Cover Planning to binge-watch K-dramas over the holidays? These wintry shows are cosy and season-friendly (Photo: Viu)
Planning to binge-watch K-dramas over the holidays? These wintry shows are cosy and season-friendly (Photo: Viu)
1 / 1
These shows are as close to holiday specials as you’re going to get. Make the season extra special with these K-dramas
When the air turns crisp and the streets are dusted with snow, there’s something irresistible about curling up with a K-drama that feels like a warm blanket. Imagine twinkling lights, soft snow, emotional depth and maybe a little magic. Whether it’s love blossoming under city lights, second chances in the snow or supernatural romance with wintery flair, these dramas carry that cosy holiday heart. They may not all be Christmas specials, but their snowy scenes, winter atmospheres or warm endings make them ideal for year-end bingeing. Grab a mug of cocoa and a plush blanket, and let these K-dramas carry you into the season’s glow.
In case you missed it: 13 K-dramas with the weirdest plots
1. ‘Goblin: The Lonely and Great God’ (2016)
Above Immortal love under snowy skies—‘Goblin’ turns winter into pure magic
Goryeo-era general turned immortal goblin Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) searches for a human bride to end his eternal life, sharing a home with a grim reaper and other unlikely roommates; high-schooler Ji Eun-tak (Kim Go-eun) enters his world, entangling fate, love and curses in a sweeping fantasy romance. As snow falls and winter blankets the landscapes, the drama combines melancholic immortality and hopeful romance with a soundtrack and visuals that capture the hush of winter. The show’s wintery settings—misty streets, snow-dusted alleys, snow-covered trees—turn every moment into a soft, magical reverie, perfect for a holiday mood. Its mix of romance, tragedy and redemption makes it comforting and heart-aching all at once.
2. ‘Winter Sonata’ (2002)
Above Snowy nostalgia and heart-aching romance comprise ‘Winter Sonata,’ a winter-evergreen classic
High school classmates Joon-sang (Bae Yong-joon) and Yoo-jin (Choi Ji-woo) share youthful innocence and burgeoning affection during a snowy winter, but tragedy strikes, memory is lost and lives diverge. A decade later, fate draws them back together under complicated circumstances and mistaken identities, weaving a bittersweet tale of love, loss and rediscovery. The show is iconic for its snowy scenes, gentle snowfalls, frozen lakes and pine trees. This full winter romance aesthetic helped launch the Korean Wave. Its mix of innocence, nostalgia, heartbreak and second chances makes it a classic season-spanning drama that still gives holiday-season vibes.
See more: Amnesia hall of fame: 11 K-dramas that prove we’ll never get tired of memory loss
3. ‘Healer’ (2014–2015)
Above ‘Healer’ wraps cold nights in electrifying drama and heart, thanks to its action, mystery and warm redemption
Seo Jung-hoo (Ji Chang-wook), the mysterious “Healer” night courier, crosses paths with journalist Chae Young-shin (Park Min-young). Together, they unravel a dark past while discovering unexpected feelings. Their journey, filled with thrills, danger and morality, is often coated in city lights, winter rain and nighttime chills. Alongside the suspense, the show offers tender moments of warmth, heated in secret rooms, whispered under streetlights, framed by snow or rain. For winter viewing, it balances adrenaline and romance with a cosy undertone that feels like hot cocoa after a chilly walk.
4. ‘Twenty-Five Twenty-One’ (2022)
Above ‘Twenty-Five Twenty-One’ turns cold seasons into an emotional catharsis
Set during the IMF crisis era, fencer Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri) and reporter Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk) navigate dreams, hardship, friendship and eventual romance—their lives shaped by societal instability and personal growth. The story arcs from youthful ambition to adult disillusionment, always under the shadow of changing times and often harsh winters. Some of its most powerful scenes come during winter: snow-covered fencing grounds, trembling confessions in biting cold and the fragile warmth between characters seeking hope. The drama’s ending, layered with longing and acceptance, gives closure while honouring the bittersweetness of growing up and letting go.
