10 Besties-Turned-Lovers K-Dramas For The Romantic Soul
You may fall in love many times, but some people think that falling in love with your best friend is the best thing ever. And many great K-drama couples have taken this advice quite literally. The progress of childhood friends who progress from nitpicking, bickering, and bantering to some very explosive chemistry and romance is a much loved trope in several dramas. If you are looking at your best friend and wondering if they are the one, here are 10 such K-dramas to check out where childhood friends transitioned to life partners.
“Bubblegum”
This drama features a slow burn and bittersweet romance between two childhood friends Park Ri Hwan (Lee Dong Wook) and Kim Haeng Ah (Jung Ryeo Won). Ri Hwan’s wealthy family had taken in Haeng Ah after the demise of her parents. Though inseparable as children, Ri Hwan’s mother has resented Haeng Ah’s presence and makes her constant dislike towards the girl apparent. Now grown up, Ri Hwan practices oriental medicines while Haeng Ah is a radio producer. Haeng Ah has had her share of bad relationships, and Ri Hwan has constantly looked out for her. But when the two realize their feelings go beyond being just friends, the biggest hurdle is not just parental opposition, but another inexplicable fear that has consumed Ri Hwan, which forces him to reject Haeng Ah.
“Bubblegum” scores for its simplicity and a straightforward storyline which deals with the friend to lover angle naturally. Though the writing lags a bit, the drama makes makes for a soft, lilting watch. And Lee Dong Wook and Jung Ryeo Won make for a very compatible couple on screen, and their chemistry is gentle and easy going.
“She Was Pretty”
Fate works in strange ways. Kim Hye Jin, a pretty and rich young girl, befriends Ji Sung Joon, a young boy weighed down by self-esteem issues and mocked for being plump. The two are close until Sung Joon moves to the United States. Years later, Hye Jin (Hwang Jung Eum) is hustling between jobs, her family having gone bankrupt, and she lives a humble existence. Sadly, she is no longer pretty in the classical sense of the word.
Sung Joon (Park Seo Joon), now a strikingly handsome and sought-after editor of a magazine, is back in Seoul. He has been looking to connect with his best friend and first love, Hye Jin. But Hye Jin, feeling complexed about her looks and situation, asks her best friend Hye Ri (Go Joon Hee) to meet him as her. Matters get complicated when Hye Jin finds herself working for a lifestyle magazine which is led by Sung Joon, and Sung Joon, who initially keeps belittling her for her incompetence, finds himself drawn towards her cheery personality. Aspects of Hye Jin’s character and behavior remind him of the girl he had left behind. And the cool yet cocky Shin Hyuk (Choi Siwon), a features writer who is deeply affectionate towards Hye Jin, gives Sung Joon some serious competition.
With its emphasis on self worth and beauty being just skin deep, “She Was Pretty” is a delightfully fun rom-com. The comedy, the humorous situations, and the romantic plot blend in seamlessly. Aside from Park Seo Joon and Hwang Jung Eum’s great chemistry, Choi Siwon will win you over with his cheeky charm.
Start watching “She Was Pretty”:
“Reply 1988”
The famous five of Ssangmun-dong have been best friends ever since they could remember. Now in their last year of high school, they live an unhurried existence. The spunky slacker Duk Sun (Hyeri), the hardworking model student and son Sun Woo (Go Kyung Pyo), the brooding and reserved Jung Hwan (Ryu Jun Yeol), the goofball Dong Ryong (Lee Dong Hwi), and the unassuming and shy genius baduk player Choi Taek (Park Bo Gum) share an unbreakable bond.
Taking their first faltering steps into adulthood and an unknown future, what they have not anticipated is the first brush of love and the complexities of emotions. Duk Sun feels the pangs of infatuation towards Sun Woo, who in turn is in love with her sister Bo Ra. And Taek’s adoring devotion towards Duk Sun is apparent, but the brusque Jung Hwan’s eyes also light up whenever Duk Sun is around. A telling moment in the show is when Taek makes the observation that Jung Hwan too has feelings for Duk Sun. There is no jealousy or angst, but a calm glance as he looks away, well knowing his move.
A favorite amongst K-drama fans,”Reply 1988″ is one of those shows that has a high recall value. It holds a timeless appeal, and the squad is one of the best loved in K-drama land. Many fans found themselves taking a side, with either team Taek or Team Jung Hwa, rooting for their favorite suitor. The show is also a comforting watch, holding you in its comforting embrace. It’s the perfect ode to friendship, life, and everything in between.
