Top 10 Best Korean Romance Movies in the First Half of 2025
The first half of 2025 has witnessed the explosion of Korean small screens with a series of romantic works that have conquered the hearts of audiences. From sweet, warm love stories to tragic and challenging love affairs, Korean filmmakers have constantly innovated to bring diverse emotions. With the participation of famous actors and attractive scripts, these films have not only resonated domestically but also spread their strong appeal throughout Asia. Let's take a look at the "Top 10 Best Korean Romance Films of the First Half of 2025" to discover which work has left the deepest impression on you!
1
When Life Gives You Tangerines
When Life Gives You Tangerines - Top 10 Best Korean Romance Movies of the First Half of 2025.
When Life Gives You Tangerines is a slice-of-life Korean drama set on Jeju Island in the 1950s and 1960s, where nature is peaceful but life is full of challenges. The film revolves around Oh Ae‑sun, a poor country girl who aspires to become a poet, with a dream of living differently in a conservative and restrictive society. Her heart is always full of passion and faith in the future, even though reality is full of hardships..
Growing up with Ae‑sun is Yang Gwan‑sik, a gentle, quiet boy who lives simply and silently spends his youth protecting the girl he loves. In the midst of the ripe tangerine season, their love blossoms quietly, simply but firmly, although there are many conflicts due to differences in thinking, circumstances and dreams.
When Ae‑sun decides to leave Jeju to pursue her own ideals and dreams, while Gwan‑sik chooses to stay and take care of her family and her homeland, their relationship enters a challenging period. The film takes viewers through a journey of more than half a lifetime, witnessing the changes, losses, and the endurance of a wordless but powerful love.
When Life Gives You Tangerines is not only a love story between two people, but also a profound symphony about memories, youth, family, and the little things that make up happiness. The work makes a strong impression thanks to its gentle storytelling, delicate dialogue, poetic images of Jeju Island, and emotional performances from IU and Park Bo-gum.
Basic Information
Drama Name: When Life Gives You Tangerines (폭싹 속았수다)
Genre: Romance, slice of life, healing
Duration: 16 episodes
Broadcast schedule: Every Friday (4 episodes per week)
First broadcast date: March 7, 2025
Broadcast channel: Netflix
Director: Kim Won-seok
Screenwriter: Lim Sang-choon
Producers: Pan Entertainment, Baram Pictures
Main cast:
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IU as Oh Ae-sun (youth)
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Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik (youth)
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Moon So-ri as Oh Ae-sun (middle-aged)
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Park Hae-joon as Yang Gwan-sik (middle-aged)
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Yeom Hye-ran as Jeon Gwang-rye (Ae-sun's mother)n)
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Choi Dae-hoon as Bu Sang-gil (Gwan-sik's childhood friend)
2
When Life Gives You Tangerines
When Life Gives You Tangerines - Top 10 Best Korean Romance Movies of the First Half of 2025.
When Life Gives You Tangerines is a slice-of-life Korean drama set on Jeju Island in the 1950s and 1960s, where nature is peaceful but life is full of challenges. The film revolves around Oh Ae‑sun, a poor country girl who aspires to become a poet, with a dream of living differently in a conservative and restrictive society. Her heart is always full of passion and faith in the future, even though reality is full of hardships..
Growing up with Ae‑sun is Yang Gwan‑sik, a gentle, quiet boy who lives simply and silently spends his youth protecting the girl he loves. In the midst of the ripe tangerine season, their love blossoms quietly, simply but firmly, although there are many conflicts due to differences in thinking, circumstances and dreams.
When Ae‑sun decides to leave Jeju to pursue her own ideals and dreams, while Gwan‑sik chooses to stay and take care of her family and her homeland, their relationship enters a challenging period. The film takes viewers through a journey of more than half a lifetime, witnessing the changes, losses, and the endurance of a wordless but powerful love.
When Life Gives You Tangerines is not only a love story between two people, but also a profound symphony about memories, youth, family, and the little things that make up happiness. The work makes a strong impression thanks to its gentle storytelling, delicate dialogue, poetic images of Jeju Island, and emotional performances from IU and Park Bo-gum.
Basic Information
Drama Name: When Life Gives You Tangerines (폭싹 속았수다)
Genre: Romance, slice of life, healing
Duration: 16 episodes
Broadcast schedule: Every Friday (4 episodes per week)
First broadcast date: March 7, 2025
Broadcast channel: Netflix
Director: Kim Won-seok
Screenwriter: Lim Sang-choon
Producers: Pan Entertainment, Baram Pictures
Main cast:
-
IU as Oh Ae-sun (youth)
-
Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik (youth)
-
Moon So-ri as Oh Ae-sun (middle-aged)
-
Park Hae-joon as Yang Gwan-sik (middle-aged)
-
Yeom Hye-ran as Jeon Gwang-rye (Ae-sun's mother)n)
-
Choi Dae-hoon as Bu Sang-gil (Gwan-sik's childhood friend)
3
Melo Movie
Melo Movie - Top 10 Best Korean Romance Movies in the First Half of 2025.
Melo Movie is a Korean drama in the romantic genre - slice of life, exploring the shaky relationship between two people who have loved, suffered, and are finding themselves again in the most skeptical days of their lives. The film revolves around Kim Moo-bi, an office worker who has just experienced the shock of a 10-year relationship breaking up, and Go Gyeom, an independent film director who is stuck in his career and personal emotions.
