K-Drama-Inspired Novels Offer Lessons In Love For Rom-Com Fans

Romance is not the only genre in Korean dramas, but it remains one of the most popular—especially in the US. Fans are always looking for one more k-drama romance to fall in love with.

However, their next flirtation with the k-drama rom-com could be a novel. The growing popularity of the k-drama romance has inspired a few entertaining novels that feature heroines learning love lessons from watching dramas or even landing on the sets of a romantic k-drama.

Maurene Goo, the author of several, pop-culture-savvy YA novels, is not surprised at the increasing interest in k-dramas. She had a sense that dramas were about to go mainstream before she published her YA novel I Believe In A Thing Called Love in 2015.

“I saw a potential overlap between YA and k-drama fandoms,” said Goo. “As a fan of both myself, I felt like they had shared vibes: Romance, drama, an abundance of emotions.”

So, Goo, who grew up watching dramas with her family, decided to write a book about a young woman who initially rejects her family’s viewing habits, but then uses k-drama tropes to learn some true love lessons.

“I was hoping that lovers of k-dramas would be excited to see a YA book feature them for the first time,” said Goo. “And I was hoping that YA fans would learn about them via the book.”

The book’s main character, Desi, is an excellent planner and her studious approach led her to become the student body president. However, she’s never had a boyfriend, so she studies what works in Korean dramas. She decides to follow what she considers the K Drama Steps To True Love to impress the man she wants to date. Life is not quite like a k-drama and it’s more complicated than she imagined. Some of her attempts land her in embarrassing situations and —in k-drama fashion—only seem to be pushing the object of her affections away.

Goo admits there was a time, when growing up, that she was embarrassed by dramas, but she eventually realized there was a lot to love about them.

“What I love most about k-dramas is how they balance tones—oftentimes going from tragedy to comedy in the same scene,” said Goo. “It’s a bit of a cultural thing, I think, to be able to hold all different kinds of emotions at once. And I think that’s an important perspective that keeps you afloat as you go through life. That nothing is just one thing. I also love how the best k-dramas are all about character over plot—there’s a real focus on emotional growth and relationships. Both are things I very much value myself.”

Goo, who is currently working on a YA book Throwback, describes her k-novel as “an entry into k-drama land. But, more importantly, at its heart it’s a pure rom-com.”

A steamier take on k-drama romance can be found in the novel Seoul Searching by Samantha Ann. The main character in her novel is a spunky American named Maria, who travels to Seoul for the wedding of her lifelong best friend. To give a speech at her friend’s wedding she must learn Korean and her assigned teacher is none other than Hwan Soo, a rising actor with some time on his hands.

They don’t initially like each other, but can’t deny an attraction, and their love progresses at heart-fluttering speed. Like many k-drama leading men, he’s perfect, but like many Korean actors, he’s not allowed to date while under contract.

The book makes good use of every enjoyable k-drama trope, but might also provide a way to learn a few Korean phrases. Hangul (Korean) is sprinkled throughout the book, which might prompt a reader to wonder “what did he say to her” and look up the answers at the end of the chapter.

Language teachers take note.

“Korean dramas were really what inspired me to write this story at all,” said Samantha Ann, who published Seoul Searching in 2022. “I was so drawn to the stories, the actors, even the way they’re produced fascinates me. It’s why I made my male lead a Korean drama actor. When I finally decided to start writing this book, I knew I wanted to have some k-drama tropes within the novel. For instance: Family who wants to have their child marry as soon as possible, second lead syndrome, major drama that tears the lead couple apart and a large profession of love leading to the grand finale. Things like that. I also felt that the romance genre was lacking Asian male leads and I wanted to show the world that Asian men are as desirable as a main character as any other man.”

Although Samantha Ann likes all genres of Korean dramas—sci-fi, crime, mystery, action—she is particularly fond of romance. “I am a romance junkie in all forms of media,” she said. “TV, movies, books, audio, it all generally revolves around love in some way.”

Samantha Ann, who also runs the site KoreanFromContext, suggests her book is suitable for anyone who loves Korean drama romances and wants to learn a few Korean phrases as they read.

Sara Martin has written an entire series of My K-Drama Life romances that take her heroine to the set of a k-drama production and into the arms of a k-drama actor. The New Zealand native started her series in 2020 with The Practice Kiss. At the novel’s start the heroine, Chloe, is down on her luck—like so many k-drama heroines—then miraculously lucks into a role in drama land. Martin began watching Korean dramas in 2016 and employed them as a comforting escape from her stressful job. Having already written a YA novel, she decided her next story would be a novel that’s like a k-drama.

“Since the book is about the relationship between an ordinary girl and a k-drama star, I knew the story would continue for more than one book,” said Martin.” Life wouldn’t be smooth sailing for this pair. They would face plenty more trials before reaching happily ever after.”

Book two (The Dating Drama) and book three (The Superstar Scandal) deal with issues such as jealousy, mental health, obsessive fan culture and shady dealings in the entertainment industry. Each book is longer, more dramatic and darker than the last, while retaining the fun and addictive k-drama vibe.

One thing Martin likes about k-dramas is that they often feature a strong female perspective, focus on the characters’ emotional journeys and serve up a satisfying romance on the side. “Another thing I appreciate is that k-dramas normally have a set number of episodes and do not get renewed for season after season until the writer runs out of ideas and the show turns bad.”

Martin sees her audience as women around the world who enjoy or are curious about Korean pop culture. They have probably watched k-dramas before, but it’s not essential in order to like her books. “If you’ve ever daydreamed about going to South Korea and meeting your favorite Korean celebrity, you’ll probably enjoy the My K-Drama Life books,” said Martin.