5. ‘When the Weather Is Fine’ (2020)
Above ‘When the Weather Is Fine’ is winter comfort in human form
Mok Hae-won (Park Min-young) leaves city noise for a quiet countryside bookstore in a snowy village, hoping to heal old wounds and find peace. There she reconnects with her schoolmate Im Eun-seob (Seo Kang-joon), a gentle, introspective bookshop owner. Their romance unfolds slowly amid soft snowfall, cushy interiors and gentle conversations, offering a healing, low-stakes alternative to dramatic love stories. With its soothing winter visuals, muted soundtrack and calming rhythms, the drama feels like a warm cup of tea on a cold evening.
6. ‘While You Were Sleeping’ (2017)
Above Dreams, danger and destiny are what ‘While You Were Sleeping’ offers for a holiday binge-watch
Nam Hong-joo (Bae Suzy) has premonitions—vivid visions of tragedies before they happen—throwing her into the lives of prosecutor Jung Jae-chan (Lee Jong-suk) and accident-prone detective Han Woo-tak. Together they fight fated events, justice and personal demons under a backdrop of cold nights, winter chill and the warmth of human connection. The drama’s occasional snowy sequences and holiday-season lighting give it a subdued but earnest festive mood. With a mix of fantasy, legal drama and slow-burn romance, it becomes a surprisingly comfy yet gripping watch for winter nights.
7. ‘That Winter, the Wind Blows’ (2013)
Above Enjoy ice-cold hearts thaw in snow-dusted Seoul in ‘That Winter, the Wind Blows’ (Photo: IMDB)
Enjoy ice-cold hearts thaw in snow-dusted Seoul in ‘That Winter, the Wind Blows’ (Photo: IMDB)
1 / 1
Oh Young (Song Hye-kyo), legally blind and emotionally wounded, meets Oh Soo (Jo In-sung), a conman living off deception and revenge. When their paths entwine, emotions unravel against biting winter winds, frozen streets and the ache of unhealed scars. The drama’s frosty winter setting mirrors the characters’ emotional coldness and gradual thaw, making every snowy scene feel symbolic and raw. By the finale, when hearts soften and truths surface, the emotional warmth hits harder. This K-drama is an ideal permutation of winter angst, romance and redemption.
8. ‘My Love from the Star’ (2013–2014)
Above Alien heartbreak meets holiday sparkle in this fantasy romance
Do Min-joon (Kim Soo-hyun), a 400-year-old alien living on Earth, falls for Cheon Song-yi (Jun Ji-hyun), a top actress whose life is as dazzling as it is chaotic. As Min-joon’s time on Earth dwindles and danger threatens, their unlikely romance unfolds amid glitzy cityscapes—and occasionally, snow, holiday lights and wintery backdrops. The show puts together fantasy, comedy, romance and emotional depth, capturing both the magical allure of the holidays and the sadness of doomed love. Snowy nights, rooftop confessions and warm indoor scenes give it that cosy-holiday energy while exploring themes of sacrifice and timeless connection.
9. ‘Pinocchio’ (2014)
Above Rainy streets, cold nights and warm truths? ‘Pinocchio’ gives you justice-flavoured romance under winter skies
Choi Dal-po (Lee Jong-suk) and Choi In-ha (Park Shin-hye) are young reporters. However, both strive for truth while grappling with painful personal backstories. As they unravel corruption and deception, their shared ideals forge a deep bond, even as they navigate moral dilemmas and rainy, chilly city nights. The drama’s wintry weather, rainy streets and nighttime city lights add a subtle cold-weather texture to its emotional stakes. Mixed with its romantic tension and journalistic grit, Pinocchio becomes a great winter binge: intense, heartfelt and atmospheric.
Sasha Lim-Uy Mariposa is a lifestyle journalist who is known for her food writing. Based in Manila, she also covers entertainment and dining, as well as a broad range of topics. She was the former digital editor at Esquire Philippines and was the digital managing editor at Spot.ph, and now writes for the different Tatler Asia markets as a contributing writer for T-Labs.
