Contract marriage/fake marriage/arranged marriage/broken marriage/marriage of convenience - as long as the leads are/were married - because I'm a sucker for marriage plots

Dramas about Marriage

Fuji TV

Back in high school, a meteorite crashed into Kotoko (Honoka Yahagi)'s home, leaving her with no choice but to move in with classmate Naoki (Yuki Furukawa). For Kotoko, this was a dream come true, as she’d had a longstanding crush on Naoki. Despite his initial disdain for her, Naoki eventually fell for Kotoko, and they ended up getting married. However, married life may not be the sweet fantasy they’d dreamed it would be. Kotoko has decided to become a nurse, but her studies aren’t going well. Plus, having a charming, good-looking husband has its drawbacks – as Naoki seems to have no shortage of female admirers! Can they overcome these hurdles and ensure their love survives the test of time? This 2014 Japanese drama, based on the hit manga of the same name by Kaoru Tada, follows 2013’s Mischievous Kiss: Love in TOKYO. It was directed by Kazuya Konaka and Takashi Ninomiya.

Mischievous Kiss 2: Love in TOKYO

Mischievous Kisser Team

Oh Ha Ni (Jung So Min) is head-over-heels for Baek Seung Jo (Kim Hyun Joong), the school's most popular boy, but there's just one problem: he doesn't even know she exists! Determined to win his heart, Ha Ni concocts countless schemes to get his attention, but nothing seems to work. But when all hope seems lost, fate steps in when an earthquake destroys Ha Ni’s house, forcing her and her father to move in with a family friend – who just happens to be Seung Jo’s father! Now living under the same roof, Ha Ni’s dreams of catching Seung Jo’s eye seem closer than ever. Will she finally melt his icy exterior, or is she doomed to be stuck in the friend zone forever ? This 2010 South Korean drama was adapted from Kaoru Tada’s manga of the same name.

Playful Kiss

the PKer team

MGTV

Xu Qing Jia (Tong Meng Shi), an orphaned and studious young man, unexpectedly becomes a county magistrate after placing second in a competitive civil service exam. Determined to bring fairness through tax reforms and anti-corruption measures, he faces numerous challenges in his new role. His unexpected ally is Hu Jiao (Han Yun Zhang), the youngest daughter of a pork butchery family and his wife. Despite being illiterate, Hu Jiao is a fierce, streetwise woman with remarkable common sense – the complete opposite of her bookish husband. Together, this unconventional couple battles corrupt officials, hoping to create positive change in their county and build a brighter future. "The Lady in Butcher's House" is a 2022 Chinese drama series directed by Mao Kun Yu.

The Lady in Butcher's House

🎓Scholar and Lady Slayer⚔️

In a world where South Korea is a constitutional monarchy. Oh Sunny (Jang Na Ra), a bright and bubbly musical actress, unexpectedly marries Emperor Lee Hyuk (Shin Sung Rok). She dreams of a fairytale life, but the palace is a viper's nest of secrets, power struggles, and murder, orchestrated by the ruthless Empress Dowager (Shin Eun Kyung) and the Emperor's manipulative mistress (Lee Elijah). Sunny quickly realizes her husband is far from the charming royal he appears. As she navigates treacherous court politics, she teams up with Na Wang Shik (Choi Jin Hyuk), a mysterious bodyguard seeking revenge against the imperial family. Together, they uncover dark truths, fighting to expose corruption and dismantle the monarchy from within, all while Sunny transforms from naive bride to formidable empress.

The Last Empress

The Empress' Minions

Youku

Liu Jin Feng (Jackie Li), a streetwise and tough woman from a humble background, unexpectedly finds herself in the Imperial palace, instructed to marry the cold King Duan Yun Zhang (Li Hong Yi). Despite her lack of court etiquette and unconventional appearance, she is determined to make her marriage work. Her grand ambitions to reform the palace and win her husband's heart clash with the scheming court officials, who seek to maintain their hidden power. Facing constant challenges from nobility and struggling to adapt to royal life, Liu Jin Feng must use her street smarts and resilience to survive and thrive in the complex world of the imperial court.

