7 K-dramas Where Romance Is As Slow-Burning As It Gets

In K-dramaland, it often happens that one of the leads falls madly in love with the other after a first sight, a first word, or a slow-motion walk. And there's nothing wrong with enjoying those stories.

But sometimes you want a more realistic portrayal, where the leads actually get to know each other and gradually realize their feelings before making big confessions.

If you are in the mood for such a story tonight, here are seven great examples.

Behind Your Touch (2023)

IMDb Rating: 7.3/10

She is a veterinarian who can read ones’ history with a touch, he is a hot-blooded detective. What do they have in common? Well, at first it is about solving crimes together and only much later it evolves into something more.

True to Love (2023)

IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

If you're a fan of a very slow burn, this story of a relationship coach and influencer who can't get her own personal life in order is for you. You'll have to wait until almost the end to see one of the leads make a move.

Crash Course in Romance (2023)

IMDb Rating: 7.8/10

The story of a former professional athlete turned shop owner and a top high school tutor with an eating disorder is not only the perfect get-away-from-it-all, but also a gripping exploration of a mature, loving relationship that takes time to blossom.

Love to Hate You (2023)

IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

The relationship between an outspoken feminist attorney and her firm's client, a top actor who distrusts all women, begins with a mutual disagreement about gender and hatred. But the transformation from enemies to lovers is not sudden or forced. It all happens so naturally that you can't stop binging.

I Hear Your Voice (2013)

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

This genre-bending drama has everything you need for an enjoyable evening: a team of a sharp lawyer, an idealistic public defender and a high school senior who can read minds, an old murder case and, of course, a growing and changing relationship that only gets better with each episode.

Mr. Queen (2020)

IMDb Rating: 8.6/10

This drama is quite unique with a plot that puts the mind of a modern day male chef into the body of a Joseon era queen. Of course, the protagonist has more pressing issues than falling in love, but the romance still happens and it is just... a chef's kiss.

Reply 1988 (2015)

IMDb Rating: 9.2/10

The nostalgic series that follows the lives of five families in a small Seoul neighborhood in the 1980s is a viewing experience that is hard to top. As a slice-of-life story, it has all kinds of relationships, including an extremely sweet childhood friends-to-lovers slow burn.