The romantic comedy of 2022 has officially come to an end, and all I really have to say is that the weeks flew by way too fast.
- BLACKPINK’s Jisoo Joins Ahn Hyo Seop, Lee Min Ho, Nana, And More In Talks For “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint” Film
- Kim Seon Ho, Moon Ga Young, Kim Sejeong, And Ahn Hyo Seop Confirmed To Join 2023 Asia Artist Awards
- Nana In Talks Along With Ahn Hyo Seop And Lee Min Ho For Film Based On Web Novel “Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint”
This series is full of all the classic K-drama tropes and cliches that quite effortlessly win people all over. Ahn Hyo Seop and Kim Sejeong are perfectly adorable, and the second couple played by Kim Min Kyu and Seol In Ah is also able to make our hearts skip a beat. With all these wonderful aspects of the series that’s sadly no longer a part of our Mondays and Tuesdays, here are a few other K-dramas to check out to help mend the pain.
If you miss the Archaeopteryx main lead Ahn Hyo Seop
“Queen of the Ring”
Kim Seul Gi plays an ordinary and very average university art student by the name of Mo Nan Hee who is trying to catch a break. She’s constantly overshadowed by her more popular and prettier friends. She is also unfortunately head over heels in love with a part-time male model and fashion arts student named Park Se Gun (Ahn Hyo Seop). When Nan Hee’s mom presents her with a magical ring that has the ability to make one appear pretty in front of their big crush, Nan Hee decides to wear this ring and use it to lure Se Gun into her grasp.
Only three episodes long, “Queen of the Ring” serves as a great series to quench your love for Ahn Hyo Seop. It is the first series he starred in where people really noticed his dashing good looks and potential star quality. His chemistry with Kim Seul Gi is through the roof, and the two even did a dance cover after the series aired to give back for all the love the drama received. It’s an adorable story that will leave you sad only because it is too short of a gem!
“30 But 17“
Gong Woo Jin (Yang Se Jong) hasn’t been the same since a tragic accident that happened when he was young. He finds it difficult to connect with people as an adult, and self-improvement is definitely not something he cares about. Then he meets Woo Seo Ri (Shin Hye Sun), a girl who wakes up from being in a coma after 13 years. The two discover that their fate with each other goes far back. During this destined discovery, they lean on each other for emotional support.
The best part about Ahn Hyo Seop in this role is that viewers are able to see a very charming side of him, which he shows through his acting abilities. Fans will love how he falls in love with Woo Seo Ri, which ignites some serious second lead syndrome. The fact that his character has been in love with her for over 10 years is so heartwarming, and his side of the storyline has won and will continue to win over the hearts of viewers.
“Dr. Romantic 2”
“Dr. Romantic 2” revolves around the fast-paced and emotional setting of a hospital where Doctor Kim (Han Suk Kyu), a guru surgeon, is the head. He scouts doctors and surgeons for his special hospital, which is how he comes across Seo Woo Jin (Ahn Hyo Seop). They are joined by Lee Sung Kyung‘s character Cha Eun Jae who also gets placed at Doctor Kim’s hospital.
The second installment to the very successful “Dr. Romantic” series, fans of Ahn Hyo Seop will see him in a bit of a different light. Prior to this series, Ahn Hyo Seop had never played a bad boy role, but in here, he is running from some gangsters whom he is indebted to. Although this aspect doesn’t exactly make him a total bad boy, he does exude that vibe, which fans and viewers are drawn to. He once again showcased his friendship and chemistry with his co-star as the two released a duet, singing one of the OST tracks sung by Gummy.
“Lovers of the Red Sky”
In this drama, Ahn Hyo Seop plays Ha Ram, a blind astrologer who is able to read the stars, while Kim Yoo Jung plays Hong Chun Gi, a female painter. The two meet by chance and fall in love despite their different personalities.
The most recent series of Ahn Hyo Seop’s before “A Business Proposal” is his role in “Lovers of the Red Sky.” It was a challenging one as he had to play a character who is blind, which is obviously not the easiest of tasks. He admitted in an interview that he had to act quite a bit in front of a blue screen and that it was difficult to create something from nothing while doing it. Despite the obstacles he faced while filming, Ahn Hyo Seop was able to win the Excellent Actor award at the 2021 SBS Drama Awards.
If you can’t get over the multitalented and lovable Kim Sejeong
“School 2017”
Kim Sejeong stars as Ra Eun Ho alongside Kim Jung Hyun who stars as Hyun Tae Woon. It’s pretty much what you would expect out of a high school romance storyline. Tae Woon and Eun Ho start off as friends who like to poke fun at each other, but Tae Woon slowly starts to realize his feelings for Eun Ho and ends up confessing his love to her.
Kim Sejeong had her acting debut with this series, and she expressed that she was very comfortable in the role despite her lack of experience. Kim Sejeong has a naturally infectious and bright energy, which viewers are really able to see. Her character is very lovable, and you will enjoy seeing the pure innocence of first love through her relationship with Tae Woon. The two have a bright chemistry that keeps the series light-hearted and enjoyable to watch.
“The Uncanny Counter”
Jo Byeong Gyu, Yoo Joon Sang, Kim Sejeong, and Yeom Hye Ran star in “The Uncanny Counter,” a drama based on a popular webtoon. The series has a unique story as it involves a boy named So Moon (Jo Byeong Gyu) who is left crippled and an orphan after he and his parents were in a car accident. As a high school student, So Moon gains unknown powers and comes to learn that they were given to him so that he can fight evil spirits who are refusing to go to the afterlife.
