7 K-Dramas to Watch This Fall If You Love Romance, Comfort, and a Good Cry
There is something about watching a K-drama during fall that feels different.
The cooler weather, warm drinks, and quieter evenings make it the perfect time for stories filled with romance, nostalgia, emotional healing, and just the right amount of heartbreak.
Luckily, K-dramas have plenty of options for that mood.
Whether you want a magical fantasy romance, a slow-burn love story, or something that will leave you staring at the ceiling after the finale, this list has something for every kind of viewer.
Here are seven K-dramas from 2016 to 2026 that deserve a spot on your fall watchlist.
1. Mr. Plankton
If you want something bittersweet but still filled with warmth, Mr. Plankton is an excellent fall pick.
The Netflix series follows Hae Jo, played by Woo Do-hwan, a man who discovers that he has only a limited amount of time left to live. Before facing the end, he decides to search for his biological father, the one person whose identity he has never known.
His journey unexpectedly brings him back to Jo Jae-mi, played by Lee Yoo-mi, his former girlfriend who is supposed to marry another man.
Hae-jo then takes Jae-mi along on his journey, turning what should have been a search for his father into an emotional road trip between two people who thought they had already left each other behind.
The drama balances comedy, romance, and melancholy, making it a particularly fitting choice when you want something emotional without watching a completely heavy story.
Aired: Nov 8, 2024
No. of Episodes: 10
Cast: Woo Do-hwan, Lee Yoo-mi, Oh Jung-se, Kim Hae-sook
Streaming Platform: Netflix
2. Goblin
Some K-dramas simply never stop feeling like a good idea during the colder months, and Goblin is one of them.
The 2016 fantasy romance follows Kim Shin, played by Gong Yoo, an immortal goblin who has lived for centuries while waiting for the human bride who can finally end his immortal existence.
His life changes when he meets Ji Eun-tak, played by Kim Go-eun, a cheerful high school student who claims she can see ghosts and believes she is the bride he has been waiting for.
Their story becomes even more complicated when Kim Shin shares a house with a mysterious Grim Reaper, played by Lee Dong-wook.
With its snowy visuals, emotional soundtrack, fantasy world, and unforgettable romance, Goblin practically feels made for a fall and winter rewatch.
Aired: Dec 2, 2016 - Jan 21, 2017
No. of Episodes: 16
Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook, Yoo In-na, Yook Sung-jae
Streaming Platform: Netflix
3. Extraordinary You
For something lighter and more playful, Extraordinary You is a perfect choice.
The 2019 fantasy romance follows Eun Dan-oh, played by Kim Hye-yoon, a high school student who discovers that she is actually a character inside a comic book.
Even worse, she realises that she is only a supporting character whose life is already controlled by the comic's writer.
Determined to change her predetermined fate, Dan-oh starts searching for ways to control her own story. Along the way, she meets a mysterious unnamed character, played by Rowoon, who has no official role in the comic.
Their relationship slowly develops as they try to create moments that were never written for them.
It is funny, romantic, and surprisingly emotional underneath its colorful high school setting.
Aired: Oct 2, 2019 - Nov 21, 2019
No. of Episodes: 32 short-format episodes
Cast: Kim Hye-yoon, Rowoon, Lee Jae-wook, Lee Na-eun, Jung Gun-joo
Streaming Platform: Viki
4. When the Weather Is Fine
If your idea of a perfect fall drama involves a quiet town, books, warm conversations and a slow romance, When the Weather Is Fine belongs on your list.
Park Min-young plays Mok Hae-won, a cellist who becomes tired of her life in Seoul and returns to the small town where she spent part of her childhood.
There, she reconnects with Im Eun-seob, played by Seo Kang-joon, an old acquaintance who now runs a small bookstore.
Eun-seob has quietly carried feelings for Hae-won for years, but their relationship develops at a gentle pace as Hae-won slowly begins healing from the experiences that pushed her away from the city.
The snowy countryside, bookstore setting, and understated romance make this one particularly easy to recommend for a cozy evening.
Aired: Feb 24, 2020 - Apr 21, 2020
No. of Episodes: 16
Streaming Platform: Netflix
5. In Your Radiant Season
For a newer healing romance, In Your Radiant Season deserves a place on the fall list.
Lee Sung-kyung plays Song Ha-ran, a successful fashion designer whose seemingly perfect life hides deep emotional wounds. She has essentially trapped herself in a personal winter after losing people she loved.
Then she meets Sunwoo Chan, played by Chae Jong-hyeop.
Chan is bright, cheerful, and seemingly impossible to bring down. But behind that sunny personality is a painful past and a mysterious incident that continues to affect him.
When the two reconnect, Chan tries to bring warmth back into Ha-ran's life, while their relationship slowly reveals the secrets and wounds they have both been carrying.
The drama's central idea of moving from an emotional winter toward spring makes it especially fitting for anyone looking for a comforting romance.
Aired: 2026
No. of Episodes: 12
Streaming Platform: Disney+
6. Can This Love Be Translated?
If you want your fall watchlist to feel a little more glamorous, Can This Love Be Translated? brings romance, travel, and plenty of international scenery.
Kim Seon-ho plays Joo Ho-jin, a professional interpreter who becomes involved with Cha Mu-hee, played by Go Youn-jung, a famous celebrity.
Their biggest problem is also the title's central idea: they may speak different languages, but understanding someone's feelings is not always as simple as translating their words.
The pair travel around the world while filming a television program, giving the romance a much larger backdrop than the usual office or university setting.
The drama comes from the Hong sisters, known for fantasy and romance stories such as Hotel Del Luna and Alchemy of Souls, and it mixes comedy with the emotional complications of falling in love.
Aired: Jan 16, 2026
No. of Episodes: 12
Streaming Platform: Netflix
7. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
Not every fall watch needs to be comforting.
If you want something darker, emotional, and haunting, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes is the drama to add.
Seo In-guk plays Kim Moo-young, a mysterious man whose charming personality hides a troubled past. He becomes involved with Yoo Jin-kang, played by Jung So-min, but her protective older brother Yoo Jin-kook, played by Park Sung-woong, immediately becomes suspicious of him.
Jin-kook is a detective and becomes convinced that Moo-young may be connected to a case he is investigating.
As Moo-young and Jin-kang grow closer, the relationship becomes tangled with secrets, trauma, and questions about Moo-young's past.
The 2018 drama is much darker than the other titles on this list, but its melancholic atmosphere makes it a strong choice when you want an emotional fall watch that stays with you long after the finale.
Aired: Oct 3, 2018 - Nov 22, 2018
No. of Episodes: 16
Cast: Seo In-guk, Jung So-min, Park Sung-woong, Seo Eun-soo
Streaming Platform: Viki
Final Thoughts
A good fall K-drama does not necessarily have to be a new release.
Sometimes the best choice is an old favourite that suddenly feels different when watched with a warm drink and a quiet evening ahead.
From the bittersweet road trip of Mr. Plankton and the fantasy romance of Goblin to the gentle healing story of When the Weather Is Fine, and the darker emotions of The Smile Has Left Your Eyes, these seven dramas cover very different sides of the K-drama experience.
And if you are looking for something newer, In Your Radiant Season and Can This Love Be Translated? bring fresh romance into the mix.
So, which K-drama are you adding to your fall watchlist first?
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