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When the Phone Rings (Korean: 지금 거신 전화는) is a South Korean drama blending mystery, suspense, and emotional storytelling. The series also takes the well-loved marriage of convenience trope and infuses it with high-stakes drama and suspense.
When the Phone Rings follows Baek Sa-eon, a rising political star from a powerful family who becomes Korea's youngest presidential spokesman. His marriage to Hong Hui-ju, a mute woman with a painful past, appears perfect on the surface but is, in reality, a union of convenience.
Sa-eon and Hui-ju’s relationship, initially devoid of affection, evolves as they face life-threatening challenges and uncover hidden truths about each other. The evolving dynamic between Sa-eon and Hui-ju provides a compelling take on the trope of a marriage of convenience in When the Phone Rings.
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When the Phone Rings balances the intensity of a suspense thriller with the emotional depth of a love story. This makes When the Phone Rings a standout series for fans of one of the most cherished tropes of romance and intrigue.
Disclaimer: The article contains the writer's opinion and is not ranked in any particular order.
7 romantic K-dramas that perfectly capture the marriage of convenience trope similar to When the Phone Rings
The marriage of convenience trope is a fan-favorite in K-dramas, offering a mix of humor, emotional depth, and unexpected romance exemplified by When the Phone Rings. The trope explores the journey of couples who start their relationships as a matter of necessity or contract but end up discovering love along the way.
For viewers who are enjoying the swoon-worthy narrative of When the Phone Rings, here are other seven must-watch dramas that explore this trope:
1) Perfect Marriage Revenge (2023)
Perfect Marriage Revenge (2023) is a South Korean drama that blends romance, revenge, and time travel, offering a fresh take on the marriage of convenience trope like When the Phone Rings. Adapted from the webtoon The Essence of a Perfect Marriage by Young and Lee Beom-bae, it stars Sung Hoon, Jung Yoo-min, Jin Ji-hee, and Oh Seung-yoon.
The story follows Han I-ju (Jung Yoo-min), a painter in a loveless marriage, who is sent back in time after a car accident. Determined to take control of her life, she cancels her engagement with her would-be husband Yoo Se-hyeok, and proposes a contract marriage to Seo Do-guk (Sung Hoon), the heir to Taeja Group.
While Do-guk agrees to the arrangement for his own reasons, he secretly hopes for their relationship to blossom into genuine love. The series aired on MBN from October 28 to December 3, 2023, and is available on Viki for streaming.
2) Because This Is My First Life (2017)
Because This Is My First Life (Korean: 이번 생은 처음이라) is a 2017 South Korean drama that delves into careers, relationships, and the complexities of love and marriage. Starring Lee Min-ki (My Liberation Note) and Jung So-min (Love Next Door), it aired on tvN from October 9 to November 28, 2017, and is available for streaming on Netflix. This series marked Lee Min-ki's first lead role on television since 2007.
Because This Is My First Life offers a fresh perspective on the marriage of convenience trope. Nam Se-hee (Lee Min-ki), a socially awkward IT worker with a mortgage, and Yoon Ji-ho (Jung So-min), a struggling writer, enter a contract marriage to fulfill practical needs.
Their arrangement is meant to fulfill practical needs: Se-hee’s need for a housemate to share his mortgage, and Ji-ho’s need for stable housing. However, their emotional boundaries blur as they navigate personal trauma, societal expectations, and familial pressure, transforming their pragmatic arrangement into a journey of love and self-discovery similar to When the Phone Rings.
3) The Story of Park's Marriage Contract (2024)
The Story of Park's Marriage Contract is a South Korean drama that aired on MBC from November 24, 2023, to January 6, 2024. Starring Lee Se-young (What Comes After Love) and Bae In-hyuk (Cheer Up), it is available on Wavve in South Korea, and on Viu and Viki in selected regions.
