Updated: September 6, 2022
Check out these Korean drama couples who captured people’s hearts with their on-screen chemistry, topped the charts, bagged awards, dominated the most buzzworthy drama actors rankings, as well as created impact on Hallyu wave as a popular pair.
According to drama date from 2010 to 2021:
1. Hyun Bin + Ha Ji-won in Secret Garden (2010)
SBS’ Secret Garden (2010) is the love story between a stuntwoman played by Ha Ji-won and a high-end department store CEO performed by Hyun Bin. They switch bodies and fight for love against all odds. The drama achieved its highest nationwide viewership rating of 31.4%. Hyun Bin and Ha Ji-won also received the “Best Couple Award” at the 2010 SBS Drama Awards.
2. Lee Seung-gi + Shin Mina in My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho (2010)
None could hinder Lee Seung-gi, a college student and Shin Mina, a gumiho in human form to become a couple in SBS’ My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho (2010). However, their relationship is challenged when the gumiho needs to face the consequence of becoming fully human that would lead to the demise of the human boyfriend. The drama achieved its highest nationwide viewership rating of 21.3%. Lee Seung-gi and Shin Mina also received the “Best Couple Award” at the 2010 SBS Drama Awards.
3. Lee Minho + Park Shin-hye in The Heirs (2013)
Lee Minho is a wealthy heir to a large Korean conglomerate who is forced to choose between his responsibility in pursuing the family business or relationship with Park Shin-hye, his girlfriend in SBS’ The Heirs (2013). The drama achieved its highest nationwide viewership rating of 25.6%. Lee Minho and Park Shin-hye also received the “Best Couple Award” at the 2013 SBS Drama Awards.
4. Ji Chang-wook + Park Min-young in Healer (2014-2015)
Ji Chang-wook is a skilled fighter called “Healer” while Park Min-young is a tabloid reporter in KBS2’s Healer (2014-2015). They work together and transform into honest reporters as they try to uncover the truth of an old incident. Ji Chang-wook and Park Min-young received the “Best Couple Award” at the 2014 KBS Drama Awards and 2016 Annual Drama Fever Awards.
5. Song Joong-ki + Song Hye-kyo in Descendants Of The Sun (2016)
Captain “Big Boss” Song Joong-ki and “Doctor” Song Hye-kyo goes through a bittersweet relationship due to their differences in job responsibilities and philosophies in KBS2’s Descendants Of The Sun (2016). The drama hit its highest nationwide viewership rating of 35.3% and received explosive popularity across Asia that led to Song Joong-ki’s surge as a top Hallyu star alongside Song Hye-kyo. The Hallyu pair also received the “Most Popular Actor & Actress” at the 2016 Baeksang Arts Awards, “Best Couple Award” at the 2016 APAN Star Awards, “Best Couple Award” and “Asia Best Couple Award” at the 2016 KBS Drama Awards.
6. Park Bo-gum + Kim Yoo-jung in Love In The Moonlight (2016)
KBS2’s Love In The Moonlight (2016) talks about the unlikely relationship between Crown Prince Park Bo-gum and eunuch Kim Yoo-jung. Domestically successful, the drama’s popularity also reached international borders that it was named by the media as “Moonlight Syndrome”. The drama achieved its highest nationwide viewership rating of 22.5%. Park Bo-gum and Kim Yoo-jung also received the “Most Popular Actor & Actress” at the 2017 Baeksang Arts Awards and “Best Couple Award” at the 2016 KBS Drama Awards.
7. Lee Joon-gi + IU in Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)
IU gets transported to the Goryeo Dynasty and develops feelings for Prince Lee Joon-gi in SBS’ fantasy series, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016). The drama achieved massive popularity overseas and the drama pair received the “Best Drama Couple” at the 2016 SBS Drama Awards.
8. Gong Yoo + Kim Go-eun in Guardian: The Lonely And Great God (2016-2017)
Gong Yoo is an immortal goblin who meets Kim Go-eun, a cheerful high school student in tvN’s Guardian: The Lonely And Great God (2016-2017). The drama became one of the most popular tvN series of all time that has achieved a nationwide viewership rating of 18.6%. Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun also received the “Best Couple Award” at the 2017 Annual Drama Fever Awards.
