5 K-Dramas with romance and no love triangles (let people be happy): From Encounter to Doom at Your Service
K-Drama romances often comes with a tax. You fall for the couple, and then, right on schedule, a second lead shows up, or a childhood friend resurfaces, or an ex refuses to stay in the past, and suddenly half the season is spent on manufactured jealousy instead of the actual relationship you signed up for. It's a formula so common it barely registers as a choice anymore. But it is a choice, and…
1) Encounter: Song Hye-kyo and Park Bo-gum star in this whimsical drama about two individuals who fall in love despite the obstacles. Song plays Cha Soo-hyun, a hotel CEO, while Park plays Kim Jin-hyuk, a free-spirited younger man. Their chance meeting in Cuba leads them to reunite in Korea, where they must overcome the former's guardedness, class divide, and fear of their relationship being tested by real life.
This drama is a perfect example of romance without a love triangle, focusing instead on the couple's challenges and connection.
2) Doom At Your Service: Seo In-guk and Park Bo-young lead this dark fantasy story where the world is ending. Tak Dong-kyung wishes for the world's destruction, and Myul-mang (Seo In-guk) appears to grant her wish for 100 days. Although the plot involves fantastical elements, there is no rivalry or jealousy from third parties. Instead, the tension is existential, as Dong-kyung and Myul-mang grapple with the end of life and time.
Their romance is genuine and heartfelt, relying solely on their connection rather than manufactured drama.
3) Summer Strike: Lee Yeo-reum, grieving the loss of her mother and recently dumped, moves to a seaside village to heal. There, she meets An Dae-beom, a librarian with a hidden past. The drama showcases slow comfort and healing as the two characters grow together, with no third-party interference in their relationship. The slow-burn romance and emphasis on their personal growth make this a compelling watch for fans of romance without love triangles.
4) Happiness: Yoon Sae-bom, a member of a special police squad, and Jung Yi-hyun, a detective with a long-standing affection for Sae-bom, enter a fake marriage to secure a desirable apartment. When a mysterious disease breaks out in the building, the couple is forced to remain together in a claustrophobic environment. Despite the intense circumstances, their bond remains strong, as their years of history and mutual support create a solid foundation for their relationship.
This drama offers a unique blend of romance and survival horror, focusing on the couple's resilience rather than external conflicts.
5) Twenty Five Twenty One: Nam Joo-Hyuk and Kim Tae-ri portray Na Hee-do and Baek Yi-jin, two individuals whose lives intersect during the aftermath of the 1997 Asian financial crisis. Their story spans years, with no love triangle present. Though the rivalry between Hee-do's fencing rival, Ko Yu-rim, could have been a potential source of jealousy, the show intentionally subverts this dynamic.
Instead, the focus lies on the couple's growth and connection throughout their lives, as they navigate the challenges of the era and support each other through thick and thin.
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