Top Korean Dramas Where One Man's Love for One Woman Changed Everything!

It only takes one man. One man who loves one woman with such ardor, such sacrifice, that it rearranges the world around them — fate, family, even death. Korean dramas have given us legendary love stories where a man's love isn't just romantic — it's life-altering. Whether it leads to redemption, destruction, or salvation, these dramas teach us that love, when it's true and unshakeable, has the ability to change the world.

Here are 12 Korean dramas where one man's love for one woman didn't just touch hearts — it moved mountains.

1. Mr. Sunshine (2018)

Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-hun) was a boy born into slavery who became an American officer. However, when he returns to Korea and falls in love with Go Ae-shin (Kim Tae-ri), a noblewoman who is actively working towards her country's independence, his life is turned upside down. His love for her isn't soft — it's fierce and political, and it forces him to stand between empires and fight for more than just her heart.

2. The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)

Lee Gon (Lee Min-ho), the emperor of a parallel universe, risks his kingdom and everything he knows when he crosses universes for Jung Tae-eul (Kim Go-eun). His love defies science and politics, turning into a fight against time itself. One man, one woman — two worlds forever changed.

3. My Mister (2018)

Not a typical romance, Park Dong-hoon (Lee Sun-kyun) quietly, profoundly changes the life of a broken young woman, Lee Ji-an (IU), simply by gazing at her, trusting her, and being present for her. His unspoken love and kindness pull her from the edge of despair, showing that love can be healing without drama.

4. Goblin (2016–2017)

Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), an immortal goblin, lives for centuries in misery — until Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun) arrives. His love for her is not just eternal, but beautiful and tragic. He undergoes death again, this time voluntarily, just to rescue her. Love here does not just change him — it redeems his very existence.

5. It's Okay to Not Be Okay (2020)

Moon Gang-tae (Kim Soo-hyun) has dedicated his life to protecting others, especially his brother. But when he encounters Ko Moon-young (Seo Ye-ji), a children's book author with a dark history, his love presses against her darkest fears — and his own. His patience, gentleness, and strength change not just her world, but his.

6. While You Were Sleeping (2017)

Jung Jae-chan (Lee Jong-suk), a young prosecutor, begins to dream about the future — specifically those involving Nam Hong-joo (Suzy), a journalist who is in danger. His love for her compels him to change fate again and again. Every choice he makes changes her life — and sometimes, saves it.

7. Flower of Evil (2020)

Baek Hee-sung (Lee Joon-gi) hides a dark past and a false identity in order to live a peaceful life with his detective wife, Cha Ji-won (Moon Chae-won). But when the truth begins to emerge, his love for her — and for their daughter — pushes him to confront everything he had run away from in the first place. His love makes him fight to become a better person, even at the cost of losing everything.

8. When the Camellia Blooms (2019)

Small-town cop Hwang Yong-sik (Kang Ha-neul) falls in love with single mom Dong-baek (Gong Hyo-jin). His relentless, pure devotion releases her from a lifetime of terror and judgment. He doesn't rescue her — he emancipates her. And in doing so, he reshapes their narratives.

9. Melancholia (2021)

Baek Seung-yoo (Lee Do-hyun) is a math prodigy whose life falls apart due to a scandal — until years later, when he returns to find and stand by his former teacher Ji Yoon-soo (Im Soo-jung), the one person who believed in him. His love becomes her salvation when the world turns against her.

10. Something in the Rain (2018)

Seo Joon-hee (Jung Hae-in) loves Yoon Jin-ah (Son Ye-jin) despite societal disapproval, age gaps, and family opposition. His love challenges tradition and helps her to regain her voice once more. In a society where women are told to settle down, his love becomes a silent revolution.

11. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (2018)

Kim Moo-young (Seo In-guk) is dangerous, mysterious — and utterly transformed by his love for Yoo Jin-kang (Jung So-min). As he unravels his abusive past, his love is his anchor and his demise. It's haunting, painful, and unforgettable.

12. Moon Embracing the Sun (2012)

Crown Prince Lee Hwon (Kim Soo-hyun) loses his first love to political betrayal — or so he thinks. Years later, when fate returns her to him under another name, his love reignites a royal storm. His love defies royal duty, shaking the foundations of power and altering a kingdom's fate.