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Shin Hye-sun and Ji Chang-wook in a scene from 'Welcome to Samdal-ri.' Screenshot from video on Netflix Philippines' YouTube channel

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11 friends-to-lovers K-dramas for the 'kilig' vibes

Jaehwa Bernardo

April Anne Benjamin

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:950px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/friends-to-lovers-K-dramas-02012024.jpg" style="width:950px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Shin Hye-sun and Ji Chang-wook in a scene from &#x27;Welcome to Samdal-ri.&#x27; Screenshot from video on Netflix Philippines&#x27; YouTube channel"/><span class="fr-inner"><span id="isPasted" style="color:rgb(0, 0, 0);letter-spacing:normal;orphans:2;text-align:center;text-indent:0px;text-transform:none;widows:2;word-spacing:0px;-webkit-text-stroke-width:0px;white-space:normal;text-decoration-thickness:initial;text-decoration-style:initial;text-decoration-color:initial;display:inline !important;float:none">Shin Hye-sun and Ji Chang-wook in a scene from &#x27;Welcome to Samdal-ri.&#x27; <em>Screenshot from video on Netflix Philippines&#x27; YouTube channel</em></span><em> </em></span></span></span></div><p>The friends-turned-lovers trope is one that we have seen time and time again, yet we never seem to get tired of. There&#x27;s just something about romance blossoming from childhood or longtime friends that never fails to bring &quot;kilig&quot; vibes.<br/><br/>Wondering if your best friend is the one for you? Below, we round up some popular K-dramas that have explored the theme:</p><h3>Like Flowers in Sand (2023)</h3><p>Starring: Jang Dong-yoon, Lee Ju-myoung</p><p>Watch on: Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-fvl" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PSSbdDPWhS0?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>In the sports drama &quot;Like Flowers in Sand,&quot; ssireum (Korean wrestling) prodigy Kim Baek-du (Jang Dong-yoon) is on the verge of retirement when his childhood friend Oh Du-sik (Lee Ju-myoung) returns with a new identity and takes on the role of his team&#x27;s manager. With each other&#x27;s help, Baek-du reignites his interest in his sport while Du-sik uncovers the mystery behind the incident that drove her family away from their village.</p><h3>Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023)</h3><p>Starring: Shin Hye-sun, Ji Chang-wook</p><p>Watch On: Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-fvl" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aY8QmExZrlY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Set in scenic Jeju Island, &quot;Welcome to Samdal-ri&quot; follows Cho Sam-dal (Shin Hye-sun), a renowned fashion photographer whose career suddenly falls apart due to a work-related scandal. The controversy prompts her to return to her hometown, where she reconnects with her childhood friend and ex-boyfriend, weather forecaster Cho Yong-pil (Ji Chang-wook).</p><h3>Soundtrack#1 (2022)</h3><p>Starring: Park Hyung-sik, Han So-hee</p><p>Watch On: Disney+</p><div> <span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-fvl" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/jcQhT_HZx8s?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>A four-part music drama, &quot;Soundtrack#1&quot; is about lyricist Lee Eun-soo (Han So-hee) and photographer Han Sun-woo (Park Hyung-sik), who have been best friends for two decades. A project requires the pair to live under one roof, during which they start to realize that their friendship may have developed into romance.</p><h3>Happiness (2021)</h3><p>Starring: Han Hyo-joo, Park Hyung-sik</p><p>Watch On: Netflix, Viu, iQIYI</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-fvl" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/G2EiCIyY54I?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>The apocalyptic thriller &quot;Happiness&quot; follows Special Operations Unit trainee Yoon Sae-bom (Han Hyo-joo) and detective Jung Yi-hyun (Park Hyung-shik), who have been friends since high school. The two enter a contract marriage to qualify for a housing program. But as a disease begins to spread, the two find themselves not only protecting each other but also the other tenants in their apartment complex.</p><h3>Hospital Playlist (2020)</h3><p>Starring: Jo Jung-suk, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho, Kim Dae-myung, Jeon Mi-do</p><p>Watch On: Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-fvl" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xqIM2cenBAs?