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Being a K-drama fan in 2024 has been rewarding! From Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won’s record-breaking Queen of Tears to Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin’s When the Phone Rings currently dominating the global Netflix chart, it’s been a great year of intriguing K-dramas that kept viewers hooked from start to finish.
One of the biggest reasons why these 2024 K-dramas worked is because fans couldn’t get enough of the captivating chemistry between the main leads. With the year drawing to a close, we’ve selected our favorite K-drama couples who had us swooning with their on-screen romance.
Kim Soo Hyun & Kim Ji Won in Queen of Tears to Yoo Yeon Seok & Chae Soo Bin in When the Phone Rings, 10 best K-drama couples of 2024 who aced the heart-fluttering chemistry game
Ever since it was out that Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won were marking their first on-screen collaboration in Queen of Tears, there was a collective meltdown within the K-drama universe. Despite the mixed reviews for Queen of Tears’ storytelling, Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won’s passionate chemistry and incredible performances were more than enough to make it the highest-rated tvN drama. Fans were convinced (and still manifest) that the Hallyu stars would become a real-life couple, just like Hyun Bin and Son Ye Jin from Crash Landing on You.
Lovely Runner emerged as THE dark horse K-drama of 2024 that became a blockbuster global success and made Hallyu stars out of Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon. Whether it be their endearing height difference or genuine off-screen equation, K-drama fans couldn’t get enough of Byeon Woo Seok and Kim Hye Yoon’s charming chemistry in Lovely Runner. They were also chosen as the best K-drama couple of 2024 (92 votes), according to a survey conducted by Joy News 24, which saw 200 industry experts voting.
When the Phone Rings might only be a few episodes old, but K-drama fans are already a blushing mess over Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin’s scintillating chemistry. Making our Wattapad dreams come true on the small screen, Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin have already cemented their When the Phone Rings pairing as one of the best of the year.
When the friends-turned-lovers trope is done right, it’s instant fireworks. Love Next Door is a prime example of that, owing heavily to Jung Hae In and Jung So Min’s breezy chemistry. The Hallyu stars meshed well on-screen, and it didn’t feel like Love Next Door was their first K-drama collaboration.
Family by Choice is a heartwarming watch, which also features a delightful romance between Hwang In Youp and Jung Chaeyeon’s characters. Hwang In Youp and Jung Chaeyeon’s off-screen equation translated easily on-screen as viewers were squealing with joy over their romantic scenes.
A K-drama couple that we didn’t know we’d end up obsessing over is Park Shin Hye and Kim Jae Young in The Judge from Hell. Park Shin Hye and Kim Jae Young’s devilish chemistry had fans tuning in every week, hoping for a happy ending. Speaking of happy endings…
Mr. Plankton may not have ended on a happy note, but the intoxicating chemistry between Woo Do Hwan and Lee Yoo Mi was thrilling to watch. Woo Do Hwan and Lee Yoo Min organically matched their characters’ vibes and depicted a memorable but bittersweet love story in Mr. Plankton.
Another recent addition to the mix is Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun Jin in The Trunk, a dream casting pair for longtime K-drama enthusiasts. Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun Jin, who are the masters at the chemistry game, unsurprisingly delivered a mature romance to remember.
No Gain No Love was a no-nonsense, delectable rom-com K-drama in which Shin Min Ah and Kim Young Dae’s cute chemistry was the highlight. Shin Min Ah and Kim Young Dae touched viewers’ hearts with their comically realistic pairing.
An underrated K-drama pairing is Uhm Tae Goo and Han Sunhwa in My Sweet Mobster. To see the real-life introverted Uhm Tae Goo becoming an on-screen goofball opposite Han Sunhwa left viewers smiling ear to ear throughout the rom-com K-drama.
