The Best K-Drama Couples of 2021 (So Far)

Song Joong-Ki and Jeon Yeo-Been in “Vincenzo”

This list is incomplete without Song Joong-ki and Jeon Yeo-been’s pairing in black comedy series “Vincenzo.” Here, he plays the role of Vincenzo Cassano, an Italian lawyer and Mafia consigliere of Korean descent. Her character, on the other hand, is Hong Cha-young, a lawyer who used to be an associate at a top law firm. Their paths cross and they form an unexpected team-up to bring down a corrupt company and its ruthless chairman (Ok Taecyeon). The differences in the characters’ personalities (his all-too-serious demeanor and her quirky attitude) made for great entertainment. In an interview post-”Vincenzo” finale, Song Joong-ki admitted that he found Hong Cha-young charming and that this character and the actress behind it grew on him a lot.

Photo Credit: tvN

Photo Credit: tvN

Photo Credit: tvN

Song Kang and Han So-Hee in “Nevertheless”

There’s no denying the stunning visuals of these two. Together, they make one of the most beautiful K-drama couples ever (and their cute bond seen in several behind-the-scene videos was just palpable). Their webtoon-based romance series may have not done well ratings-wise, but it sure was buzzworthy especially with its R-rated scenes. Some may have found the story’s progression to be slow, but the chemistry between the lead stars was quickly established early on and maintained in the 10-episode series. Han So-hee’s Yoo Na-bi went through a terrible experience with her former boyfriend, causing her to be skeptical about dating. Song Kang’s Park Jae-eon, on the other hand, has established himself as a flirty serial dater who seems hesitant about committing to a relationship. Despite their seemingly opposite takes on love and relationships, the two form a “hyperreal” connection.

Photo Credit: JTBC via Hancinema

Photo Credit: JTBC

Photo Credit: JTBC

Jo Jung-suk and Jeon Mi-do in “Hospital Playlist”

A friends-turned-lovers story is almost always fun to see unfold! Throughout the two seasons of the well-loved “Hospital Playlist,” viewers saw an enviable friendship between Jo Jung-suk’s Lee Ik-jun and Jeon Mi-do’s Chae Song-hwa. Both professors in Yulje Medical Center, these two characters are understandably busy and yet they always make time and care for each other. Whether it’s by checking up on how each other’s day is going in between surgeries, treating the other to a cup of coffee or bonding during lunch over kimbap, they can always trust that they can perk up each other’s day no matter what. Although it took a while for them to take their relationship to the next level, their story just proves that friendship is a good foundation for a romantic relationship.

Photo Credit: tvN

Photo Credit: tvN

Photo Credit: The Swoon

Rowoon and Won Jin-Ah in “She Would Never Know”

A “noona” office romance K-drama, Rowoon and Won Jin-ah star in “She Would Never Know” as colleagues in the marketing department of cosmetic brand company KLAR. Their senior-junior relationship was so endearing. Rowoon’s Chae Hyun-seung is almost perfect, and is an absolute boyfriend material. Won Jin-ah’s Yoon Song-ah is a smart, kind-hearted woman with a take-charge attitude; having Hyun-seung around to take care of her was such a delight to watch. In an interview iQiyi shared with Metro.Style, Won Jin-ah said that in terms of how happy she was working with Rowoon, she’d give it “100 points out of 100 points,” and this off-cam chemistry surely translated on-cam.

Photo Credit: JTBC

Photo Credit: JTBC

Photo Credit: JTBC

Choi Tae-joon and Sooyoung in “So I Married an Anti-Fan”

What a fun palate cleanser this rom-com K-drama was! Light and easy to watch, “So I Married an Anti-Fan” stars Choi Tae-joon as world-famous superstar Hoo Joon and Sooyoung as magazine reporter Lee Geun-young. In an unexpected twist of events, Geun-young becomes labeled as Joon’s “anti-fan,” and is tapped to join him in a reality TV show that requires them to live together. Their petty quarrels soon turn into a cute love story (the subtly romantic things Joon did for Geun-young made us go “awww”), and it has quite a classic treatment. Interestingly, Choi Tae-joon and Sooyoung were in the same graduating class in Chung-Ang University, so their closeness in real life evidently worked well for their on-screen chemistry.

Photo Credit: iQiyi

Photo Credit: iQiyi

Photo Credit: iQiyi

Kim Ji-Suk and Jung So-Min in “Monthly Magazine Home”

Their K-drama may have been underrated, but it sure was an enjoyable rom-com that’s simple and light. In this series, the publishing and real estate industries lend an interesting backdrop for the love story of two characters with emotional struggles and different definitions of the home. Kim Ji-suk’s Yoo Ja-sung is a self-made, real estate investment expert and the CEO of the “Monthly Magazine Home.” Jung So-min’s Na Young-won is an editor in the magazine, who’s struggling financially and dreams of owning her own house. The two actors are a perfect fit for their characters and their connection on-cam helped make the series worth watching till the last episode.

