If you’re a fan of K-dramas, noona romances offer a delightful twist on traditional love stories. These series feature relationships where a younger man finds himself drawn to an older woman, creating a new and intriguing dynamic.

Noona romances challenge conventional norms, blending age differences with rich emotional layers and personal growth. They provide a unique take on love and relationships, where the blend of youthful energy and mature experience creates a dynamic narrative.

These dramas range from touching tales of self-discovery to humorous adventures that defy societal expectations. They showcase the complexities of loving someone across an age gap, offering a mix of romance, comedy, and drama.

Whether you’re just discovering noona romances or are a longtime admirer, “15 Noona Romance K-Dramas You Have to Watch” promises engaging stories and memorable characters. These series will keep you entertained and offer a refreshing take on romance that transcends age.

Each show on this list delivers its own unique flavor, making it easy to find a noona romance that resonates with you. From heartwarming storylines to laugh-out-loud moments, these dramas capture the essence of love in all its forms.

1. Something in the Rain (2018)

Something in the Rain is a 2018 South Korean television series. Directed by Ahn Pan-seok and written by Kim Eun, it stars Son Ye-jin and Jung Hae-in. The story follows a relationship that evolves from acquaintances to a genuine couple.

Jin-ah, a district supervisor in her 30s in Coffee Bay, reconnects with Joon-hee, an animator in his late 30s at Smilegate Entertainment when he returns from working abroad. Despite the age difference, which is seen as taboo by some, their relationship blossoms. The series offers an intimate look at how they fall in love and find the courage to go public with their relationship.

The series also explores the struggles of female employees at Jin-ah’s company. These women face sexual harassment, mistreatment, discrimination, and career sabotage from male managers. This subplot highlights the unspoken culture of sexism in many South Korean companies. It shows the challenges women face when trying to climb the corporate ladder amidst these obstacles.

• Displayed: March 30, 2018 – May 19, 2018
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Son Ye Jin, Jung Hae In
• Streaming platform: Viki, Netflix

2. Midnight Romance at Hagwon (2024)

The Midnight Romance in Hagwon is a series written by Park Kyung-hwa, directed by Ahn Pan-seok, and starring Jung Ryeo-won and Wi Ha-joon. After leaving a major company, Lee Joon Ho returns to the academy where he once studied, now as an instructor. He is driven by his lingering feelings for his first love, academy teacher Seo Hye Jin.

Seo Hye Jin has been a Korean language instructor for fourteen years. She became famous after the “Miracle of Daechi” incident. Just as her life seems to be sorted out, her former student and troublemaker, Lee Joon Ho, returns.

Lee Joon Ho, whom she helped get into a prestigious university ten years ago, causes chaos. His return disrupts her calm life, bringing back old memories and unresolved feelings.

The series explores their complex relationship and the impact of their past on their present lives. It highlights the challenges and emotions they face as they navigate their rekindled connection.

• Displayed: May 11, 2024 – June 30, 2024
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Jung Ryeo Won, Wi Ha Joon
• Streaming platform: Viki, TV

3. Why Her? (2022)

Why Her is a 2022 South Korean television series directed by Park Soo-jin. It stars Seo Hyun-jin as Oh Soo-jae, with Hwang In-yeop and Huh Joon-ho in pivotal roles, and Bae In-hyuk appearing in the series. Oh Soo-jae, the youngest partner at a major law firm, is on her way to becoming one of the country's top lawyers.

Soo Jae is driven by her principles and desire to win. However, when a case takes an unexpected turn, her career is thrown into disarray. Demoted, she becomes an adjunct professor at a local law school. Determined to regain her position, she struggles to adjust to her new role.

In law school, Soo Jae meets Gong Chan, a college student with a painful past. Despite his burdens, Gong Chan's warm heart and growing affection for Soo Jae bring her comfort. Falling in love with her, Gong Chan stands by her side as she faces her demotion.

The series follows whether Soo Jae's determination and Gong Chan's support will help her regain her position or whether the company's power dynamics will keep her in check.

