I'm a romance junky - as such most of the dramas I watch include romance. If it doesn't include romance I probably won't bother. *shrug* But I realize this might mean I'm missing out on some good dramas. So rec me your faves! I have two conditions: 

1. No Main Character Death

2. Must be complete (or near complete).  I'm not looking for another airing drama right now. 


The Recommendations so far, crossing out what I've already seen and italicising the ones I've tried but dropped (willing to maybe give some a second try): 

  • My Mister
  • Move to Heaven
  • Kounodori or Dr.Storks
  • Life is Beautiful (2010)
  • Girl K
  • The Fairy Fox
  • Squid Game
  • D.P.
  • Mad Dog
  • Hello Monster
  • Ms. Perfect
  • Pinocchio
  • When a Snail Falls in Love
  • City Hunter
  • Advance Bravely
  • Save Me (okay this one I liked but dropped because the characters never got a break and it was frustrating as heck!)
  • My Name (this one looks good but I've been spoiled for character death and am hesitant)
  • Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge
  • Love Me If You Dare
  • Prison Playbook
  • Vincenzo   
  • Black
  • Designated Survivor: 60 Days   
  • Vagabond
  • Kingdom (zombies aren't my thing)
  • My Mister - human drama
  • Move to Heaven - slice of life
  • Kounodori or Dr.Storks - medical
  • Life is Beautiful (2010) - family drama
  • Girl K - action noir


doesnt go with you number 1 criteria, but I still wanna recommend cause it is that awesome:

  • Nirvana In Fire - historical, political
  • 3 Nen A Kumi - Social commentary
  • Signal - thriller suspense
 Dani:
I'm a romance junky - as such most of the dramas I watch include romance. If it doesn't include romance I probably won't bother.

I'm the same and can count the number of dramas I've watched without a romantic storyline on one hand, but I felt all of these dramas were worth watching:

  • +1 My Mister - Open to interpretation, but most would agree romance isn't part of the main storyline.
  • Squid Game - No romance. Dark and violent content.
  • D.P. - No romance. Very dark content.

Thriller / crime dramas with a secondary romantic subplot:

Does not meet your criteria re: main character death, but the main character that dies is only implied to have died and was a scumbag, so it's not a character death that would necessarily break your heart:

A Chinese drama that is based on a romantic BL novel where the romance is censored but the subtext is very much not subtle:

  • +1 Move to Heaven (no romance) -> too difficult to explain but 100% recommended
  • Save Me (no romance) -> Sect, Friendship, Psychological
  • My Name (slight romance) -> Action, Revenge, Gang
  • Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge (slight romance, very particular drama) -> Comedy
  • Love Me If You Dare (not slight but very secondary compared to the Main Plot) -> Thriller, Police Investigation, Serial Killer...
  • Prison Playbook (slight romance) -> Prison, Friendship, Comedy

Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge I think I read this manga years ago!! 

Thanks for the suggestions folks, I dare move to heaven and loved it but a few of these are new to me. 

Yea, I love romance too, but as you I don't want to miss out on great dramas that don't have romance.

Most dramas do have romance, or at least a tiny amount. Finding a pure non-rom drama is pretty hard, but here are a few:


Vincenzo    (some romance, but it's in the background)
Black (not much romance)
Designated Survivor: 60 Days    (no romance)
Vagabond (I'd say it's no romance, but there is still some hint of it between the leads)
Kingdom (no time for romance in a zombie apocalypse)


 Dani:

Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge I think I read this manga years ago!! 

Thanks for the suggestions folks, I dare move to heaven and loved it but a few of these are new to me. 

So glad you are interested in my recs :) Yamato Nadeshiko Shichi Henge is one of my absolute favorite because of the memories I have with it but it's really particular... If you like the japanese humour, you might like it even more if you enjoyed the manga :) 

Love me if you dare is incredible I highly recommend it :)

Mystic Pop-Up Bar

My Country : the New Age (light romance)

Additional dramas I wanna recommend:

  • Hanzawa Naoki
  • Misaeng
  • Stranger
  • The world between Us 
  • First Half of My Life
  • Dear My Friends

Mother (no romance)

The Sound of Your Heart    (not really romance, but does have some relationship aspect)

Hi Bye, Mama!    (the focus is not on romance, but does have relationship issues)

KOREAN:

  • Signal
  • Hello Monster
  • Voice (season 1)
  • Tunnel
  • Move to heaven
  • Mad Dog
  • Lookout
  • Beautiful world
  • Nobody knows


JAPANESE

  • Ryusei no kizuna
  • Mother
  • The quiz show 2
  • N no tame ni
  • Black Pean
  • Kazoku game
  • Nagi no oitoma