Asian dramas like
Red Shoes 2021

A 10 billion won insurance murder scandal leads Oh Ha Naui to lose everything she holds dear. In response, she embarks on a quest for vengeance against Chun Mi Ja, the person responsible for her tragic circumstances.

This story revolves around three different households. The Han family consists of Mr. Han, his second wife, and four daughters. While two of the daughters are from his previous marriage, the younger two are from his current marriage. The Choi family is made up of Mr. and Mrs. Choi and their two sons. Lastly, the Lee family includes Mr. Lee and his two sons. (Koreanwiz.org)

A woman who craves constant affection in an everlasting romance. She finds it impossible to endure a day without love. Even after experiencing heartbreak and betrayal repeatedly, she continues to fall for men. (MBC)

U Jin is a driven physician who has lost faith in genuine love following past disappointments. He perceives marriage merely as a commercial arrangement. Hae Su is employed as a sous-chef, and she aspires to marry the right partner and build a family. Before long, U Jin finds himself falling for her, leading to a struggle between his feelings and his ambitions.

Cha Eun Dong, a principled and resilient woman with modest origins, finds herself in distress after being deceived by a trusted individual. Overwhelmed by a desire for revenge, she pledges to seek justice. On the other hand, Kang Tae In, a man guided by ethics who ascended from a mere worker to the chairman of F Sports Group, has broken his sole vow to Eun Dong, prioritizing his ambitions above their relationship.

“If I could turn back time, I wouldn't have fallen for you...” Individuals often find themselves in love with one person while committing to another. The girlfriend of one sibling happens to be the former partner of his younger brother, while the younger brother's fiancée has feelings for the older sibling. The younger brother struggles to move on from his ex-girlfriend, who is now openly dating his brother, but he must push those thoughts aside to seek vengeance and reclaim what he believes is rightfully his. More importantly, he needs to navigate the dangers surrounding him and avoid being killed. He tries to keep a respectful distance from his brother's girlfriend, who is also his past love, but he must do so subtly, as they may soon become family. Additionally, he needs to execute his revenge plan discreetly. “Reverse” is a psychological thriller that weaves together the lives of four individuals caught in a complex tangle of affection and hidden truths. (MBC)

Kyung Chae is set to inherit a five-star hotel. She is in a romantic relationship with Ji Sub, the hotel's general manager. Her life takes a turn when she befriends Hee Soo. Driven by jealousy, Hee Soo seeks to take everything away from Kyung Chae. Now, Kyung Chae is ready to stand her ground...

Han Jung Im is a married woman with a teenage daughter who has recently relocated to Seoul from Jeju along with her husband, Moo Yeong, and their family. Despite the challenges posed by her in-laws, Jung Im strives to fulfill her roles as a wife and mother. In Seoul, she reconnects with her friend Do Hye Bin, who is the illegitimate daughter of a wealthy family. Hye Bin, also a mother to a teenage daughter, is married to Park Hyeon Seong, who is employed at her brother Do Jun Tae’s company. While Park Hyoen Wu has a passion for filmmaking rather than practicing law, he holds a deep affection for his older brother, Park Hyeon Seong. Han Jung Im's modest yet content life begins to unravel when Hye Bin unexpectedly arrives with shocking news.

The Xiang and Gong families have a longstanding feud as renowned fragrance dynasties. Su Yu Ning, the eldest daughter of the Su Family, is acclaimed as the top perfumer for her exceptional skills and beauty. Childhood friends with Gong Shao Hua, the heir of the Gong family, Yu Ning is set to marry him in an arranged union. However, upon Shao Hua's return from his studies in Shanghai, he learns that Yu Ning is engaged to Xiang Hao Yu, the future leader of the Xiang family. Doubting the truth of the situation and feeling betrayed by Yu Ning, Shao Hua confronts Hao Yu, leading to a physical altercation that is halted by Hao Yu's father. Enraged by his father's decision to call off the marriage, Shao Hua rides off in anger, inadvertently causing his father's premature death. At his father's funeral and on the day of Yu Ning and Hao Yu's wedding, Shao Hua swears to avenge his father's death and the loss of Yu Ning to the Xiang family.

A theatrical piece centered on the daughter of a businessman who is battling a scheme to seize control of her father's company.

Kang Moo Yeol, a third-generation chaebol, appears to have everything one could desire—looks, wealth, and status. However, beneath this facade lies a troubled upbringing marked by family strife and the heartache of losing his former love, Han Yoo Rim. On the other hand, Han Yoo Jung is a hardworking, intelligent, and fiercely independent woman with a rebellious spirit that has helped her cope with the sudden death of her family. As the younger sister of Han Yoo Rim, she becomes entwined with Kang Moo Yeol a decade later. Both Kang Moo Yeol and his half-brother, Hong Soo Hyuk, find themselves captivated by Han Yoo Jung. Yet, Moo Yeol and Yoo Jung's relationship is doomed from the start, as their tragic romance is rooted in a calamity involving their parents. Will they be able to break free from their grim circumstances and find happiness together?

