K-Drama Couples Who Make Us Believe In Soulmates

For this Valentine’s, this is a tribute to the K-drama love stories that made us believe in soulmates. Whether you’re in love or still single, K-dramas have a way of making us wonder—maybe, just maybe, there really is someone out there made for us.

1. Baek Hyun Woo & Hong Hae In

At first glance, many might have thought that ‘Queen of Tears’ is just another cliché K-drama with a chaebol heir with a terminal illness and her husband. But this show captures the perfect picture of what a real couple looks like—not the “sweet, honeymoon-phase” couple, but the “we’ve-seen-each-other-at-our-worst-and-still-stay” kind of couple.

Baek Hyun Woo (played by Kim Soo Hyun) and Hong Hae In (Kim Ji Won) didn’t just meet, fall in love, and live happily ever after. They got married, and three years later, their relationship was on the verge of collapse. They suffered heartbreak, endured a miscarriage, and reached a point where Hyun Woo felt like there was nothing left between them. He even wanted a divorce.

A lot of viewers didn’t like how Hyun Woo seemed relieved that he wouldn’t have to go through with the divorce because Hae In was dying. But honestly? That felt absolutely real—not like a fairytale. In fact, if he truly hated her, why did he break down in that car accident scene?

Who remembers that iconic moment? The second Hyun Woo thought Hae In had died? The way he completely panicked and broke down? And when he finally saw her standing there, alive, he ran to her, and his knees just gave out from sheer relief as he cried, holding her hand. Every time I rewatch it, I still get goosebumps. (And let’s be real, Kim Soo Hyun owned that moment. That wasn’t just acting—it was an Oscar-worthy moment.)

What makes the Baek-Hong couple special is that they show what being soulmates truly means—the messiness, the resentment, the mistakes. It’s about choosing and staying with each other, even when it’s hard.

2. Ko Moon Young & Moon Gang Tae

From the popular K-drama ‘It’s Okay to Not Be Okay,’ we get one of the most unique yet emotionally complex couples. Ko Moon Young, a children’s book writer, has an antisocial personality disorder—she’s blunt, selfish, rude, arrogant, and emotionally distant. On the other hand, Moon Gang Tae, a psych ward caretaker, is the complete opposite—patient, selfless, and caring, especially toward his autistic brother.

At first, they seem like total opposites. But through them, we learn that soulmates aren’t just about being a perfect match and being compatible—it’s about embracing each other’s flaws. Real love isn’t about perfection; it’s about choosing each other despite the imperfections.

Ko Moon Young teaches Gang Tae something he’s never allowed himself to do—be selfish, put himself first, and live for his happiness. In return, Moon Gang Tae teaches Moon Young what it means to share, love, and truly care for someone. They don’t just complete each other—they heal each other.

And then, we have one of the most iconic confessions in K-drama history—

“Saranghae! Saranghandago! Saranghandanikka! Jinjja Jinjja Neomu Saranghae!”
(I love you! I said I love you! I really, really love you!)

3. Im Sol & Ryu Sun Jae

Come on, we can all hear it—“Sun Jae-yaaaaa!”

Now, I know what you’re thinking—why is the main couple from ‘Lovely Runner’ on this list? The show had a lighthearted theme, and plenty of comedy, and most of their story took place when they were just high school students. But despite all that, this couple taught us some of the deepest lessons about love.

Take Im Sol, for example. After falling in love with Sun Jae, she didn’t just think about her happiness—she sacrificed it. She erased herself from his memory, choosing to let go so he could live. That’s love at its purest. Sometimes, being soulmates isn’t just about being together—it’s about putting the other person’s happiness above your own.

Also, even after forgetting her, Sun Jae still falls in love with her again. Not anyone else. Her. If that doesn’t prove that when two people are meant to be, nothing—not time, memory, not even destiny—can truly keep them apart, then what does?

Honorable Mention: Wang So & Hae Soo

If there is one couple in K-drama history that gave us K-trauma, it’s Hae Soo and Wang So from the sageuk ‘Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.’

Honestly, I wasn’t even sure whether to include them on this list. They’re one of the most famous K-drama couples, but their story is heartbreaking. Hae Soo initially fell for Prince Wang Wook, while Wang So wasn’t exactly an ideal love interest at first. He was violent, unpredictable, and at one point, even put a sword to her neck, threatening to kill her. And yet, somewhere along the way, they fell for each other.

And in the end, despite everything, Hae Soo left him. She left the palace. She married Prince Wang Jung—not for love, but still, she walked away from Wang So. And he? He let pride and power consume him, focusing more on what he didn’t have rather than cherishing what she had already given him. By the time he realized it, it was too late. She died, returning to the modern world, leaving their love story incomplete.

But here’s the part that still makes fans hope for a second season—the moment in the museum, when Hae Soo saw his painting and remembered everything. And then, there were Wang So’s final words:

“I’ll find you, my Soo-ya.”

But here’s the big question: Were they really soulmates? Can soulmates still be soulmates even if they don’t end up together? Even if they marry different people? Even if they don’t even exist in the same world anymore?

Written by – Diksha Gangadeen

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