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When reality seems too harsh and boring at the same time, sometimes we need something out of the ordinary to escape for a short time. While some fans choose to indulge in historical dramas as a vacation to the past, we believe that these top 10 of the best Korean fantasy romance dramas WILL help you believe there is still hope and imagination in this universe. And possibly, other universes.
Top 10 Best Korean Fantasy Romance Dramas to Help You Escape from the Harsh and Boring Reality
1. Goblin: The Lonely and Great God
- Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, Lee Dong Wook, Yoo In Na, Yook Sung Jae
- Screenwriter: Kim Eun Sook
- Director: Lee Eung Bok
- Episode: 16
When discussing the best Korean fantasy romance dramas, the first title that comes to your mind will probably be “Goblin” of Gong Yoo and Kim Go Eun. And you’re definitely correct!
Starting the story from the Korean ancient Goryeo period, Goblin tells a story of Kim Shin, a former Goryeo’s unbeatable general who died in the hands of his own King. After living as an immortal goblin for 900 years, Kim Shin began tired of living his meaningless life while watching everyone around him die. Therefore, he started searching for his bride, who was destined to pull the sword on his chest so he could die.
And that bride turned out to be Ji Eun Tak, a cheerful high-school student who has the power of seeing ghosts because Kim Shin had saved her mother and defied her fated death.
“Goblin: The Lonely and Great God” is the perfect mixture of fantasy, romance, comedy, and even historical and melodrama. It’s like the writer, Kim Eun Sook, is trying to get all the genres mixed in a tasty juice. And, thankfully, she did it all too well!
2. Hotel del Luna
- Cast: Lee Ji Eun (IU), Yeo Jin Goo, Lee Do Hyun, Kang Mi Na
- Screenwriter: Hong Sisters (Hong Jung Eun, Hong Mi Ran)
- Director: Oh Choong Hwan
- Episode: 16
The second most fantastic among the top 10 Korean fantasy romance dramas is “Hotel del Luna”, starring IU and Yeo Jin Goo.
Even when Kim Shin of Goblin has been living as an immortal for 900 years, he will still look like a child for Jang Man Wol of “Hotel del Luna” because she’s been around in this world for a thousand years. Due to her past mistake, Jang Man Wol has to spend her immortal life running Hotel del Luna, a ghost hotel tending the needs of wandering spirits. Her life is stuck, causing her resentment to build massively. Until one day, she meets Goo Chan Sung, a young and professional hotel manager who helps this savage female character change for good.
Written by prominent Korean sibling writers, the Hong sisters, “Hotel del Luna” will be perfect to accompany your weekends!
3. Angel’s Last Mission: Love
- Cast: Shin Hye Sun, Kim Myung Soo (L), Lee Dong Gun, Kim Bo Mi, Do Ji Won
- Screenwriter: Choi Yoon Kyo
- Director: Lee Jung Sub
- Episode: 32 (@30 minutes)
You may not have expected it, but “Angel’s Last Mission: Love” is among the perfect fantasy romance Korean dramas that help you escape from the dull reality. When most fantasy romance Korean dramas revolve around the immortal beings living their lives wanting to die, “Angel’s Last Mission: Love” centers on their will to survive and live.
Kim Dan (Kim Myung Soo / L) is a carefree angel who frequently causes trouble and still lives optimistically. One day, Kim Dan encounters a divine mission, and he must complete it if he wants to return to Heaven. And that mission is to find true love for the prima ballerina, Lee Yeon Soo (Shin Hye Sun).
While the mission seems to be a piece of cake, it’s not at all. That’s because, despite her talents and beauty, Lee Yeon Soo is an arrogant and cynical woman who doesn’t trust anyone. Her tragic fate caused her to give up her dream as a prima ballerina, and she has to live her life in anxiety due to many people lurking around her weakness and her inheritance. Therefore, Lee Yeon Soo doesn’t have the heart to love anyone.
“Angel’s Last Mission: Love” combines the remarkable acting skills and perfect chemistry between Kim Myung Soo and Shin Hye Sun. Prepare lots and LOTS of tissue because you will find yourself simultaneously crying and smiling from the very first to the very last episode of this drama.
4. My Roomate is A Gumiho
Following on the best Korean fantasy romance dramas list is the recently top-rated “My Roommate is A Gumiho,” featuring Jang Ki Yong and Lee Hyeri.
Korean nine-tailed fox, or gumiho, is known to gain one tail every 100 years they manage to live and meditate. In this drama, a 999-year-old gumiho Shin Woo Yeo only has one year left. He needs to keep collecting human energy using his fox bead, and only when his fox bead turns blue before he turns 1000 years old can he become a human. If not, he will fail and vanish from the world.
One day, Shin Woo Yeo encounters Lee Dam, a university student trying to get her friend coming down from Woo Yeo’s car. While Shin Woo Yeo tries to help them, they both fall, and Lee Dam unintentionally swallows Shin Woo Yeo’s fox bead. Because the fox bead can only exist in a human’s body for a year, Shin Woo Yeo and Lee Dam decide to live together.
After all, they must find a way to get the fox bead out. Or else Lee Dam will die, and Shin Woo Yeo will disappear.
Indeed, this may seem like a classic fantasy romance gumiho drama, but rest assured because, unlike other gumihos, Shin Woo Yeo does not eat humans. He kisses them.
5. Doom at Your Service
- Cast: Park Bo Young, Seo In Guk, Lee Soo Hyuk, Shin Do Hyun
- Screenwriter: Im Meari
- Director: Kwon Young Il
- Episode: 16
Next, we’re going to have another immortal on our list of top 10 fantasy romance Korean dramas. He’s not angels or demons, not a God, and not an alien. This immortal is simply the Doom itself.
“Doom at Your Service,” tells the story of Myeol Mang, literally translates to “Doom”, who wants to end the whole world. He then becomes overjoyed because his plans might actually come true after a female human, Tak Dong Kyung, who had experienced all the bad luck in the world in just one day, started to resent the world and curse everything to disappear.
Tak Dong Kyung’s curse calls out the Doom, Myul Mang, himself, and they began a 100-day contract for her to live in whatever way she wants while risking everything.
Through “Doom at Your Service”, you will enjoy amazing chemistry not only from the main roles by Seo In Guk and Park Bo Young but also the second-lead couple by Lee Soo Hyuk and Shin Do Hyun.
I only finished Hotel del Luna 😭😭😭😭