10 K-dramas beautifully portraying the nuances of friendship and love

1. Reply 1988 (2015)

The drama captures the essence of growing up together by deftly weaving the lives of five childhood friends and their families against the backdrop of the late 1980s.  The central theme of the drama is the endearing and humorous friendship between Choi Taek (Park Bo Gum) and Song Deok Sun (Lee Hyeri). Their relationship grows stronger and their emotions shift as they negotiate the challenging terrain of puberty, exposing a gentle love that has always existed between them.

2. My First First Love (2019)

It tells the tale of Yoon Tae Oh (Ji Soo) and Han Song Yi (Jung Chaeyeon), two best friends who move in together and share a roof, which sparks a string of endearing and crazy happenings. Their feelings change as they work through life’s challenges and the distinction between friendship and love starts to fuzzily appear, culminating in a charming story of romance.

3. Welcome to Samdalri (2023)

Set in a quaint rural village, Welcome to Samdalri is a heartwarming story of first love and second chances. It tells the tale of photographer Choi Sam Dal (Shin Hye Sun), who, following a fall from grace, returns to her hometown. Following her return, she runs into Choi Yong Pil (Ji Chang Wook), her childhood best friend and ex-boyfriend, and as emotions shift and long-forgotten feelings resurface, a passionate second-chance romance blossoms.

4. Soundtrack #1 (2022)

It tells the tale of best friend Han Sun Woo (Park Hyung Sik), a photographer, and songwriter Lee Eun Soo (Han So hee), who have a close friendship that has been cultivated over years. Sun Woo steps in to support Eun Soo when she is having trouble coming up with ideas for a love song. Their repressed feelings surface as they move into a shared residence, and a love tale begins to blossom.

5. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo (2016)

It tells the tale of weightlifter Kim Bok Joo (Lee Sung Kyung) and Jung Joon Hyung (Nam Joo Hyuk). Cute jokes, incessant fighting, laughter, and endearing love abound throughout their journey. Joon-Hyung is inspired by Bok-Joo’s tenacity and resolve, and she is able to handle the pressures of competitive sports thanks to his unwavering support.

6. Bubblegum (2015)

The plot centers on Kim Haeng Ah (Jung Ryeo Won) and Park Ri Hwan (Lee Dong Wook), who have been best friends since they were young children. Their unspoken understanding and shared memories have nourished their friendship. However, as soon as the two come to the realization that their emotions go beyond simple friendship, they encounter a number of obstacles and personal struggles that make it hard for them to be together.

7. More Than Friends (2020)

The plot revolves around the friendship between Lee Soo (Ong Seong Wu) and Kyung Woo Yeon (Shin Ye Eun), who have been best friends for ten years and have romantic feelings for one another.  Following her confession of feelings, Kyung Woo receives a friend zone from Yeon Soo, who is reluctant to pursue her due to past traumas. This leads to a story of lost opportunities and unwavering love.

8. Fight for My Way (2017)

The inspirational drama Fight for My Way is about following your dreams and discovering love in unexpected places and people. The plot centers on two best friends: Choi Ae Ra (Kim Ji Won), a department store employee who aspires to become an announcer and Ko Dong Man (Park Seo Jun), a well-known taekwondo athlete. They find themselves drawn closer to one another as they pursue their separate goals and unearth a love that has long been hidden in their hearts.

9. Romance is a Bonus Book (2019)

The story revolves around Cha Eun Ho (Lee Jong Suk), a prosperous writer and editor, who has consistently supported his closest friend Kang Dan Yi (Lee Na Young), a former copywriter who is having personal and professional problems. Eun Ho’s long-suppressed feelings for Dan Yi surface when they begin working together, sparking a touching path of self-discovery and love.

10. Reply 1994 (2013)

A nostalgic journey to the 1990s, Reply 1994 follows the lives of seven boarding house pals. This touching story revolves around the developing friendship between Na Jung (Go Ara) and Trash (Jung Woo), her best friend. With time, their friendship—which is based on humorous banter and shared memories—becomes more and more passionate.