>>211354185yeah I was gonna add that in later, here's some categories and detail. pt 1
Neo-Melodrama / Prestige Romance
1. One Spring Night (2019) โ A quiet, emotionally mature love story with moral weight. Han Ji-min and Jung Hae-in have restrained, believable chemistry.
2. When the Camellia Blooms (2019) โ Tonally complex, blending romance, slice of life, and small-town noir. Genuinely heartfelt.
3. Our Beloved Summer (2021) โ A nostalgic yet modern romantic drama with excellent pacing and character arcs.
4. Because This Is My First Life (2017) โ A contract-marriage trope drama that evolves into something poignant and reflective about love and class.
Romantic Comedy Revival
1. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016) โ Wholesome as hell. Centered on a female weightlifter and her romance with a swimmer, it captures youthful insecurity and joy.
2. Her Private Life (2019) โ Romcom for the grown-ups, with Park Min-young's double life as an art curator and fangirl. Sharp chemistry.
3. Business Proposal (2022) โ Possibly the last true K-romcom in the classic sense. Over-the-top and self-aware, but faithful to the form.
4. Queen In-hyunโs Man (2012) โ Time-travel premise, yes, but the romance is central and genuinely moving. Earns its cult classic status with clever writing and deep emotional payoff.
Underrated/Intimate Gems
1. My Liberation Notes (2022) โ Character-focused, existentially moody. A drama about yearning, routine, and escape. Minimalist and poetic.
2. Just Between Lovers (2017) โ A story of grief, trauma, and slow healing wrapped in a romantic shell. Quietly devastating.
3. Be Melodramatic (2019) โ Satirical but emotionally sincere. A rare example of metafiction done right in K-drama.
4. On the Way to the Airport (2016) โ Low-key, mature drama about emotional infidelity, regret, and connection. Understated performances, heavy on ambiance.