• Displayed: June 3, 2022 – July 23, 2022
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Seo Hyun Jin, Hwang In Yeop, Heo Joon Ho, Bae In Hyuk
• Streaming platform: Viki, Hulu

4. Love and Weather Forecast (2022)

A romantic drama unfolds in the lively National Weather Service office, hotter and more unpredictable than the weather itself. Jin Ha Kyung is a smart and organized professional who keeps her work and personal life separate. Her aloof nature makes her an “outsider by choice” at work.

Lee Shi Woo, a free-spirited thinker with an IQ of 150, is passionate about the weather. Despite his occasional clumsiness, he excels at anything he sets his mind to, with the weather being his main focus.

Han Ki Joon, a persuasive and insightful individual, transitions from a difficult career path at first to join the spokesperson's office. As a long-time overachiever, he finds it challenging to deal with failure.

Chae Yoo Jin, a weather reporter, starts out with dreams of breaking big news. Initially disappointed with her role on the “weather and lifestyle team,” she grows to love her job over time.

• Displayed: February 12, 2022 – April 3, 2022
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Park Min Young, Song Kang, Yoon Park, Yura
• Streaming platform: TV, Netflix

5. My Man is Cupid (2023)

My Man Is Cupid is a South Korean television series written by Heo Sung-Hee and directed by Nam Tae-Jin. It stars Jang Dong-Yoon, Nana, and Park Ki-Woong. Cheon Sang Hyuk, a charismatic fairy, has the power to make women fall in love with him easily.

Five hundred years ago, his wings were burned off, and he underwent 27 metamorphoses to restore them. On his 28th attempt, he crosses paths with Oh Baek Ryun. Baek Ryun is a veterinarian who works at a veterinary clinic. She is a beautiful woman who has made many men fall in love with her due to her attractiveness.

However, every romantic relationship she enters into ends in a near-death experience for the men, causing them to run away. Because of this bad luck, Baek Ryun does not date anyone but yearns to meet her destined man. The series delves deeper into their unique relationship and the challenges they face.

• Displayed: December 1, 2023 – January 20, 2024
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Jang Dong Yoon, Nana
• Streaming platform: Prime Video

6. Melancholia (2021)

Melancholia tells the story of Ji Yoon-soo, a corrupt math teacher at Ahseong High School. She is good-natured but stubborn when she makes up her mind. Passionate about math, she encourages her students to find their answers.

At school, she meets Baek Seung-yoo, a troubled student at the bottom of his class. She sees his potential in math, and with her guidance, his grades improve, making him the top student.

Seung-yoo is a quiet student who loves photography and has no friends. He has a shocking past, having won math olympiads as a child and entered MIT at age 10, only to disappear at age 12.

Yoon-soo's attention to Seung-yoo sparks rumors of a scandal, leading to her being fired. Four years later, they reunite as adults to expose the school's corruption and restore Yoon-soo's reputation.

• Displayed: November 10, 2021 – December 30, 2021
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Lim Soo Jung, Lee Do Hyun
• Streaming platform: Netflix

7. Encounter (2018)

Encounter follows the story of a woman and a young man who are brought together by fate. Cha Soo-hyun, the daughter of a politician, lives a life controlled by others. She was married into a wealthy family but divorced her husband due to his affair.

Her ex-mother-in-law's condition during the divorce forces Soo-hyun to attend family functions. On a business trip to Cuba, she meets Kim Jin-hyuk, a free-spirited man. They spend time together, forming a connection.

In South Korea, Jin-hyuk became an employee of Donghwa Hotel, which Soo-hyun received as alimony. Despite their different backgrounds, they feel attracted to each other.

The series follows whether destiny will allow them to be together, giving up an ordinary life to pursue love.

• Displayed: November 28, 2018 – January 24, 2019
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Song Hye Kyo, Park Bo Gum
• Streaming platform: Viki, Netflix, Hulu

8. Romance is a Bonus Book (2019)

Cha Eun-ho is a successful author and editor-in-chief of a publishing company. Kang Dan-i, a former advertising copywriter and mother, saved Eun-ho from an accident when they were children. During her recovery, Eun-ho helped her with books, sparking her interest in writing.

