20 Korean romantic movies that'll make you fall in love with love

There's nothing that'll satisfy your inner romantic quite like movies about love. Even if you're a major romance movie buff and have seen every love story cliché play out on screen, there will always be those rom-coms and romantic dramas that never fail to give you butterflies—no matter how cheesy they might be. And in our humble opinion, this is especially true for Korean romantic movies. Romantic K-dramas and Korean rom-coms have a certain indescribable charm that we simply cannot resist, and while part of it is in the storytelling, there's always the beauty of South Korea in the backdrop, which will get ya every time. And let's not forget about all the handsome oppas. What's not to love??

The next time you're looking for a cute picker-upper or a heavy drama that'll make you cry your eyeballs out, we suggest checking out a few of the best Korean romantic movies of all time. These lovey-dovey romance flicks from Korea will have even the most cynical viewer believing in true love again, trust us—and if you're in the mood for something a lil less sappy, then we've got our top picks for Korean thriller movies for you to peruse as well.

 

1. 20th Century Girl (2022)

Set in 1999, this rom-com revolves around a teen who agrees to keep tabs on her bestie's crush...never expecting that she'll end up falling for that crush herself.
 

2. Sweet & Sour (2021)

Based on the novel Initiation Love by Kurumi Inui, this sweet rom-com follows a couple as they attempt to make their long-distance relationship work despite several challenges—and while that sounds totally predictable, it comes with a VERY unexpected plot twist.
 

3. Love and Leashes (2022)

In this ~risqué~ rom-com, a woman with BDSM fantasies decides to enter into a consensual, contractual relationship with her co-worker after he finds out her secret, and it's a lot more playful and lighthearted than it sounds, promise.
 

4. Tune in for Love (2019)

In this swoon-worthy romance set in the '90s, a student and a teenager have a chance meeting at a bakery, where they discover an instant connection—and yet, from that moment, fate seems determined to keep them apart.
 

5. Wish You (2021)

Looking for a sweet lil Boys Love movie? Then you gotta check out Wish You, which follows a promising singer-songwriter and a keyboard player as they make music together and, ofc, fall totally in love. Is this movie perfect? No. But it's pretty damn cute.
 

6. Moonlit Winter (2019)

In this gorgeous romance, a teen named Sae-bom discovers a secret love letter written to her recently divorced mom...and unexpectedly, it's from a Japanese woman. To help her mom overcome her post-divorce depression, Sae-bom decides to play matchmaker and convinces her mom to go on a trip to Japan with her, which ends up changing both of their lives forever.
 

7. Be With You (2018)

In this K-drama, a man becomes a single father after tragically losing his wife—though before she dies, she promises to come back on a rainy day one year later. And by some miracle, she does come back...only she's lost all her memories.
 

8. The Handmaiden (2016)

This erotic romance revolves around a Korean con man and an orphaned pickpocket, who work together to seduce and swindle a young Japanese heiress out of her inheritance. It's truly a work of art, and yes, it's SERIOUSLY steamy.
 

9. On Your Wedding Day (2018)

In this sweet flick, a man receives an invitation to his ex's wedding, 10 years after their breakup, which causes him to revisit all the ups and downs of their epic romance to figure out where they went wrong.
 

10. Always (2011)

Always tells the story of a hardened ex-boxer working as a parking lot attendant and the blind young telemarketer who wanders into his booth one day and manages to open up his heart. Just trust us—it's adorable.
 

11. The Beauty Inside (2015)

This unique drama revolves around Woo-jin, who wakes up every day as a different person—but no matter how he changes physically, one thing never changes: He's in love with Yi-soo. Luckily, she has feelings for him, too (despite the whole body-changing ordeal).

12. The Last Princess (2016)

Part action flick, part romantic drama, The Last Princess retells the true story of Princess Deok-hye, the last princess of the Joseon Dynasty who was forced to move to Japan under colonial rule, and Kim Jang-han, the (somewhat fictional) Korean independence fighter who planned her rescue.
 

13. Love 911 (2012)

In this fun rom-com, a firefighter who lost his wife in a tragic accident finds himself pursued by a doctor, who even volunteers to be a paramedic in order to work alongside him. And though he eventually starts to fall for her, he can't shake the feeling that she has an ulterior motive. (Spoiler alert: She does.)
 

14. Double Patty (2021)

In this drama starring Bae Joo-hyun (aka Irene from K-pop girl group Red Velvet), an aspiring TV anchor working at a hamburger restaurant has a chance encounter with a cute foodie one night, and it sparks a v cute romance.
 

15. Snow in Sea Breeze (2015)

When a shy, sickly woman falls in love with a national swimmer-turned-aquarium employee, the two decide to get engaged—but unfortunately, several challenges crop up as the couple attempts to start a life together.
 

16. Mood of the Day (2016)

Another lighthearted, feel-good rom-com, Mood of the Day follows a charming playboy and a woman in a committed relationship on a train ride from Seoul to Busan, which ends up changing their lives forever.
 

17. Love Fiction (2012)

Love Fiction revolves around a novelist with writer's block who—while struggling with his second novel—finds a muse in his new girlfriend, though writing about her leads to some unexpected consequences.
 

18. New Year Blues (2021)

Set during the week leading up to the new year, this rom-com follows four very different couples as they face a variety of struggles and challenges, both personal and in their relationships.
 

19. Love, Again (2019)

This rom-com tells the story of Hyun-Woo, a man finds himself living his best bachelor life following his divorce...that is, until he discovers that his ex-wife is now dating his old high school rival, who doesn't even realise that the two were once married.
 

20. Crazy Romance (2019)

This lil indie gem follows two co-workers embittered by love—a man who recently called off his engagement and a woman who was cheated on by her ex—as they decide to start something new with each other.