7 K-Dramas Where A Popular Girl Falls For An Average Boy
Ready to go back to the good old basics?
The 'popular girl/average boy' trope is one of the classic arcs filmmakers use to create romantic stories. That's why it's often seen in older K-dramas as a sort of gender-swapped Cinderella story.
But in fact, the trope works just as well in modern romcoms. You have to admit, there is something intriguing about a successful woman meeting a guy who seems way below her level, but turns out to be her soul mate.
If this storyline sounds good to you, here are seven older and newer South Korean dramas to add to your must-watch list.
High Society (2015)
IMDb Rating: 6.7/10
Where to stream: Prime Video, Viki, kocowa+
Jang Yoon-ha is the youngest daughter of a chaebol family. To escape the stress caused by her position, she hides her identity and goes to work as a saleswoman in a supermarket, where she meets Choi Joon-gi, who was born into poverty and is willing to do anything to move up the ladder.
My Fair Lady (2009)
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Where to stream: Prime Video, Viki, Plex, kocowa+
Kang Hye-na is a rich, spoiled and self-centered heiress, basically a modern-day princess. She is certain that no man deserves her. But when the charming Seo Dong-chan comes to work as a butler in her castle, her life and opinion about love are turned upside down. The problem is that Dong-chan has his own hidden agenda.
Be My Boyfriend (2021)
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
Where to stream: Viki, Plex
Lee Seung-min is an ordinary high school student with nothing to set him apart from his classmates. He has a crush on the most popular girl in school, Oh Ji-na, who is preparing to become an idol, and can't even imagine that one day she will ask him to pose as her fake boyfriend.
Doona! (2023)
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Where to stream: Netflix
Female lead Lee Doo-na is not just popular, she is a hugely successful pop idol. So when she suddenly announces her retirement from the spotlight and moves into a college dorm, it comes as a shock to everyone, including her new neighbor Lee Won-jun, a freshman with a heart of gold.
Hogu's Love (2015)
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10
Where to stream: Prime Video, Tubi, Sling TV, Pluto TV
Do Do-hee has always been out of Kang Ho-gu's league. She is a silver medalist swimmer with modeling contracts and a tough personality, and he is her former classmate with a kind of loser vibe. But when the two meet at their high school reunion, it turns out that Do-hee is not against spending time with Ho-gu.
Encounter (2018)
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Where to stream: Netflix, Plex, Viki
Cha Soo-hyun comes from a wealthy family and was married into an even richer one. However, her marriage was loveless and ended in divorce. Now she seems to be free and has everything, but in reality she doesn't. The journey to independence begins when she meets a free-spirited poor man on a trip to Cuba.
The Accidental Couple (2009)
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Where to stream: Viki
Han Ji-soo is a top actress who one day gets into a car accident due to the actions of her secret boyfriend, the child of a politician. To cover their tracks, Ji-soo makes her boyfriend leave the scene and asks an innocent bystander, Gu Dong-baek, to take his place. In order to throw the paparazzi off the scent, Dong-baek, who is a simple post office clerk, agrees to start a fake relationship with Ji-soo.