Their close friendship was shattered when Dan-i married a selfish man, despite Eun-ho's disapproval. Now divorced and struggling, Dan-i secretly works as Eun-ho's housekeeper. He is unaware of her situation and the difficulties as a single mother trying to return to work.

Dan-i eventually reveals her circumstances, and Eun-ho helps her. She then applies for a temporary job at his company, impressing everyone with her creativity and hard work.

The series follows their personal and professional challenges as they realize their true feelings for each other and face this new phase in their lives.

• Displayed: January 26, 2019 – March 17, 2019
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Lee Na Young, Lee Jong Suk, Jung Eugene, Wi Ha Joon
• Streaming platform: Netflix

9. Romance Crash Course (2023)

After retiring as a national athlete, Nam Haeng Sun opens a modest side dish shop. His vibrant personality and boundless energy catch the eye of Choi Chi Yeol, a top private instructor known as the “Billion Won Man.” Despite his fame, Chi Yeol becomes increasingly aloof and irritable.

Nam Haeng Sun ventures into the field of private education, where she finds herself drawn to Chi Yeol. Although their teaching methods are different, their shared passion for education creates a bond. Working together, they discover a deeper connection that soon blossoms into romance.

Their relationship is not without its challenges. They must deal with the complexities of their personal and professional lives, learning to confront their flaws and rely on each other's strengths.

The series follows their journey as they face obstacles, questioning whether their love can last. It highlights their growth and the evolving bond that brings them closer together.

• Displayed: January 14, 2023 – March 5, 2023
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Jeon Do Yeon, Jung Kyung Ho
• Streaming platform: Netflix

10. Search: WWW (2019)

Search: WWW is a 2019 South Korean TV series starring Im Soo-jung, Lee Da-hee, Jeon Hye-jin, Jang Ki-yong, Lee Jae-wook, and Ji Seung-hyun. This drama focuses on the lives of modern women who prioritize careers over traditional family roles.

Bae Ta Mi, a competitive director of a large web portal company in her late 40s, begins to question her sacrifices for success. She meets Park Mo Gun, a talented young composer, at an arcade. Mo Gun is drawn to Ta Mi’s fierce competitiveness, sparking a unique connection.

The series examines their evolving relationship, highlighting the challenges and triumphs they face. It shows the balance between professional ambition and personal fulfillment.

As Ta Mi juggles her career and new romance, she learns about the complexities of modern relationships. The drama offers a new perspective on women's choices in contemporary society.

• Displayed: June 5, 2019 – July 25, 2019
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Im Soo-Jung, Lee Da-hee, Jeon Hye-jin, Jang Ki-yong, Lee Jae-wook and Ji Seung-hyun
• Streaming platform: Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video

11. She Never Knew (2021)

She Would Never Know centers on the marketing team of a cosmetics brand, focusing on Yoon Song-ah and her junior, Chae Hyun-Seung. Their dynamic reveals the nuances of office relationships, mixing professional respect with personal interest.

Chae Hyun-seung's sister Chae Ji-seung, a talented seamstress, dates Lee Jae-woon, a brand manager at the same company. Their romance adds another layer to the workplace narrative.

Meanwhile, Hyun-seung's other sister, Chae Yeon-seung, faces challenges with her closeted husband, Kang Woo-hyun. Their struggles, along with raising their daughter Kang Ha-eun, portray a complex family dynamic.

The drama unfolds as each character grapples with their personal and professional lives. It highlights growth, the complexities of relationships, and the pursuit of happiness amid life's challenges.

• Displayed: January 18, 2021 – March 9, 2021
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Won Jin Ah, Rowoon, Lee Hyun Wook, Lee Joo Bin, Lee Kyu Han
• Streaming platform: Netflix

12. When the Camellia Blooms (2019)

When the Camellia Blooms is about Oh Dong-baek, a single mother who moves to the small town of Ongsan and opens a bar called Camellia. Facing various challenges and local gossip, she strives to create a stable life for herself and her son, Pil Gu.

Six years into her new life, Dong-baek meets Yong-sik, a playful and upright police officer who falls in love with her. Yong-sik's affection for Dong-baek grows as he tries to win her over, despite his complex past and the whispers of the city.

