’Tis the season to twist up beneath a blanket with a heat drink and a bowl of snacks — winter is sort of right here. It’s the right time to show your world right into a winter wonderland by means of some cozy Okay-dramas with their very own heartwarming tales, endearing characters, and gorgeous visuals of South Korea. If there’s one factor a Okay-drama can ship, it’s a pleasant story with nice performances and memorable OSTs that’ll be good additions to your playlist after ending a present.
From romance to fantasy, the winter wonderland of Okay-drama has loads of exhibits so that you can get pleasure from this winter. Amongst many new releases on this record, there are some blasts from the previous that true Okay-drama fanatics might be glad to see once more, in all probability reminding them that it’s time for a rewatch. Some exhibits on this record are gentle, and a few are fairly heavy — however worry not, each Okay-drama on this record can present a way of heat, consolation, and contentment this winter.
Kokdu: Season of Deity (2023)
If a slow-paced and hilarious fantasy romance story is your desire, this Okay-drama is ideal. Kokdu: Season of Deity follows a Kokdu, an immortal grim reaper who returns to earth each 99 years to punish people. This time, he enters the world utilizing a younger physician, Do Jin-woo’s (Kim Jung-hyun) physique. The immortal soul is quickly confronted with intricate medical procedures, and his journey is a hilarious curler coaster to not miss. Particularly when his mission is interrupted after he crosses paths with Han Gye-jeol (Im Soo-hyang) — who makes his coronary heart flutter for the primary time in a long time.
What Makes It So Cozy
A present involving destiny and gods is not any stranger to many Okay-drama fanatics — it’s often accompanied by stunning cinematography and excellent performances, and you will discover each on this pretty present. And a portrayal of Loss of life at all times pairs nicely with winter. The male lead Kim Jung-hyun has been extremely praised because of his contradicting cheery and chilly portrayal of the grim reaper. The plot itself is straightforward, with nice hints of romance and comedy that uplifts the general temper. This won’t be the very best Okay-drama on the market, however it’s well worth the watch to expertise each a tragic fantasy story and a hilarious fashionable romance.
Stream on Rakuten Viki
Lovestruck In The Metropolis (2020)
Lovestruck within the Metropolis could be one of many small proportion of romance Okay-dramas that has a easy, wholesome (up for debate), heartwarming relationship drama. This rom-com takes the type of an interview, the place six individuals inform tales about their love lives. The principle couple is Park Jae-won (Ji Chang-wook), an architect who falls in love at first sight with Lee Eun-o (Kim Ji-won), who has a giant metropolis job by day and a secret persona by night time named Yoon Quickly-a. Their love story will get extra hilarious and dramatic when Jae-won is hit with the reality about Eun-o’s identification.
What Makes It So Cozy
This Okay-drama is straightforward to look at and solely lasts half-hour per episode, which is ideal to squeeze in a single (or 5) episodes a night. Aside from the plain nice performances from the actors, Lovestruck within the Metropolis can be very entertaining attributable to its stunning cinematography and lovable plot that creates butterflies in your abdomen. The distinctive interview format additionally provides wealthy and numerous views of individuals’s love tales, giving a deeper and extra rounded view of affection.
Stream on Netflix
Romance Is a Bonus Ebook (2019)
Second probabilities, secrets and techniques, and friendship — Romance Is a Bonus Ebook follows Cha Eun-ho (Lee Jong-suk) and Kang Dan-i (Lee Na-young) as they navigate the ups and downs of grownup life. As childhood associates, they’ve at all times relied on one another, even when Dan-i finally ends up marrying the improper man and is now struggling to make ends meet. As a great pal, Eun-ho tries to assist by getting her a job on the ebook publishing firm the place he works as a chief editor. The story circles round their friends-to-lovers journey and their shared love of books.
What Makes It So Cozy
The Okay-drama speaks not solely about romance but in addition in regards to the struggles Dan-i face as a divorced single mom in South Korean society — and the way onerous it’s to get again on her toes after a protracted profession break. This rom-com can be full of deep and real conversations about life, one’s passions, in addition to their contrasting views of life in South Korea. When you love books as a lot as these characters do, this can be a must-watch — it is obvious within the characters how one’s ardour and love for books can create magical tales for others to soak up.
