Cultural differences

1️⃣ South Korea / North Korea

South Korean FL / North Korean ML

South Korean FL / North Korean ML

South Korean FL / North Korean ML

South Korean ML / North Korean FL 

South Korean ML / North Korean FL

North Korean FL / South Korean ML

North Korean FL in South Korea

2️⃣ South Korea / Japan

Korean FL / Japanese ML

Korean FL / Japanese ML

Japanese FL / Korean ML

Chinese FL / Korean ML

Genres: Romance, Drama, Melodrama  

In his Chinese film, "Scent," Park Shi Hoo plays Kang In Joon, a Korean interior designer...who finds love when he meets an innocent Chinese girl...it's directed by Jessy Tseng who directed award-winning art house film Big Blue Lake.

Foreigner FL (Scottish) / Japanese ML

Tags: Asadora, Based On A True Story, Interracial Relationship, Foreigner Female Lead, Language Barrier, Meiji Period, Taisho Period, Showa Era, Xenophobia, Historical Fiction 

It is based on the true story of Taketsuru Masataka and his Scottish wife Rita Cowen. Masataka is the first Japanese person to produce whisky in Japan when he opened his own distillery in Hokkaido in 1934. The title comes from Rita's nickname for Masataka.

Chinese FL / American ML (Dylan Sprouse)

Tags: Hidden Past, Curse, Tragic Past, Princess Female Lead, Ophthalmological Disorder, CGI, Master-Disciple Relationship, Cold Female Lead, Star Crossed Lovers, Color Blindness 

The plot follows Princess Turandot, who is cursed by a mysterious power emanating from three Mazovian bracelets that were given to her as birthday gifts. These bracelets’ life-draining effects cause the princess to become cruel, and gradually lose her humanity. Foreign princes who come to court her must solve three riddles, one for each bracelet, and only then will she be freed from the power of the bracelets. One day, Calaf, an ordinary citizen, risks his life to answer the riddles to save her and inadvertently uncovers his own extraordinary past.

Taiwanese FL / Korean ML

Tags: Love At First Sight, Miniseries, Advertisement, Language Barrier, Online Romance, Dog, Web Series, Record Producer Male Lead, Musician Male Lead, Foreigner Female Lead 

Min Ho, a music producer who is struggling to write a new song because of the lack of inspiration. He is told by his manager that he has to find love so he would have emotions to write a new melody. He then meets a Chinese tourist named Ling Ling. Min Ho is inspired by Ling Ling but due to their language barrier he decides to adds her as a friend on the mobile messenger app LINE to communicate with one another.  

Chinese FL (Korean actress) / Taiwanese ML and 2ML

Tags: Languages, Filmed Abroad, Love Triangle 

Beautifully filmed at Aegean Sea with lovely music, this romantic drama series with an all star-cast from Taiwan and Korea is a must-watch. Guan Xiao Tong is a talented music student who hails from Shanghai. On a visit to Greece on the Aegean Sea, she got to know two guys. One is web-friend and free-spirited traveler Li Yao Xiang and the other is Li En Qi, the son of a rich businessman.  

Korean FL / American ML

Tags: Boss-Employee Relationship, Love/Hate Relationship, Foreigner Male Lead, Naive Female Lead, Misunderstanding, Languages, Ex Comes Back, Workplace Setting, Personal Assistant Female Lead, Company President (CEO) Male Lead 

The M&A specialist, Robin Haydon, moves to Korea to overtake the Komatu company in Japan. On the morning of the first day of Robin's attendance, he has an encounter with Min Joon by a fender bender. Meanwhile, people in the company are excited about the newly appointed president, 'Robin'. Min Joon finds out that Robin is her new boss, who is the same person from the morning accident she was involved in and feels uneasy.

Japanese FL / Korean ML

Tags: Short Length Series, Language Barrier, Intercountry Romance, Child Abandonment, Enemies To Lovers, Web Series, Rich Male Lead 

Hinata is a journalist who aspires to be a writer. Yeong Su is Set up to take over his father's Hotel chain but is an aspiring artist. They meet while she is in Koreaon temporary assignment for her job and they get off on the wrong foot. However, when Yeong Su goes to Japan for business, he ends up causing a media frenzy and disappears, much to his advisor's horror. They bump into each other on the street and she brings him home, to her boyfriends dismay. As they slowly fall in love, a large number of obstacles stand in their way, the least of which is their different nationalities.