Dong-baek’s ex-boyfriend Kang Jong-ryeol, a well-known baseball player, reappears, complicating her life even further. His return brings back unresolved emotions and increases her struggles as she searches for happiness.

As Dong-baek tries to manage her personal life, a darker threat looms. A serial killer in Ongsan stalks her, forcing Yong-sik to balance his love for Dong-baek with his duty to protect her from the danger that lurks within.

• Displayed: September 18, 2019 – November 21, 2019
• Number of episodes: 40
• Cast: Gong Hyo Jin, Kang Ha Neul, Kim Ji Suk
• Streaming platform: Netflix

13. 18 Again (2020)

18 Again centers on Jung Da-Jung and Hong Dae-young, a couple with fraternal twins, Hong Shi-ah and Hong Shi-woo. Their once-happy marriage begins to deteriorate when Da-Jung files for divorce and her twins become distant, treating Dae-young only as a provider.

Things get worse for Dae-young when he loses his job after his boss promotes his less experienced nephew, relocating him to Busan. In a twist of fate, Dae-young's body miraculously transforms into his 18-year-old self while retaining his 37-year-old mind.

Reborn as “Go Woo-young,” Dae-young begins a new life at Serim High School, where his children are students. There, he discovers his daughter Shi-ah working part-time without permission and his son Shi-woo being bullied by the basketball captain, Goo Ja-sung. He also discovers Shi-woo’s hidden passion and talent for basketball.

Through this second chance, Dae-young learns about his children’s struggles and the true reasons behind their fractured family bond. Determined to make things right, he resolves to protect and reconnect with his family, all while facing life as an 18-year-old from the perspective of a 37-year-old man.

• Displayed: September 21, 2020 – November 10, 2020
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Kim Ha Neul, Yoon Sang Hyun, Lee Do Hyun
• Streaming platform: Netflix

14. Witch Romance (2014)

A Witch's Love is a 2014 South Korean drama starring Uhm Jung-hwa and Park Seo-joon. The story centers on Ban Ji-yeon, a 39-year-old reporter with a fierce work ethic who earns the nickname "witch" at work. Her past heartbreak, caused by her fiancé's disappearance before their wedding, has left her skeptical about true love.

Yoon Dong-ha, a 25-year-old who runs a small errand service with a friend, maintains a cheerful facade despite his sadness. He is grieving the loss of his girlfriend in an accident, which has left him emotionally scarred.

When Ji-yeon and Dong-ha meet, their significant age difference and mutual emotional wounds lead to an unexpected connection. They find common ground in their shared struggles and past disappointments.

As their relationship develops, Ji-yeon begins to reconsider her views on love, while Dong-ha finds comfort and healing through their bond. The series highlights how love can mend even the deepest emotional scars and bridge generational gaps.

• Displayed: April 14, 2014 – June 10, 2014
• Number of episodes: 16
• Cast: Umm Jung Hwa, Park Seo Joon
• Streaming platform: Prime Video

15. I Hear Your Voice (2013)

I Hear Your Voice follows Jang Hye-sung, a bold and materialistic public defender who rose from a challenging background to become a successful lawyer. Her transformation is deeply influenced by her childhood hardships and her determination to improve her life.

Her world changes when she meets Park Soo-ha, a 19-year-old with the extraordinary ability to read minds. Soo-ha’s connection to Hye-sung is personal; she was her first love and played a key role in her father’s murder case ten years earlier. Soo-ha has sworn to protect her from the threats of the killer who is still at large.

Hye-sung's colleague Cha Kwan-woo is a cheerful and upright lawyer with a background in law enforcement. While he can be a bit slow, his commitment to justice and kind nature make him a valuable partner.

Together, Hye-sung, Soo-ha, and Kwan-woo form a team dedicated to seeking justice. They tackle high-stakes cases with slim chances of success, uncovering deeper truths as they navigate their intertwined lives.

• Displayed: June 5, 2013 – August 1, 2013
• Number of episodes: 18
• Cast: Lee Jong Suk, Lee Bo Young
• Streaming platform: Netflix

Read the full post on 15 Must-Watch Noona Romance K-Dramas That Redefine Age-Gap Love With Humor and Heart

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