Looking for a new K-drama rom-com to binge-watch? If you’ve already gone through the ones that enjoyed mainstream success, then you might want to give this list a try! These dramas may not be widely popular, but that doesn’t mean they won’t get you hooked with their equally interesting plots. Below are 10 underrated rom-coms that will surely make your heart flutter.
1. My ID Is Gangnam Beauty (2018)
Starring: Lim Soo Hyang, Cha Eun Woo , Jo Woo Ri
Kang Mi Rae ( Lim Soo Hyang ) opted to have plastic surgery before entering college so that she may have a fresh start. Post-surgery, she experiences for the first time to be considered pretty in her society’s standards. However, upon meeting new people, Mi Rae suffers from the stigma of having gone under the knife. But things change as she meets Do Kyung Seok ( Cha Eun Woo ) who is mesmerized by her in more ways than meets the eye.
2. Cinderella and the Four Knights (2016)
Starring: Jung Il Woo, Ahn Jae Hyun, Lee Jung Shin, Choi Min, Park So Dam, Son Na Eun
Park So Dam plays Eun Ha Won, is a feisty and hardworking orphan who works multiple jobs but still barely manages to support herself. Ha Won’s sad fate takes an upturn when she meets CEO Kang who presents her with a job proposition that can solve her financial struggles. The only catch? She has to straighten up CEO Kang’s four handsome, but stubborn grandsons!
3. The Liar and His Lover (2017)
Starring: Lee Hyun Woo, Park Soo Young (Joy of Red Velvet), Lee Jung Jin, Lee Seo Won, Hong Seo-Young
Kang Han Gyeol (Lee Hyun Woo) is a genius but socially-distant music composer who was once a member of a popular idol band. The musician then meets Yoon So Rim (Park Soo Young), a young but extremely talented singer. She falls in love with the stand-offish Han Gyeol as he randomly borrows her phone to record a tune in his head. From here, the couple’s fateful encounters continue as they find themselves down the road of music, love, friendship, and stardom.
4. Shopaholic Louis (2016)
Starring: Seo In Guk, Nam Ji Hyun, Yoon Sang Hyun, Lim Se Mi
Are you a shopaholic? Then you’ll definitely enjoy this K-drama! Kang Ji Sung or Louis (Seo In Guk) is a rich chaebol heir who loves to own everything that tickles his fancy. He literally shops till he drops! Unfortunately, he loses his memory, thus he forgets that he’s actually rich. Louis then meets Bok Shil (Nam Ji Hyun), a modest woman who teaches him how to live within his (current) needs, and more importantly, what true love means.
5. Clean With Passion For Now (2018)
Starring: Yoon Gyun Sang, Kim You Jung, Song Jae Rim
Jing Sun Gyeol (Yoon Gyun Sang) has a severe case of mysophobia (a.k.a. fear of germs) which led him to build his own cleaning company called Cleaning Fairies. He then meets and hires Gil Oh Sol (Kim You Jung), a cheerful young woman who isn’t as concerned as Sun Gyeol about hygiene—she’s quite the opposite, actually! Of course, their differences will lead to a lot of conflicts and laughs but what’s charming about this K-drama is how Sun Gyeol slowly realizes that he’s fallen in love with the kind and bubbly Oh Sol. If you’re looking for an easy and fun watch, then this light-hearted K-drama will surely give you good vibes.
6. The Secret Life of My Secretary (2019)
Starring: Kim Young Kwang, Jin Ki Joo, Kim Jae Kyung, Koo Ja Sung
Looking for a light-hearted K-drama office romance? Then, The Secret Life of My Secretary should be on your watch list! The story follows Do Min Ik (Kim Young Kwang) fires his hot-headed and stubborn secretary, Jung Gal Hee (Jin Ki Joo). But an unexpected turn of events makes him need his secretary now more than ever!
7. Beauty Inside (2018)
Starring: Seo Hyun Jin, Lee Min Ki, Lee Da Hee, Ahn Jae Hyeon
Han Se Kye (Seo Hyun Jin) is a top-billed actress who hides a huge secret: Every month, she mysteriously changes her appearance and lives out her life in someone else’s body for a week. Meanwhile, Seo Do Jae (Lee Min Ki) is a smart airline company executive who has trouble remembering faces caused by his traumatic past. To help conceal his only blind spot, he trained himself to remember people through their habits and mannerisms. The two meet and form an unlikely alliance as they wade through their personal struggles.
8. Because This Is My First Life (2017)
Starring: Lee Min Ki, Jung So Min, Esom
Yoon Ji Ho’s (Jung So Min) life truly begins as she turned 30. Unfortunately, it’s not all rainbows and flowers for the young scriptwriter. She was forced to move out of her house, rendering her homeless, and it doesn’t help that she seems to be in a rut at work! On the other hand, Nam Se Hee (Lee Min Ki) has just kicked out his nth roommate and is in need of a new one to help pay his huge mortgage. A series of miscommunications later, the two wind up as housemates. What could possibly happen?
9. One More Time (2016)
Starring: Kim Myung Soo (L of Infinite), Yoon So Hee
Yoo Tak (Kim Myung Soo) has two things he holds close to his life: his band and his loving and supportive girlfriend, Da In (Yoon So Hee). But when his band fails to get their big break, he becomes easily irritable and starts to develop a selfish personality. Soon after, his relationship with Da In suffers and goes on the chopping block. The two eventually part ways but it seems that fate has something else in store for the couple. Yoo Tak gets caught up in a mysterious event, and is forced to live the same day over and over until he realizes what is truly important in life.
10. Revolutionary Love (2017)
Starring: Choi Si Won, Kang So Ra, Gong Myung, Lee Jae Yoon
Revolutionary Love follows good-for-nothing chaebol heir Byun Hyuk (Choi Si Won) and queen of part-time jobs, Baek Joon (Kang So Ra). After a huge scandal, Byun Hyuk decides to leave and stay off the radar for a while. He turns to an unsuspecting Baek Joon, a part-timer in his father’s company, to help him out. Stripped of his wealth and assets, Byun Hyuk tries to navigate life as a normal person, through the help of Baek Joon.