Start watching “Reply 1988”:
“Reply 1994”
The year 1994 was a landmark year, synonymous with the rise of the first generation K-pop group Seo Taiji and the Boys to the birth of the Korean Basketball League. Against this backdrop we visit a group of friends as they set out on a journey of love and self discovery. Sung Na Jung’s (Go Ara) family operates a boarding house and is home to six of her friends as well. The spotlight being on Trash (Jung Woo) and Chil Bong (Yoo Yeon Seok), Na Jung has a crush on Trash, who regards her as nothing but a sibling. On the other hand, Chil Bong, though popular amongst girls, carries a torch for Na Jung. As they navigate between those awkward moments when friendship turns into something more, fans will find themselves taking sides between Team Trash or Team Chil Bong.
Never has the viewer invested their time and energy into a love triangle as in this show. “Reply 1994” ticks all the boxes when it comes to its emotive storytelling, character arc, and performances. It’s a fun look-back at those unfettered days of youth seen through the sepia tint lens of nostalgia and bonhomie of friendship.
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“Reply 1997”
Reply 1997 is a throwback to those wonder years gone by. It’s a ’90s show of pop stars and fangirls as well as first loves and growing pains, seen through the eyes of the Class of 1997 as they meet for their reunion and reminisce of the time gone by. Sung Shi Won (Jung Eun Ji) is a loud mouth and a hardcore H.O.T/Tony Ahn fangirl. Her world revolves around the band, and everything else pales into insignificance. Her best friend Yoon Yoon Jae (Seo In Guk) adores her, but she is oblivious of his devotion, and complications arise when Yoon Jae’s older brother takes a liking to Shi Won and she accepts him. Another twist in the tale is Yoon Jae’s best friend Joon Hee (Hoya), who silently loves Yoon Jae but never reveals his feelings. And given their distinct personalities, Shi Won and Yoon Jae share an easy friendship which can always explode into an argument.
A coming-of-age drama, “Reply 1997” has stood the test of time for its excellent storytelling. Through the lens of its female lead, the show revisits the emergence of fan culture, which unfolded in the ’90s when idol groups took center stage. The show also subtly touches upon same sex love as Yoon Jae, though aware of his friend’s feelings, sensitively handles the situation, never deriding Joon Hee. “Reply 1997” is a wholesome watch, taking one back to simpler and uncomplicated times.
Start watching “Reply 1997”:
“Fight My Way”
We all have that one friend who knows us better than anyone. Dong Man (Park Seo Joon) and Ae Ra (Kim Ji Won) have been besties since they were kids – they have each other’s back and never lived a day apart from the other. Dong Man’s life revolved around taekwondo and the martial arts, but a competitive fight gone wrong has compelled him to put his dreams on the back burner. His personal life is not great either since his ex-girlfriend dumped him to marry a rich man. Ae Ra, on the other hand, aspires to be a show host and a presenter, but has only faced constant rejections. Constantly squabbling, their teasing banter smoothly progresses into something deeper when they realize their feelings run deeper than just friendship.
“Fight My Way” strikes a chord for its realism. It’s a story of ordinary people, their hopes, dreams, and aspirations to make it big against the odds. Park Seo Joon as the unassuming Dong Man and Kim Ji Won as the opinionated Ae Ra are both relatable characters, and the couple’s onscreen camaraderie is effortlessly natural.
Start watching “Fight My Way”:
“Soundtrack #1”
Songwriter Eun Soo (Han So Hee) and photographer Han Sun Woo(Park Hyung Sik) have been each other’s closest confidante for nearly two decades. Though joined at the hip since they were kids, things are a bit different as adults. Sun Woo is in love with Eun Soo, who in turn has friend-zoned him. When Eun Woo is told her writing lacks depth, she turns to Sun Woo to help her through her writer’s block. Sun Woo obliges, well aware that he is nothing but her comfort zone. But by the time Eun Woo realizes that they are indeed soulmates, would it be too late for them?
“Soundtrack #1” is a no-fuss and breezy watch, and Park Hyung Sik as the caring and even-tempered best friend is the man one wants for keeps. He is great as Sun Woo, who is attentive to Eun Soo’s every need.
