7 Idol Romance K-dramas to Watch if You’re a K-Pop Fan

Imagine falling in love with your favorite star, not on the screen, but in quiet everyday life. While K-dramas have often flirted with celebrity love stories, idol romances exist in a much more emotionally charged space. Idols are not only famous; they are curated, monitored and emotionally connected to fandoms.

In “idol x non-idol” romances, love becomes an act of resistance to image-making, expectation, and public sentiment. These dramas explore the loneliness behind the worship as well as the fear of being truly seen, the desire for an ordinary connection in an extraordinary life. Here are seven such dramas that might satisfy your fangirl soul.

“IDOL I“

Maeng Se Na (Sooyoung) is a formidable lawyer who is ruthless in court. What people don’t know is that she is also a devoted fan of idol Do Ra Ik (Kim Jae-young). When she is not arguing cases in court, she wholeheartedly supports her favorite singer.

The fan and idol relationship takes a disturbing turn when Ra Ik is accused of murder. Se Na steps in to fight for her prejudice’s innocence, convinced that he would never commit such a crime and that he is being polished.

As they come face to face as lawyer and murder suspect, the dynamic between them slowly shifts to something more intense. “IDOL I” draws you in for its unusual premise, mixing fandom with mystery, suspense and romance. The palpable chemistry between Sooyoung and Kim Jae Yeong is an added bonus.

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“Lovely Runner“

A fangirl willing to defy time and fate to find her idol, Im Sol (Kim Hye Yoon) is dedicated to Ryu Sun Jae (Byeon Woo Seok) from ECLIPSE. It was his words and music that gave her hope through the most difficult time in her life. But it turns out the man who gave her hope is struggling himself.

As tragedy strikes Sun Jae, Im Sol finds herself looking to the past on that same day. She finds herself back at school with Sun Jae, who is the star swimmer. She is well aware of how life as an idol will turn out for him in the future, and is determined to change the outcome as well as her fate, even at the cost of her own life. But Im Sol and Sun Jae seem to share a much deeper connection.

Although fairly recent, “Lovely Runner” is already an all-time favorite for many, with Byeon Woo Seok immortalizing Sun Jae as one of K-dramaland’s most beloved idol characters.

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“The Heavenly Idol“

Pontifex Rembrary (Kim Min Kyu), a divine priest, is suddenly thrust into the chaotic world of K-pop. He wakes up in the body of Woo Yeon Woo, a struggling idol in the group Wild Animal, whose popularity has been on a downward spiral.

Rembrary’s godlike confidence and obliviousness to the idol life is a comedy of errors, but one that ultimately propels Wild Animal to find stardom. Supporting him is Kim Dal (Go Bo Gyeol), the group’s manager, who is struggling with a traumatic past. With her silent strength and Rembrary’s mystical powers, they encounter dark forces from his world as well as the treacherous realities of the entertainment industry.

“The Heavenly Idol” balances romance, comedy and moral stakes. It’s an understated drama, and it makes for an engaging watch.

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“So I Married the Anti-Fan”

Magazine reporter Lee Geun Young’s (Sooyoung) life spirals into a disastrous run-in with top star Hoo Joon (Choi Tae Joon). The encounter ends in public humiliation and her sudden dismissal from work. Certain that Hoo Joon is responsible, she stages a protest outside her agency, only to be quickly branded an “anti-fan” by the media.

Her fortunes take another turn when a television producer offers her a desperate lifeline: a reality show that forces her to live under the same roof with the very celebrity she rejects. Hoo Joon, seeing this as a convenient PR exercise, agrees.

What begins as mutual hostility and petty sabotage gradually softens into something more sincere as the two navigate life under constant surveillance. Packed with light-hearted mayhem, emotional beats and simmering romantic tension, the series leans towards the pleasures of the slow burn. The bickering leads, gradual chemistry, and warm emotional payoff make this an easy, surprisingly sweet watch.

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“Spring of Youth”

Sa Gye (Ha Yoo Joon), a member of a famous K-pop group, finds his career coming to an abrupt halt after a scandal. He is pushed out of the group and is forced to confront life outside the spotlight. He enrolls in university and tries to fit into campus life, far away from the whirlwind and glitter of idol life.

While settling into university, he meets Kim Bom (Park Ji Hu), a talented and driven music student back from a visit abroad after a family tragedy. There is also Seo Tae Yang (Lee Seung Hyub), a medical student with a deep love for music.

The trio forms a campus band with other students, and Sa Gye rediscovers his passion for music. He also falls for Bom, and as romance blossoms, the two emotionally support each other through lingering grief and unresolved memories. “Spring of Youth” is a coming-of-age drama about reinvention, healing and emotional recalibration.

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“Doona!”

Performance pressure, repetitive imposter syndrome and burnout take their toll on Lee Doona (Suzy), a high-flying K-pop idol. She chooses to step away from life in the spotlight and retreat to a life of anonymity in a shared house near a university.

There she meets university student Won Jun (Yang Se Jong), who, unaware of her former superstar status, treats her like any other housemate. Doona struggles with loneliness and the lingering weight of her past trauma. However, the quiet mundanity of Won Jun’s life steadies her. The two navigate an unlikely connection, taking them on a journey of self-discovery. Grounded as it is bittersweet, “Doona!” Sensitively examines mental health, the isolating cost of being a celebrity, and the unseen emotional toll borne by those expected to shine for others.

“Let Me Be Your Knight“

Yoon Tae In (Lee Jun Young) is the leader of a highly popular K-pop group called LUNA. In an attempt to cure Tae In’s sleepwalking, his CEO brings Yoon Joo (Jung In Sun) in the bedroom, a doctor who can help cure his condition.

However, it soon turns out to be a case of mistaken identity. Yoon Joo isn’t actually a doctor at all: it’s her twin who is a doctor. The clash between Tae In and Yoon Joo is often hilarious as they constantly bicker and argue, eventually giving in to love.

Even though the drama leans on familiar tropes and playful situations, it remains a light-hearted, no-fuss rom-com between an idol and his fake doctor. While the storyline can be predictable, there is comfort in that familiarity, which is complemented by good music and a strong ensemble and makes it an easy watch.

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QUja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yoo Yeon Seok and Lee Junho prejudice. A long-time K-drama fan, she likes to come up with alternative scenarios for the narratives. She did interviews Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Wooand Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her @puja_talwar7 on Instagram.