Can Love Survive Betrayal? These Top Korean Dramas Between Man and Woman Say Maybe!

Love and betrayal — two sides of the same coin in Korean dramas that hurt you and heal you simultaneously. There's something irresistible about seeing a man and a woman fall in love, only to watch that love be tested by secrets, lies, and agonizing choices. Sometimes they survive. Sometimes they don't. But always, the story sweeps you in like a tide you can't escape.

If you've ever asked yourself whether love can truly survive betrayal, these 12 Korean dramas won't provide you with a clear answer — but they'll make you experience it all the way.

1. My Mister (2018)

A raw, heart-moving story of two shattered individuals who take comfort in the other's quiet presence. Ji-an (IU) starts off by betraying Dong-hoon (Lee Sun-kyun) to survive, but what transpires isn't romance-based love — it's forgiveness-based love. This show confirms that not every betrayal is a death sentence, particularly when there is compassion.

2. The World of the Married (2020)

This one strikes close to the heart. Ji Sun-woo (Kim Hee-ae) is cheated on by her husband in every possible way — emotionally, physically, spiritually. Their home is turned into a war zone, and love did once reside there but must now fight revenge. It's a stunning, brutal examination of the distinction between forgiveness and closure.

3. The Innocent Man (2012)

Kang Ma-ru (Song Joong-ki) turns betrayal into a mission for vengeance — but love refuses to play along. As he moves in on Seo Eun-gi (Moon Chae-won), his heart begins to complicate his plan. This drama illustrates how love can grow surprisingly in the smoldering ruins of old scars.

4. Eve (2022)

Revenge is the game for Lee Ra-el (Seo Yea-ji), who sleeps with the man responsible for bringing shame to her family. But when real feelings complicate her revenge plans, the story takes a heartbreakingly complicated turn. Can love born out of betrayal last if it was never meant to occur?

5. Lie After Lie (2020)

Ji Eun-soo (Lee Yu-ri) gets falsely accused, separated from her daughter, and compelled to deceive her way into her child's life again. She also meets Kang Ji-min (Yeon Jung-hoon), the person who adopts her daughter by accident. Their romance is built upon lies — yet what if there is still some truth in it?

6. Flower of Evil (2020)

Baek Hee-sung (Lee Joon-gi) has the perfect family life — if only he hasn't been lying to his wife (Moon Chae-won) about who he actually is for years. When his hidden past is revealed, their love is tested to its limits. The tension is claustrophobic, but the love story that ensues is beautifully poignant.

7. VIP (2019)

When Jung Sun (Jang Na-ra) finds out her husband might be cheating on her with another woman, she begins to unravel the tightly bound strands of her existence. But this soap is more than just cheating — it's about emotional deception, hiding secrets among colleagues, and what it means to stay when staying is the bigger deception.

8. Tempted (2018)

Loosely adapted from Dangerous Liaisons, this melodrama follows Kwon Shi-hyun (Woo Do-hwan), who begins a fake relationship with Eun Tae-hee (Joy) as part of a ruthless bet. But fake turns real, and the repercussions are heart-shattering. It's a study of how betrayal doesn't always murder love — often it's where it starts.

9. Love (ft. Marriage and Divorce) (2021–2023)

This soap opera delves into betrayal in every sense — emotional, sexual, and even spiritual. A number of couples break apart in the heavy weight of lies and infidelity, but for others, it can be healed. Betrayal is a point of no return for others. There's no simple answer here — only bare, real repercussions.

10. The One and Only (2021–2022)

Pyo In-sook (Ahn Eun-jin) is a terminally ill woman who falls for a hitman (Kim Kyung-nam) by chance. Love between two people destined to fail — one from death, the other from guilt. When their secrets are discovered, the question is whether love is conceivable when there is no future to hold onto.

11. Crash Course in Romance (2023)

While overall light-hearted, this melodrama has an emotional center of betrayal when long-held secrets are revealed. Choi Chi-yeol (Jung Kyung-ho) is a secret keeper regarding the death of a student — and Nam Haeng-seon (Jeon Do-yeon) must decide if her blossoming love can survive the secrets he bears.

12. Secret Love (2013)

When Kang Yoo-jung (Hwang Jung-eum) dies for her boyfriend's illegal act, being forsaken, she meets Jo Min-hyuk (Ji Sung), a man who seeks revenge. Once again, love is the adversary of revenge, and dishonesty is the foundation on which their relationship must fight to survive.