Featuring the comfort of familiarity, sweet will-they-won’t-they moments, and plenty of sexual tension — few romance tropes are as popular as the classic childhood friends-to-lovers in the K-drama world. Here’s a look at a few titles that follow this script.
As the viral TikTok trend from 2021 goes, ‘two best friends in a room, they might kiss.’ — plenty of titles in the K-drama world see romance blossoming in childhood. While some have the duo split up to pursue their own paths before coming back to one another, others see them sticking by each other through the years. Complete, with love triangles, heated showdowns, sweet dates, fun banter, and grand confessions to spice things up. The best part? They explore a range of subjects along the way — from following one’s passion and complicated familial relationships to navigating tragedy and striving for social justice. Here’s a look at a few shows available across various streaming platforms that are worth the watch.
Shows with childhood friends-to-lovers tropes for your next romance binge
Jump To / Table of Contents
- 1 Soundtrack #1
- 2 My First First Love
- 3 Our Beloved Summer
- 4 Love Next Door
- 5 Welcome to Samdal-ri
- 6 Pinocchio
- 7 See You In My 19th Life
- 8 Romance Is A Bonus Book
1 /8
Soundtrack #1
Directed by: Kim Hee-won
Cast: Park Hyung-sik, Han So-hee
Episodes: 4
Release date: 23 March 2022
IMDb rating: 7.8
Synopsis: Photographer Han Seon-woo (played by Park Hyung-sik) and lyricist Lee Eun-soo (played by Han So-hee) are childhood best friends who’ve been close for nearly twenty years. The lines between friendship and romance begin blurring when they start collaborating on music and living together.
2 /8
My First First Love
Directed by: Oh Jin-seok
Cast: Ji Soo,Jung Chae-yeon,Jung Jin-young,Choi Ri, Kang Tae-oh
Episodes: 16
Release date: 18 April 2019
IMDb rating: 7.4
Synopsis: A set of college students discover love for the first time — including Tae Oh (played by Ji Soo) and his best friend of 20 years Song Yi (played by Jung Chaeyeon). Also in the picture? Tae Oh’s best friend Do Hyun (played by Jinyoung). Things get messy but they learn to live together.
3 /8
Our Beloved Summer
Directed by: Kim Yoon-jin
Cast: Choi Woo-shik, Kim Da-mi, Kim Sung-cheol, Roh Jeong-eui
Number of episodes: 16
Release date: 6 December 2021
IMDb rating: 8.2
Synopsis: Choi Ung (played by Choi Woo-shik) and Kook Yeon-soo (played by Kim Da-mi) were in a relationship but broke up during their school years. Ten years later, a documentary they co-created goes viral — forcing them to get together again for a follow-up. Soon, they fall in love.
4 /8
Love Next Door
Directed by: Yoo Je-won
Cast: Lee Seung-hyub, Jung Hae-in, Jung So-min, Kim Ji-eun, Yun Ji-on, Park Ji-young, Jo Han-chul
Episodes: 16
Release date: 17 August 2024
IMDb rating: 7.7
Synopsis: Choi Seung-hyo (Jung Hae-in) and Bae Seok-ryu (Jung So-min) are childhood friends whose mothers have been best friends since high school as well. Despite growing up together, their paths diverged as adults — with the former pursuing architecture and the latter building a career overseas. However, when Seok-ryu returns to South Korea after quitting her job, love slowly blossoms.
Directed by: Cha Young-hoon
Cast: Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hye-sun
Release date: 2 December 2023
Episodes: 16
IMDb rating: 8
Synopsis: After an incorrect weather report leads to his mother’s death, Cho Yong-pil (played by Ji Chang-wook) decides to become a weather forecaster to protect the elders of his town (Jeju Island). Meanwhile, his childhood best friend and former lover Cho Sam-dal (played by Shin Hye Sun) moves to Seoul to become a fashion photographer. However, when a scandal brings her back home — the two reconnect, with time not having changed a thing between them.
6 /8
Pinocchio
Directed by: Jo Soo-won, Shin Seung-woo
Cast: Lee Jong-suk, Park Shin-hye, Kim Young-kwang, Lee Yu-bi
Release date: 12 November 2014
Episodes: 20
IMDb rating: 8.1
Synopsis: Four moralistic journalists pursue justice while discovering themselves. This includes broadcast reporter Choi In-ha (played by Park Shin-hye) who suffers from ‘Pinocchio Syndrome’ — which causes her to break out in hiccups when she lies. Her colleagues include her shabby yet highly intelligent and sharp childhood best friend Choi Dal-po (Lee Jong-suk), the wealthy Seo Bum-jo (played by Kim Young-kwang), and fangirl Yoon Yoo Rae (played by Lee Yu Bi).
Directed by: Lee Na-jung
Cast: Shin Hye-sun, Ha Yoon-kyung, Ahn Dong-goo
Episodes: 12
Release date: 17 June 2023
IMDb rating: 7.7
Synopsis: Ban Ji-eum (played by Shin Hye-sun) can recall her past lives. In her current — the 19th life — she seeks out Moon Seo-Ha (played by Ahn Dong-goo). They’d first met as 12-year-olds in her 18th life — and in the present time Seo-Ha is repulsed by relationships. Ji-eum struggles to forget the past and move on. Also in the picture? Kang Min-gi (played by Lee Chae-min) — is a part-time worker at a restaurant who recognises Ji-eum and follows her around.
Directed by: Kim Na-Young, Lee Jung-Hyo
Cast: Lee Na-young, Lee Jong-suk, Jeong Eu-gene, Wi Ha-joon
Episodes: 16
Release Date: 26 January 2019
IMDb rating: 8
Synopsis: Cha Eun Ho (played by Lee Jong-Suk) is the youngest chief editor of a publishing company. His childhood best friend Kang Dan Yi (played by Lee Na Young) — a former copywriter — is divorced, unemployed, and a single mother. The latter lies to get a job at his company. At the same time, she moves into his home until she can find a place for herself. The two soon fall in love while navigating other romantic interests.
Which of these K-drama titles with childhood best friends makes for the dreamiest romance?
Hero and feature images: Courtesy of Netflix
Note:
The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the childhood trope in K-drama?
The childhood trope in romantic K-dramas looks at characters who knew each other, were close, or dated as children. They either get separated at some point and reconnect later or find their relationship blossoming into romance as time passes.
What is the No 1 Korean romantic drama?
Most popular romantic K-dramas of all time include Crash Landing On You, My Beloved Summer, Business Proposal, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim, Descendants Of The Sun, Welcome To Samdal-ri, and My Demon, amongst others.
Tags
Romantic K-dramas Romantic Korean dramas