9. Park Seo-joon + Kim Ji-won in Fight For My Way (2017)
Park Seo-joon and Kim Ji-won are long-time friends whose friendship developed into romance while chasing for their dreams in KBS2’s Fight For My Way (2017). The pair received the “Netizen Award” and “Best Couple Award” at the 2017 KBS Drama Awards and another “Best Couple Award” at the 2018 KBS World Global Fan Awards.
10. Lee Seung-gi + Bae Suzy in Vagabond (2019)
Lee Seung-gi works as a stuntman and encounters Bae Suzy in Morocco as he seeks the truth about the cause of plane crash that led to the demise of his nephew in SBS’ Vagabond (2019). Suzy who is an agent from the National Intelligence Service helps him investigate the issue and they become partners in action. The pair also received the “Best Couple Award” at the 2019 SBS Drama Awards.
11. Hyun Bin + Son Ye-jin in Crash Landing On You (2019-2020)
Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin received immense love worldwide as a pair in tvN’s Crash Landing On You (2019-2020) for their perfect chemistry. The drama’s finale achieved 21.6%, one of the highest recorded ratings in tvN history. Besides dominating the Most Buzzworthy Drama Actor rankings, the duo also took 1st place as the “Best Drama Couple of 2020”, receiving 94 votes out of 200 media experts in a survey conducted by Joy News 24. In addition, they received the “Most Popular Actor & Actress” at the 2020 Baeksang Arts Awards.
12. Kim Soo-hyun + Seo Yea-ji in It’s Okay To Not Be Okay (2020)
Hospital worker Kim Soo-hyun and popular children’s book author Seo Yea-ji find healing in love in tvN’s It’s Okay To Not Be Okay (2020). They took 2nd place as the “Best Drama Couple of 2020” with 32 votes out of 200 media experts in a survey conducted by Joy News 24. They also received the “Most Popular Actor & Actress” at the 2021 APAN Star Awards, “Best Couple” at the 2020 Swoonies’ Choice Awards, and “AAA Hot Issue Award” at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards,
13. Song Joong-ki + Jeon Yeo-been in Vincenzo (2021)
Song Joong-ki is a hot Italian lawyer and Mafia consigliere of Korean descent who owns bars of gold while Jeon Yeo-been is a witty lawyer who joins Joong-ki in the fight against Babel in tvN’s Vincenzo (2021). They took 2nd place as the “Best Drama Couple of 2021” with 20 votes out of 200 media experts in a survey conducted by Joy News 24. They also won the “Best Couple” at the 2021 Swoonies’ Choice Awards.
14. Kim Seonho + Shin Mina in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
Kim Seonho and Shin Mina in tvN’s Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021) became one of the hottest and most talked-about drama couples of 2021 for their dimple charms and insane chemistry on-screen. They took 1st place as the “Best Drama Couple of 2021”, receiving 103 votes out of 200 media experts in a survey conducted by Joy News 24. Besides dominating the Most Buzzworthy Drama Actor rankings, they also won the “Most Swoonworthy Confession” at the 2021 Swoonies’ Choice Awards.
15. Lee Junho + Lee Se-young in The Red Sleeve (2021-2022)
MBC’s The Red Sleeve (2021-2022) gained popularity for its vibrant romantic storyline set in the Joseon era, captivating lines, beautiful costumes, and endearing characters, starring Lee Jun-ho who played as the Crown Prince and Lee Se-young as the royal court maid. Besides achieving a high nationwide viewership rating of 17.4% and dominating the Most Buzzworthy Drama Actor rankings, they were also recognized as the “Best Couple” at the 2021 MBC Drama Awards.
16. Choi Woo-shik + Kim Dami in Our Beloved Summer (2021-2022)
SBS’ Our Beloved Summer (2021-2022) captured the audience for its warm, nostalgic storytelling of two high school lovers. They topped the Most Buzzworthy Drama rankings and took 5th place in the list of most talked about Korean dramas on Twitter worldwide in 2022. Choi Woo-shik and Kim Dami also received recognition as a pair, winning the “Director’s Award” at the 2021 SBS Drama Awards.
17. Jung Hae-in + Jisoo in Snowdrop (2021-2022)
There’s no denying that Jung Hae-in and Blackpink’s Jisoo in JTBC’s Snowdrop (2021-2022) is one of the most loved and popular K-drama couples of all time. In fact, their drama has taken first place as the most watched Korean title on Disney+ so far. They were also revealed as the no.1 most talked about Korean drama on Twitter globally in 2022.
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