Over the years, the Korean entertainment industry has rolled out several queer K-dramas that have explored various LGBTQ+ lifestyles and relationships. While the K-dramas have always presented diverse genres with heightened plot structure, the queer representation in the industry has been simple and quiet.
Most K-dramas that revolve around queer characters, contain subtle and simple stories that focus on the intricacies of the characters, their emotions, and lifestyle. For the very same reason, despite the limited filmography, LGBTQ+ K-dramas manage to reel a solid fanbase and popularity among viewers, owing to its addictive and impressive plotlines.
From high-school romance to university heartbreaks: 7 binge-worthy queer K-dramas
1) To My Star
The 2021 K-drama focuses on the two characters, Kang Seo Joon, an actor, and Han Ji Woo, a chef. After they meet and become roommates due to unforeseen circumstances, they tend to bond over their limited similarities.
The story therefore, follows their journey of falling in love with each other. The show also extends to a second season called To My Star 2: Our Untold Stories, which was released in 2022.
2) Semantic Error
Released in 2022, it stars Park Seo-ham and Park Jae-chan. It was inspired by the manga series created by Jeo Soo-ri under the same name, Semantic Error. The story revolves around a senior and a junior from a university who start off on a bad note.
While they are forced to work together on a project, their rocky relationship often leads to fights and misunderstanding between the two. However, they soon find themselves being pulled towards each other, inevitably falling in love.
3) Drama Festa: Hello Dracula
Seohyun, Lee Ji-hyun, Lee Joo-bin, Go Na-hee, and Seo Eun-yool, all star in Drama Festa: Hello Dracula, released in 2020. The story puts forth three narratives of three women who are tackling the new changes in their lives.
Among the three women is An-na, an elementary school teacher, who has closed off her emotions ever since she came out as a lesbian. Additionally, her healing process after breaking up with her girlfriend of eight years is also explored in this K-drama.
4) Out of Breath
The next on the list of queer K-dramas is the mini-series released in 2019, Out of Breath. Starring Soo So-hyun, Lim Ji-ahn, and Choi Ji-won, the show revolves around the character Ha-eun, whose girlfriend recently broke up with her in fear of getting caught for being a lesbian.
Ha-eun, being shy as she is, is encouraged by her best friend to put herself on a dating app where she meets a bold and confident lesbian, Min-seo. As the two bond, Ha-eun's perception of herself and her gender identity undergoes a change.
5) Color Rush
A mystery series released in 2020, Color Rush, is next on the list of queer K-dramas. Starring Yoo-Jun and Hur Hyun-jun, the show narrates the mysterious incident of how Choi Yeon-woo, who suffers from color blindness, gets to see colors for the first time after he meets Go Yoo-han.
6) You Make Me Dance
The 2021 K-drama, You Make Me Dance is filled with angst and drama. The show revolves around Song Shi-on, an aspiring dancer who's forced to leave his family, and Jin Hong Seok, a mortgage collector, who carries a given-up dream of becoming a dancer, on his back. When these two characters end up sharing a house, they begin to fall for each other.
7) Nevertheless
The last on this list of queer K-dramas is Nevertheless, released in 2021. Though the main cast of the show isn't queer, the supporting characters, Yoon Sol and Seo Ji-wan, unfold the queer narrative of the show. The two characters, who've been friends with each other since their childhood, slowly discover that their feelings for one another, are more than just friendship.
These K-dramas offer intriguing stories and a diverse range of characters. Fans can expect more such plotlines and stories to come their way.