Rainy Day K-dramas

Rainy days are for curling up under a blanket after enjoying a steaming bowl of ramyeon (or jjampong). Whether you prefer something melancholic to go with the weather or a fun mood-booster to counter it, here are some k-dramas we love rewatching when the pouring rain keeps us indoors.

Bed weather k-dramas

Something in the Rain (2018)

The original title of this slice-of-life k-drama literally translates as "Pretty Sister Who Buys Me Food," but interestingly, it was given the English title of Something in the Rain. It must be because many defining moments in the relationship between coffee franchise supervisor Yoon Jin-ah (Son Ye-jin) and her best friend's younger brother, Seo Joon-hee (Jung Hae-in), happen when the rain is falling. Rachel Yamagata's mellow OST tracks help set the mood for this slow-burn noona romance with a side of workplace sexual politics. You may want to have a cup of hot coffee handy (trust us, this will make you crave one!).

16 episodes, available on Netflix.

Goblin (2016-'17)

Rain figures prominently in this supernatural romance between Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), an immortal dokkaebi (gobin), and Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun), the bride destined to help him cross over. Their first word-less encounter comes on a rainy day, giving him a glimpse of their shared fate. He also has the power to make it rain when he’s sad and to comically create isolated indoor thunderstorms when he’s angry.

The k-drama phenomenon that ushered in a whole new age for the genre, Goblin has everything an epic series about the afterlife would have: a romance that defies time, a fate that spans centuries, and one of the greatest soundtracks in k-dramaland.

17 episodes; available on Netflix and Viu.

When My Love Blooms (2020)

If the rain makes you long for something slow and sentimental, this classic melodrama of first loves, painful goodbyes, and second chances fit the bill. When My Love Blooms stars the charming Lee Bo-young and Yoo Ji-tae as former college sweethearts who meet again by chance 25 years later.

The drama goes back and forth between two time periods: the mid-1990s—where he is a radical student activist from a working-class family, and she is a sheltered member of the bourgeoisie, and the present day— with him as an anti-labor chaebol executive and her as a struggling, working-class single mother. Over a languid, atmospheric 16 episodes with soaring violin crescendos and almost dream-like cinematography, we learn how they found themselves on paths so divergent, not just from each other but from who they used to be. And of course, if the star-crossed lovers can find their way back to each other despite the many obstacles in their path.

16 episodes, available on Netflix and Viu.

My Mister (2018)

My Mister is a workplace slice-of-life drama that quietly explores the everyday melancholy of being human. Lee Sun-kyun stars as Park Dong-hoon, a middle-aged engineer who can’t seem to catch a break despite being a nice, upright guy, and Lee Ji-eun (IU) as Lee Ji-an, a cold and cynical girl who carries the weight of a “30,000-year-old soul” in her diminutive frame.

The very definition of a “healing” drama, My Mister’s message is simple, clear, and beautiful: that kindness has the transformative power to heal even the most wounded among us, that relationships are precious and amazing, that love in any form—even in ways that are hard to label or define—can help us get through the struggles of life. Life may be tough, but knocking down bottles of soju with your Hugye neighborhood pals at Jong-hee's bar makes it a little more bearable.

16 episodes, available on Netflix.

Nevertheless (2021)

If your idea of a bed-weather drama is watching two insanely attractive people spend a lot of time in... well…. bed, then this might be for you. This ongoing Netflix Originals k-drama stars Han So-hee as Yoo Na-bi, a graduating art major who, while still recovering from a breakup, meets Park Jae-eon (Song Kang, Navillera), a known commitment-phobic playboy whose charms she finds hard to resist. Racier than the average college-set k-drama, this realistic, modern love story still has six episodes left, so proceed with caution. At the very least, you'll find yourself treated to "superior visuals" (Korean-speak for beautiful faces, basically), a great OST, and a chance to cleanse yourself of any lingering ill feelings you may harbor towards Han So-hee if you hated her in World of the Married.

