From princely oppas to wicked stepsisters and magical mermaids - these K-Dramas and Asian dramas put a new spin on classic fairytale romances.

Fairytale Romances

After losing her mother and finding out that her college funds were stolen by her cruel stepmother, Eun Ha Won (Park So Dam) is in desperate need of a job. After a chance encounter with an incredibly wealthy old man who admires her straightforward personality, Ha Won becomes a housekeeper for the man’s three grandsons. Living with the brooding Kang Ji Woon (Jung Il Woo), the charming Kang Hyeon Min (Ahn Jae Hyun), and the affable Kang Seo Woo (Lee Jung Shin), Ha Won faces unexpected challenges and even more unexpected romantic tension. As her relationship with the cousins deepens, she must navigate her new life and determine where her heart truly lies. This 2016 South Korean romance drama was directed by Kwon Hyuk Chan and Lee Min Woo, based on the web novel of the same name by Lee Min Young.

Cinderella and Four Knights

✨ Cinderella's Knights ✨

In an alternate 21st-century Korea where a constitutional monarchy still exists, ordinary art student Shin Chae Gyeong (Yoon Eun Hye) is thrust into the opulent, restrictive world of royalty. Due to an old agreement between their grandfathers, she is betrothed to the aloof and seemingly cold Crown Prince Lee Shin (Ju Ji Hoon). Their forced marriage is a constant battle of wills, as Chae Gyeong struggles to adapt to palace etiquette and Shin chafes under the weight of his duties. The arrival of Lee Shin’s charming cousin Prince Lee Yul (Kim Jeong Hoon), another potential heir to the throne, further complicates matters, stirring up old resentments and creating a love triangle. Can Chae Gyeong navigate court politics and jealous rivals, all while figuring out where her own heart lies? This drama was based on the manhwa “Gung” by Park So Hui.

Princess Hours

 🐻 Royal Teddy Bears 🐻

iQIYI, Youku

In Ancient China, Rong Le (Zhang Xue Ying), a young woman with amnesia, is told she is the Emperor of Western Qi's sister and must marry Prince Zong Zheng Wu You (Aarif Rahman) to forge a kingdom alliance. Uncertain of her true identity, she navigates complex political intrigue while the prince, haunted by past tragedy, initially shows no interest in romance. After their marriage plans collapse, she establishes a tea house under a false name, secretly investigating her origins. Unexpectedly, the prince visits her tea house and becomes intrigued by her, unaware she is the princess he previously rejected. Their evolving relationship becomes a catalyst for uncovering hidden truths about her past. This is a 2019 Chinese historical drama based on a novel by Mo Yan Shang and directed by Li Hui Zhu.

Princess Silver

More Shining Than Silver

When Joseon-era mermaid Sim Cheong (Jun Ji Hyun) follows her true love, she finds herself mysteriously transported into modern-day Seoul. Though separated from her true love, she soon crosses paths with his doppelgänger, Heo Joon Jae (Lee Min Ho). With nowhere else to go, Joon Jae takes the stranded mermaid in, though not out of the goodness of his heart. As a con artist, Joon Jae is quick to spot the priceless jade bracelet Sim Cheong wears. Determined to take Sim Cheong for all she’s worth, Joon Jae soon finds himself thinking twice about the mermaid after she helps him evade the lethal plans of his greedy stepmother. As the two draw closer together, will the charms of the ancient mermaid begin to melt the icy heart of a bitter conman? Inspired by a historical folktale, this 2016 South Korean drama series was directed by Jin Hyuk.

The Legend of the Blue Sea

The Blue Sea

As a child, Ki Ha Myung’s (Lee Jong Suk) life was torn apart by the media: his firefighter father was accused of killing his team members, and his devastated mother jumped off a cliff, trying to take Ha Myung with her. However, Ha Myung survived, rescued by an old man with memory loss who renamed him after his own deceased son. Now named Choi Dal Po, he grew up with his “niece” Choi In Ha (Park Shin Hye), a girl the same age as him who suffers from "Pinocchio Syndrome," which causes her to hiccup uncontrollably whenever she tells a lie. As adults, they end up hired as reporters for rival news stations, navigating the cutthroat world of broadcast news, and encountering ethical dilemmas and the tragic consequences of biased reporting while also working through their burgeoning feelings for each other and the dark secrets of their pasts.