Photo Credit: JTBC

Photo Credit: JTBC

Photo Credit: iQiyi

Jung Yong-Hwa and Jang Na-Ra in “Sell Your Haunted House”

Despite the horror element in their series, “Sell Your Haunted House,” there was an electrifying chemistry between Jung Yong-hwa and Jang Na-ra. Though their characters’ relationship started out with bickering, in the middle of their ghostbusting adventures, they become closer and serve as each other’s source of strength and comfort. Jung Yong-hwa’s Oh In-bum is a con artist pretending to be an exorcist but turns out to be a real psychic. Jang Na-ra’s Hong Ji-ah is the CEO of Daebak Real Estate and an exorcist who makes a living from getting rid of ghosts in haunted houses and establishments. The two later find themselves teaming up, playing on each other’s strengths while guiding each other through their weaknesses. Behind the scenes, Jung Yong-hwa revealed that Jang Na-ra was also guiding him. He said in an interview, “She often told me, ‘You’re doing well.’ She would give me advice like, ‘It would be good if you did it more like this.’ Thanks to her, I think I was able to escape from everything that I’d built up in my head. I learned a lot from her.”

Photo Credit: KBS2

Photo Credit: KBS2

Photo Credit: KBS2

Lee Do-Hyun and Go Min-Si in “Youth of May”

From the apocalyptic horror series “Sweet Home” (where they played brother and sister), Lee Do-hyun and Go Min-si reunited on-screen via the period drama “Youth of May” that’s set in 1980 during the Gwangju Uprising. During such a complicated time marked by political conflicts, Lee Do-hyun’s Hwang Hee-tae and Go Min-si’s Kim Myeong-hee meet and find comfort in each other’s presence. They come from different family backgrounds一his family is well-off while she’s her family’s breadwinner一but they both have emotional wounds love can help overcome. They did well individually, and as a pair, they jibe perfectly. It certainly helped that they’ve worked with each other before and that they get along even off-cam. In an interview, Lee Do-hyun said, “I was able to act comfortably on set because of Go Min Si. We’re the same age in real life, and we’d worked together before, so we were able to have comfortable and detailed conversations about scenes.”

Photo Credit: KBS2

Photo Credit: KBS2

Photo Credit: KBS2

Cha Eun-woo and Moon Ga-young in “True Beauty”

“True Beauty” premiered on December 9, 2020, but its last episode aired last February 4, 2021, so we’re including them in this list, too! Oh, to be young and in love一that’s the kind of feeling many viewers got from watching this school, coming-of-age drama. Not only are Cha Eun-woo and Moon Ga-young both visually stunning, they made for a lovely on-screen couple as well. With a classic “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” approach, “True Beauty” managed to make viewers’ hearts flutter each and every time Cha Eun-woo’s Lee Su-ho looked at Moon Ga-young’s Lim Ju-kyung with his heart-melting gaze. In the series, Su-ho is a heartthrob who’s not only smart and athletic but also well-off; Ju-kyung is bullied for her appearance, causing an inferiority complex, but she later discovers the transformative power of makeup. Their chemistry is the kind that could make one wax nostalgic about that memorable first love or high school romance.

Photo Credit: tvN

Photo Credit: tvN

Photo Credit: tvN

Kim Jung-hyun and Shin Hye-sun in “Mr. Queen”

“Mr. Queen” premiered on December 12, 2020 and lasted till February 14, 2021. A historical series with a comedic spin, the 20-episode K-drama had Kim Jung-hyun portraying King Cheoljong from the Joseon period, while Shin Hye-sun is Queen Cheorin who has the soul of a modern-day man trapped in her body; this hilarious body-swap twist gave an entertaining and refreshing element in the dynamic of the two main characters. The team-up of Kim Jung-hyun and Shin Hye-sun was very effective, and that’s partly because the two enjoyed working with each other on the set. In a press conference, Hye-sun said, “While rehearsing, I ended up thinking a lot along with him.” Jung-hyun also shared, “Just like I’d thought at first, she’s a truly great and solid actress. She also provides a sense of stability, so I’m able to have fun while working on the drama.” So, it wasn’t surprising at all that “Mr. Queen” was high-rated with an average of 12.5% nationwide ratings despite the controversy it faced regarding the mockery of real-life royal figures and the distortion of Korean history, which the producers apologized for.

Photo Credit: tvN

Photo Credit: tvN

Photo Credit: tvN

BONUS! Park Eun-seok and Lee Ji-ah in “The Penthouse: War in Life”

Park Eun-seok’s Logan Lee and Lee Ji-ah’s Shim Su-ryeon went from enemies to allies to lovers who were engaged in “The Penthouse: War in Life” which extended to season 3. The series may not be focused on their love story, but it was one of the highlights of the show. Together, they’ve been through a lot (e.g. revenge schemes, intense arguments, and near-death experiences) to get the happy ending they deserve.

Photo Credit: SBS

Photo Credit: SBS

Photo Credit: Sixth Floor