A roundup of classic Korean romance films: heart-stirring love stories
We’re introducing classic and popular Korean romance films! Whether you’re already into K-culture or not, we’ve lined up must-see masterpieces.
From romantic comedies to more mature vibes, there are plenty of heart-fluttering and tear-jerking titles.
Pay attention to the uniquely Korean passion, sweet mood, and rich expressiveness.
Discovering Korean culture through films is fun—and by the time the credits roll, you might just feel like falling in love yourself! It’s also great to dive deeper by following works from directors you loved or actors who caught your eye.
Use this as a starting point to find moving Korean love stories.
- K-pop and Korean love songs: Love songs that really capture the Korean view of romance
- An emotional Korean song. A gently moving, sensitive masterpiece.
- The theme song of a romantic film that gives you a heart-fluttering, moving feeling.
- [Korean Drama OSTs] Classic Popular Songs That Color the Story: Best Masterpieces
- [Exquisite Ballad Songs] K-pop that touches the soul. Korean Ballads
- A compilation of film music played on the piano / that I want to play on the piano
- K-pop that touches the heart: iconic ballads by Korean female artists
- [Carefully Selected] Popular Love Songs: Recommended Romance Tracks
- Mutual-love K-pop songs that make romance bloom
- K-pop unrequited love songs you’ll totally relate to! Tracks that won’t let the heartache and excitement stop
- K-POP and Korean tear-jerker songs: tracks that deeply resonate and bring you to tears
- Tickling your tear ducts! A collection of emotional and heartwarming K-pop tearjerker songs
- A Classic of Korean City Pop [KOREAN CITY POP]
A roundup of classic Korean romance films: Heart-stirring love stories (11–20)
Ms. Kanna, great success!
It’s a Korean movie, but the original work is a smash-hit manga by Yumiko Suzuki.
It was serialized in Kiss.
It was also adapted into a film in Japan, featuring standout performers centered around lead actress Yu Yamada, along with Shizuyo Yamasaki and Aoi Nakabeppu.
Meanwhile, the Korean-produced film was a massive hit, drawing 6 million moviegoers and becoming the No.
1 film of 2006.
Aside from the premise of “becoming beautiful through plastic surgery,” the story is quite different, so it’s a must-see even for those who have already watched the Japanese version.
A small tidbit: the protagonist’s name, Kanna, was changed to Hanna to make it easier to pronounce in Korean.
The vibe of the day
There are times when you might feel like watching something with a more mature vibe.
That’s exactly what Mood of the Day offers.
It’s a story about a man and a woman who, by chance, end up sitting next to each other on a train and share a one-day romance.
The woman is played by Moon Chae-won, and the man by Yoo Yeon-seok.
Their perfectly synchronized back-and-forth is one of the highlights of the film.
And while the story has a mature atmosphere, it’s also packed with laugh-out-loud moments, making it enjoyable for viewers of all ages.
Only you
The Japanese film Your Eyes Tell was released in 2020.
Its original source is the 2011 Korean film Always.
This is a moving story about a former boxer and a woman who has lost her sight.
The film is filled with heartrending scenes in various situations.
The storyline differs in parts from the Japanese version, so even those who have already seen Your Eyes Tell should enjoy it.
As a side note, Always is said to have been inspired by City Lights from 1913.
The Most Ordinary Love
In romance films, they tend to depict grand love affairs that you’d rarely experience in real life.
That’s part of the fun, of course, but how about watching a movie that portrays a more relatable, ordinary romance for a change? With that in mind, I’d like to introduce Crazy Romance.
It tells the story of a woman who has just gone through a breakup and meets a man who has also recently broken up, and the two fall in love.
Since the film depicts the dates and everyday lives of a very ordinary couple, it should be easy to relate to.
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish
Josee, the Tiger and the Fish is a Japanese novel published in 1984.
It’s a popular work that was also adapted into a film.
In fact, Josee, the Tiger and the Fish was made into a film in Korea under the same title.
The story depicts the bond between a man and Josee, a woman who uses a wheelchair, and their journey together.
While the core plot is the same, it’s fascinating to catch glimpses of differences in culture and cuisine at key moments.
Be sure to watch both versions and look for the differences!