Gong Soo Rae has loved her husband, Seo Bong Gook, since their teenage years. However, she discovers that he is involved in an affair with Choi Yi Kyung. At the same time, Park Chan Woo portrays a man who stands by her side.

An ill-directed aspiration results in the loss of everything a woman cherishes. Rather than seeking vengeance, she chooses to forgive and make peace with her adversary. This choice prompts audiences to reevaluate their perceptions of revenge. It suggests that genuine revenge may not involve retribution against those who have harmed you, but instead providing your tormentor an opportunity for remorse, which is the highest form of revenge. (MBC)

A narrative about an intelligent young girl who, having lost her family during the Korean War, navigates the swift transformations of Korean society in the 1970s. It is a tale that explores themes of ambition, love, grief, forgiveness, and the reconciling of two generations who endured the chaotic times of the first and second Korean Wars, spanning from the 1950s to the 1970s.

Lan Xiao Yi made the decision to leave her job in Nanjing and move to Shanghai with her boyfriend Tian Fei. Although she faces challenges with her low-paying job in Shanghai, Xiao Yi finds happiness in being with Tian Fei. However, Tian Fei's coworker Xiao Lu, a recent college graduate, develops feelings for him and is determined to win him over. In a complicated turn of events, Xiao Lu pretends to be pregnant in an attempt to pressure Tian Fei into marrying her. Tian Fei promises Xiao Yi that he will resolve the situation and return in 2 years. Despite learning about the pregnancy, Xiao Yi trusts Tian Fei and waits for him. After waiting for six months, Xiao Yi decides to re-enter the workforce as she grows tired of waiting for Tian Fei. Extracted from the novel "Fulfill Your Own Blue Sky."

Seven siblings, orphaned and bound by a bond stronger than that of biological relatives, are juxtaposed with a family related by blood that is fracturing due to its own avarice, prompting a reflection on the true essence of family and happiness. The narrative primarily follows Jang Ha Bin/Kim Baek Won, a girl who becomes a police officer, and Do Young, a boy who pursues a career as a prosecutor. He finds himself falling in love with her once more after she previously shattered his heart. (MBC, DramaWiki)

The narrative centers around a young lady named Lu Yaqing in the era of the Chinese republic. She transforms her circumstances from poverty to marrying into a wealthy family, leveraging her embroidery skills to rise as a prosperous and influential figure, leaving a significant mark during her lifetime.

After Tong Si Jie loses her parents at a young age, she faces challenges and takes on various jobs to support her siblings. Her path crosses with the wealthy Yi Yi, and they fall in love against all odds. However, their plans for a future together are disrupted by Yi Yi's controlling mother, who manipulates the situation and drives a wedge between the couple.

A daily series centered around the romantic relationships between men and women.

Kang Ha Ri, known for her cheerful demeanor, has a part-time job at both a stationery shop and a nail salon. Min Deul Re was once a well-known actress, but she has seen a decline in her popularity recently. Kim Eun Hyang previously served as a secretary before welcoming her daughter, but now she dedicates her time to parenting. These three women experience the loss of their beloved ones simultaneously. Despite not being family, they support one another as they navigate their challenging times.

The narratives of two families united through marriage.

A young woman is compelled to relinquish her baby when her first love weds someone else. Many years later, now a married woman, she finds her child, and shortly thereafter, her first love comes back to the town.

Baek Sae Hoon and his spouse, Lee Sun Young, are fervently attempting to have a child but face repeated failures. Sae Hoon's mother approaches Sun Young, suggesting that she explore surrogacy as a means to conceive without informing Sae Hoon. Enter Go Eun Nim, who becomes their surrogate, expecting their baby. However, the situation becomes more complex when she unexpectedly develops feelings for Sae Hoon's younger brother, Kang Ho.

A drama inspired by the tale of Jang Eun-young, the ex-chairman of Dong Ah Constructions and a former KBS announcer. After her lover departs, a woman weds a man who is significantly older, akin to her grandfather, while her family faces difficulties in making ends meet.

A narrative centered around an adopted woman facing challenges in her quest to establish a family.

The drama narrates the journey of a woman who endures suffering due to her husband’s infidelity and misconceptions, yet continues to seek out love and joy with the support of her family. Choi Eun Sul, a young married woman and researcher at a cosmetics firm, is full of life, cheerful, and possesses a strong sense of curiosity. Despite experiencing betrayal and profound pain, she remains determined to pursue her own path to love and happiness.

