Seoul, South Korea — In the vast universe of K-Dramas, some shows simply hit different. They might be cheesy, over-the-top, or undeniably cringey, but for a dedicated segment of the international fandom, these are the very elements that make them utterly irresistible. We polled K-Drama enthusiasts to uncover those “cringe but in a good way” masterpieces, and the responses poured in with passionate confessions!
Leading the pack of beloved guilty pleasures is Lovely Runner. Despite mixed reactions from some, its ardent supporters are fiercely devoted. One fan gushed, “Many people don’t like lovely runner but it’s my favourite lol and I loved the ost and his yearning.” The captivating portrayal of Ryu Sun-jae’s intense affection struck a chord, with another fan exclaiming, “I was literally fangirling byeon after watching lovely runner!” — a clear shout-out to actor Byeon Woo-seok’s magnetic performance, proving that sometimes, a little “soppy” yearning is exactly what the doctor ordered.
Next up, the romantic comedy King the Land unapologetically embraced its “cringe” label and won hearts. A fan confessed, “King the Land! It’s super cringe and has lots of haters but I loved it. The ML does have that loser in love energy.” It seems the charm of an endearingly awkward male lead stumbling through romance was a winning formula for many, despite critical takes.
Meanwhile, the fantasy epic Alchemy of Souls also found itself lauded for its perfectly imperfect lead. “Jang Uk was one soppy guy,” a viewer recounted, detailing his “forward feelings, not beating around the bush,” and occasional “stroppy” tantrums. Yet, the verdict was clear: “I loved every moment of it.” It’s a testament to how character quirks, often deemed “cringe,” can become the very reason fans are captivated.
As the fandom continues to swoon over characters like Ryu Sun-jae, the conversation around K-Drama quality and endings remains hot. Current buzz surrounds the highly anticipated My Royal Nemesis. Fans are eagerly tuning in but also cautiously optimistic, with one expressing anxiety: “Started My Royal Nemesis and it is soooo good and am just HOPING and PRAYING it doesn’t follow the Dynamite Kiss timeline and the ending flops.” This highlights the ongoing concern for consistent storytelling, referencing last year’s Dynamite Kiss which, despite a strong start, “started to drag and then the last episode wasn’t my favourite.”
It’s clear that for the global K-Drama fandom, the magic often lies not in perfection, but in the unforgettable, sometimes cringeworthy, moments that we secretly, or not-so-secretly, love every second of. So go ahead, embrace your K-Drama guilty pleasures!
What Netizens Are Saying
- “I can’t wait to start My Royal Nemesis 😭😭😭😭😭😭, it has to finishairing”
- “Dynamite Kiss was one of my favourites last year but while the first 4 episodes started really strong, it started to drag and then the last episode wasn’t my favourite. Started My Royal Nemesis and it is soooo good and am just HOPING and PRAYING it doesn’t follow the Dynamite Kiss timeline and the ending flops. If it can stay this good until the very end I will be very impressed.”
- “Ryu Sun jae and Cha se gye are the only man i have swoon so much after. I was literally fangirling byeon after watching lovely runner and now I’m fangirling over nam joon 🫣. Many people don’t like lovely runner but it’s my favourite lol and I loved the ost and his yearning”
- “It wasn’t cringe like these dramas but: Alchemy Of Souls. Jang Uk was one soppy guy. He was very forward about his feelings, didn’t beat around the bush much and when he thought she didn’t feel the same way, he was a bit stroppy and threw quiet tantrums. I loved every moment of it.”
- “King the Land! It’s super cringe and has lots of haters but I loved it. The ML does have that loser in love energy”
