Chaebol heir (μ¬λ² 3μΈ)
The heir to a powerful conglomerate family shows up as a lead, and the story builds a romance across the gap in status with an ordinary main character β one of the most reliable setups in the genre.
Second lead syndrome (μΈμ»¨λ 리λ μ¦νκ΅°)
Fandom slang for when viewers end up rooting for the character who is not the main romantic lead, rather than the couple the story actually intends to end up together.
Noona romance (μ°μμ°ν λ‘맨μ€)
A romance where the female lead is older than the male lead β "noona" means "older sister" from a younger man's perspective β a setup that has shown up increasingly often in recent K-dramas.
Makjang drama (λ§μ₯ λλΌλ§)
A genre label for shows that pile on shocking, over-the-top plot devices back to back β secret births, amnesia, revenge plots, and more.
Sageuk (μ¬κ·Ή)
The term for a historical period drama set in Korea's past, most often the Joseon dynasty.
Amnesia plot (κΈ°μ΅μμ€ μ κ°)
A trope where a key character loses their memory, usually after an accident, and the story's relationships and conflicts get reshuffled around it.
Piggyback scene (μ
μ΄μ£ΌκΈ° μ )
One character carries the other on their back after an injury or too much drinking β a classic way K-dramas stage a moment of romantic tension.
Wrist grab (μλͺ© μ‘μλκΈ°)
One character suddenly grabs the other's wrist and pulls them along β a shorthand often used early in a series to compress an emotional beat into a single gesture.
Crosswalk reunion (ν‘λ¨λ³΄λ μ¬ν μ )
Two characters reunite after a long time apart while facing each other across a crosswalk β a visually iconic staging move particular to Korean dramas.
Contract relationship (κ³μ½ μ°μ )
Two characters agree to fake a relationship for their own separate reasons, only for real feelings to gradually develop β a staple setup of romantic comedies.