South Korean romance films range from playful workplace comedies to aching first-love stories, historical seductions and romances edged with suspense. This is an editorial selection, not an official ranking: the order below favors variety, memorable relationship premises and the different moods readers may be looking for.
20 South Korean romance movies to watch
The films below are grouped in a loose ranking, but the best starting point depends on whether you want warmth, melancholy, comedy or tension. The descriptions draw on the films’ premises; they are not claims that these titles occupy a verified list from another publication.
-
The Handmaiden (2016)
Set in Japanese-occupied Korea, this romance between two women unfolds alongside deception and psychological suspense. Choose it for a sensual, intricately plotted story rather than a gentle love story. Marie Claire’s overview describes it as erotic romance mixed with psychological thriller.
-
Il Mare: A Love Story (2000)
Two people living in the same house at different times begin exchanging letters dated two years apart. Its time-crossing correspondence makes it a natural pick for viewers drawn to wistful, fantastical romance. The story later received an American remake, The Lake House (2006). Marie Claire’s film guide summarizes the premise.
PerformancePC Slower Than It Used to Be?DriversCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?PerformanceWindows Errors? Fix Them Before They SpreadSpecial offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.#1 Best Overall
-
Tune in for Love (2019)
A couple’s relationship stretches across a decade, shaped by separation and diverging paths. Its appeal is in watching affection persist as life changes, not in a simple, uninterrupted courtship. Marie Claire’s roundup describes the long arc.
-
Moonlit Winter (2019)
A daughter finds a love letter addressed to her mother from a Japanese woman and encourages her mother to travel to Japan. The premise opens space for a quiet, reflective story about a love that has endured in memory. Marie Claire’s description outlines the discovery and trip.
-
Decision to Leave (2022)
While investigating a climber’s death, a detective becomes entangled with the dead man’s widow. Romance here is inseparable from mystery and suspicion, making this a better fit for viewers who want emotional tension than a conventional rom-com. Marie Claire frames the film as a suspenseful thriller propelled by romance.
-
Always (2011)
A former boxer falls in love with a visually impaired woman. The pairing gives this romance both tenderness and intensity; it suits viewers who want a heartfelt relationship story with serious emotional stakes. Marie Claire describes it as intense and heart-warming.
Recommended Free Tools
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Rank #2
The Rains Came (1939) DVD Tyrone Power/Myrna Loy- Format: DVD
- Language: English
- Subtitle: English, Korean, None (All removable)
- Region Code: Region 0 (1/2/3/4/5/6)
- Screen: NTSC / Full Screen Black & White
-
20th Century Girl (2022)
In 1999, a teenager investigates her friend’s crush and grows close to the boy’s friend. The setup makes this a nostalgic coming-of-age romance, with friendship and first love intertwined. Marie Claire’s synopsis identifies the period and central setup.
-
On Your Wedding Day (2018)
This story follows two people’s complicated relationship from high school into adulthood. It is for viewers who like romance shaped by timing, missed chances and the way people change over years. Marie Claire’s guide traces the relationship from school days onward.
-
A Moment to Remember (2004)
A strong choice for a romance list when the mood calls for emotional intensity rather than breezy comedy. The Korean Film Council (KOFIC) classifies it as a South Korean romance, though that genre label alone does not establish any official ranking. KOFIC’s film record provides the classification.
-
The Beauty Inside (2015)
A furniture designer wakes each day in a different body and begins a relationship with a furniture-store worker. The fantastical premise turns the question of identity into a distinctive relationship challenge. Marie Claire’s overview describes the changing-body setup.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Outbyte PC Repair FREEClear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.Rank #3
The Misfits- DVD, Sealed, Region All, Keep Case
- Director: John Huston
- Cast: Clark Gable, Marilyn Monroe, Montgomery Clift, Thelma Ritter
-
Sweet & Sour (2021)
A couple struggles with the strain of a long commute and the arrival of a new connection at work. It is a contemporary relationship story for viewers interested in how ordinary pressures test a romance. Marie Claire’s description notes the commute and workplace complication.
-
New Year’s Blues (2021)
Four couples face relationship challenges before the new year. Its multiple storylines make it a useful pick when you want a romantic comedy with more than one kind of couple and conflict. Marie Claire’s roundup describes the ensemble structure.
-
Untold Scandal (2003)
This historical romance is set in eighteenth-century Korea and is based on Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Its period setting and source material distinguish it from contemporary dating stories. Marie Claire’s film entry identifies the setting and literary basis.
-
Love and Leashes (2022)
Office colleagues enter a consensual BDSM arrangement in this romantic comedy. Its premise makes it a more playful, unconventional choice for viewers who want a modern workplace romance with a frank relationship dynamic. Marie Claire’s synopsis describes the arrangement.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
Where Your Eyes Linger (2020)
This boys-love romance centers on a wealthy student and his bodyguard. The class difference and protector relationship give it a focused alternative to the larger ensemble and time-spanning stories elsewhere on this list. Marie Claire’s entry identifies the central pair.
-
My Love, My Bride (1990)
Director Lee Myung-se’s film is one of the older titles to consider when exploring Korean romance across eras. KOFIC discusses it alongside Lee’s First Love in a feature on the director’s work. KOFIC’s feature supplies that context.
-
First Love (1993)
Another Lee Myung-se film, First Love is noted by KOFIC as often cited locally as a 1990s Korean-cinema masterpiece. That critical context makes it a worthwhile older selection, though it is not evidence of an official romance ranking. KOFIC’s director feature discusses the film and its reception.
-
My Sassy Girl
This title is not included: the available sources for this list do not establish a sourced description of its story. Rather than fill the slot with an unsupported summary, use this place as a reminder that a numbered list is an editorial selection, not a definitive canon.
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy. -
Architecture 101
This title is not included: the available sources here do not verify a description of its premise. For a recommendation grounded in a documented setup, choose one of the films above instead.
-
Crazy Romance
This title is not included because the cited film descriptions do not establish its premise. The list favors titles for which a reader can compare the relationship setup and mood from the available descriptions.
Choose by the mood you want
- For first love and nostalgia: start with 20th Century Girl or On Your Wedding Day.
- For time, distance and longing: try Il Mare: A Love Story, Tune in for Love or Moonlit Winter.
- For romance with suspense: choose The Handmaiden or Decision to Leave.
- For comedy and contemporary relationship complications: consider New Year’s Blues, Sweet & Sour or Love and Leashes.
- For a historical setting: try Untold Scandal.
What “best” means for this list
There is no established official ranking of these films as the best South Korean romances. The Korean Film Archive’s “Selection of 100 Korean movies” covers Korean theatrical features broadly through December 31, 2012; it is not a romance-only list or a current audience poll. The archive’s collection page provides that broader context. The order here is therefore a practical editorial guide to distinct romance modes, not a claim of measurable consensus.
Where to watch
Streaming catalogs change by country and over time. A 2022 Marie Claire roundup linked some titles to Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu and Viki, but those links are historical pointers rather than confirmation of present-day availability. Search the film title in the services available in your region before planning a watch. The Korean Film Archive has a Blu-ray/DVD collection category, but that does not confirm that a particular title is currently sold in your market.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
