10 must-watch K-dramas about besties falling in love

Friends turning into lovers is yet another popular trope that the viewers love in K-dramas. It is a timeless trope that explores the heart, humor, and tender complexity of the development of friendship between lovers.

We witness the subtle glances, the unspoken understanding, and the quiet sacrifices that define true friendships. Whether it is childhood friends that develop feelings or college buddies finding that their bond can mean much more than just friendship, every aspect of this trope is intriguing for the viewers.

These stories celebrate the foundation of friendship before blooming into love. So, let’s dive right in.

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10 must-watch K-dramas about besties falling in love

1) Our Beloved Summer

This K-drama truly pulls at our heartstrings with its emotionally resonating storyline. We see snippets of the past and the journey of high school classmates to becoming best friends, to falling head over heels for one another.

This storyline truly feels genuine. The development of the relationship in an organic manner makes Choi Ung and Yeon-soo's journey even more intriguing. The comfort and intimacy that come from a long-standing friendship have been delved into.

Their shared history and deep roots of their friendship make their bond even stronger. Our Beloved Summer depicts how deep friendship can be the perfect backdrop for an enduring love story.

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2) Fight For My Way

Fight For My Way truly did the best friend to lovers trope right. Especially if we consider the way Ae-ra and Dong-man are protective of one another. Even though they might fight incessantly but they never back down from protecting one another.

Dong-man cannot stand when Ae-ra is disrespected, and Ae-ra tries her best to protect him from getting hurt once again. Their story truly shows the bond of friendship they have.

However, the development of the feelings to their already deep connection is truly an intriguing thing to watch. It was genuine and did not feel forced or out of place. Don-man and Ae-ra’s story is truly one of a kind.

Even after they become a couple, they still have the same deep bond of friendship, which makes their relationship even more intriguing.

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3) She Was Pretty

Hye-jin and Sung-joon were friends when they were kids. Back then, Hye-jin had a completely different look about herself. She was the child of a rich family and was a beautiful girl. However, after her family went bankrupt, her life took a different turn.

Once pretty Hye-jin did not fit into the beauty standards anymore as she grew up. However, Sung-joon, on the other hand, had a glow-up and changed his life completely.

When they met after becoming adults, Sung-joon failed to recognise her. As a result, she became disheartened and planned to hide her identity from him. However, they slowly develop feelings for one another, and past stories are revealed.

This series depicts that true love is not just about the initial attraction. The satisfying journey of two people finding their way to one another is truly heartwarming.

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4) Soundtrack #1

Even though Seon-woo and Eun-soo have been best friends for twenty years. Their relationship has not gone past the friendship stage. However, when they started to stay together, it amplified their emotional connections.

They have been inseparable for years. Their friendship is built on comfortable familiarity. They have shared inside jokes and an unspoken understanding. As their relationship evolves from the friendship stage, their relationship becomes truly one of a kind.

Sun-woo’s protectiveness towards her takes on a romantic hue. Their story is a heartwarming and realistic portrayal of the development of a relationship from friendship to lovers.

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5) Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo gave us one of the most unique and heartwarming friends to lovers story. The plot was fresh and was not just about the romantic relationships but also about growing together and helping one another in becoming the better versions of ourselves.

Bok-joo and Joon-hyun were childhood classmates. Bok-joo had saved him while they were at school. When they grew up, they also started to go to the same sports academy. Bok-joo trained to become a weightlifter. Joon-hyung trained to become a swimmer.

Their banter, funny encounters slowly turned into something more. Joon-hyung understood his feelings for her and tried his best to impress her. Bok-joo, on the other hand, had a crush on Joon-hyung’s older brother.

The development of their feelings and the start of their relationship were not an easy path. Bok-joo supporter Joon-hyung through tough times, while Joon-hyung helped her through her tough times as well. Their story truly has a genuine feel that resonates with the viewers.

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6) My First First Love

At its core, My First First Love nails this trope. The slow development of feelings between two best friends who have been friends since childhood truly resonates with the viewers.

Tae-o and Song-i’s friendship has been platonic for years, or that’s what they have been thinking. However, things took a different turn in Song-i’s life. As a result, she was forced to move in with Tae-o at his house.

Their close proximity started to make them understand their feelings for one another. There are numerous moments of laughter and moments of heartbreak as well. You would laugh and cry with the characters. The pre-existing trust that Tae- and Son-i had for one another acts as a base for their evolved feelings.

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7) Reply 1988

Yet another intriguing story that reflects the development of a loving relationship from friendship. Deok-sun and Taek’s relationship did not develop in a day. Throughout their life, they had been friends and had no feelings other than those of friendship.

Deok-san might not be a gifted student, but she is a caring and compassionate person. Taek, on the other hand, is a competitive player of Baduk but fails to express his feelings openly.

The focus on everyday life in this K-drama makes this such an intriguing one. They face misunderstandings and heartaches. However, even after all that, their pairing feels just right.

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8) Happiness

This K-drama depicted the way to perfectly balance the trope of friends-to-lovers to lovers, along with the tension-filled environment when disaster strikes. Both Yoon Sae-bom and Yi-hyun try their best to protect one another.

Their friendship evolves into that of romance in a nuanced manner. It has been enjoyed by the viewers. We see their friendship and the consistent support they have for one another. Their bond remains constant throughout the series. It is a testament that shows love can grow even in the darkest times.

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9) Bubble Gum

Growing up with a childhood best friend and realising that being with that person is all you need to do, Bubble Gum is all about it. It is a heartwarming story with a slow pace, which gives a feeling of comfort. Ri-hwan and Haeng-ah have been friends since childhood.

Though Haeng-ah faced animosity from Ri-hwan’s mother, Ri-hwan always tried his best to protect her. The story navigates through the development of a platonic friendship to a romantic one in a nuanced manner.

The drama itself has a very calm, gentle, and mature tone. The realistic portrayal of this storyline has resonated with the viewers.

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10) Romance Is A Bonus Book

The friends-to-lovers trope of Romance Is A Bonus Book is truly an intriguing one. Eun-ho and Dan-i have been in each other’s lives for a long time as friends. Eun-ho is a successful editor, and Dan-i is a former copywriter.

The subtle shifts in their relationships have been depicted in a nuanced manner in this K-drama. We see Eun-ho’s actions that contribute to Dan-i’s betterment. Their transition from friends to lovers feels organic. It is a tender progression from existing comfort to something more profound.

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