The story blends historical and modern settings. The story follows Park Yeon-woo (Lee Se-young), who wakes up in modern-day Seoul after a tragic wedding night in the 19th century. She is saved by Kang Tae-ha (Bae In-hyuk), the heir to SH Seoul Corporation who resembles her late husband of the 19th century.
Struggling with trauma and a heart condition, Tae-ha proposes a contract marriage to fulfill his ill grandfather’s wish. The drama explores the contract marriage trope by focusing on emotional growth similar to When the Phone Rings. Yeon-woo and Tae-ha begin their arrangement for practical reasons. Over time, they confront their pasts and develop a deeper connection.
4) No Gain No Love (2024)
No Gain No Love is a 2024 South Korean drama starring Shin Min-a (Hometown Cha-cha-cha) and Kim Young-dae (Penthouse). It aired on tvN from August 26 to October 1, 2024, and is available on TVING and Amazon Prime Video.
The story follows Son Hae-young (Shin Min-a), who plans a fake wedding to secure a promotion. She recruits Kim Ji-wook (Kim Young-dae), a kind but reluctant part-time worker, to be her fake fiancé.
The drama explores the contract marriage trope with humor and heart. Hae-young's calculated approach contrasts with Ji-wook's kind-hearted nature. Through their arrangement, they navigate misunderstandings, personal growth, and buried emotions, a setting similar to that of When The Phone Rings.
5) So I Married the Anti-fan (2021)
So I Married the Anti-fan is a 2021 drama starring Choi Tae-joon and Girls' Generation's Sooyoung. It aired on Naver TV and global platforms like iQIYI and Viki. Based on a 2010 novel of the same name, it reimagines the "marriage of convenience" trope.
Who-Joon (Choi Tae-joon), a top star, and Geun-Young (Sooyoung), his outspoken anti-fan, are forced to live together for a reality show, creating a fake marriage scenario. Both agree for personal reasons—she needs money, and he wants to repair his image.
Their fake cohabitation begins with hostility but slowly evolves into mutual understanding and romantic tension. The drama explores how proximity and shared experiences can turn animosity into genuine emotions, adding depth to the contract marriage theme.
6) Something About 1% (2016)
Something About 1% is a 2016 K-drama starring Ha Seok-jin and Jeon So-min. Based on a 2003 series, the drama explores the theme of contract marriage in its truest form. It aired on Oksusu and Dramax and is available for streaming on Amazon Prime Video in selected regions.
Lee Jae-in (Ha Seok-jin), the heir to a wealthy family, must marry to inherit his grandfather’s fortune. He enters a six-month contract relationship with Kim Da-hyun (Jeon So-min), an elementary school teacher chosen by his grandfather. Lee is unaware of the fact that Da-hyun once saved his grandfather.
Their initial tension evolves into romance as they navigate the arrangement, causing their fake relationship to gradually feel real.
7) Marriage Contract (2016)
2016 South Korean drama Marriage Contract explores the "marriage of convenience" trope through the story of Kang Hye-soo (Uee), a single mother, and Han Ji-hoon (Lee Seo-jin), a chaebol heir. Hye-soo burdened with her late husband’s debts, is also diagnosed with a terminal brain tumor.
In exchange for the security of her daughter's future, she agrees to marry Ji-Hoon and donate a part of her liver to his mother. Their arrangement, meant to be purely practical, becomes more complicated as their feelings develop and Hye-soo's daughter gets involved.
This series exemplifies the "marriage of convenience" trope, where individuals enter into a marriage for practical reasons, only to develop genuine emotions over time. It portrays the transformation of a contractual relationship into a heartfelt partnership, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of human connections.
Marriage Contract is available for streaming on Viki, Amazon Prime Video, KOCOWA, Apple TV, Plex, and The Roku Channel, with availability varying by region.
Meanwhile, Episode 6 of When the Phone Rings aired on December 14 at 9:50 PM KST on MBC. When the Phone Rings is available for streaming on Netflix.