Japanese FL / Korean ML

Tags: Visually Impaired Female Lead, Language Barrier, Intercountry Romance, Blindness, Friendship 

The film features korean pop group Supernova (aka Choshinsung). The story involves one of the group’s members, Sungje, meeting and falling in love with a blind Japanese fan played by Nao Minamisawa.

Chinese FL / 3MLs (Chinese actor, Hong Konger actor and American actor)

Tags: Nice Female Lead, One-night Stand, Older Woman/Younger Man, Nice Male Lead 

At her Marie Antoinette-themed birthday bash, Michelle loses her head after a few drinks and wakes up dishevelled in a hotel room. Forty days later, she discovers she’s pregnant and sets about finding the culprit. Michelle narrows it down to three suspects who turned up at her shindig: the figure-skating teenager. Jeb; the seafood-sauce tycoon. Tiger; and her Harvard-educated Chinese-American boss, Bill.  

Japanese FL (in her 50s) / Korean university student ML

Tags: Alzheimer's Disease, Older Woman/Younger Man, Illness, Ill Female Lead, Exchange Student Male Lead, Writer Female Lead, Young Adult Male Lead, Age Gap [Drama Life], Age Gap [Real Life], Neurological Disorder 

Matsumura Ryouko is a popular novelist in her 50s who has just found out that she has Alzheimer’s disease. In order to gain some fulfilment in her life, she decides to be a guest lecturer at a university. Through one of her students, she meets a South Korean exchange student, So Chan Hae. As they become closer, they fall in love.  

Chinese FL / Korean actor Rain

Tags: Shameless Female Lead, Plastic Surgery, Clingy Female Lead, Female Chases Male First, Rich Male Lead 

Due to her larger size, Mi Duo has always lacked confidence as her appearance has always caused her to face difficulties in her daily life. She falls in love at first sight when she sees Xiao Liang, a jewelry company president. However, seeing how there is no way they would ever match in appearance, she doesn't engage in a pursuit. A car accident forces her to go under surgery, one of which is cosmetic surgery. After the surgery, she has transformed into an ideal image of herself.

Japanese FL / Korean ML

Tags: Bilingual Male Lead, Intercountry Romance, Friendship 

Minori works for the tourism department in the small city of Kakamigahara, Gifu, Japan. Kakamigahara is the sister city of Chuncheon, South Korea, which was a shooting location for the popular Korean drama "Winter Sonata". Because of their relationship with Chuncheon, a photo exhibition for "Winter Sonata" is held in Kakamigahara's City Hall of Kakamigahara.  

Korean FL / Chinese ML

Tags: Contract Relationship, Entertainment Industry, Heiress Female Lead, Actress Female Lead, Actor Male Lead, Language Barrier, Fake Relationship, Famous Male Lead, Famous Female Lead, Intercountry Romance 

The background is set in modern day Korean entertainment industry. The story is about two top stars entering into a fake marriage with their own secret agendas, and through their efforts to defend their fake marriage in public, they learn about each other's pains and weaknesses and eventually end up together.

Japanese FL / Korean MLs

Tags: Identity Swap, Character Development, Identity Crisis, Adapted From A Manga, Painter Male Lead, Famous Male Lead, Flashback To Past, Doppelganger, Slight Romance, Hidden Identity 

The film centers around Nero, a famous modern artist and Daewon, a Korean student studying in Japan. The two look exactly alike. While Nero is in Japan for his exhibition, he visits a Japanese Inn. While there he meets Daewon and asks him to switch places with him. After switching places, Nero develops a relationship with the Inn owner's daughter, which makes him reflect on his past. While Daewon thinks about what his future might hold, all the while enjoying the perks that come with being a celebrity. Will this plan help the two discover who they truly are?

Japanese FL / Korean ML

Tags: Age Gap [Real Life], Apprentice Male Lead, Miscommunication, Secret Crush, Stalking, Independent Film, Disability, Cheating, Unrequited Love 

Reon is a young Korean man. He avoids contact with other people and works as an apprentice shoemaker. One after, he sees a woman Sona passed out and sleeping on a bench in the park. Reon doesn't know why, but he can't get her out of his mind. Meanwhile, Kokaze works in the same shoe shop with Reon and has feelings for him.