Stream on Netflix
Pinocchio (2014)
Pinocchio is without doubt one of the biggest Okay-drama hits of its time. It tells the heartbreaking and candy story of Kim Ha-myung (Lee Jong-suk), whose household was torn aside after a tragedy. He acquired separated at a younger age and continued residing beneath a distinct identification, Choi Dal-po. He quickly befriends a neighborhood lady named Choi In-ha (Pak Shin-hye), who at all times hiccups each time she tells a lie. Their friendship takes many sudden turns as ghosts from their previous meet up with them.
What Makes It So Cozy
It’s a giant plot with loopy connections that come as a shock every time one is revealed, seasoned with nice struggles to realize one’s desires. It’s heavy on secrets and techniques and energy, which change into the catalyst for some tear-jerking scenes. Their story is fantastically painful, revolving round love, friendship, and harsh fact. The romance and thriller are well-written and balanced, making every episode very rewarding and fascinating – excellent for hugging a pillow as you watch the story unfold.
Stream on Kocowa
Destined With You (2023)
When you haven’t seen the latest Netflix hit, this winter is the right time to begin. It’s a fantasy romance with hints of comedy that retains on giving. It follows a profitable lawyer, Jang Shin-yu (Rowoon), who by accident drinks a love potion made by Lee Hong-jo (Jo Bo-ah), who supposed it for another person. Considering that they’re now sure for love, Shin-yu always expresses his attraction to the flustered Hong-jo — not realizing that they may have been destined for love since their earlier lives lots of of years earlier.
What Makes It So Cozy
Destined With You is a hilarious romance with nice touches of South Korean folklore surrounding spells and previous lives. There are lots of cute scenes that’ll offer you butterflies in your abdomen, and in addition scenes which might be each scary and just a little thrilling. The drama has wonderful chemistry between the lead characters, and killer OSTs which might be excellent so as to add to your playlist. It’s partaking and candy, although some characters’ actions are questionable. Nonetheless, it’s an important watch surrounding love, loss, and redemption.
Stream on Netflix
Yumi’s Cells (2021)
Primarily based on a preferred webtoon with the identical title, Yumi’s Cells has two seasons thus far, with a 3rd introduced for the long run. The story follows an odd workplace employee named Kim Yumi (Kim Go-eun) in her journey to search out love. Considerably much like the Disney film Inside Out, the story is advised from the angle of her cells, which frequently management and react to her adventures find romance after a hurtful breakup. Due to stated breakup, her love cell has died — and her different cells are attempting onerous to steer her to search out love with a purpose to resurrect her love cell.
What Makes It So Cozy
Many readers of the webtoon fell in love with the drama model of their beloved story, and rightfully so, since this Okay-drama is a good webtoon-to-screen adaptation. The cells are simply as hilarious and cute within the drama as they’re within the webtoon. The romance depicted can be sensible, from her experiencing butterflies once more, being uncertain about issues, till the belief of affection lastly hits her. Her each step of the journey is accompanied by her cells, which provides a singular perspective and drama to her love life.
Stream on Rakuten Viki
Whereas You Have been Sleeping (2017)
A mixture of fantasy, romance, and authorized drama, Whereas You Have been Sleeping follows three individuals — a prosecutor, Jung Jae-chan (Lee Jong-suk), a reporter, Nam Hong-woo (Bae Suzy), and a police officer, Han Woo-tak (Jung Hae-in) — who can see the long run by means of their desires. They be a part of forces to forestall or examine crimes that can happen in response to their desires. Their relationship grows into friendship and, for some, into love.
What Makes It So Cozy
The fascinating plot paired with nice actors to painting the three distinctly completely different but comparable characters make this Okay-drama price watching. The excessive stakes of their journey, particularly when some change into private, actually provides spice to the story. Not solely is it thrilling and candy, however additionally it is hilarious and cleverly written. It has sturdy cliffhangers that’ll hold you wanting to look at extra, excellent for a Okay-drama marathon.
Stream on Kocowa or Rakuten Viki
My Mister (2018)
Many take into account My Mister a hidden Okay-drama gem. Maybe attributable to its gloomy posters or trailers, individuals are likely to keep away from it. However the present is definitely the exact opposite from gloomy, although it begins out that manner. Actually it’s a story about hope in darkish conditions. It follows a younger girl named Lee Ji-an (Lee Ji-eun), whose life is depressing and full of hardships — she’s in crippling debt, works momentary jobs, and has to handle her hard-of-hearing grandmother. She then meets her supervisor, Park Dong-hoon (Lee Solar-kyun), who can be depressing, however in his personal manner. This unlikely pair types a friendship that someway manages to heal one another’s scars little by little.
