When in love, age is just a number, but it seems there is a different set of metrics when it comes to women and relationships.
The noona romance, a popular sub-genre, is gaining momentum as dramas that depict older woman being wooed by a much younger man give us some heart-fluttering love stories. The age-disparate relationships use the trope to address different kinds of issues and topics. One such drama is the upcoming “Midnight Romance in Hagwon,” starring Wi Ha Joon as Lee Joon Ho, who sweeps his one-time academy lecturer Seo Hye Jin (Jung Ryeo Won) off her feet. As we await to watch this scorching romance, here are seven charming noona romances to binge on in the meantime.
“Something in the Rain”
Director Ahn Pan Seok makes a comeback with “Midnight Romance in Hagwon,” but he also directed another drama dealing with a similar trope in “Something in the Rain” (also known as “Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food”).
Seo Joon Hee (Jung Hae In) returns home to Korea and runs into the woman with whom he has always been infatuated with: Yoon Jin Ah (Son Ye Jin). She is his older sister’s best friend, but Joon Hee charms her, proving that the little boy she once knew is old enough to be her man. But they live in a society that’s hot-wired when it comes to age gaps, especially when it involves an older woman and a younger man, and Ji Ah’s family objects to their relationship. As Joon Hee is constantly humiliated by her mother, Ji Ah finds herself trapped. Should she conform to society or follow her heart? As the world around them resents their relationship, Ji Ah and Joon Hee struggle to pull through.
Jung Hae In is cute as Joon Hee, and Son Ye Jin is endearing and playful as Ji Ah. Their romantic track will make your heart skip several beats and the couple’s chemistry is goals to say the least.
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“Encounter”
A chance encounter with a young man in Havana changes the course of Cha Soo Hyun’s (Song Hye Kyo) life. A quiet and reserved CEO of a hotel, she is not only dealing with a divorce but her overbearing mother and mother-in-law, who see her as a pawn for their ambitious political and business desires.
Soo Hyun meets Kim Jin Hyuk (Park Bo Gum) on a trip to Cuba. Jin Hyuk is making the most of his time before he joins the workforce. He is carefree, easy, and takes life as it comes – everything Soo Hyun is unable to do, given the constant public scrutiny. The two meet again as Jin Hyuk ends up working at her hotel. An easygoing friendship develops into a strong attraction between the two. With Jin Hyuk’s constant support, Soo Hyun is ready to throw caution to the winds and live life the way she wants to.
The sophisticated charm of Song Hye Kyo and Park Bo Gum’s comforting screen presence makes them perfect as Soo Hyun and Jin Hyuk. And the colorful landscape of Havana and its warm tones contrast with Seoul’s cold winter and icy tones, depicting the poignant moments in this love story.
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“My Lovely Sam Soon”
Kim Sam Soon (Kim Sun Ah) is having a terrible 30th year. Her boyfriend has cheated on her, and she also ends up losing her job. She loves to bake and can whip up delicious desserts and gets a job as a pastry chef at Hyun Jin Hoon’s (Hyun Bin) restaurant. Jin Hoon is not a people person and comes across as cold-hearted. The two cannot stand the sight of each other, but Jin Hoon sees a perfect bait in Sam Soon to put a dent in his mother’s marriage plans for him. He gets into a contract relationship with Sam Soon. But the two realize they share a lot in common and start getting along and fall head over heels in love.
“My Lovely Sam Soon” stuck a chord amongst viewers for its plot line as well as having a female lead who was real and relatable to the core. Sam Soon was a woman’s woman: she carried extra pounds, spoke her mind, was good at what she did, and wanted to meet the love of her life. Kim Sun Ah depicted her with ease and is complemented by Hyun Bin’s youthful dimpled charm.
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“King of High School”
Lee Min Seok (Seo In Guk), a high school senior and star hockey player, is up to his biggest challenge: he has to pretend to be his much older brother, who goes missing, and fill his shoes at the company where he works. Since Min Seok and his brother have an uncanny resemblance, it’s not too tough for him to get past the superficial, neither is it difficult to deal with people older than him. But it’s the quirky Jung Soo Young (Lee Ha Na), his brother’s secretary, who gets him tongue-tied and makes his heart race fast. Sparks fly and romance blossoms, but can Min Seok reveal his true identity?
“King of High School” is a one of a kind rom-com. It’s a breezy watch, and apart from Seo In Guk’s impeccable comedic timing and his toned body, we also get to witness some of the most memorable on-screen kisses of all time.
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“Romance Is a Bonus Book”
Kang Dan Yi (Lee Na Young) is having a tough time making ends meet. She is a single parent and jobless, since her credentials do not meet the requirements of the current work environment. She meets Cha Eun Ho (Lee Jong Suk), whom she used to look after when he was a young boy. Eun Ho is now an author, the youngest editor-in-chief of a publishing company, as well as a professor of literature. However, one thing that has escaped Dan Yi is that Eun Ho has always been infatuated with her. She was his first crush and love. Though she keeps her situation hidden from him and takes a job as an intern in his company, she is not only a woman who is proud, but has very strong self-belief. She has no qualms in starting over, and in the process also learns to empower herself. Eun Ho stands by her, and encourages her all the way.
The romance between these two is sweet, as they realize that it’s not age, but compatibility, which defines a relationship.
“I Hear Your Voice”
Park Soo Ha (Lee Jong Suk) has the unique ability to tune into people, aka he can read their minds. He was a witness to his father’s brutal murder as a child and is indebted to a teenager named Hye Sung, who had bravely testified against the murderer. Now a high school senior, he tracks down Hye Sung (Lee Bo Young) and discovers she is a lawyer. But Hye Sung is going through career fatigue, and she is no longer the spirited teen Soo Ha remembers. Soo Ha had promised himself that he would always protect Hye Sung. So he comes on board to help her with her cases, using his unique ability to hear what people are thinking.
Even though Hye Sung finds Soo Ha naive, it’s not long before the two develop a friendship, which leads to an irresistible attraction. The chemistry between Lee Jong Suk and Park Bo Young is incredible, and we get some cute moments amongst the angsty narrative of the drama.
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“A Witch’s Romance”
Ban Ji Yeon (Uhm Jung Hwa) is 39 years old and is a successful reporter. She was stood up on her wedding day and has no intentions of walking down the aisle anytime soon. Her mother is convinced that her daughter is cursed to spinsterhood and makes her do the rounds of meeting fortune-tellers. Ji Yeon meets 25-year-old Dong Ha (Park Seo Joon), an aspiring entrepreneur whom she has run into several times, and he has also moved into the apartment next door. Dong Ha is quite taken with Ji Yeon and finds himself falling for her. But she rejects him once she realizes the age gap between them is too huge to bridge. But Dong Ha persists as much as she resists and tells her the age gap is in her head and that it makes no difference in the feelings he has towards her.
A cute love story, even though it’s a tad too long, Uhm Jung Hwa’s sass and Park Seo Joon’s swag will keep you hooked to this rom-com.
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Hey Soompiers, which one of these dramas is your go-to noona romance? Let us know in the comments below!
Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yang Yang and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on @puja_talwar7 on Instagram.
Currently watching: “Queen of Tears”
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