Japanese FL / Korean ML

Tags: Language Barrier, Intercountry Romance, Adapted From A Novel 

Miyuki sees a dying puppy in the park. Both of her parents died in an accident, and she believes something that her grandmother told her. Her grandmother said if you make a wish during the last snowfall in winter that wish will come true. Miyuki then makes a wish for the puppy's recovery. At this time, Tae Oh passes by and sees Miyuki and the puppy. Tae Oh wants to study in South Korea to become a veterinarian. He treats the puppy and the puppy's health improves. Meanwhile, Miyuki and Tae Oh become attracted to each other by a mysterious power, but Miyuki's uncle sends her to Kyoto.

Japanese FL / Korean ML

Tags: Interracial Relationship, Language Barrier 

This movie is about the love between a Korean man and a Japanese woman who meet while studying in the United States.

Japanese FL / Korean ML

Tags: Miniseries, Intercountry Romance, Long Distance Relationship, Language Barrier, Co-produced, Filmed Abroad, Entertainment Industry 

Left alone on a trip to Hong Kong, Tomoko, a saleswoman from Japan finds herself the victim of a purse-snatching. The police arrest the man she points out, but it turns out to be the wrong person: a young Korean man named Ji Hoon.

Japanese FL / Korean ML

Tags: Non-MDL Remake, Investigation, Drama, Suspense 

Korean potter Jun Ho meets successful young entrepreneur Nanami in Tokyo. The couple falls in love and soon marry. A year after their marriage, tragedy strikes when Nanami is killed on her way home. Nanami, not ready to leave this world, remains in this world in spirit form. During this time she learns that her death wasn't an accident and her husband Jun Ho is in imminent danger. Unable to contact any humans except a psychic named Unten, can Nanami warn Jun Ho before harm comes his way?

Late deafened ML (Korean sign language)

Tags: Sign Language, Deafness, Slow Burn Romance, Deaf Male Lead, Healing, Cold Man/Warm Woman, Artist Male Lead, Disabled Male Lead, Actress Female Lead, Disability 

Cha Jin Woo is a deaf artist. He is used to expressing his feelings through drawings instead of speaking, as most are unwilling to learn sign language or even get to know him. He happens to meet Jung Mo Eun. She is an aspiring actress and used to expressing her feelings through words. She befriends Cha Jin Woo and starts learning sign language, beginning to appreciate him and his silent world. Cha Jin Woo and Jung Mo Eun fall in love with each other and learn how to navigate communication, relationships, and love.

Korean FL / Korean-American ML

Tags: Independent Female Lead, Smart Male Lead, Patriotism, Bromance, Gun Violence, Imperialism, Female Lead Action Scenes, Japanese Colonial Rule, Noble Sacrifice, Korean Empire 

Mr. Sunshine centers on a young boy born into a house servant's family who travels to the United States during the 1871 Shinmiyangyo (U.S. expedition to Korea). He returns to his homeland later as a U.S. marine officer. He meets and falls in love with an aristocrat’s daughter. At the same time, he discovers a plot by foreign forces to colonize Korea.

Deaf characters (Korean sign language)

Tags: Countryside Setting, Coach Male Lead, Hearing Impaired Supporting Character, Hot-Tempered Male Lead, Deafness, Baseball, Character Development, Based On A True Story, Friendship 

Kim Sang Nam, a hot-tempered former professional baseball player, is sent to the countryside to coach a team of hearing-impaired players in order to avoid media coverage of his recent involvement in an assault case. At first, Kim has a difficult time imagining how he can teach baseball to a group of boys who can't hear, but as he spends time with them he starts to believe that they can play the game. Motivated, Kim decides to help them prepare for the nationals.

ML was raised abroad

Tags: Male Chases Female First, Older Woman/Younger Man, Multiple Couples, Warm Man/Cold Woman, Nice Male Lead, Clingy Male Lead, Hardworking Female Lead, Cohabitation, Childhood Friends' Relationship, Age Gap [Drama Life] 

Joo Wan is a 26-year-old songwriter and carefree spirit, who returns to Korea after seventeen years of living abroad. Up until the age of 9, he was practically raised by his mom's friend and her daughter, Shin Joo Yeon. While she only remembers him as a kid she was forced to play with when her mom was busy, all of Joo Wan's early memories; from bath time, to play time, to learning how to tie his shoe laces, include her. Upon meeting again, he aims to heal Joo Yeon's jaded sense of romance.