What Makes It Cozier Than It Appears
Although it begins as chilly and harsh, the story will get hotter and relatable to some individuals. It portrays a uncooked actuality that some adults should endure silently, particularly in South Korea, the place sexism and energy play are rampant within the company world. The 2 characters are chilly and appear lifeless, and the Okay-drama exhibits why they’re like that exceptionally nicely. It’s a present with much less dialogue than others as a result of, on this case, their actuality says greater than their phrases. My Mister will not be a straightforward watch — it’s heartbreaking, however it’s actual, and mends the heartbreak nicely.
Stream on Netflix
Crash Touchdown On You
The distinctive 2019 romance Okay-drama Crash Touchdown On You hit tells the story of a rich South Korean CEO named Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) who by accident crash lands in North Korea, the place a captain of the North Korean military named Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun Bin) catches and hides her in his home. She manages to steer him to assist her, and their hide-and-seek with the North Korean authorities begins. Their love story transcends limitations — not even the excessive partitions between North and South Korea can separate them.
What Makes It So Cozy
Crash Touchdown On You is hilarious at instances and can heat your coronary heart in the course of the chilly winter season. It’s not solely the romance between the principle leads, but in addition the friendship that Se-ri has constructed with Jeong-hyeok’s workforce members which is shifting and candy. It circles round love towards all odds, that one’s braveness and willingness to do what it takes will transcend obstacles. This pair in all probability has a few of the finest chemistry ever between two Okay-drama leads, in all probability as a result of the 2 predominant actors are fortunately married in actual life. Love past partitions, and past roles, too.
Stream on Netflix
Healer (2014)
Healer is a story of a trio: Healer or Park Bong-su (Ji Chang-wook), a mailman with black-belt-worthy combating expertise, a reporter named Chae Younger-sin (Park Min-young), and a top-notch journalist named Kim Moon-ho (You Ji-tae). The three battle injustices which result in a number of murders. Leaping from just a few years again to the current, the story begins when the journalist stumbles upon a thriller, and decides to get entangled and assist clear up the chilly case.
What Makes It So Cozy
This Okay-drama has wonderful choreographed motion sequences, and balances it with the joys with a candy romance between the 2 leads. Healer additionally has killer OSTs — one among which is sung by the lead actor himself, Ji Chang-wook. Although just a little older, the Okay-drama doesn’t really feel dated, and definitely doesn’t contain the cringey romance a few of the outdated Okay-dramas tended to have. The thriller carried out by means of the 20 episodes performs out at simply the proper tempo, with occasional cliffhangers which will result in sleepless nights, or binge-watching to know what occurs subsequent.
Stream on Rakuten Viki
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo (2016)
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo is a rom-com and coming-of-age Okay-drama takes place in a university for athletes. The story follows a proficient and expert weightlifting scholar named Kim Bok-joo (Lee Sung-kyung) who not solely chases after her large dream of turning into knowledgeable weightlifter, but in addition her crush, who occurs to be her childhood pal Jung Joon-hyung’s (Nam Joo-hyuk) older brother. It’s not lengthy till Joon-hyung discovers her antics and begins teasing her. Although their pleasant banter shortly turns flirtatious, then romantic.
What Makes It So Cozy
Aside from the candy romance, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo additionally talks in regards to the younger college students rising and attaining their desires — whereas going by means of many good, dangerous, and loopy adventures on the best way. It’s a soothing present that can allow you to snuggle up on the sofa after a protracted day, letting you benefit from the easy plot, hilarious humor, and the fantastic thing about their friendships. It additionally would not damage that each single OST is a banger that’ll hold replaying in your head even after you end watching the Okay-drama — one of many legendary OSTs is by Vincent Blue, titled “From Now On,” for those who’re on the lookout for a tune to get you began.
Stream on Rakuten Viki
When the Climate Is High-quality (2020)
The countryside, a bookstore, and childhood recollections – When the Climate Is High-quality is the right cozy winter Okay-drama. Worn out by large metropolis life, a cellist named Mok Hae-won (Pak Min-young) quits her job and strikes again to the countryside, the place she spent a number of earlier years of her life. There she meets an outdated pal, a bookstore proprietor named Im Eun-seob (Web optimization Kang-joon). Their reuniting sparks outdated recollections, and shortly romance blossoms.