Cha Yeong discovers that her mother has left her behind on two different occasions. Motivated by her own selfishness, Cha Yeong's mother chooses to confront her daughter in a battle for her own interests.

A familial narrative revolves around a woman who moves into her biological mother's boarding house alongside her stepmother following her father's death and the subsequent decline of his business. This challenged family navigates life's obstacles together, relying on love and empathy to achieve a joyful resolution. (MBC)

Despite facing financial hardships, Oh Bom remains optimistic and cheerful. She holds a part-time job at a factory. Kang Ma Roo is a gentle and uncomplicated young man, who possesses a certain naivety about life. An Tae Ho serves as the section chief at a corporation and is driven by ambition. He seeks out Choi Ah Ran for his own interests and eventually marries her. Choi Ah Ran is the heir to a substantial company. Although she is intelligent, she carries the burden of a troubled history; her younger sister has vanished, and her parents have abandoned her.

A theatrical piece centered on individuals confronting animosity and discord as they discover the essence of forgiveness, love, and true happiness.

Two decades after harboring a dark secret in their school days, three women come together again when they discover they reside in the same apartment complex. Although their lives have taken different paths, they face a common issue: infidelity from their husbands. United by their feelings of betrayal, these three housewives form a bond to seek vengeance. By actively addressing their marital challenges, this series promises to offer a sense of cathartic relief to its female audience. (MBC)

Yeon Bun Hong finds herself as a single mother after being deceived by the man she cared for, yet she remains resolute in her decision to forge ahead with her life. Bun Hong became pregnant with Gi Seok's baby, but he expressed his disinterest in having the child and urged her to terminate the pregnancy, which she found herself unable to do. Tragically, her friends, Lee Ju Yeong and Lee Seon Hui, lost their lives in a boating accident; Bun Hong was on the boat as well, but she managed to survive. Seon Hui was in a relationship with Ju Yeong, but due to a series of misunderstandings, the Lee family mistakenly believed that Bun Hong was Ju Yeong's partner and that she was expecting his child. To escape her troubles, Bun Hong moved into the Lee household, allowing them to think that the baby was Ju Yeong's. Lee Ju Hyeok, Ju Yeong's elder brother, develops feelings for Bun Hong. What will happen when the Lee family uncovers the truth behind Bun Hong's deception regarding the child's parentage? How will Ju Hyeok react to her once he learns the reality?

Hong Yun Shi was a naive and innocent young woman who maintained her cheerful disposition despite her upbringing in a life of poverty. Her challenging situation leads her to wed the wealthy Byung Joo, but she soon faces betrayal from both her husband and her mother-in-law. Upon learning that her mother-in-law played a role in her mother’s mysterious vanishing, Yun Shi begins to lose her once-pure nature and becomes consumed by thoughts of vengeance. Soo Ri, who has deep feelings for Yun Shi, can do little more than watch over her with affection and concern.

A story revolves around a woman who, after going through a phony divorce, partners with her husband's rival to rekindle the affection of her true husband, who has had a change of heart.

On the eve of the Korean War in 1950, a man is murdered, setting off a chain of events that affects three families as four young individuals navigate the complexities of love and forgiveness. Kim Eun Hee's father is wrongfully accused of the crime and meets a tragic end as a consequence. Since that incident, Eun Hee has faced ostracism from her community. Im Sung Jae has always harbored feelings for Eun Hee, but their shared history threatens to keep them apart. Following his father's death, Sung Jae was ironically taken in and raised by the actual murderer, Cha Seok Goo. Seok Goo's daughter, Cha Young Joo, is both intelligent and arrogant, and she has developed feelings for Sung Jae. Her jealousy motivates her to attempt to sabotage his relationship with Eun Hee. Meanwhile, Choi Jung Tae is also in love with Eun Hee but chooses to accept that her affections lie elsewhere.