ML was raised abroad

Tags: Boss-Employee Relationship, Independent Female Lead, Eccentric Female Lead, Orphan Male Lead, Smart Male Lead, Calm Male Lead, Sismance, Fan Culture, Hidden Personality, Art 

Sung Deok Mi is the ultimate Cha Shi An fangirl. The devoted manager of a Shi An fansite, Deok Mi eats, breathes, and sleeps for Shi An. He is her sun, her moon. Her entire universe revolves around him. This is the secret Deok Mi must hide from the world. And hide it she does. At least until Ryan Gold, the art gallery’s new director, saunters into her life. A once famous painter, the former artist turned director considers himself an indifferent being, unconcerned with the lives of others. But when he uncovers Deok Mi’s secret, everything changes.

Multilingual FL

Tags: Smart Female Lead, Bankruptcy, Rich Male Lead, Rich Female Lead, Male Chases Female First, Art, Multilingual, Healthy Mains’ Relationship, Strong Female Lead, Opposites Attract 

As a young boy, Moo Hak grew up in the market as a peddler. Although he is ignorant, he is strong-willed and knows how to make money. He is now the managing director of Dondon F and B, a global restaurant chain that his family started as a small gamjatang diner. However, he isn't dignified and only cares about money. He meets Da Li, the only daughter and child of an upper-class family who runs an art gallery. 

Filmed abroad

Tags: Hardworking Male Lead, Friendship, Multiple Couples, Military, Military Training, Bromance, Strong Male Lead, Calm Male Lead, Smart Male Lead, Medical 

Kang Mo Yeon is a pretty and assertive woman who works as a cardiothoracic surgeon at Haesung Hospital. She isn't afraid to admit her mistakes and believes that capability overrides whatever connections you have. However, she is soon faced with the reality that she cannot advance with just capability. Her life is forever changed when she encounters Yoo Shi Jin, the Captain and team leader of the Alpha Team who cares more about protecting anybody in need of help as well as his country, even if it goes against the order of his superiors. This drama will tell of how they both bond together in a time of war and overcome the odds against them.

Filmed abroad

Tags: Filmed Abroad, Winter Setting, Snowy Setting, Love At First Sight, Tournament, Coach-Coachee Relationship, Professional Male Lead, Student Male Lead, Starting Over, Affectionate Mains' Relationship 

As a professional billiards player, Yin Guo has become quite a notable athlete. After receiving an invitation to play in a tournament in Hel, Yin Guo eagerly accepts. Little does she know that what will follow will change her life forever. Before Yin Guo can even start training for the upcoming competition, an unexpected snowstorm leaves her stranded with Lin Yi Yang, and an instant connection is made.

Filmed abroad (some episodes)

Tags: Badass Male Lead, Political, Trauma, Power Struggle, Aggressive Male Lead, Naive Female Lead, Revenge, Suspense, Hardworking Male Lead, Birth Secret 

Kim Je Ha is a former mercenary soldier known as “K2” who suddenly turns into a fugitive when he is wrongfully accused of killing his girlfriend while he is serving in Iraq. He finds his way back to Korea and gets a job as a bodyguard for Choi Yoo Jin, the owner of JSS Security and the wife of Jang Se Joon, who is running for president.

Filmed abroad

Tags: Filmed Abroad, Steamy Kiss, Multiple Couples, Nice Male Lead, Tourism, Misunderstanding, Father-Daughter Relationship, Character Development, Fated Love, Lovers Separated 

Yoon So So relocates to France with her college boyfriend, defying her parents' wishes. However, he heartlessly abandons her and returns to Korea. To remain in France for her Ph.D., So So becomes a tour guide specializing in "Luxurious Premium Tour Packages: 1 Week in France." She strives to create memorable experiences for travelers. This series follows one such tour, featuring a challenging group of seven tourists. Among them, San Ma Roo stands out as a troublesome traveler who might unexpectedly be So So's destined love.