10 episodes, available on Netflix.

Dramas to chase the blues away

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016-'17)

Sometimes, when the weather outside is just too dark and stormy, tragic backstories or insurmountable problems in your k-drama are the last things you need. Enter the joyous Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, and yes, the show is as warm and funny as it sounds. What happens when you ship a struggling weightlifter (Lee Sung-Kyung) to the Big Man on Campus (Nam Joo-Hyuk)? One of the funniest love stories around, of course. But the show is so much more than just a passing college love story. It also delivers great side stories about friendship, college, mental health, and family.

Weightlifting Fairy remains one of the better coming-of-age k-dramas around because it just hits you with all the right “kilig” feels at the right time. Even the soundtrack is as wholesome and as warm as the entire show.

We figure it’s time for a rewatch.

16 episodes, available on Netflix.

Jealousy Incarnate / Don't Dare to Dream (2016)

As its title suggests, this hilarious rom-com is about the many incarnations that jealousy takes. Gong Hyo-jin stars as Pyo Na-ri, a weather forecaster who finds herself falling for a cocky, ambitious reporter (Jo Jung-suk) and his impossibly dreamy best friend (Go Kyung-Pyo). Set in the chaotic work environment of the fictional Seoul Broadcasting Corporation, Jealousy Incarnate is populated with colorful characters brought to life by an outstanding ensemble cast, multiple love triangles (not all romantic), and full of memorable, hilarious scenes that are worth repeating.

24 episodes, available on Netflix (as "Don't Dare to Dream") and Viu. We recommend watching this on Viu for the full experience, as some song numbers are not in the Netflix version.

One Sunny Day (2014-'15)

It’s winter in Jeju island, and the landscape and weather match Kim Ji-ho’s (So Ji-sub) mood as he is healing from a broken heart. Fate has other plans, however, as it keeps throwing him and Kim Ji-won (whose name is never revealed) together.

This short ten-episode web series (with only 15 minutes per episode) is a lovely binge-able pick-me-up that does not have too much backstory or drama. It simply follows these two people as they ride out the stormy moments of life together and wait for sunnier days ahead.

10 episodes, available on other streaming sites.

Coffee Prince (2007)

Wouldn’t you want to spend a day in bed with Gong Yoo? This classic 2007 series was based on a novel with the same name. The premise is fairly straightforward: Choi Han-kyul (Gong Yoo) has never worked a day in his life until he is forced to run a coffee shop by the family matriarch. In the process, he unwittingly hires Eun-chan (Yoon Eun-hye), a struggling young woman who pretends to be a boy in order to get the job. Things become complicated when Han-kyul starts realizing he is attracted to his new hire, and is confused about these feelings.

Throw in backstories about romantic and personal hang-ups, an ensemble supporting cast that also have their own story arcs, and scenes that alternate between funny, endearing, and frustrating, and you’ve got a k-drama that is worth watching, especially on a cold, bed-weather kind of day. If you’ve seen it before, snuggle under the covers and rewatch your favorite scenes to relive the kilig as Han-kyul and Eun-chan slowly wade through their emotions for each other. Don’t forget to have your favorite hot beverage nearby.

Into the Ring (2020)

A concerned citizen nicknamed “Garden Tiger Moth” is notorious at Mawon District service center for filing numerous concerns and ensuring they are resolved. The concerns are assigned to the competent but inflexible civil servant Seo Kyung-myung (Park Sung-hoon). The civil complaint queen turns out to be Goo Se-ra (Nana), who decides to run for district representative after losing her part-time job and learning of her mother’s debt. Kyung-myung joins forces with her to resolve the complaints—what ensues are the hilarious ways the astute Kyung-myung complements the passionate and reckless Se-ra. Even with dirty politics in the backdrop, the couple’s interactions are bereft of heavy drama, a ray of sunshine on dark rainy days.

16 episodes, available on Viu.

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What are your favorite rainy day k-dramas?