Geum Sa Wol is a brilliant architect who was raised in an orphanage. Throughout her challenging childhood, she maintained an optimistic outlook and never lost hope, regardless of the difficulties she encountered. Her biological mother, Deuk-ye, conceived her during an affair with a former boyfriend and seeks vengeance against her husband and his mother. After many years, Sa Wol encounters her mother, yet neither of them realizes their true connection. Instead, they form a relationship as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. (MBC)

A lively miniseries focused on family dynamics, showcasing a blend of various generations and their distinct perspectives on relationships. The central storyline revolves around the tensions that emerge between a mother and her daughter, primarily stemming from the men they are involved with, highlighting the struggles that single mothers and divorcees encounter in contemporary society. The portrayal of their lives, along with those intertwined with them, resonates with viewers, evoking a comforting sensation known as love. (MBC)

Set against a backdrop of hope in a challenging and disconnected society, this drama explores themes of filial devotion, family connections, and virtuous individuals. It uncovers the genuine essence of marriage and love by illustrating the modern dating landscape and societal perspectives, all while highlighting the contrasting traits of young individuals who seek a partner based on social standing and wealth rather than authentic affection. Life is filled with both joyful and difficult moments, but having cherished ones around will transform each day into a delightful spring. (MBC)

Oh Dan-Byul suffered the loss of her parents as a result of her own error. She enters into a marriage with Joon-Young, but he unfortunately dies. At the same time, her mother-in-law, Ho-Duk, ends her marriage due to her husband’s unfaithfulness, and her sister-in-law, Se-Sil, comes back to South Korea after separating from her Italian spouse. Now, these three women cohabitate, navigating their individual challenges and growing to be significant in one another’s lives.

This drama narrates the tale of a father who becomes estranged from his daughter, exploring their complex emotions of love, resentment, and eventual reconciliation. Seo Young is a resilient woman determined to break free from the challenges of poverty, fueled by an intense desire to achieve success and elevate her social standing. In her pursuit of her aspirations, she severs connections with her impoverished family and her inept father, who continues to hold affection for his daughter, despite her resentment.

Rebooted in 2011, the South Korean series Sparkling featured Kim Hyun Joo and Lee Yoo Ri in leading roles.

A poignant drama that explores the quest for truth amid schemes, treachery, and deceit, where individuals uncover one another's hidden truths. Eun Soo is an optimistic character who maintains her hope even in the most challenging situations, but after a car accident, she loses her memory and assumes the identity of Yoo Jung, who is married to Jin Goo.

Pi Seon Ju, a passionate interior designer, is in a marriage with driven architect Jeon Nam Jin. Unfortunately, Jeon Nam Jin becomes involved with Jin Sang A, who is the heiress to an architecture firm, and requests a divorce. Following their separation, Pi Seon Ju begins a fresh chapter in her life. On the other hand, Jin Sang A's husband, Kim So U, values stability more than ambition but decides to end their marriage upon learning about her affair. Encountering Pi Seon Ju marks a significant turning point in Kim So U's life.

A young woman discovers from her whistleblower father that being truthful isn't always the best approach. Shortly after tying the knot, she finds herself overwhelmed by insurmountable debt that she cannot manage. However, through a series of events, she begins her journey towards joining the top 1% of wealth holders and intentionally seeks to expose their wrongdoing and hypocrisy. Her quest unveils an insatiable greed and thirst for power driven by the chase for wealth and profit. Meanwhile, two friends aspire to attain the same financial success, which unintentionally turns them into rivals, leading to heartache, strained relationships, betrayal, and a love triangle. Amidst this chaos, a resolution emerges, bringing forgiveness and a renewed connection with family. (MBC)

Lee Jin Sook is a speaker focused on family well-being, but her life has been marked by sorrow. Years prior, her mother-in-law expelled her from their home, resulting in her being separated from her infant daughter. After remarrying, she faced further tragedy when her second husband passed away five years later, yet she lovingly raised her two young stepdaughters as if they were her own. Initially, she opposed her youngest stepdaughter Oh Yeong Chae's desire to marry Kim Hyeon Tae, a novice boxer and orphan, but ultimately she conceded. Following Yeong Chae's tragic death from a hit-and-run accident shortly after giving birth to a son, Jin Sook harbored resentment and blame toward her son-in-law. In the aftermath, Hyeon Tae and his child moved in with Jin Sook, treating her with maternal affection. Observing Hyeon Tae's dedication to his son shifted her perception, leading her to embrace him as if he were her own. Eventually, Hyeon Tae fell for a woman named Park Soo Kyeong. Jin Sook, dissatisfied with Soo Kyeong, later discovers that Soo Kyeong is her biological daughter. Although she longs to reconnect with her, she faces a moral quandary since Soo Kyeong harbors animosity towards her birth mother for abandoning her. Hyeon Tae eventually marries Soo Kyeong, which brings about further tensions.

Na Yeong Ja, a typical department store employee, finds herself caught in a romantic triangle involving the heir to a department store empire and a senior executive within the same establishment. This television series resembles a Cinderella fairy tale, yet it features an active protagonist who does not simply wait for a prince to deliver her a glass slipper. Rather, the lead character in this story pursues her ambitions by taking initiative and putting in effort, while also navigating her quest for love in her personal life. (MBC)