Seo Dal-mi, Nam Do-san, and Han Ji-pyeong
Relationships between coworkers tend to make for some of the messiest love triangles in K-dramas. That’s the case with Start-Up, which is part of the reason the show is so entertaining. In the series, Seo Dal-mi becomes disillusioned with her corporate job and longs for adventure and to make her mark on the world. She thinks she can do that by joining the tech start-up Sandbox Company. She and the CEO, Nam Do-san, form a connection, and she starts to work for him. That connection, however, is interrupted by Han Ji-pyeong, one of the other employees at the company.
Han Ji-pyeong actually holds a debt to someone in Dal-mi’s life, making him feel like he has to protect her. That leads him to become a bit too involved in her life, but also for new feelings to emerge. For those who like their love triangles with plenty of longing looks and heartbreak, Start-Up is the perfect series.
14 Forecasting Love And Weather (2022)
Jin Ha-kyung, Lee Shi-woo, and Han Ki-joon
The three main characters of the triangle all work for the Korean weather service, while Yoo-jin is a journalist who reports on the weather, and their lives intertwine because of the complicated relationships between them. Ha-kyung and Shi-woo spend one night together after she is cheated on by Ki-joon, only for her to end up as Shi-woo’s supervisor when he transfers to her office. They decide to keep their relationship a secret.
Ki-joon, despite being married, cannot let Ha-kyung go for much of the series, leading him into conflict with both Ha-kyung and Shi-woo repeatedly. It nearly ruins his marriage as he worries he’s not good enough for Yoo-jin and becomes obsessed with Ha-kyung’s new relationship. There’s never a worry by the audience that Ha-kyung and Ki-joon will end up together again, but the drama helps fuel the rest of the story as other members of their workplace gradually become aware of the conflicts, making for a compelling narrative.
13 Boys Over Flowers (2009)
Geum Jan-di, Gu Jun-pyo & Yoon Ji-hoo
Boys Over Flowers is critically acclaimed and has garnered accolades at the Baeksang Arts Awards, Asian Television Awards, and KBS Drama Awards. The series is also known for helping to bring interest in K-dramas around the world. It was one of the first K-dramas to see international demand through streaming.
12 Record Of Youth (2020)
Ahn Jeong-ha, Sa Hye-jun & Won Hae-hyo
Both seem to be a good match for Jeong-ha, making her final decision all the more heart-pounding. Love triangles always work better in K-dramas when both sides of the love triangle are equally viable. If they aren't, the audience is only going to root for one character and the love triangle isn't nearly as compelling.
11 She Was Pretty (2015)
Kim Hye-jin, Ji Sung-joon & Min Ha-ri & Kim Shin-hyuk
When Hye-jin is given a new job by accident at a fashion magazine, she then discovers Sung-joon is the new editor of the magazine, hence her new boss, making this one of the best K-dramas about falling in love with the boss as well. However, two love triangles occur. The incredibly charming Kim Shin-Hyuk starts to fall in love with Hye-jin just as her boss starts to remember who she is. All the while, Ha-ri, who pretended to be her at the first meeting, starts to fall for Sung-joon too. Mistaken identity plays a great role in this story.
10 The Heirs (2013)
Cha Eun-sang, Kim Tan & Choi Young-do
However, things get complicated when troublemaker Choi Young-do enters the scene. Young-do was Tan's closest friend before they had a big fallout. Initially, he tried getting close to Eun-sang to get revenge on Tan, but over time, he developed genuine feelings for her and comforted her in times when Tan couldn't understand. The show has won a slew of awards, including at the SBS Drama Awards, the Baeksang Arts Awards, and the APAN Star Awards.
9 Cheese In The Trap (2016)
Hong Seol, Yoo Jung & Baek In-ho
The two quickly start dating with a ton of ups and downs. All the while, Hong Seol is becoming closer to Yoo Jung's ex-best friend, Baek In-ho. In-ho is loud and eccentric but comforts Seol and knows how to put a smile on her face. Over time, he develops feelings for her, but she's already too invested in Yoo. The K-drama was adapted into a movie of the same name, which was released in 2018, and has garnered acclaim from the Baeksang Arts Awards, the Asia Artist Awards, and the Korean Cable TV Awards.
8 My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho (2010)
Cha Dae-woong, Gu Mi-ho & Park Dong-joo
However, things get complicated when a half-human half-supernatural being posing as a veterinarian named Park Dong-joo enters the scene. He tells Mi-ho of a process that will allow her to become human for good, but completely neglects to tell her that it will kill Dae-woong in the process, as he wants her for himself. The series sparked critical acclaim and has won accolades at the SBS Drama Awards, DramaBeans Awards, and Style Icon Awards.
Eun Dan-oh, Ha-ru, & Baek Kyung
Hae Soo, Wang So, & Wang Wook
