4 Romance K-Dramas To Watch If You Miss "Serendipity's Embrace"

The eight-episode fast-paced story of “Serendipity’s Embrace” seems to have ended too fast and has left a gaping hole in many “currently watching” K-drama lists as well as viewers’ hearts. The sweet and healthy romance between Hong Joo (Kim So Hyun) and Hoo Young (Chae Jong Hyeop) and the on-screen chemistry between the main leads will be missed until they grace the screen together again. But in the meantime, here are four romance K-dramas that will help you cope with the absence of “Serendipity’s Embrace.”

“The Tale of Nokdu”

If you miss Kim So Hyun’s bubbly on-screen presence and the anticipation for her new K-drama “Good Boy” is killing you, then “The Tale of Nokdu” is the perfect K-drama to watch. Based on Hye Jin Yang’s webtoon “Nok Du Jeon,” “The Tale of Nokdu” is a historical rom-com featuring Kim So Hyun and Jang Dong Yoon, and it’s one of the funniest cross-dressing romances.

The story follows Jeon Nok Du (Jang Dong Yoon), who has spent his entire life on a secluded island with his father and brother. He is an excellent swordsman and intellectually sharp, but he has never set foot on the mainland. That changes when his father and brother are attacked by a group of female assassins. Nok Du chases one of these assassins and ends up in a village inhabited solely by widows. To avoid detection, he disguises himself as a woman while trying to uncover the assassins’ identities. In this widows-only village, he meets Dong Dong Ju (Kim So Hyun), who is an apprentice gisaeng – a woman from a lower class who is trained to become a professional artist. Though everything seems normal at first, it is soon revealed that she is trying to avenge someone she loved.

The setting of “The Tale of Nokdu” is visually stunning, but what makes this K-drama one of Kim So Hyun’s best works is her on-screen chemistry with Jang Dong Yoon. It’s so palpable that it gives viewers butterflies!

“Love All Play”

Though Chae Jong Hyeop has been in the K-drama industry for years, it seems like he’s only now getting the well-deserved attention from audiences. He has starred in over 11 dramas, playing all sorts of characters, but if you miss the cool and charming yet deeply-in-love Hoo Young, then “Love All Play” fits the bill perfectly.

In this sports romance, Chae Jong Hyeop plays Park Tae Joon, a badminton player who never actually intended to go pro. In fact, he only got into the sport because his family owns a badminton equipment business. Over time, he began to see badminton as just a job. However, his passion for the sport reignites when he meets Park Tae Yang (Park Ju Hyun), an aspiring Olympian who had to leave the badminton world due to a bribery scandal.

The romance genre often doesn’t get the concept of a “green flag” character, instead presenting a love interest whose good qualities mask toxic traits. Thankfully, that’s not the case with “Love All Play.” The romance between the leads is refreshingly healthy and youthful, with Chae Jong Hyeop once again playing a man-written-by-a-woman type character. This drama highlights the passion and ambitions of youth, and the plot and atmosphere are reminiscent of the K-drama “Twenty Five, Twenty One” but without the same ending.

“My Sweet Mobster”

Chae Jong Hyeop played a “loser-lover” type of male lead in “Serendipity’s Embrace.” While “Lovely Runner” is by far the best K-drama with a “loser-lover” male lead, almost everyone has already watched it. Another K-drama with a similar trope that deserves the same hype is “My Sweet Mobster,” a sweet, cheesy, and funny story with an adorable male lead.

Seo Ji Hwan, played by Um Tae Goo, is a living legend of the underworld who has turned his life around and is now the CEO of a food company that helps other ex-convicts rebuild their lives. On the other hand, Go Eun Ha (Han Sun Hwa), also known as “Sister Mini,” is a struggling online content creator who makes videos for children.

Based on the web novel “The Woman Who Plays” by Park Soo Jung, “My Sweet Mobster” is a story about two people who find love in the most unexpected way. This K-drama not only shows the sweet romance between the main leads, but is also really heavy on the comedy that will make your stomach hurt.

“Our Beloved Summer”

One of the many things that “Serendipity’s Embrace” does right is portraying a slice-of-life, mellow, and realistic romance that could exist in real life. And one K-drama that captures that essence beautifully is “Our Beloved Summer.”

Based on Lee Naeun’s webtoon of the same name, “Our Beloved Summer” tells the story of two exes who find their way back to each other. Choi Woong (Choi Woo Shik), a seemingly lazy yet kind-hearted man, and Kook Yeon Soo (Kim Da Mi), a hardworking woman in her late 20s, attended the same high school. While filming a documentary showcasing the daily life of the best and worst students, they grew closer and fell in love. However, due to insecurity, miscommunication, and the naivety of their youth, their relationship ended abruptly. Years later, they agree to film a follow-up documentary. Although they bicker and fight at first, as the filming progresses, they realize they never stopped loving each other.

Unlike “Serendipity’s Embrace,” “Our Beloved Summer” is not short, with 16 episodes and a slow-paced story. And this exact trait can frustrate viewers at times, but the realistic portrayal of love and the ending make it all worth it.

source: Soompi