Pinocchio

The Can't Lie Team

Department store sales clerk Byun Ji Sook (Soo Ae) has been trapped in a horrendous cycle of debt thanks to her father and brother. Everything changes when she encounters Seo Eun Ha (also played by Soo Ae), a wealthy heiress who looks just like her. Eun Ha is engaged to Choi Min Woo (Ju Ji Hoon), the heir apparent of a massive conglomerate, but his status as an illegitimate son puts other family members against him. Unbeknownst to Min Woo, Eun Ha is having an affair with his half-sister’s husband Min Seok Hoon (Yeon Jung Hoon), who wants the company to himself. When Eun Ha ends up dead, Seok Hoon blackmails Ji Sook into taking Eun Ha’s place, launching her headfirst into the perils of high society. Will Ji Sook find a place for herself in Eun Ha’s world – and can she help Min Woo avoid a horrible fate of his own?

Mask

The Pretenders

In 14th-century Goryeo, loyal and fearless general Choi Young (Lee Min Ho) is tasked by King Gongmin (Ryu Deok Hwan) to find a legendary doctor capable of healing the dying queen. Through a mysterious portal, he travels 700 years into the future, landing in modern-day Seoul. There, he encounters Yoo Eun Soo (Kim Hee Sun), a feisty plastic surgeon who initially believes him to be a delusional cosplayer. Kidnapped and brought back to Goryeo, Eun Soo struggles to adapt to the ancient world and its primitive medical practices, all while facing political intrigue and the dangers of a warring kingdom. As she reluctantly treats the royal family and Choi Young protects her fiercely, an unlikely romance blossoms amidst their desperate attempts to find a way for her to return home.

The Great Doctor

The Faith Team

While heiress Jang Yoon Ha (Uie) yearns for true love, her family wants her to marry Yoo Chang Soo (Park Hyung Sik), a man of equal wealth and status. Wanting to get away, she hides her identity, working at a supermarket where she befriends fellow clerk Lee Ji Yi (Lim Ji Yeon) and meets Choi Joon Gi (Sung Joon), an ambitious and intelligent man from a humble background who also happens to be Chang Soo’s best friend. Yoon Ha is drawn to Joon Gi’s apparent genuine affection, but he has long desired to marry up. Chang Soo, on the other hand, falls for Ji Yi, despite their difference in class. Will these young couples manage to transcend societal boundaries through love, or will the allure of power and status ultimately prevail?

High Society

The Undercover Chaebols

Lee Seol (Kim Tae Hee), an ordinary college student, discovers she is the great-granddaughter of the Joseon Dynasty's last Emperor, Emperor Sunjong. Park Hae Young (Song Seung Heon), the grandson of a powerful Daehan Group chairman, is tasked with teaching Seol royal etiquette to prepare her for potential monarchy restoration. As Hae Young guides Seol through her royal transformation, he finds himself unexpectedly attracted to her, creating a complex dynamic that threatens his own inheritance. Their growing connection becomes increasingly complicated as Seol's royal lineage could potentially disrupt Hae Young's family's power and wealth. This is a South Korean drama exploring royal heritage, personal ambition, and unexpected romance.

My Princess

Team My Princess

While investigating his wife’s murder, Joseon Dynasty crown prince Yi Gak (Park Yoochun), is mysteriously transported 300 years into the future to 21st-century Seoul! He lands on the rooftop of Park Ha (Han Ji Min), a spirited young woman, along with his three loyal retainers. Believing Park Ha's sister to be his reincarnated princess, Yi Gak endeavors to uncover the truth behind his wife's death and his sudden displacement. In the process, Yi Gak assumes the identity of a missing heir who looks just like him, and inadvertently involves himself in a modern-day conspiracy of his own. As he navigates the bewildering modern world, an unexpected romance blossoms between Park Ha and Yi Gak. But can love truly conquer centuries – and will Yi Gak ever find the answers he seeks?

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