The Legendary Life of Queen Lau

👑Wise Queens Team👑

Furniture firm CEO Lu Fang Ning (Zhou You Tong) is approaching 30 – and, under pressure from her family, agrees to marry. She fixes her sights on the handsome surgeon Ling Rui (Gong Jun), and convinces him to tie the knot with her. But she soon finds that married life isn’t quite what she had hoped for. Cracks begin to appear in the already-frail relationship. But as she starts to mull divorce, Fang Ning suddenly finds herself falling for Ling Rui. Is it too late for love? Or can romance help them save their marriage? This 2020 Chinese drama was based on the novel “This Ordinary Man” by Pitchaya Turdkwanchai and was directed by Xu Chi.

Begin Again

💗 A Timeless Love 💗 

Yul (Do Kyung Soo), the King's carefree nephew, falls in love with the compassionate Yi Seo (Nam Ji Hyun) during his playful youth. When Yul's father (Jo Han Chul) and Kim Cha Eon (Jo Sung Ha) orchestrate a bloody coup that kills the King and Yi Seo's father, she escapes with her brother while Yul is unaware. Yul's father becomes King, making Yul the Crown Prince. Sixteen years later, Yul suffers memory loss after an assassination attempt, setting the stage for a dramatic reunion with Yi Seo and a journey to uncover the truth about his past. This is a 2024 South Korean historical drama exploring love, betrayal, and destiny.

100 Days My Prince

The 100 Days Team

Tencent

Career-minded attorney Qin Shi (Yang Mi) lands a job at top law firm Cheng and Hui by fabricating a marriage to Yang Hua (Xu Kai), a man she’s never met. Chaos ensues when Yang Hua unexpectedly appears at a company gathering, and Qin Shi has to act to keep her web of lies from unravelling. Facing family pressure, Yang Hua agrees to become Qin Shi’s “husband” and maintain the charade. But there are consequences, as people around them start to notice something is amiss. Things go from bad to worse when Qin Shi’s ex-boyfriend joins the firm. Is Qin Shi’s plan about to collapse? Or will romance bloom as they try to navigate the mess? This 2022 Chinese romance drama was directed by Lin Yan.

She and Her Perfect Husband

Mikuri Moriyama (Yui Aragaki), a 25-year-old psychology graduate struggling with unemployment, finds an unexpected opportunity as a live-in housekeeper for Hiramasa Tsuzaki (Gen Hoshino), a workaholic bachelor. To continue their living arrangement, they agree to a marriage of convenience. As they spend more time together, their relationship begins to evolve beyond a simple work contract, challenging their initial expectations. Their unconventional partnership raises the question of whether true love can develop from a purely practical arrangement. This drama is based on a hit manga series by Tsunami Umino.

The Full-Time Wife Escapist

As a small business owner, Gu Xi Xi (Wang Yu Wen) created a successful life for herself working as a fashion industry shopper who helps brides-to-be find the perfect dress for their big day. Her happy life is soon derailed when fate forces her into a contract wedding with Yin Si Chen (Wang Zi Qi), the cold-hearted CEO of a major company. The pretend “happy couple” spends most of their time hating each other, until Xi Xi’s long-time friend, Mo Zi Xian (Ian Yi), comes back into her life. Si Chen finally starts to realize that she means more to him. Can this ice cold CEO win the heart of his contracted bride? This 2021 Chinese romance series was directed by Li Yao Bo and Chu De Jian.

Once We Get Married

Till Contract do us Part 

Cha Joo Hyeok (Ji Sung), is a bank employee in an unhappy marriage with Seo Woo Jin (Han Ji Min) for five years. Joo Hyeok experiences a life-altering moment when a mysterious man gives him two coins to travel back in time to make a different decision. His choice dramatically transforms his entire existence, erasing his current life with Woo Jin and best friend Yoon Joong Hoo (Jang Seung Jo). In this new reality, Joo Hyeok is married to his first love Lee Hye Won (Kang Han Na). Caught between his past and present, Joo Hyuk struggles to understand the consequences of his actions and wonders if he can ever reclaim his original life. This is a 2018 South Korean drama directed by Lee Sang Yeob.

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