British SML

Tags: Foreigner Male Lead, Historical Fiction, Multiple Mains, Pre-Produced, Adapted From A Manhwa, Joseon Dynasty 

Set in the 17th Century, Jang Beo Jin is a young female diver on Tamra Island. She doesn't particularly enjoy her situation and dreams of one day leaving the island. One day, to her shock, she discovers a young blond-haired man lying on the beach. The young man's name is William, and he is a shipwrecked British citizen. Another young man named Park Kyu enters the island under the disguise of one of the many convicts sent to Tamra Island. In actuality, Park Kyu is a budding government official known as Seon Bi. These three young people then become involved in a hilarious love triangle.

SML has a romance with a foreigner

Tags: Secondary Couple, Supportive In-Law, Student Supporting Character, Student Female Lead, Student Male Lead, School Setting, Young Adult Female Lead, Young Adult Male Lead, Nurse Female Lead, Doctor Male Lead 

Aihara Kotoko finally becomes Irie Kotoko. Her life will be full of changes as she wants to become nurse and help her husband Naoki, but also she will face struggles of marriage life.

Parallel worlds

Tags: Parallel Universe, Doppelganger, Male Lead Saves Female Lead, Royalty, Male Chases Female First, Murder, Monarchy, Treason, Rich Male Lead, Greed 

Lee Gon is the third Korean e mperor of his generation. His citizens regard him as the perfect leader. But behind this flawless appearance, hides a deep wound. When he was eight years old, his father was murdered before his eyes following a coup. Today, instead of respecting his filial duty, he prefers to escape the palace to attend university conferences. During one of his escapades, he sees himself propelled into a parallel world where he meets Jeong Tae Eul, an inspector with whom he teams up with to defeat the criminals but also close the door between their two worlds.

Foreigner ML (BL)

Tags: Chinese Opera, Chinese Republican Era, Censored Adaptation Of Same-sex Original Work, Bromance, Adapted From A Novel, Performing Arts, Rich Male Lead, Hot-Tempered Male Lead, Slice Of Life, Opera Singer Male Lead 

Set in the 1930's, it follows Shang Xi Rui, a Peking opera performer who relies on his exceptional talent to gain fame in Beiping. Being an outsider, he faces opposition from the locals but doesn't relent nor give up in fulfilling his dreams to promote Peking opera. As he pours himself into mastering the art, wealthy businessman Cheng Feng Tai becomes deeply captivated after watching a performance for the first time.

Foreigner side characters

Tags: Ill Female Lead, Huntington's Disease, Dropout Female Lead, Neurosurgeon Male Lead, Doctor Male Lead, Incurable Disease, Illness, Rare Disease, Researcher Female Lead, Meet Again 

When Gu Yun Zheng, an associate professor of neurosurgery, goes on a medical aid mission in the (fictional) North African nation of Lakaya, he meets former student Su Wei An, a "dropout" who has abandoned her medical career to become a businessperson. From bickering all the time to falling in love with each other, he gradually discovers that her odd behavior and resistance to his advances are because she carries the gene for Huntington's disease - an incurable disease which leaves her hopeless.

Foreigner side caracters

Tags: Strong Female Lead, Qing Dynasty, Rags To Riches, Pregnancy, Enemies To Lovers, Historical Fiction, Business Rivalry, Smart Female Lead, Reverse-Harem, Slice Of Life 

Zhou Ying is sold to the powerful Shen family by her foster father, yet successfully escapes by sneaking into merchant Wu Ping’s palanquin. The Wu family agreed to take her in after witnessing her remarkable business acumen. Shen Xingyi, the pampered young master of the Shen family will end up falling in love with Zhou Ying.

North Koreans characters

Tags: Hidden Identity, Hostage Situation, Reunification Of Korea, Multiple Mains, Violence, Heist, Sexual Content, Strong Female Lead, Murder, Father-Son Relationship 

Thieves overtake the mint of a unified Korea. With hostages trapped inside, the police must stop them — as well as the shadowy mastermind behind it all.

North Koreans characters

Tags: Hidden Identity, Hostage Situation, Reunification Of Korea, Multiple Mains, Violence, Heist, Sexual Content, Strong Female Lead, Murder, Father-Son Relationship 

Thieves overtake the mint of a unified Korea. With hostages trapped inside, the police must stop them — as well as the shadowy mastermind behind it all.

