K-dramas are renowned worldwide for having some of the most wholesome romances on television, but the genre has developed to include unexpectedly steamy storylines. Of course, many Korean dramas still fit the bill as highly polished soap operas, but the overarching trends in storytelling have evolved, allowing K-dramas to expand beyond conventional (and conventionally chaste) tropes.

Nowhere is this shift more evident than in modern K-dramas crafted for the streaming age. With the genre at the height of its popularity on a global platform, there are now many more sexy, sensual, and downright spicy Korean dramas that subvert typical conservative expectations. Yet, steamy K-dramas aren’t strictly about sex— they can tackle intimacy, atypical relationship dynamics, and taboo themes that less racy K-drama romances avoid like the plague.

Forecasting Love And Weather

2022

First and foremost, Forecasting Love and Weather feels like a classic K-drama romance. Nevertheless, there are quite a few suggestive scenes featuring its main couples. The series begins with Jin Ha-kyung (Park Min-young) discovering her long-term boyfriend is cheating on her, but the infidelity is certainly not left to the viewer’s imagination. After the breakup, Ha-kyung then rebounds with a complete stranger.

Ironically, the woman’s mindless hook-up is revealed to be her new coworker after she becomes a supervisor for the Korean Meteorological Association. While there are some particularly steamy moments, however, the central couple’s relationship is just like the weather they report on: complicated and ever-changing.

Mr. Plankton

2024

Mr. Plankton is far from the most mature K-drama ever created, but many consider the 2024 hit to be fairly steamy considering how PG most K-drama stories are. Despite being a comedy, there’s a risqué edge to the series, as Mr. Plankton‘s characters even walk around partially naked at times.

Regardless, the drama’s romance is more important than its innuendo. After his diagnosis, a terminally-ill man named Hae Jo (Woo Do-hwan) sets off on a bucket list trip. Since he has no immediate family, however, he turns to his ex as a travel companion. The pair have fantastic chemistry, and— given misfortune follows them everywhere— hilarity ensues despite their tragic storylines.

Business Proposal

2022

Despite its cliché premise, Business Proposal is the perfect mix of comedy, heart, and sizzling heat, which explains how it has become one of the biggest K-dramas of the 2020s. The drama follows Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong), a young woman who takes her friend’s place when she is unwillingly set up on a blind date.

In a chaotic twist of fate, the blind date turns out to be Ha-ri’s new boss— though he doesn’t initially recognize her. Mistaken identity, a comedy of errors, and enough chemistry to spare make Business Proposal a must-watch, but the most sultry interactions take place between the secondary leads, ironically making them a fan-favorite K-drama couple.

While You Were Sleeping

2017

Release Date

2017 – 2017-00-00

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  Lee Jong-suk

  Jeong Jae-chan

Not to be confused with the American movie of the same name, While You Were Sleeping fuses supernatural elements with its romance. Furthermore, it has a uniquely passionate undertone that sets it apart from most K-dramas.

The story follows Nam Hong-joo (Bae Suzy), a woman who has visions of the future in her dreams. When a prosecutor and police officer connected to her past also begin having premonitions, the group must band together to prevent disaster. Unsurprisingly, Nam Hong-joo falls for the prosecutor— the literal man of her dreams.

Kiss Sixth Sense

2022

One of the finest K-drama adaptations of a webtoon, Kiss Sixth Sense is a romantic fantasy series with a one-of-a-king premise: Hong Ye-sool (Seo Ji-hye) has the inexplicable ability to see the future when she kisses somebody.

While her power may seem useful, Ye-sool’s life turns upside down when she accidentally kisses her boss. As a result, Ye-sool has a vision of their future together, including their inevitable intimate moments.

It’s Okay, That’s Love

2014

Release Date

2014 – 2014-00-00

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  Lee Kwang-soo

  Park Soo-Gwang

It’s Okay, That’s Love is rarely regarded as a cut-and-dry steamy K-drama, mainly because the series is more revered for its exploration of mental health. Nevertheless, a nuanced mental health journey and an amorous romance are both pillars of the show’s narrative.

The bold drama follows a bestselling novelist and radio DJ with obsessive-compulsive disorder stemming from childhood trauma. When he crosses paths with a psychiatrist who has a phobia of sex, there’s an instant spark that surprises the duo. Eventually, sex itself becomes a pivotal theme, with the couple’s relations doubling as a reflection of their meaningful character growth.

Love To Hate You

2023

Release Date

2023 – 2023-00-00

Network

Netflix

Directors

Kim Jeong-kwon

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Yeo Mi-ran (Kim Ok-bin) is a skilled lawyer with a healthy sexual appetite, but her deep-seated distrust of men leaves her ready for a fight at a moment’s notice. Conversely, Nam Kang-ho (Teo Yoo) is an A-list actor who hires her law firm, but his past trauma manifests as an extreme aversion to women.

Though the two start as enemies, the main pairing in Love to Hate You has some of the best sexual tension in the entirety of dramaland. Similarly, while Love To Hate You is irrefutably on the lighter end of opposites-attract K-drama romances, it also features some serious subjects, making it a delightfully dynamic watch.

King The Land

2023

While the industry has come far in recent years, most K-dramas are still more likely to imply the physical aspects of a relationship rather than show them explicitly. That rule of thumb has slowly been changing on Korean television, but the golden standard is set by a K-drama’s momentous kiss scenes. In King the Land, the kisses are more erotic than anything overtly sexual would’ve been.

King The Land doubles as an inheritance drama and a rom-com, following the wealthy heir to a luxury hotel group who finds himself entangled with the hotel’s star employee. Though they get off on the wrong foot, the pair’s chemistry is too potent to resist, resulting in a few swoonworthy kiss scenes that immediately set the internet alight.

Lovestruck In The City

2020

Release Date

2020 – 2021-00-00

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  Ji Chang-Wook

  Park Jae Won

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Lovestruck in the City is closer to classic American sitcoms like Friends or New Girl, including its portrayal of sex. The series follows a group of people living in a metropolitan city who are all in various stages of romantic relationships. Intriguingly, the drama is shot like a mockumentary, and its unique format and flirtatious leanings make Lovestruck in the City a highly-original, underrated K-drama.

Plus, the drama features one of the best first kisses in TV history. The will-they/won’t they couple of Park Jae-won (Ji Chang-wook) and Lee Eun-oh (Kim Ji-won) was so captivating, the K-drama landscape at large felt forever changed after they officially got together.

Melting Me Softly

2019

Release Date

2019 – 2019-00-00

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  Ji Chang-Wook

  Ma Dong-chan

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Melting Me Softly (also known as Melt Me) is a fascinating romantic sci-fi K-drama. The main characters agree to be experimentally frozen for 24 hours, but a malfunction leaves them stuck for 20 years. When they’re recovered, the pair have two decades’ worth of events to catch up on and dangerous physical limitations— which is, ironically, where the steam comes in (literally).

The main characters have to maintain low heart rates and gradually increase their body temperatures to avoid any life-threatening damage. As their attraction to one another grows, however, restraint becomes nearly impossible, leading to the pair kissing under a stream of cold water to keep themselves out of danger.