Jang Ki-yong plays Shin Woo-yeo, a male gumiho. After college student Lee Dam swallows his bead, they live together and fall in love. Gye Sun-woo has a crush on Lee Dam but faces an uphill battle.
Adapted from a webtoon, True Beauty delves into modern themes. Lim Ju-kyung (Moon Ga-young) transfers schools to escape bullying and becomes friends with Lee Su-ho (Cha Eun-woo) and Han Seo-jun (Hwang In-youp). Seo-jun's growth is poignant, especially when he faces rejection.
"Romance Is a Bonus Book" in the publishing world stars Kang Dan-i (Lee Na-young) who works at a publishing company and becomes involved with the editor-in-chief Cha Eun-ho (Lee Jong-suk) and freelance designer Ji Seo-joon (Wi Ha-joon), creating romantic complications.
In "The Heirs," a popular 2010s Korean drama, Cha Eun-sang (Park Shin-hye) finds herself in a love triangle between wealthy heirs Kim Tan (Lee Min-ho) and Choi Young-do (Kim Woo-bin), with Choi Young-do's character setting him apart.
"Start-Up" delves into entrepreneurship, featuring Bae Suzy as Seo Dal-mi, with dreams of success. Two male leads are in the mix, one pretending to be her childhood love and Han Ji-pyeong, connected through her grandmother. Han Ji-pyeong's support for her journey tugs at the heartstrings, despite his struggles to express his feelings.
In "Strong Woman Do Bong-soon" (2017), Park Bo-young plays Do Bong-soon, who has superhuman strength. She initially crushes on police officer In Guk-doo but becomes a bodyguard for a wealthy young man, changing her romantic path. The friends-to-lovers angle with In Guk-doo remains unfulfilled.
"Boys Over Flowers," a major 2000s K-drama, played a pivotal role in the genre's popularity today. Despite initial toxicity in Gu Jun-pyo (Lee Min-ho) and Geum Jan-di's (Koo Hye-sun) relationship, Yoon Ji-ho (Kim Hyun-joong) shows kindness, though they don't end up together, he continues to love her and accepts the circumstances.
In "Pinocchio" (2014), Lee Jong-suk and Park Shin-hye are the stars, but Kim Young-kwang's character, Seo Beom-jo, stands out as a potential romantic interest for Park's Choi In-ha. Beom-jo, a fellow reporter, develops feelings for In-ha after reading her mother's messages on her phone. Despite some character depth lacking, he remains memorable.
In "Cheese in the Trap," scholarship student Hong Seol (Kim Go-eun) encounters a difficult rich student, Yoo Jung (Park Hae-jin). Baek In-ho (Seo Kang-joon) was adopted into Yoo Jung's family, and Yoo Jung may be the cause of ending Baek's piano career.
In "Reply 1988," viewers were saddened when the second male lead, Kim Jung-hwan, couldn't win the heart of the female lead, Sung Deok-seon. Despite his feelings, he sacrifices his chance, allowing the main male lead to pursue her, remaining a friend.