Literary Dramas

A Poem a Day - It’s a romcom featuring a FL who is a physical therapist. She often expresses her thoughts through poetry and each episode kinda of features a specific poem. Poetry is even how she initially connects with one of the MLs. It’s a very light, sweet drama. - u/AnnaInspirit

Romance Is A Bonus Book the whole Drama takes place in a book publication company. ML is a co-founder, author and the editor, FL is new hire. Lot of literature related stuff happens obviously. Characters even talk about life and love using literary analogues. There's even a episode dealing with poor poets.  - u/RayInRed

Romance is a Bonus Book - The setting is a book publisher. ML is the publisher, FL is an employee on the marketing team. - u/zyncca

Romance is a Bonus Book - one of my recent favs with Lee Jong Suk and Lee Na Young. Lee Na Young’s character is a single mother and is looking for a job. Because she’s older she has trouble looking for work so she lies about her work experience to apply to the publishing company Lee Jong Suk is an editor at. I really enjoyed this drama and its relationship with literature is so gorgeous and understated. Also a heart warming romance. I recommend!! - u/exoceotidae_

Romance Is a Bonus Book - Literature-loving characters who are inspired by, or create with, the art of the written word. A delightful, sensitive journey from friends to lovers. And a heartfelt valentine to book publishers who go to the mat for meaningful writing. Catch the warm love rays. Be surprised by vital characters. And when you've reached the end of this insightful romance, consider heeding its message: Read a book. - u/amnesiafakedating

Romance is a Bonus Book takes place in a publishing house but the care and detail the drama takes into explaining the importance of books and the role it plays in people’s lives I just loved. I am usually not a fan of cliched romances but for me I enjoyed the drama for the struggles of work, the way they loved their jobs and they way they described books. - u/devtea21

Because This Is My First Life - A really amazing slice of life revolving around a marriage contract, with good pacing, characters and development! The second half of the show includes important literary references (a favourite book FL read in college, a poem that changed ML’s mindset) for both FL and ML that later makes an impact in the finale.  - u/FearlessJackfruit

When The Weather is Fine - ML owns a bookstore and a few villagers come together to form a cosy book club. The story weaves many literary references beautifully throughout, in voice-overs and within the book club & books the characters read to highlight the main leads emotions and decisions. - u/FearlessJackfruit

Chicago Typewriter - ML writes novels in the present life but is in a slump and so someone who is supposedly a “ghostwriter” helps him walk through his past life where also he was a writer who apparently wrote “erotic” novels/stories for the newspaper. Past life is back when the Japanese Occupation started in Korea. It’s a reincarnation like plot drama where there is a good balance between past and present life. I loved the dynamics between the three main leads and their friendship and comradeship was commendable. I also really liked the cinematography and the soundtrack. Definitely would recommend it for Yoo Ah-In and Go Kyung-Pyo. - u/Fatooz

Chicago Typewriter - ML is a famous novelist whose writing becomes central to what's happening in his real life. - u/zyncca

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim - FL's love of novels by a secretive novelist "Morpheus" is a major sub plot.  - u/zyncca

My Love From Another Star - The ML reads an excerpt of Kate DiCamillo’s “The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane”,    about a rabbit whose journey to finding love after loss resembles his own.  - u/zyncca

The Hymn of Death - It's a short drama, based on a true story. It tells the tragic love story of Kim Woo Jin, a stage drama writer while Korea was under Japanese occupation, and Yun Sim Deok, Korea's first soprano. This beautiful story shows the struggles of both the characters. Since it's a very short drama and since both characters are focused, the whole literary aspect is only a part of the whole story, but Lee Jong Suk did a fantastic job portraying a genius writer who was unable to express himself through his craft.  - u/TotoroTheGreat

Flower Boy Next Door - Dok Mi (FL) has past trauma/severe anxiety, leading to her being a shut-in. She works from home as an editor and in (almost) every episode pens a short poetic passage of her thoughts or observations, which is narrated in the drama. Also, Second ML is a webtoon creator. - u/suspended_because