What Makes It So Cozy
It’s a easy plot about odd and common individuals, which is why this Okay-drama is so endearing. Among the many many different sophisticated and out-of-this-world Okay-drama exhibits, When the Climate Is High-quality presents a easy and relatable plot that covers what many on a regular basis individuals expertise (to some extent). This Okay-drama is ideal for those who’re a fan of a practical and simple slice-of-life story with a sprinkle of heartwarming romance set within the stunning South Korean winter countryside. Every character has a related and well-explained background story, making the viewers relate to them and the occasions of the present.
Stream on Netflix
One thing within the Rain (2018)
The Okay-drama One thing within the Rain falls beneath the age-gap trope. A profitable supervisor in her 30s, Yoon Jin-ah (Son Ye-jin) meets Web optimization Joon-hee, a personality animation designer in his early 30s who turns into Jin-ah’s finest pal. She quickly meets his youthful brother, Web optimization Kyung-seon (Jang So-yeon). The 2 begin as informal acquaintances, retaining all the things platonic as she sees him as a infantile youthful brother of her finest pal. However he proves her improper — displaying her his simple attraction and maturity, they usually fall in love.
What Makes It So Cozy
One thing within the Rain covers many subjects, such because the stigma on age-gap {couples} in South Korea, in addition to ladies’s struggles to flourish within the company world the place sexual harassment, sexism, and discrimination towards ladies are rampant. There are some sequences relating to how society views ladies which will make your blood boil, however it’s all the extra necessary to speak about for that purpose. And don’t fret — there’s an important portion of the present involving a romance that’s not like every other.
Stream on Netflix
Goblin (2016)
The 16-episode fantasy-romance Okay-drama Goblin is filled with surprises, as future and the gods participate within the excessive schooler Ji Eun-tak’s (Kim Go-eun) life. It begins when she is just a little lady, tragically shedding her mom in an accident. Earlier than dying, her mom begs the gods to let her daughter reside, and they also do. Nonetheless, when she turns 18, her life modifications as a 900-year-old goblin (Gong Yoo) and a Grim Reaper (Lee Dong-wook) change into concerned in her life. Whereas the goblin makes her his bride, the Grim Reaper involves retrieve her as a lacking soul who ought to have died already — however the trio turns into inseparable as an alternative.
What Makes It So Cozy
Since there are numerous fantasy components of their romance, it turns into a singular and delightful relationship in a magical manner — equivalent to her having the ability to name the goblin simply by blowing a candle. Apart from the principle leads, the second lead couple additionally will get their justifiable share of a good looking and tragic love story. The Grim Reaper meets Eun-tak’s boss, Sunny (Yoo In-na), who apparently has been in his life longer than he realizes. Each {couples} have a curler coaster of romance full of emotional turns and candy recollections. From cinematography to performances to OSTs, Goblin is a top-tier Okay-drama that’s excellent for a winter watch.
Stream on Rakuten Viki
Contact Your Coronary heart (2019)
When you’re heartbroken from seeing the second-lead couple’s story in Goblin, this Okay-drama is the redemption story for you. The identical actors play main roles in Contact Your Coronary heart, the place Oh Jin-shim (You In-na) performs an actress with a declining profession attributable to a giant scandal. To bounce again, she has to excel in a task as an assistant to a lawyer, which leads her to the regulation workplace of Kwon Jung-rok, the place she’s going to change into his assistant for a while. It has hints of enemies to lovers, because the chilly and distant lawyer isn’t at all times open to accepting the actress. Nonetheless, as time passes, she manages to thaw his coronary heart, they usually fall in love.
What Makes It So Cozy
Many Goblin followers like to think about this drama because the couple’s alternate lives. However it’s its personal story, unrelated to Goblin. It’s a enjoyable, candy, and hilarious drama, seeing the dynamic of the chilly lawyer and the full of life actress. It’s not at all times blissful tears, although; some moments are heartbreaking. However the present remains to be fairly a straightforward watch, and has a satisfying ending that properly concludes the couple’s journey. It’s a narrative to remind those who not everyone seems to be what they seem like, particularly within the case of celebrities.
Stream on Rakuten Viki
