5 Noona Romances To Watch If You Loved "The Midnight Romance In Hagwon"

Jul 12, 2024

Ahn Pan Seok’s latest noona romance, “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon,” has come to a satisfying end. Although Hye Jin (Jung Ryeo Won) and Joon Ho (Wi Ha Joon) found love despite all hardships, it seems difficult to move on from such a masterpiece so quickly. Hopefully, these five K-dramas will fill the empty space in your heart that Hye Jin and Joon Ho have left.

“Something in the Rain”

5 Noona Romances To Watch If You Loved

Yoon Jin Ah (Son Ye Jin) is a normal woman in her mid-30s whose only flaw is her clumsiness, which has led to multiple breakups. She hits rock bottom when the man she wants to marry breaks up with her for the dumbest reason ever: that she loves devil’s tongue jelly. Just when she thinks she might never find love, she meets Joon Hee (Jung Hae In), the younger brother of her childhood friend whom she remembered as a kid. One thing leads to another, and she finds true love when she least expected it.

Directed by Ahn Pan Seok, the director of “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon,” “Something in the Rain” has a similar ambiance that makes viewers feel warm and fuzzy inside. As Joon Hee is the brother of Jin Ah’s friend, their relationship risks being scrutinized more than your average noona romance. However, the scenes of the main couple trying to hide their secret are heart-fluttering.

“One Spring Night”

5 Noona Romances To Watch If You Loved

Lee Jung In (Han Ji Min) feels trapped in her four-year-old relationship, which is now only a hollow shell of what it once was. One day, while searching for a hangover cure, she steps into Yoo Ji Ho’s (Jung Hae In) pharmacy. What starts as a simple meet-cute soon turns into a deep friendship and an even deeper love.

While having well-fleshed-out main leads is one thing, what “One Spring Night” does great is that almost every character has a certain authenticity. Even the antagonists, if you can call them that, feel human and like someone you might see around you. Directed by Ahn Pan Seok, this K-drama contains all the characteristics that made viewers fall in love with “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon.”

“Secret Love Affair”

5 Noona Romances To Watch If You Loved

Based on the Japanese novel “Tokyo Tower” by Ekuni Kaori, “Secret Love Affair” revolves around Lee Sun Jae (Yoo Ah In), a poor 20-year-old piano prodigy who has to work as a deliveryman to make ends meet. His life changes when he catches the attention of Kim Hye Won (Kim Hee Ae), an elite art director and wife of a piano professor. She makes it her mission to turn Sun Jae into a musical sensation. Along the way, they fall in love, but being together is not as easy for them.

One reason K-drama lovers might consider skipping “Secret Love Affair” is the show’s name, as portraying infidelity as romance is never a good idea. However, the state of Hye Won’s marriage explains why she falls in love with Sun Jae. Plus, considering how the noona romance genre is often considered taboo, it is easy to understand that none of the recommendations on this list are light and bubbly. But even compared to the other dramas, “Secret Love Affair” is dark and gritty, though equally delightful.

“I Hear Your Voice”

5 Noona Romances To Watch If You Loved

Park Soo Ha (Lee Jong Suk) is a 19-year-old boy who lost his father in an assassination attempt. He survived only because of a girl named Jung Hye Sung (Lee Bo Young). Later, she gave her testimony against the killer in court and promised Soo Ha that she would protect him. During this court proceeding, he falls in love with his savior. Fast forward years later, the pair has lost contact, and Hye Sung is now a lawyer. After her photo gets published in a newspaper along with the story, Soo Ha sees it and decides to meet her again.

“I Hear Your Voice” is a plot-heavy fantasy K-drama where the male lead can hear people’s thoughts. The drama is fast-paced with every episode flowing beautifully. Despite its 18 episodes, “I Hear Your Voice” is a binge-watchable thriller full of suspense.

“Encounter”

5 Noona Romances To Watch If You Loved

Cha Soo Hyun (Song Hye Kyo), the daughter of a politician, has everything except the right to choose her destiny. Pushed onto a path of her family’s choice from school to college to even marriage, she has never had any say in her own life. One day, she decides to leave her loveless marriage and embark on a journey to heal herself. That’s when she meets Kim Jin Hyuk (Park Bo Gum), a young, carefree, and kind-hearted man.

Set in Cuba and South Korea, “Encounter” is a love story of two people who have nothing in common yet can’t seem to stay away from each other. The plot is minimal and almost non-existent, but the characters are where this show shines. Soo Hyun is reserved and doesn’t easily let people in, while Jin Hyuk is patient, making their relationship development endearing, to say the least. Additionally, with a significant portion of the episodes shot in Cuba, the cinematography is a sight for sore eyes.

source: Soompi