Goblin: The Lonely and Resplendent God - One small poem about one tiny girl provide the emotional key to this epic love story that defies the boundaries of time, place, and mortality.  Kim In-Yook's poem The Physics of Love helps us understand the miracle of a jaded, morose immortal being who reluctantly opens his heart and life to the bouncy, chaotic exuberance that is Ji Eun-Tak. (Sales jumped dramatically for the poetry compilation that Gong Yoo reads from in the series.) While the show explores the richness of other great poems and books, and the benefits of journal writing, much of the dialogue is its own form of devotional love poetry. No surprise from a screenwriter like Kim Eun-Sook who reveres books and never fails to feature them prominently in her shows. - u/stellamarisetal

The King: Eternal Monarch - The work of revered poet Kim So-Wol is an exquisite and haunting constant throughout this series, taking the form of voiceovers during key scenes, as an actual book that is dearly treasured or carefully hidden away, and as a comforting guide for those facing the tragedy of loss or the disorienting shift felt when navigating between two worlds. Kim, originally from North Korea, lived most of his short life under the oppressive Japanese occupation of the 1930s, and published just one book of poetry, Azaleas. It chronicles his journey from Pyongyang to Seoul and back, so it's perfect for this complex, cerebral series with its parallel worlds. Alice in Wonderland also makes numerous appearances, and for those that love the poetic nature of beautiful math, this series is awash with the magical properties of Euler's Constant, primes that determine the flow of time, and much more. A must watch for those that appreciate complex, layered stories that reward close attention.  - u/stellamarisetal

Encounter - Books and poetry surround and define the male lead of this quiet yet powerful series, played by Park Bo-Gum, and he constantly has a book close at hand. His unexpected and fierce adoration of his older boss catches them both by surprise, and finds expression through the poetry of Na Tae-Joo. It is echoed in the soundtrack, the art/photos featured, a dream date at a bookstore, and the whimsical, ever-changing illustrations by artist Jamsan that open each episode and provide clues to coming events. The quiet still life of being engrossed in a beloved book is not just a vital element of Park's character; it hints at an emotional maturity that his older boss lacks and desperately needs. Encounter revels in the transformative healing that can be found when one is willing to risk scandal and disapproval in the search for a deep, meaningful connection, and beautiful literature provides the framework for this profound journey. - u/stellamarisetal

Mother - It references a few English books and Greek mythology. The most standout ones are The Runaway Bunny and The Secret Garden (as in the novel not the kdrama), whose quotes and details are nicely weaved into the drama’s plot to the point that they become haunting by the end.  - u/tln96

30 , But 17  - A heartwarming, healing drama sprinkled with Jennifer the housekeeper's words of wisdom - usually literary quotes on a wide variety of subjects.  She had spent a large amount of time in the library when going through a tough time.  - u/LcLou02

Run On  is a drama that has a lot of literature references. Oh Mi Joo is a film translator who works on translating foreign language films into Korean. I liked how there were many references and meaningful quotes presented throughout the drama which made me appreciate the literature better. Overall, this drama is worth watching because it is not a typical romantic drama and provides viewers with a fresh but enjoyable plot for those who want to watch something life-like. - u/dramafan1

The drama, "Born Again" mentions and has references to Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights".  Also, the FL owns a bookstore at one point.  The resolution of the relationships was unique.  - u/Apprehensive-Shine95

Dear My Friends - a young writer observes her mother's group of lifelong friends as they navigate work, retirement, health concerns, old grudges, and finances. Through their collective wisdom and love, she discovers how she wants to live her life and what kind of stories she wants to write.  - u/FoucaultsFarts

Melo Is My Nature - a group of 30-something friends live together. The titular character is an aspiring drama writer with a fondness for melodramas. The show focuses on the relationship of the women and the difficulties of starting and establishing careers and relationships or of holding on to early successes. There is a meta undercurrent as the show reflects on the creative people who make tv dramas happen. - u/FoucaultsFarts