Top 10 K-Dramas Where Our Leads Didn't Believe In Love But Fell Anyway

Are you tired of romantic K-Dramas simply because they're too unrealistic? Do the fairytale love stories make you curl up with cringe? Well, you've come to the right place! Sometimes, tropes like soulmates, star-crossed lovers, and fated couples are just too much to handle. After all, it's hard to think they have any sort of import in real life, and if you're a particularly pragmatic person, they're even more unpalatable. So, if you're looking for K-Dramas that will restore your faith in romance while also serving as an escape from reality, we've got the perfect watchlist for you!

Note: This list is in no order of ranking, but there will be a poll at the end of the article where you can vote for your favorite K-Drama. As this is a poll for readers to vote on whenever they find this article, it will not be closed and no result article will be published.

1. "Because This Is My First Life"

One of the most poignant romance K-Dramas of all time, "Because This Is My First Life" tells the story of two young people in their 30s, navigating the world of adulthood amidst financial troubles, past trauma, unaddressed insecurities and more, all the while being forced to confront their feelings for each other after they come to share a house. Lee MinKi plays Nam SaeHee, and Jung SoMin plays Yoon JiHo in this drama, who meet as landlord and tenant first, and lovers last. Neither party is in any place to think about romance, and SaeHee, in particular, seems to have completely given up on the idea after his previous relationship ended. Forced proximity allows them to slowly open up their hearts and let love in, albeit cautiously. This K-Drama will make you feel vulnerable but understood.

A meditation on loneliness, freedom, and will, "My Liberation Notes" is a modern masterpiece, to say the least. Starring Son SukKu, Kim JiWon, EL, and once again, Lee MinKi, this drama follows three siblings who are stuck in their own ways of life and one stranger who shakes things up for them all. Most notably, the celebrated romance between Son SukKu's Mr. Gu and Kim JiWon's Yeom MiJung starts off from a place of "worship", as MiJung puts it. Two individuals who had turned their backs on the world and other people, turn to each other for comfort and meaning. They urge each other to find their own inner strength and be honest with themselves before anything else. This gives their connection a much larger significance than romantic love, and that is exactly what makes this drama a must-watch.

This one might be a total detour from realism, but besides the obvious fantasy plot, "Hotel Del Luna" tells deeply human stories that you cannot help but identify with. Our heroine, ManWol (IU)  - brave and strong, unwavering in her courage and indifference, has no time or space for love. In fact, she doesn't even consider it a possibility. However, everything changes when she brings ChanSeong (Yeo JinGoo) into her life. ChanSeong, on the other hand, who suddenly finds himself a part of a grander cosmic plan than he could comprehend, is bound to lose her yet love her eternally. Neither ManWol nor ChanSeong would have ever imagined such a tragic romance, and yet, they fall irrevocably in love nonetheless.

While the previous entry on this list leans heavy on the fantasy, "It's Okay To Not Be Okay" is a modern fairytale washed in darkness. Seo YeaJi plays Ko MunYoung - an author of children's literature who suffers from antisocial personality disorder. She has everything but the tiniest ounce of love in her life, and romance is simply out of the question. Instead, she substitutes her need for affection with unhealthy or obsessive tendencies. On the other end of the story, we have Moon KangTae, played by Kim SooHyun, who appears to be completely in contrast to MoonYoung, but a deeper look suggests that they're more alike than you'd think. KangTae, too, cannot afford to think about romance, let alone hope for it. He's an empath through and through and, even though not diagnosed, struggles with his own mental health. Faced with each other, MoonYoung and KangTae address their deep-set trauma and facilitate healing with the realization that they deserve to love and be loved.

