Asian youth romance dramas are staple options every drama fan should have on their watch list!
Years of watching a variety of television dramas have pushed me to chronic drama fatigue. Sometimes I easily snap out of it. Sometimes it takes time for the saturation to ebb away.
In my trusted list of activities to brighten my mood, watching youth romance dramas is a recurring favorite. Probably because of its universal appeal fueled by themes tackling “first love”. Aside from that, it is high on fan service and not much to process mentally and emotionally. Seasoned with profound family relationship and friendship stories, these youth romance dramas always yield soothing moments.
My list today sent me to a pensive moment recollecting the classic series and contemporary favorites. I have included well-loved stories that evoke nostalgia and fond memories.
You might notice the list includes dramas that have been adapted by different countries from their original content. It further proves the prominence and addicting drive of the story. Also, most dramas in this roster are school-set – validating how most of our wistful young romance stories typically came from the school stages of our lives.
Because beautiful drama experiences are meant to be shared, I’ve come up with this list of Asian youth romance series that are guaranteed effective in cheery mood-making. Stories are always worth of yearly rerun or when you need a quick break from the emotional strain that just won’t go away.
Meteor Garden (2001 & 2018) | Hana Yori Dango | Boys Over Flowers
Based on the Japanese manga series 花より男子 (Hana Yori Dango), the story of an ordinary girl who gets entangled with four rich boys while studying at an elite school has decked a household story status. Plenty of adaptations pushed further its recall that I won’t be surprised if years from now, it will have another remake.
Evidently, all adaptations capitalized on the rich-boy-poor-girl love story, love triangle and friendship.
Itazura Na Kiss | It Started With A Kiss | Playful Kiss | Mischievous Kiss: Love in Tokyo |
One-sided love is pictured sweet in this series adapted from another popular manga イタズラなKiss (Playful Kiss). It revolves around the story of a not-so-smart girl who harbored admiration for a smart and almost perfect boy.
In a twist of fate, they end up living together in the same house. Little by little her adoration was reciprocated through the course of their high school and college life.
Hana Kimi | Hanazakari no Kimitachi e (2007 & 2011) | To The Beautiful You |
Last from our shojo manga adaptation parade is 花ざかりの君たちへ, For You in Full Blossom which tells the story of a brave girl who enters an all-boys high school to pursue her attraction to a popular athlete.
There she not only gains young love, but friends and affirmation of how being young is a gift.
Princess Hours
Before Ju Ji Hoon embarked on his zombie-vanquishing mission in Kingdom, he was the doted Prince Lee Shin circa 2006. Fulfilling a marriage deal from their ancestors, the modern-day Crown Prince marries an ordinary girl who eventually falls in love with him.
Slowly but surely, the prince also gravitates toward his vibrant wife while tackling the travails of his being heir to the throne. Ultimately, they seal their mutual romance albeit with a few misconceptions.
Sungkyunkwan Scandal | In A Class of Her Own
Fused with a modern vibe in a traditional setting, Sungkyunkwan Scandal is literally a class of its own. To aid in her family’s financial woes, a young woman enters a famed all-boy school that nurtures scholars.
There she meets new friends, new aspirations, and new romance.
Reply 1997
The initiating story of the successful Reply series franchise speaks of fond high school memories and first love. Setting the trademark guess-the-husband game, the torn-between-two-brothers love tale is a perfect fit when you crave a saccharine treat, especially if you are a fangirl. *wink
You’ve Fallen For Me
Incorporating music and campus romance, this Park Shin Hye and Jung Yong Hwa starrer is a feel-good treat rightly blended with scenes that will leave you nothing but smiles.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
The breakthrough portrayals for both Lee Sung Kyoung and Nam Joo Hyuk came from this darling series which reminds us of how young love is always served sweet.
With ideal romantic seasoning, its relatable process of college romance yielded its interesting presence in K-Drama fans’ favorites.
Love 020
Most of the major global video platforms have Love 020 in their catalog and for a good reason. Online game couple Xiao Nai and Bei Weiwei traverse real life romance as a campus couple.
A healthy dose of heart-fluttering moments makes this series another fan favorite.
A Love So Beautiful
No matter how many times I summon this series on my drama pill stash, Jiang Chen and Xiaoxi’s love journey remains to be one of my favorite story gifts.
It makes you reminisce about your very own first love, first friendship clique and all those sweet school memories.
Put Your Head on My Shoulder
C-Dramas have an endearing reputation for powering fascinating school-set young love series. That goes true to Si Tu-mo and Gu Wei-yi romantic narrative.
Cohabitation turned commitment in this series that also traversed the love pairing’s university life along with the process of their falling in love.
Unrequited Love
Derived from Bayue Chang’an’s novel of the same title, Unrequited Love as the title implies threads on the one-sided love story of Luo Zhi to Sheng Huainan. Her adoration goes way back to when they were small children.
Meeting again in high school, she remains loving him from afar, but things progress as they became closer while studying at the same university.
Streaming Sites: Netflix | Viu | Viki | iQIYI | We TV
Photos: Respective Broadcast Networks of above mentioned dramas