It really didn’t take much time for fans and viewers to see that Kim Sejeong really can do it all. With her role as Do Ha Na, we are really able to see her versatility as an actress. Her character is complicated with many layers. She has a tough side, but she is also a character who is very soft-hearted and strong. The series became such a huge success that there has even been confirmation of a second season.
If you’re antsy for a workplace romance K-drama
“Gogh, The Starry Night“
Probably one of my favorite web dramas on this list, “Gogh, The Starry Night” stars Go Ho (Yuri) as a single woman who works at an advertising company. She’s one lucky lady as there are several men who make their advances towards her. Will she choose Kang Tae Ho (Kim Young Kwang), Hwang Ji Hoon (Lee Ji Hoon), or Oh Jung Min (Shin Jae Ha)? It’s an entertaining watch, and you’ll be happy to see who or how she ends up picking her man!
“Gogh, The Starry Night” is a short and sweet office romance K-drama that will have you smiling from beginning to end. There are several men who are hoping that Go Ho will look their way, but only one of these men have been genuinely in love with her since he fell in love at first sight. It’s a cute series with a lot of cheesy but very necessary lines, and it will give you all the butterflies. It’s a guaranteed must-watch for any office rom-com K-drama fan!
“Radio Romance”
“Radio Romance” tells the story of a boy named Ji Soo Ho (Yoon Doojoon) and a girl named Song Geu Rim (Kim So Hyun) who meet by chance in a hospital as teenagers. Soo Ho grows up to become a famous actor, alone and depressed, while Geu Rim grows up to be an aspiring writer for a radio station. They meet again as adults, and Soo Ho remembers her as the first girl he fell in love with. And although their relationship is a love-hate one at first, they come to fall deeply in love with each other.
“Radio Romance” is set in a unique office setting since Ji Soo Ho is a radio host and Song Geu Rim is a radio scriptwriter. Because of its unique setting, the series does a good job of giving an inside look into the high-paced and high-pressured demands of a radio station workplace. The two characters engage in a very romantic and sweet love story that is founded on fate and first love. The series also provides some healing and comfort as the two work through their insecurities and mental health issues.
“Lucky Romance”
Starring Hwang Jung Eum as Shim Bo Nui, Ryu Jun Yeol as Je Soo Ho, and Lee Soo Hyuk as Gary Choi, “Lucky Romance” tells the story of a woman who has faced a lot of bad luck in her life. Bo Nui works a million part-time jobs in order to make ends meet and to help pay hospital bills since her little sister is in the hospital. She comes to meet Je Soo Ho and is offered a job at his gaming company. The two butt heads at first, but Soo Ho comes to realize that he has very strong feelings for her.
Another underrated gem, “Lucky Romance” will have you rooting for the underdog OTP. As Bo Nui comes to grips with the fact that she does not want love in her life, a knight in shining armor appears and sweeps her off her feet. This cat-and-mouse chase of Soo Ho wanting so desperately to be with Bo Nui, only to have her continually push him away, is the perfect balance of angst and butterflies.
If you want to watch some more K-dramas filled with tropes and cliches
“My Secret Romance”
“My Secret Romance” channels sizzling chemistry between the wealthy Cha Jin Wook (Sung Hoon) and job seeker Lee Yoo Mi (Song Ji Eun), whose story begins after a one night stand. They reunite when Yoo Mi gets hired at his family’s company as a nutritionist. Although Jin Wook is not very nice to her at first, they gradually fall for each other, and the leads showcase a passionate young love that makes viewers’ hearts flutter.
When you think of K-drama tropes, there are a lot that come to mind. The slow motion scenes of a female lead falling down and the male lead catching her just as she is about to hit the ground is all too familiar but also amazing. In “My Secret Romance,” all the K-drama tropes are in full force, which only makes it a total delight to watch. You also have the added bonus of seeing some very hot and heavy kiss scenes between the two main leads, all of which will guaranteed make you squeal from excitement!
“Cinderella and Four Knights”
“Cinderella and Four Knights” is like a fairytale K-drama involving a girl named Eun Ha Won (Park So Dam) who gets a job working at a mansion filled with rich, good-looking men. She ends up in a relationship with Ji Woon (Jung Il Woo) despite signing a contract to not fall in love with any of the boys living in the mansion.
A complete guilty pleasure and an eye-candy filled cast, “Cinderella and Four Knights” is the perfect series to binge watch on a Friday night. You have the bad boy, the arrogant rich boy, the poor female lead – all the classic K-drama characters that are set up to give you a delicious series chock full of predictability and joy. Despite knowing more or less what will happen, it still doesn’t take away from the entertainment and butterflies that the storyline gives!
“Clean With Passion For Now”
“Clean With Passion For Now” stars Yoon Kyun Sang and Kim Yoo Jung in an adorable rom-com about first loves. Yoon Kyun Sang plays a cleaning company CEO named Jang Sun Gyeol who is a serious germaphobe. He meets Gil Oh Sol (Kim Yoo Jung) who, on the other hand, is a little less than clean. She doesn’t care about her appearance, and being neat and tidy are not on the top of her busy list of things to do. The two meet and form a hate relationship, but it slowly progresses into like and love.
“Clean With Passion For Now” is the perfect series to watch if you need a pick-me-up. There is nothing heavy in the series, and each character you find will help you become immersed in the story. Seeing a very adorable Kim Yoo Jung butt heads with the clean and very rich Yoon Kyun Sang is the perfect recipe for a trope-filled rom-com. There are no boring moments!
Source: Soompi
