If you haven’t yet explored the world of South Korean BLs, you are missing out. South Korean BLs or boys’ love dramas are all about two boys falling in love. If you thought the butterflies you feel when you watch your favorite K-Dramas can’t be recreated in BLs, you are wrong. Like your regular K-Dramas, Korean BLs are also all about swoony, heartwarming romantic moments that’ll make you feel giddy.
All your favorite tropes like friends-to-lovers, enemies-to-lovers, and love-at-first-sight, are as common in BLs as your regular K-Dramas. With some fine performances and strong storylines, BLs get you invested in the relationship and have you rooting for the characters.
Though the boys’ love genre has been around since the 1970s with the Japanese Yaoi stories, Korean BLs show a rise only recently. Asian BLs, particularly from Thailand and Taiwan, have garnered significant attention and popularity. However, it is only in the past few years that Korean BLs have started receiving the recognition they deserve.
In 2017, the film ‘Long Time No See’ was one of the first BLs that was produced in Korea, although it didn’t gain much traction. It was the 2020 drama ‘Where Your Eyes Linger’ that truly brought South Korean BLs into the spotlight. Since then, South Korea has produced numerous boys’ love shows which led to immense popularity globally.
In recent years, K-Pop idols have moved out of their comfort zones and starred in some very popular BLs. So, if you are ready to dive into the swoony world of K-BLs, here are a few of our recommendations that you can watch to celebrate Pride Month.
Semantic Error
No. of Episodes: 8
Main Cast: Park Seo Ham, Park Jae Chan
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Streaming Platform: Viki
‘Semantic Error’ was the biggest hit of 2022 in the BL genre. This university-themed series features Park Jae Chan, a member of the boy group DKZ, and Park Seo Ham, a former member of the group KNK, as its main stars. Adapted from a novel of the same title, the story revolves around Chu Sang Woo, a junior majoring in computer science known for his strict adherence to logic and rules.
Chu Sang Woo is a rigid, rational young man who values reason and rules above everything else. During a group project in the liberal arts field, Sang Woo takes on all the work himself, leading him to remove his teammates’ names from the project and causing them to lose their grades. One of the affected individuals is Jang Jae Young, whose graduation is jeopardized because of this incident. Jae Young, in stark contrast to Sang Woo, is a fashionable, lively, and popular student.
When these two individuals meet, their interactions ignite sparks, and it doesn’t take long for them to develop feelings for each other. Like any other K-Drama, there is a mixture of attraction and resistance between the leads, resulting in some of the most captivating chemistry seen in the world of K-Dramas.
Cherry Blossoms After Winter
No. of Episodes: 8
Main Cast: Kang Hui, Ok Jin Uk
Genre: Romance, Drama
Streaming Platform: Viki
‘Cherry Blossoms After Winter’ is a heartwarming love story of two friends who live together. Seo Hae Bom moves in with Jo Tae Seong and his mother after he loses his parents at the age of seven. Since Hae Bom and Tae Seong’s mothers were friends, the two boys grew up playing together. But when Hae Bom is adopted by Tae Seong’s mother, their relationship also changes.
Jo Tae Seong, portrayed by Kang Hui is a popular, confident guy. Sae Bom, characterized by Ok Jin Uk (ex-member of SUPERFIVE), is a shy and timid guy who barely speaks in front of people. Sae Bom has an inferiority complex and is humbled by the kindness of his adoptive family. All he wants now is to graduate from school and get out of his adoptive family’s hair so that they aren’t burdened by his future.
When Sae Bom and Tae Seong end up being classmates, their relationship takes a turn. Hidden emotions come to the forefront and an unexpected romantic spark ignites between the two. ‘Cherry Blossoms After Winter’ is a very wholesome show that shows you the purity of innocent love and how true love can be the biggest weapon in the fight against society’s judgments.
Our Dating Sim
No. of Episodes: 8
Main Cast: Lee Seung Gyu, Lee Jong Hyuk
Genre: Romance, Drama
Streaming Platform: Viki
One of the cutest, most wholesome dramas to release this year was ‘Our Dating Sim’. This 8-episode series with a runtime of 15 minutes per episode knows how to tell a story well. The series follows Lee Wan (Lee Jong-Hyuk) and Shin Ki-Tae (Lee Seung-Gyu), two high school friends who are parted after Lee Wan confesses his feeling to Shin Ki-Tae. After their graduation, the two best friends lose touch with each other, even though both yearn to reach out to each other.
Seven years later, the two men come face-to-face when Wan walks into the office Ki-Tae works at. Over the years, Ki-Tae has become an ace programmer whereas Wan has made a name for himself as a talented illustrator. Now, the two must work together on a new dating-themed video game, and feelings that were hidden in the past, come out.