The two met at a fateful audition, where Gyeom was looking for inspiration for his next film, while Moo-bi just wanted to try something different from the boring rhythm of everyday life. Gradually, a strange relationship develops between them - it is unclear whether they are friends, colleagues, or two lonely people searching for the meaning of life.
Through each episode, viewers are led through deep conversations, arguments due to disagreements, and even silent and touching moments. Moo-bi begins to understand that love is not always bright, and Gyeom realizes that inspiration for making films does not come from ideals but from the trivial things in everyday life.
Melo Movie is a gentle love song about healing, about daring to face old wounds to move on. The film does not focus on dramatic drama, but scores with genuine emotions, a slow but profound pace, and literary dialogue. The combination of Kim Da-mi and Son Suk-ku creates a different, delicate and emotional couple.
Basic Information
Name: Melo Movie (멜로 영화)
Genre: Romance, Slice of Life
Duration: 8 episodes
Broadcast: Every Friday
First broadcast date: April 12, 2025
Broadcast channel: Netflix
Director: Kim Ji-woon
Screenwriter: Lee Na-eun
Producer: The LAMP
Main cast:
-
Kim Da-mi as Kim Moo-bi
-
Son Suk-ku as Go Gyeom
-
Kim Min-ha as Joo Seon-woo
-
Lee Hak-joo as Bang Hyun-soo
4
Melo Movie
Melo Movie - Top 10 Best Korean Romance Movies in the First Half of 2025.
Melo Movie is a Korean drama in the romantic genre - slice of life, exploring the shaky relationship between two people who have loved, suffered, and are finding themselves again in the most skeptical days of their lives. The film revolves around Kim Moo-bi, an office worker who has just experienced the shock of a 10-year relationship breaking up, and Go Gyeom, an independent film director who is stuck in his career and personal emotions.
The two met at a fateful audition, where Gyeom was looking for inspiration for his next film, while Moo-bi just wanted to try something different from the boring rhythm of everyday life. Gradually, a strange relationship develops between them - it is unclear whether they are friends, colleagues, or two lonely people searching for the meaning of life.
Through each episode, viewers are led through deep conversations, arguments due to disagreements, and even silent and touching moments. Moo-bi begins to understand that love is not always bright, and Gyeom realizes that inspiration for making films does not come from ideals but from the trivial things in everyday life.
Melo Movie is a gentle love song about healing, about daring to face old wounds to move on. The film does not focus on dramatic drama, but scores with genuine emotions, a slow but profound pace, and literary dialogue. The combination of Kim Da-mi and Son Suk-ku creates a different, delicate and emotional couple.
Basic Information
Name: Melo Movie (멜로 영화)
Genre: Romance, Slice of Life
Duration: 8 episodes
Broadcast: Every Friday
First broadcast date: April 12, 2025
Broadcast channel: Netflix
Director: Kim Ji-woon
Screenwriter: Lee Na-eun
Producer: The LAMP
Main cast:
-
Kim Da-mi as Kim Moo-bi
-
Son Suk-ku as Go Gyeom
-
Kim Min-ha as Joo Seon-woo
-
Lee Hak-joo as Bang Hyun-soo
5
My Dearest Nemesis
My Dearest Nemesis - Top 10 Best Korean Romance Movies of the First Half of 2025.
My Dearest Nemesis is a Korean drama in the romantic comedy genre, exploring the story of workplace enemies between two people who have known each other since their teenage years through an online game. The film revolves around Baek Su-Jung - the head of the planning team at a large shopping mall, and Ban Ju-Yeon - a young heir who has just returned to Korea to take over the director position.
Many years ago, Su-Jung and Ju-Yeon met each other in an online game, she was "Strawberry", he was "Black Dragon". They developed feelings through the screen, but when they discovered that the other was just a middle school student, Su-Jung felt hurt and cut off contact. Many years later, fate brought them together again - this time no longer as virtual characters, but as real-life colleagues, in a tense relationship between boss and subordinate.
The more they collide, the more old feelings seem to revive. Ju-Yeon still holds on to her sincere feelings from her youth, while Su-Jung must face the memories she once buried. Amidst tense meetings, work arguments, and chance evenings together, the two gradually rediscover who they really are – no longer enemies, but people who were once very important.
My Dearest Nemesis is a modern love song, humorous but also full of emotions. The film scores points thanks to its cute plot, moderate pace, sharp dialogue, and the main couple's good acting. This is an ideal choice for those who love light-hearted love movies with the element of "confrontation and love".
Basic Information
Drama Name: My Dearest Nemesis
Genre: Romance, Romantic Comedy
Duration: 12 Episodes
Broadcast Schedule: Every Monday and Tuesday
First Broadcast Date: February 17, 2025
Channel: tvN
Director: Lee Soo-Hyun
Screenwriter: Kim Soo-Yeon
Producer: Studio N
Main Cast:
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Moon Ga-Young as Baek Su-Jung
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Choi Hyun-Wook as Ban Ju-Yeon
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Im Se-Mi as Seo Ha-Jin
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Kwak Si-Yang as Kim Shin-Won
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