Television series
The Bride of Habaek 2017
A water god descends to the mortal realm seeking a bride, and finds himself entangled with a pragmatic psychiatrist who refuses to play the role he expects. *The Bride of Habaek* blends fantasy spectacle with romantic comedy, playing its supernatural premise for both wonder and humour. It's for anyone who loves the KDrama sweet spot: genuine stakes wrapped in charm, with chemistry that actually crackles.
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Goblin Slayer2018
A goblin cursed to live forever meets a grim reaper and the woman who can see ghosts. It has the same blend of melancholy fantasy, crackling romance, and metaphysical stakes, with production values that feel genuinely sumptuous.
But Runs 16 episodes and sometimes indulges in side plots that feel like wheel-spinning. The second half loses some momentum.
The Legend of the Blue Sea2016
A mermaid from centuries past surfaces in modern Seoul and clashes with a con artist. Same director as *Descendants of the Sun*; it has that perfect KDrama balance of fantasy wonder, comedy, and a love story that feels earned rather than imposed.
But The con-artist subplot can feel thin, and some viewers find the pacing uneven in the middle stretch.
Odds Against Tomorrow1959
A man on the brink of suicide is stopped by a grim reaper, and they spend the series learning to see life differently. It shares *Habaek*'s fascination with how mortals and immortals misunderstand each other, but trades fantasy spectacle for genuine emotional weight.
But Deliberately slow and introspective. If you want constant plot momentum rather than character introspection, this will feel static.
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Nirvana in Fire2015
Both feature a powerful outsider learning that mortals have wisdom immortals lack; both are about power humbled by love, though one tells it as grand strategy and one as romantic comedy.
A Chinese epic where a brilliant strategist infiltrates a royal court to exact justice. The connection: both feature a supernatural or superhuman protagonist forced to navigate human politics and emotion, discovering that power means nothing without connection. But *Nirvana* is geopolitical thriller rather than fantasy-romance, all long games and hidden identities.
But 54 episodes. Requires patience and attention; the pleasure is in intricate plotting, not spectacle. Subtitled; if you're new to Chinese historical drama, the naming conventions can feel opaque.
More like this (8)
Touch Your Heart2019
A former actress becomes a legal secretary and slowly earns the respect of a brilliant but prickly lawyer. Shin Se-kyung (who plays Yoon So-ah) leads; it's a masterclass in chemistry built on banter and mutual respect rather than instant attraction.
But Very grounded, with no fantasy elements—if you specifically want spectacle and mythology, the intimacy might feel too small.
My Roommate Is a Gumiho2021
A gumiho (nine-tailed fox) in human form crashes into the life of a college student. Captures that same energy of a supernatural being bewildered by human customs, plus genuine comedy and a romance that unfolds with real permission.
But Occasionally relies too heavily on slapstick. Some episodes prioritize goofiness over narrative coherence.
Alchemy of Souls2022
Spirits, magic transfers, and a romance between a swordmaster and a mage in a fantasy world. It has the same 'rival forces learning each other' structure, plus consistently high production values and inventive action sequences.
But Two seasons; the second one splits attention between too many plotlines. Watching commitment is substantial.
The Master's Sun2013
A woman who sees ghosts meets a stoic chaebol. Earlier entry in the fantasy-romance subgenre, but it understands that the romance works best when both characters are slightly wrong about the other and have to adjust.
But Older production—the visual effects are notably dated, and the pacing reflects 2013 KDrama sensibilities, which means slower for modern viewers.
Tale of the Nine Tailed2020
A nine-tailed fox poses as a human to protect Seoul from supernatural threats. Same universe of gods and myths trying to navigate the modern world; heavier on action and mythology than romance, but visually stunning.
But Jugggles multiple mythologies and backstories. If you want a tight two-hander romance, the expanded cast dilutes focus.
The Apothecary Diaries2023
A poison expert is sold into servitude at an imperial palace and becomes an investigator. Fantasy worldbuilding with a female lead who is competent and unsentimental; it privileges mystery and agency over traditional romance beats.
But Slower burn and darker in tone. If you're here for the light romantic chemistry of *Habaek*, this trades that for intrigue and trauma.
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo2016
Both centre a woman thrust into a world of supernatural/royal rules she didn't ask for, learning to navigate systems designed to break her. Both ask what happens when someone from outside those systems questions whether the rules matter.
A modern woman falls through time and becomes a concubine in the Goryeo dynasty, caught between princes. It shares *Habaek*'s 'fish out of water' core and the romance between someone from another world and the person who must teach her the rules. But it's historical K-drama with genuine stakes—no fantasy reset button.
But Heavy on palace intrigue and political violence. The tone is far darker; some plot threads feel unresolved. And yes, it's the infamous tear-soaked ending that still upsets people online.
The Midnight Library
Both are about immortality (or timelessness) confronting mortality—what makes a life valuable if you have infinite time? Both suggest the answer is connection to one specific person, in one specific moment. But one is bright and comedic; this one is sorrowful and real.
A woman on the edge of death gets to explore parallel versions of her life—the ones she could have lived. It's animated, British, and philosophical rather than romantic, but shares *Habaek*'s core question: what does it mean to choose your life? What would you sacrifice? It's achingly human in a way that fantasy often isn't.
But Animated feature, not live-action drama. Quiet and introspective—no romance, no spectacle, just a woman and her regrets. If you want plot propulsion, you won't find it here.
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- Kim Mi NaExecutive Producer