North Koreans characters

Tags: Poor Male Lead, Business, Propaganda, Stage Actor Male Lead, Hotelier Supporting Character, Hotelier Female Lead, Age Gap [Drama Life], Age Gap [Real Life], Elder Female Lead, Family Business 

Ja Geum Soon was born in 1930 in what is now North Korea. When the Korean War broke out in the 1950s, she escaped to what is now South Korea – and was torn away from her husband and young child. She dreamed of being reunited with them, so she founded a hotel that she hoped would become a metaphorical lighthouse – and bring her lost family back to her. This hotel became the successful Nakwon hotel chain. Now, Ja Geum Soon is approaching the end of her life, and she dreams of being reunited with the grandson she has never met: Im Moon Sung.

North Koreans characters

Tags: Detective Male Lead, North And South Korea, North Korean Supporting Character, North Korean Male Lead, Skilled Fighter, Gun Violence, Undercover Operation, Loss Of Trust, Attempted Assault, Attempted Murder 

North Korean detective Im Chul Ryung is sent to South Korea to catch Cha Ki Sung, the boss of a North Korean refugee crime organization. There, Chul Ryung cooperates with South Korean detective Kang Jin Tae. For the first time, the two countries cooperate to take down a criminal.

North Koreans characters

Tags: Skilled Fighter, Violence, Suspense, North Korean Male Lead, Detective Male Lead, North And South Korea, Strong Male Lead, Multiple Mains, Smart Male Lead 

Follows Rim Chul Ryung heading back to South Korea in pursuit of a brutal and secret criminal organization. He teams up again with Kang Jin Tae, who volunteers to work with the North Korean in order to get back on the investigation team after a mistake landed him in the cyber crime department.

North Koreans characters

Tags: Teamwork, North And South Korea, Korean War, Friendship, Prisoner Of War Male Lead, North Korean Male Lead, Foreigner Male Lead, Tap Dance, Dance, Nice Male Lead 

Set during the Korean War, North Korean and Chinese prisoners of war are sent to a camp on Geoje Island in South Korea. The POW camp itself is under intense strife between prisoners who are pro-communist and anti-communist. Roh Ki Soo is a young North Korean soldier held at the Geoje POW Camp. Meanwhile, Sergeant Jackson is ordered by a superior officer to form a tap-dancing team from the POW camp.  

Refugee Persian prince and foreigner side characters

Tags: Power Struggle, Tang Dynasty, Hidden Past, Badass Male Lead, Death, Skilled Fighter, Emperor Xuanzong Of Tang, Political Intrigue, Adapted From A Novel, Historical Figure 

744 A.D., Chang’an, the cosmopolitan heart of the Tang Empire. The remnants of a vanquished Central Asian kingdom have infiltrated the world’s largest city for a planned attack during the Lantern Festival. Meanwhile, the court is fraught with infighting. The ageing Emperor is expected to announce the regency of the Right Chancellor during the festival and retreat to the mountains with his young lover. If the Right Chancellor becomes the regent, the reformist Crown Prince risks being deposed—or worse.

Foreigner step-mother

Tags: Searching For A Parent, Student Supporting Character, Student Female Lead, Bulimia Nervosa, Classmates' Relationship, Bar Owner Supporting Character, Pianist Supporting Character, Foreigner Female Lead 

Sakurako Ban (Mana Ashida) is a 12-years-old girl and the second child among 4 siblings. Since her mother passed away 6 months ago, she has taken care of house chores alone. Her father, Sota meets American woman Alice Shepherd (Charlotte Kate Fox) in the United States. Alice Shepherd aspires to become a photographer, but currently works part-time. Sota and Alice Shepherd decide to marry on on the spot. Sota takes Alice to Japan and introduces her to his children as their new mother. Sakurako Ban becomes angry and tries to kick her new mother out.

FL's father is French

Yuko transfers to a large entertainment company. As her mother wishes, Yuko is now popular and appears on the cover of magazines, variety shows and drama series. Yuko, though, feels an uncomfortable imbalance between her public image and her real self. During this time, she meets a dancer, Seiko, who marches to the beat of his own drum, and falls in love with him. The nightmare begins.