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>&quot;Hospital Playlist&quot; follows five doctors who have been friends since medical school. Amidst their busy lives within and outside the hospital, the five maintain a close bond through their shared love for food and music. Romance also develops between two members of the circle.</p><h3>My First First Love (2019)</h3><p>Starring: Ji Soo, Jung Chae-yeon, Jung Jin-young, Choi Ri, Kang Tae-oh</p><p>Watch On: Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-fvl" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/tc9YvtGE16s?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>In the coming-of-age drama &quot;My First First Love,&quot; Yun Tae-o&#x27;s (Ji Soo) friends end up moving into his house. Tae-o soon begins to experience conflicting feelings towards his longtime friend Han Song-i (Jung Chae-yeon), especially after she becomes more involved with Seo Do-hyeon (Jung Jin-young).</p><h3>Fight for My Way (2017)</h3><p>Starring: Park Seo-jun, Kim Ji-won</p><p>Watch On: Netflix, Viu</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-fvl" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XFu3Hufti5E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>&quot;Fight for My Way&quot; follows best friends Ko Dong-man (Park Seo-jun), a former taekwondo champion, and Choi Ae-ra (Kim Ji-won), an information desk worker. While chasing their dreams &quot;in a world that isn&#x27;t kind to those with medicore credentials,&quot; the two slowly find their friendship turning into something more.</p><h3>Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo (2016)</h3><p>Starring: Lee Sung-kyung, Nam Joo-hyuk</p><p>Watch On: Netflix, Viu, iQIYI</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-fvl" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WpTNZjP8ff4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>This hit sports drama centers on Kim Bok-joo (Lee Sung-kyung), a weightlifter studying at an athletics college, where she reunites with her childhood friend -- swimmer Jung Joon-hyung (Nam Joo-hyuk). Initially, Joon-hyung teases Bok-joo for having a crush on his cousin, but later finds himself falling in love with her.</p><h3>Reply 1988 (2015)</h3><p>Starring: Lee Hye-ri, Park Bo-gum, Ryu Jun-yeol, Go Kyung-pyo, Lee Dong-hwi</p><p>Watch On: Viu, Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-fvl" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c-EMf3JdxUA?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>A favorite among K-drama fans, the nostalgic &quot;Reply 1988&quot; follows five families and their teenage kids living in a small neighborhood in Seoul in the late 1980s. Audiences were especially invested in the love triangle involving the bright Deok-sun (Lee Hye-ri), renowned Go player Taek (Park Bo-gum) and stoic Jung-hwan (Ryu Jun-yeol).</p><h3>Reply 1994 (2013)</h3><p>Starring: Go A-ra, Jung Woo, Yoo Yeon-seok, Kim Sung-kyun, Son Ho-jun, Baro Min Do-hee</p><p>Watch On: iQIYI</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-fvl" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XFyc8JdZnjY?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div><p>&quot;Reply 1994&quot; tells the story of Sung Na-jung&#x27;s (Go Ara) friendship with the college students residing in her family&#x27;s boarding house. Flash forwards leave audiences speculating who among the tenants will become Na-jung&#x27;s husband.</p><h3>Reply 1997 (2012)</h3><p>Starring: Jung Eun-ji, Seo In-guk, Hoya, Shin So-yul, Eun Ji-won, Lee Si-eon</p><p>Watch On: iQIYI</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable fr-fvl" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oyna7VvkJpU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>The first installment to the &quot;Reply&quot; series, &quot;Reply 1997&quot; centers around Sung Si-won (Jung Eun-ji), a high school student and devoted fan girl to the first-generation K-pop boy band H.O.T. Unbeknownst to Si-won, her childhood friend Yoon-je (Seo In-guk) harbors romantic feelings towards her.</p><p>For more news and features on K-pop, K-drama, and K-stars, visit the <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/kcontents">Hallyu Corner Microsite</a>.</p>

<p>There's just something about romance blossoming from childhood or longtime friends that never fails to bring 'kilig' vibes.</p>

There's just something about romance blossoming from childhood or longtime friends that never fails to bring 'kilig' vibes.