to change their destiny together. Sung Hoon makes a dishy knight in shining armor to Yoo Min’s avenger. They are a lead pair who are in “perfect” sync, making this marriage revenge story a riveting watch.
Start watching “Perfect Marriage Revenge”:
“Marry My Husband”
“Don’t get mad, get even” is exactly what Kang Ji Won (Park Min Young) has in mind. Kang Ji Won has been emotionally abused and manipulated by her husband Min Hwan (Lee Yi Kyung) and best friend Soo Min (Song Ha Yoon) for years. Unbeknownst to her, the two have been having an affair, and when Ji Won is gravelly ill, they have no qualms in killing her as well. When Ji Won is pushed to her death by her husband, she is miraculously taken back in time to 10 years in the past. It seems life has dealt her a trump card to change her destiny and her fate in the future. Ji Won cleverly lays down her plan, which is to make Soo Min and her husband Min Hwan marry each other and get a taste of their own karma. She finds an unlikely ally in Yoo Ji Hyeok (Na In Woo), her boss. But why is Ji Hyeok going out of his way to help Ji Won, even putting his own life at stake for her? The quite and stoic Ji Hyeok has had feelings for Ji Won for nearly a decade, and he may well have a chance this time around in love.
“Marry My Husband” has an interesting narrative with several plot twists. Park Min Young aces her role as a woman on the path of merciless revenge, and one can’t help but back her in her pursuits. However, it was Na In Woo’s Ji Hyeok who scored brownie points for his turn as the ever supportive, much in love yet awkward Ji Hyeok. Park Min Young once again proves that she is one actor who can articulate onscreen chemistry with her co-stars with ease.
“Cinderella at 2AM”
Ha Yun Seo (Shin Hyun Been) is a hard working team leader in a top corporate firm. But little did she know that the new recruit, Seo Ju Won (Moon Sang Min), who is now her boyfriend, is actually the son of the chairperson of the company. Seo Ju Won is second heir to the thriving AL group, and his mother wants Yun Seo to break up with her son. Yun Seo is bought off by Ju Won’s mother and agrees to call off her relationship. However, Ju Won won’t have any of it, as he is madly and hopelessly in love with Yun Seo. He is happy to defy his mother and succession for the sake of love. But the issue is, does Yun Seo even want to be with him anymore? She is adamant to break up and have nothing to do with him. But Ju Won is adamant in pursuing her, and his selfless love and devotion toward Yun Seo cannot be doubted. As Yun Seo starts to thaw, can this couple get the blessings of his mother, even though Yun Seo is determined to keep her man?
“Cinderella at 2AM” is the classic rich boy-poor girl love story. But the drama goes beyond being just a cute rom-com, as it highlights sensitive issues of childhood abuse, parental violence, and mental health. Shin Hyun Been and Moon Sang Min rock this noona romance and give us adorable cute moments on screen.
Start watching “Cinderella at 2AM”:
“Love Next Door”
Choi Seung Hyo (Jung Hae In) has been in love with his childhood best friend Bae Seok Ryu (Jung So Min) for as long as he can remember. He has never been able to confess, and when he wanted to, Seok Ryu had already found someone and is all set to marry him. Seung Hyo has distanced himself from Seok Ryu, but all that is set to change. Seok Ryu is back from the States and has even called off her wedding. As the two meet after years, it seems nothing has changed as they bicker and banter. But Seung Hyo decides to confess his feelings to a surprised Seok Ryu, who has never seen him as anything but the buddy she bossed around. Seok Ryu also hides a secret and realizes that her pillar of emotional strength has always been Seung Hyo. But will she accept his confession of love, or is it not worth risking their friendship? Viewers are curious to see how this buddy romance will unfold given the strong under currents between the two.
“Love Next Door” wraps in a lot, from friendship to parenting, ambition, burnout, as well as the road to healing. The pairing of Jung Hae In and Jung So Min is on point, and the two get the beats of their characters nicely, as well as being in sync with each other.
Hey Soompiers, which one of these is your favorite couple pairing and drama? Let us know all about it in the comments below!
Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yang Yang and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on @puja_talwar7 on Instagram.
Currently watching: “Cinderella at 2AM“
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