Hotel Del Luna was probably the first Korean drama I watched back in 2020, since then, there has been a series of sleepless nights and binge sessions almost every other day. This obsession brought me across tons of titles from the Korean industry- almost none matched the standard that Hotel Del Luna offered but found some KDramas Like Hotel Del Luna that were brilliant in their own ways.
So, if you have just finished watching Hotel Del Luna but are not done with its charm, 🥺 here’s my pick of Korean dramas like Hotel Del Luna to keep you in the loop with the fantasy world!
KDramas like Hotel Del Luna that Made the List Are…
Goblin
Cast: Gong Yoo, Ji Eun-tak, Lee Dong-Wook, Yoo In-na
Streaming On: Viki
Goblin, personally for me, stands on the same level as Hotel Del Luna. It has everything, a great fantasy story, cute romantic chemistry, and the funniest characters. But it’s not just the funny part that makes the drama good, it’s its perfect ability to balance the pain and the joy.
In the lead, you will meet Gong Yoo as Kim Shin who has been roaming the planet for centuries. One day he suddenly crosses paths with Ji Eun-tak played by Kim Go-eun who can see dead people. The story from there takes a twisted turn that is fun to follow but has its own share of pain.
But honestly, despite being a great lead couple, the story would feel incomplete if Lee Dong-Wook and Yoo In-na were not there to give us the second lead syndrome. Loved them too much to be honest, probably more than the first lead couple. But that’s just me- you make your own mind and don’t kill me for what I said! 🤣
Anyway, I will not give spoilers, but I will tell you this, Kdramas like Goblin are rare, but worth every second. So you can stop the list here, and come back later once you are done watching it.
Angel’s Last Mission: Love
Cast: Shin Hye-sun, Kim Myung-soo
Streaming On: Netflix
Instead of a Goblin, it has an angel whose last mission is to help a girl find love before returning to heaven. But it’s not easy for him, the girl has her trauma that is stronger than her desire to find love. The story is beautiful and emotional, something that sticks with you long after you finish the show.
But what makes the show perfect is its choice of BGM. Every scene is paired with a perfect music or song that just multiplies the impact of the scene by a thousandfold. So if you are someone as emotional as me and need something to make you feel, you need Angel’s Last Mission: Love on your watch list.
A Korean Odyssey
Cast: Lee Seung-gi, Oh Yeon-Seo
Streaming On: Netflix
Another beautiful story of a mystical character paired up with a special human, A Korean Odyssey takes inspiration from the Chinese myth of Sun Wukong (The Monkey King). The show perfectly blends mythology with the modern world and gives you entertainment that won’t disappoint.
What makes it one of the best K-dramas like Hotel Del Luna is its mind-bending plot! The plot focuses on Jin Su-mi who rescues a trapped monkey who has been a prison of his curse for centuries. In return, now the monkey is bound to her having to come to her every time she needs him. Sounds familiar right? That’s what I am saying, the show is love, and if you loved Goblin, you will love this one too!
It’s Okay to Not Be Okay
Cast: Kim Soo-hyun, Seo Ye-ji, Oh Jung-se
Streaming On: Netflix
It is not exactly a supernatural drama like Hotel Del Luna, but the plot focuses on a rich writer Ko Moon-young, and her meeting with a healthcare worker Moon Kang Tae. Ko has her own demons to fight but having Moon as the company, she finds someone to rescue her from them.
Moon’s life is not easy either though, he takes care of his older brother with special needs and tries to balance his life while taking care of Ko too. The show beautifully depicts how mental health can bring some critical impacts on people’s lives and how is the key to all. Fair warning though, there are plenty of reasons to make you cry.
Chicago Typewriter
Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Im Soo-jung, Go Kyung-pyo
Streaming On: Viki
If you’re still hung up on the whole “past lives” thing and are still keeping up with this list of shows like Hotel Del Luna, I get it, you’re a tough nut to crack!
Well, let me tell you about Chicago Typewriter. This one hit me right in the feels, and honestly, I think you’ll love it just as much as I did.
Picture this: a famous writer, Han Se-joo, is stuck in a creative rut (the writers’ block as nerds call it). Enter a mysterious old typewriter and bam, he starts having flashbacks to his previous life in the 1930s. And let me tell you, the story that unfolds is just as twisty and emotionally charged as you’d hope. It’s got everything, friendship, betrayal, and yes, a love story that transcends time. 😍
But what really got me was the bromance. I mean, Yoo Ah-in and Go Kyung-pyo? Come on! Their chemistry is off the charts, and I may or may not have found myself rooting for them more than the actual romance. 😅 Trust me, once you start, you won’t be able to stop until you’ve seen it all. So go ahead, get comfy, and prepare for another all-nighter.
Mystic Pop-Up Bar
Cast: Hwang Jung-eum, Yook Sung-jae, Choi Won-young
Streaming On: Netflix
Okay, this next one is just pure fun, Mystic Pop-Up Bar. Imagine a bar that only appears at night, and instead of just getting drinks, you get a chance to resolve your deepest regrets.
Sounds wild, right? It totally is, and I loved every second of it.
We’ve got Weol-ju, our fierce and feisty bartender with a tragic past of her own. She’s on a mission to help 100,000 souls find peace and let me tell you, the way each episode dives into different people’s lives is both heartwarming and heartbreaking.
One minute you’re laughing at the quirky staff, and the next, you’re tearing up because the show just hit you right in the gut with a deep emotional moment. 😭
And can we talk about the magical elements? We’re talking dream sequences, ghostly interventions, and a whole lot of fantasy goodness. If you’re in the mood for some Korean dramas like Hotel Del Luna that are both lighthearted and profound, Mystic Pop-Up Bar is your go-to.
It’s like a warm hug in drama form, and who doesn’t need one of those every now and then?
W: Two Worlds
Cast: Lee Jong-suk, Han Hyo-joo
Streaming On: Viki
Now, if you want to have your mind blown, W: Two Worlds is where it’s at. Seriously, this one had me questioning reality in the best way possible. Imagine this: you’re reading your favorite webtoon, and suddenly, you’re sucked right into the story. Sounds like a dream come true, right? Well, that’s exactly what happens to our girl Oh Yeon-joo.
She ends up inside the webtoon created by her father and meets Kang Chul, the hero she’s been fangirling over. Let me just say, that the way this show plays with the boundaries between fiction and reality is next-level genius. It’s got romance, it’s got suspense, and it’s got enough plot twists to keep you glued to your screen. Lee Jong-suk and Han Hyo-joo have such amazing chemistry, that you’ll find yourself rooting for them even when everything seems impossible (which, in this case, is most of the time).
W is like a rollercoaster ride—once you’re on, there’s no getting off until it’s over. And trust me, you’ll be talking about it long after the final episode. So, if you’re up for a wild ride that will keep you guessing, this is your next must-watch. But be warned, it’ll have you questioning what’s real and what’s not by the end of it!
Well, enjoy these for now, drop a comment if you loved them or not. Anddddd, got any recommendations? Send them to me, please? 🥺
Bookmark CineCinnati, eh? Because, honestly, who are we kidding? You’re totally coming back! And while you’re still here, don’t forget to sneak a look at the Kdramas debuting in August. You wouldn’t want to be the last to know, would you?
