Five must-watch Netflix K-dramas to fall in love with this autumn
Every time a new K-drama drops on Netflix, the internet collectively loses its mind for a few weeks. Instagram and TikTok are filled with the edits or character assassination reels.
And then, they quietly move on. But beyond the global hits and meme-worthy moments, there is a whole world of shows that explore love without all the noise. The ones that make you feel things without dragging you through fifty slow-motion flashbacks.
These are the dramas that take their time. Some can be awkward, some are tender, but they are always honest. They are not here to promise fairytale endings or billionaire boyfriends, just a version of love that feels a little more real.
So, if you’ve already rewatched Crash Landing on You or When Life Gives You Tangerines for the fifth time, it’s time to look deeper into Netflix’s K-drama section. Here are five romantic series that might just remind you why the genre became a global obsession in the first place.
Five must-watch romance K-dramas on Netflix
Her Private Life (2019)
Okay, imagine being an art curator by day and a secret fangirl by night. That’s Sung Deok-mi in Her Private Life, where she runs a popular fan account for her favourite idol. But that’s all a secret, as all this time, she has been pretending to be a responsible adult with a stable job. Feel like a fangirl yet? When her new museum director accidentally finds out, her carefully built double life starts falling apart in the funniest way possible.
Her Private Life is adorable without being silly. If you are looking for a light next watch, it is the perfect comfort show for anyone who’s ever hidden their real passions because they thought people wouldn’t get it. Plus, the chemistry between Park Min-young and Kim Jae-wook? Pure serotonin.
Business Proposal (2022)
Yes, we know it’s one of the more popular ones, but you have to watch it. If you’re unaware of the plot, first imagine the “worst blind date of your life” story everyone has. Yeah, this one tops it. Ha-ri agrees to fake-date her friend’s setup, only to realise she is sitting across from her company’s CEO. Cue the mayhem (the cute kind; don’t panic).
This show is pure fun and a light watch. Sure, it’s ridiculous at times, but that’s where the fun lies. And let us remind you in advance that it’s impossible not to binge. Every episode feels like the best parts of a rom-com. Don’t you miss the stupid misunderstandings and the slow-motion glances? The whole deal of early 2000s films was full of. It’s the ideal pick for when you’re tired, overworked, and just need to believe that maybe, somewhere, HR doesn’t exist in the land of K-dramas.
One Spring Night (2019)
Not everyone is a loud romantic. Not everyone knows how to declare their love in front of a whole crowd. Some of us are silent romantics, and that’s what One Spring Night is all about. Jung-in meets Ji-ho, a single dad who works at a pharmacy, and their connection builds through everyday moments. It’s difficult for introverts to express their interest immediately, and hence their love language becomes awkward silences and those small looks that say too much. You’re about to be served the same in this show.
One Spring Night feels like eavesdropping on two people slowly falling in love. Imperfection, but deeply. If you like love stories that don’t try too hard and still hit you right in the chest, this one’s it.
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)
This show is for those who are going through a hard time in life. It can be a breakup or a family crisis. In these times, you feel too broken to be loved. This show is both relatable to that feeling, but it’ll also provide you with comfort. In short, this one will hurt in the best way. It follows a psychiatric nurse, his autistic brother, and a children’s book author with emotional scars of her own. Together, they figure out how to deal with their trauma, forgive themselves, and maybe, just maybe, learn what love looks like when it’s real, not perfect.
It’s a little strange but incredibly moving. The storytelling feels like a fairytale written by someone who has been through hell and still believes in magic. You can watch it when you need to feel understood.
When the Camellia Blooms (2019)
Are you also extremely tired of cookie-cutter love stories? The same accidental meet-cute, rich CEO and ordinary clumsy girl – you know the drill. If that’s the case, this one’s refreshingly grounded. Dong-baek runs a bar in a small town where gossip spreads faster than news. She is a single mum just trying to live peacefully until Yong-sik, the world’s most persistent police officer, shows up and refuses to let her go unnoticed.
This show feels like a hug in drama form. It’s funny and full of characters who grow on you like neighbours you actually like. It’s about second chances, bravery, and loving loudly, even when life tries to quiet you down.