“Come And Hug Me”
A friendship and relationship weighed down by tragedy is not an easy one to negotiate. Chae Do Jin (Jang Ki Yong) and Jae Yi (Jin Ki Joo) are bound by an unfortunate destiny. Do Jin’s father was responsible for killing Jae Yi’s parents, which in turn forced them to end their friendship as kids. Years later, Jae Yi is an actress, and Do Jin is a detective, who in his own way is seeking redemption for the sins of his father. As adults, can the two get closure from their dark past, the prejudices, and heartbreak? Even as the world and situations conspire to keep them apart, they keep finding their way back to each other.
“Come and Hug Me” is a melodrama that blends in romance, crime, and a thriller, so don’t go by its breezy title. It’s a heavy but compelling watch that will tug at your heartstrings given the situation and fate of its lead protagonists.
Start watching “Come And Hug Me”:
“Romance Is a Bonus Book”
Kang Dan Yi (Lee Na Young), a one-time hotshot copywriter, is now a divorced single mother leading a hand-to-mouth existence. But her childhood bestie, the much younger Cha Eun Ho (Lee Jong Suk), is a successful author, literature professor, and the youngest editor-in-chief at his publishing company. Dan Yi’s efforts at getting a job are futile. Despite her experience, she is constantly discriminated over her age and being out of circulation, but one day she finds herself as an intern in the same office as Eun Ho. Though she regards him just as the little boy she used to babysit, Eun Ho’s feelings run deep for Dan Yi.
“Romance Is a Bonus Book” is a character-driven drama. Applauding a woman’s effort to overcome challenges and take her life back, it also has the most supporting leading men. Wi Ha Joon as author Ji Seo Joon and Dan Yi’s friend is also delightful. This noona romance comes with several toe-curling moments, and the chemistry between Lee Na Young and Lee Jong Suk will light up your screen.
“Pinocchio”
Choi In Ha (Park Shin Hye), the daughter of a prime-time news reporter and presenter, wants to be a broadcast journalist. But the biggest hurdle in her way is the “Pinocchio Syndrome,” a condition which triggers hiccups whenever she lies. Choi Dal Po (Lee Jong Suk), haunted by his tragic past, also wants to get into broadcasting to investigate the truth that destroyed his family. In Ha and Dal Po have been together since childhood, so she regards him as her uncle given his situation in her family. Despite knowing that In Ha’s mother played a key role in his family’s destruction, Dal Po harbors no resentment towards In Ha. As they pursue their career in journalism, they learn some hard truths about life as well as discovering their feelings for each other.
“Pinocchio” blends in romance and thriller well, and Lee Jong Suk and Park Shin Hye’s onscreen chemistry scores high on the popularity quotient.
Start watching “Pinocchio”:
“My First First Love”
Tae Oh (Ji Soo) has the looks, the wealth, and great friends, but what he lacks is love. But everyone sees him and his best friend of 20 years, Song Yi (Jung Chaeyeon), as soulmates who are meant to be. The two unanimously swear their feelings are nothing more than platonic, but when Song Yi falls for Tae Oh’s best friend, the hardworking Do Hyun (Jinyoung), she finds herself at a crossroads between her feelings for Do Hyun and Tae Oh.
“My First First Love” is an underrated show, and though it starts slow, it’s steady in maintaining the momentum of the characters and their situations. It’s a dramedy that highlights the angst of millennials as they set sail on the journey to find true love.
“Happiness”
“Happiness” is a dystopian zombie apocalyptic thriller about residents in an apartment block who are asked to quarantine at the outbreak of a new infectious virus. Detective Jung Yi Hyun (Park Hyung Sik) and Special Unit Officer Yoon Sae Bom (Han Hyo Joo) are two of the many inhabitants of the apartment complex. Yi Hyun and Sae Bom have been friends since high school, and Yi Hyun harbors feelings for Sae Bom and is always looking out for her. As the crisis breaks out, they put themselves in the frontline to protect people against the deadly virus and monsters. And as the battle of survival unfolds around them, will Yi Hyun be able to make his confession?
“Happiness” is a brilliantly crafted drama, and actors Park Hyung Sik and Han Hyo Joo deliver a flawless performance in their roles. If you like zombie thrillers but also some romance, check this one out!
Start watching “Happiness”:
Hey Soompiers, which one of these shows is your favorite friends-to-lovers romance ? Let us know in the comments below!
Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yoo Tae Oh 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: “Call It Love.”
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