If you're looking for some lighter subject matter, "Her Private Life" will be right up your alley. This adorable romantic comedy is equal parts realistic and dreamy, making it the perfect K-Drama for viewers who prefer not to douse themselves with cloying sweetness but certainly enjoy the butterflies. Park MinYoung plays Sung DeokMi, a successful young woman who leads a secret double life as a fangirl. She believes in only one kind of love - that between an idol and a fan, and rejects romantic love with "real" men at all costs. At the same time, Ryan Gold (played by Kim JaeUck), is not exactly receptive to romance either because of his own fair share of reservations. Yet, as the K-Drama gods would have it, the right people meet at the right time and ease each other into the most fulfilling love. If that doesn't undo your romance K-Drama slump, we don't know what will!

We're taking another trip around fantasy land with "Doom At Your Service" and trust us, you will want to come along. Starring Park BoYoung as Tak DongKyung - a terminally-ill woman who wishes for the world to fall in doom, and Seo InGuk as Myul Mang, or Doom incarnate, who turns up to grant her wish, this K-Drama will remind you that even the most closed-off people bloom like the brightest flowers when in love. Myul Mang, renamed Kim SaRam by his beloved, will go to the ends of this world and beyond to keep DongKyung safe, and DongKyung would abandon the world for him even though he is the one who teaches her what it is to truly want to live. Can a love story get any more exquisite? The forbidden love trope is strong in this one but it is executed so tastefully that you'll find yourself going back for more with each episode.

"Mr. Queen" is easily one of the most innovative, unique, and entertaining K-Dramas of all time and for good reason too! Starring Shin HaeSun as Kim SoYong/Jang BongHwan and Kim JungHyun as King CheolJong, this drama takes aversion to romance to a whole another level. You see, BongHwan (initially played by Choi JinHyuk) fell into a pool in modern-day South Korea, and his soul traveled back in time to Joseon, entering the body of Kim SoYong, King CheolJong's future Queen. Now, CheolJong has nothing but hatred for SoYong but finds himself inadvertently drawn to her new personality, whereas BongHwan (in SoYong's body), who has never considered that he might be into men, is suddenly attracted to CheolJong. They try their best not to fall in love, but the heart wants what it wants, giving rise to one of the most charming power couples in K-Drama land. You do not want to miss this one.

8. "Hyena"

If you like your romance ambiguous and piping with tension, there couldn't be a better drama for your watchlist than "Hyena". Starring two of the most incredible actors in the K-Drama industry - Kim HyeSoo as Jung GeumJa and Ju JiHoon as Yoon HeeJae, "Hyena" is a courtroom drama that gains much of its fire from our central duo. From enemies to lovers, best friends, and everything in between, GeumJa and HeeJae make for an unforgettable pair with unbeatable chemistry, both in the workplace and outside of it. More than anything else, they're a solid pillar of support for each other - the kind that makes us wish we had one too. However, when you first meet these characters, especially GeumJa, you can instantly tell that she has no time in her life for romance but wouldn't hesitate to use it to her advantage. So, if you're in the mood for romance, thriller, and comedy all at once, "Hyena" is your best pick.

9. "Love To Hate You"

The latest addition to the list of realistic but utterly heart-fluttering romance K-Dramas is Yoo Teo and Kim OkBin's "Love To Hate You". If it's not already evident from the title, our lead characters, Nam KangHo and Yeo MiRan, would much rather stay miles away from love and each other but circumstances and irresistible attraction bring them together, allowing them to heal the wounds inflicted on their hearts. Nam KangHo is distrustful of women, and Yeo MiRan tends to see only the negatives in the men around her. Both have their own reasons that hold them back from having a meaningful relationship, which means they're exactly what each other needs. This drama will have you swooning left and right but also rolling over laughing - the perfect combination!

Finally, this list would not be complete without "Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency" - the historical drama that gave us more than one definition of love and romance through its colorful and complex stories. Kim MinJae plays Ma Hoon, the leader of the best matchmaking agency in Joseon. However, despite his profession, he doesn't think love or marriage is in the cards for him. When he finds his own perfect match in the quirky but strong and independent Gae Ddong (played by Gong SeungYeon), sparks fly, and minds change. Our lead couple gets a happily ever after they never expected but definitely deserved.

Which other K-Drama would you add to this list? Tell us in the comments section down below!