Korean dramas are breaking up with romance? Here's what we know
Remember when every K-drama, no matter how wild the plot, had to squeeze in a love story? Detectives chasing criminals, surgeons saving lives, lawyers burning the midnight oil - and yet, somehow, they'd always find time for a dramatic romance. But 2025 is serving up a whole new vibe. Korean dramas are finally breaking free from the "must-have romance" rule, and honestly, it's a breath of fresh air for anyone who's ever rolled their eyes at a forced love line.
Take ENA's latest hit, "Salon de Holmes." Set in a massive apartment complex, this show is a wild, comic-action ride starring four women who are anything but ordinary. There's Gong Mi-ri (Lee Si-young), a housewife with Sherlock-level deduction skills; Choo Kyung-ja (Jung Young-joo), a former ace detective known as the "female Ma Dong-seok"; Park So-hee (Kim Da-som), a single mom juggling five part-time jobs; and Jeon Ji-hyun (Nam Ki-ae), an insurance queen with next-level street smarts. Together, they take down the villains threatening their peaceful apartment life - from cheating spouses to school bullies and even illegal garbage dumpers.
Director Min Jin-ki calls it "a drama by women, for women, starring women." And he's not kidding. Instead of romance, "Salon de Holmes" is all about fierce friendship, loyalty, and the kind of "womance" that makes you want to call your besties and start a girl gang. The show's blend of action, comedy, and real-life struggles is giving viewers major catharsis - and the ratings prove it. Starting at 1.3%, it shot up to a peak of 3.4% by episode 6, which is huge for a newer cable channel like ENA.
Lawyers, Not Lovers - "Seocho-dong" Is Serving Realness
Seocho-dong refers to the area where Korea's courts, prosecutors' offices, and lawyers' offices are concentrated, and represents the legal community.
If you thought the no-romance trend was a fluke, think again. "Seocho-dong" is doubling down. When news broke that Moon Ga-young and Lee Jong-suk were cast, everyone expected a classic K-drama love line. But the promos? Not a single mention of romance. The first episode, which aired on July 5, focused entirely on the daily grind of five associate lawyers hustling in Seoul's legal district.
Moon Ga-young plays Kang Hee-ji, a rookie lawyer with a heart of gold, while Lee Jong-suk is the seasoned pro Ahn Joo-hyung. The show, written by an actual lawyer, is all about the struggles, ambitions, and friendships of young professionals just trying to survive the workweek. Even if a romance does pop up, it's clear it won't be the main event. Instead, "Seocho-dong" is giving us slice-of-life vibes, relatable workplace drama, and the kind of character growth that hits different when you're in your twenties and figuring out your own path.
Genre Over Romance - The New K-Drama Formula
It's not just these two shows. Upcoming dramas like MBC's "Mary Kills People" and JTBC's "Esquire" are also ditching the love lines to focus on genre and story. "Mary Kills People" follows a doctor helping terminal patients with assisted death, while "Esquire: Lawyers Dreaming of Lawyers" is about a rookie lawyer learning the ropes from a top partner. Both are more interested in exploring tough issues, personal growth, and the bonds between colleagues than in shoehorning in a romance just for the sake of it.
Back in the day, even the most hard-hitting genre dramas would awkwardly squeeze in a love story to attract more viewers. But thanks to the rise of OTT platforms and a more global audience, Korean dramas are finally realizing that not every story needs a love line to be a hit. In fact, some of the most buzzed-about series lately are the ones that skip romance altogether and focus on friendship, ambition, and the real struggles of modern life.
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