A Shoulder to Cry On
No. of Episodes: 7
Main Cast: Jae Han, Ye Chan
Genre: Romance, Drama, Psychological, Youth
Streaming Platform: Viki
Get your tissues ready, because ‘A Shoulder to Cry On’ will take you on an emotional rollercoaster. The show stars the leader and the makne of the boy group Omega X in the lead roles.
Lee Da Yeol (Kim Jae Han) is far from popular and spends his time at school living as an outsider. His only real joy is the archery club where his talent shines. Da Yeol is in school on an archery scholarship which is jeopardized by Jo Tae Hyun (Shin Ye Chan).
Tae Hyun is the school’s most popular guy, making mischief everywhere he goes. No matter what he does, Tae Hyun gets away with everything. When he thoughtlessly blames Da Yeol for trying to make out with him, it puts the latter’s scholarship at risk. No matter how hard Da Yeol tries to quash the rumors, nothing works. While Tae Hyun seems to be unrepentant and takes a wicked delight in making Da Yeol miserable. As the two boys get on each other’s nerves, their feelings also take a turn and soon the line between hate and love gets blurred.
Unintentional Love Story
No. of Episodes: 10
Main Cast: Cha Seo Won, Gongchan
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Streaming Platform: TVING
This workplace romance is a slow-paced, multi-layered story worth a watch. Starring Cha Seo Won and B1A4’s Gongchan, ‘Unintentional Love Story’ will make you feel warm and cozy. When Ji Wong Young’s superior is caught in a corruption scandal and fired, Wong Young gets caught in the crossfire too. Though he is innocent, he is still unceremoniously fired as well. In a desperate attempt to get his job back and make a good impression on his chairman, Wong Young tracks down his chairman’s favorite artist.
When Wong Young finds him, Yoon Tae Joon is running a pottery shop in a remote town with no desire to be found by anyone. In order to impress his chairman, Wong Young decides to spy on Tae Joon and report whatever he learns of the latter’s self-imposed exile. But soon, feelings get in the way and Wong Young finds himself questioning his sexuality, his aspirations, and what he wants for his future.
The Eighth Sense
No. of Episodes: 10
Main Cast: Oh Jun Taek, Lim Ji Sub
Genre: Romance, Drama, Melodrama
Streaming Platform: Viki
‘The Eight Sense’ is another BL that is going to take you on a crazy emotional ride. Be prepared to laugh, cry and swoon with Seo Jae Won and Kim Ji Hyun. Kim Ji Hyun (Oh Jun Taek) is a freshman at a university in Seoul. Coming from a rural town, he is trying to adjust to the rustle and bustle of the big city. In a city like Seoul where he has no friends or family, he struggles to make connections and find his footing.
While at University, Ji Hyun meets Seo Jae Won (Lim Ji Sub), a young man who just returned to the university after completing his mandatory military service. The two soon develop a mutual curiosity and soon Ji Hyun joins the same surf club as Jae Won. As the two men spend more time with each, unexpected feelings take life making both of them wonder what they are.
While on a surfing trip, Ji Hyun and Jae Won share a passionate kiss only for Jae Won to act like nothing happened the next day. Jae Won’s behavior leaves Ji Hyun confused as to their attraction. Do the two men have a future together, or is it just a fleeting attraction?
Roommates of Poongduck 304
No. of Episodes: 8
Main Cast: Kim Ji Woong, Yoon Seo Bin
Genre: Romance, Business
Streaming Platform: Viki
Is enemies-to-lovers your cup of tea? If yes, then ‘Roommates of Poongduck 304’ will be right up your alley. The drama stars the popular Kim Ji Woong, a member of the newly formed ‘Boys Planet’ group, Zerobaseone (ZB1). Starring alongside Ji Woong is Yoon Seo Bin, who was a contestant on the music survival show ‘Produce X 101’.
Ji Ho Joon was born with a silver spoon. A third-generation chaebol and the indisputable heir to the Guemman Group, Ho Joon is a happy-go-lucky guy who doesn’t care about anything. He was sure about living a privileged life forever until his father hits him with an ultimatum. First, he needs to leave the house without a single penny and survive for two years. Second, he needs to head the new business team of Guemman Group and show successful results. Without nowhere else to go and no clue as to what to do, Ho Joon ends up at Poongduck Villa.
Poongduck Villa’s owner, Seo Jae Yoon gets off on the wrong foot with Jo Hoon. But, things get even more complicated when they find out Jae Yoon is Jo Hoon’s subordinate at work. When their life gets tangled between their work and personal lives, catching feelings is the last thing the two expect.
Written by Aarati S
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