Cover Park Shin-hye as Choi In-ha and Lee Jong-suk as Choi Dal-po/Ki Ha-myung in ‘Pinocchio’ (Photo: SBS)
Park Shin-hye as Choi In-ha and Lee Jong-suk as Choi Dal-po/Ki Ha-myung in ‘Pinocchio’ (Photo: SBS)
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The holiday season calls for cosy nights in, and what better way to spend them than with heartwarming K-dramas that capture the magic of Christmas?
Korean broadcasters typically invest heavily in winter scenes, using real locations, lighting methods, and elaborate set designs to capture the essence of the season. This created the “K-drama winter aesthetic”, making the scenes appear more magical and romantic. The attention to detail in costume design, particularly winter fashion, has even influenced global winter fashion trends.
Many of these K-dramas achieved significant commercial success. In 2013, My Love from the Star sparked a global phenomenon, particularly in China, where its popularity led to increased interest in South Korean culture and fashion. Meanwhile, the 2016 K-drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God aka Goblin, reached peak ratings of 20.5 per cent nationwide–an extraordinary feat for a cable network show.
Read more: 10 shorter K-dramas for your weekend binge-watching
So grab your favourite blanket, prepare some hot chocolate or your favourite TV snacks, and immerse yourself in these winter wonderlands of K-dramas that will perfectly complement your festive mood.
1. ‘My Love from the Star’ (2013)
Above The trailer for ‘My Love from the Star’
Cast: Jun Ji-hyun, Kim Soo-hyun.
Synopsis: This classic, which features unforgettable Christmas episodes, follows the story of an extraterrestrial alien who landed on Earth in 1609 during the Joseon Dynasty and 400 years later falls in love with a top female actor. The K-drama’s mix of romance, comedy, and fantasy elements, coupled with snowy scenes and holiday celebrations, earned it record-breaking viewership ratings during its original run.
See also: 5 things you need to know about ‘Queen of Tears’ star Kim Soo-hyun
2. ‘Pinocchio’ (2014)
Above Lee Jong-suk as Choi Dal-po/Ki Ha-myung and Park Shin-hye as Choi In-ha in ‘Pinocchio’ (Photo: SBS)
Lee Jong-suk as Choi Dal-po/Ki Ha-myung and Park Shin-hye as Choi In-ha in ‘Pinocchio’ (Photo: SBS)
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Cast: Park Shin-hye, Lee Jong-suk.
Synopsis: Pinocchio is a K-drama that features some of the most memorable Christmas scenes in K-drama history. The holiday season plays a significant role in the story’s emotional climax, making it especially suitable for December viewing.
3. ‘Guardian: The Lonely and Great God’ aka ‘Goblin’ (2016)
Above The trailer for ‘Guardian: The Lonely and Great God’ aka ‘Goblin’
Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Lee Dong-wook, Yoo In-na, Yook Sung-jae.
Synopsis: Guardian: The Lonely and Great God aka Goblin, is a beloved fantasy K-drama starring Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun featuring some of the most iconic winter scenes in K-drama history. It follows the story of a 939-year-old guardian of souls, Dokkaebi (Goblin), who, in his quest for a bride to break his immortal curse, meets a grim reaper and a sprightly student with a tragic past.
4. ‘Legend of the Blue Sea’ (2016)
Above Lee Min-ho as Heo Joon-jae/Kim Dam-ryeong and Jun Ji-hyun as Shim Cheong/Se-hwa in ‘Legend of the Blue Sea’ (Photo: SBS)
Above Lee Min-ho as Heo Joon-jae/Kim Dam-ryeong and Jun Ji-hyun as Shim Cheong/Se-hwa in ‘Legend of the Blue Sea’ (Photo: SBS)
Lee Min-ho as Heo Joon-jae/Kim Dam-ryeong and Jun Ji-hyun as Shim Cheong/Se-hwa in ‘Legend of the Blue Sea’ (Photo: SBS)
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Cast: Lee Min-ho, Jun Ji-hyun.
Synopsis: Legend of the Blue Sea is a fantasy romance inspired by a classic Joseon legend from South Korea’s first collection of unofficial historical tales about a fisherman who captures and releases a mermaid. The K-drama tells the love story of a con artist and a mermaid who travels across the ocean to find him. It features several memorable Christmas sequences and the contrast between the magical mermaid tale and modern-day winter Seoul creates a unique holiday atmosphere.
See also: Lee Min-ho: 9 of his best looks
5. ‘While You Were Sleeping’ (2017)
Above The trailer for ‘While You Were Sleeping’
Cast: Lee Jong-suk, Bae Suzy, Lee Sang-yeob, Jung Hae-in.
Synopsis: Bae Suzy and Lee Jong-suk’s supernatural romance features crucial plot points during the holiday season. The K-drama’s winter atmosphere, combined with its intriguing premise about legal drama-fantasy television series centres on the lives of three young adults—a field reporter, a prosecutor, and a police officer—who have acquired the ability to foresee future events through their dreams, after saving each other many years ago.
Read more: Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy to reunite in ‘All the Love You Wish For’ after 7 years
6. ‘When the Weather is Fine’ (2020)
Above The trailer for ‘When the Weather is Fine’
Cast: Park Min-young, Seo Kang-joon.
Synopsis: Based on the 2018 novel of the same name by Lee Do-woo, this warm winter romance, though not specifically Christmas-themed, centres on a small bookstore in the countryside, and explores themes of healing, forgiveness, and finding happiness in life’s simple pleasures.
See also: 7 of Park Min-young’s best roles as ranked by K-drama fans
7. ‘A Christmas Carol’ (2022)
Above The trailer for ‘A Christmas Carol’
Cast: Park Jin-young, Kim Young-min, Kim Dong-hwi.
Synopsis: This modern adaptation of Dickens’ classic tale brings a unique Korean perspective to the beloved story. The K-drama, which centres on a twin brother who goes to a juvenile detention centre on his own to avenge the death of his twin brother, masterfully blends traditional Christmas elements with contemporary Korean society, creating a fresh take on the familiar narrative.
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Lainey was the Digital Director of Tatler Malaysia. When not whiling away the hours watching documentaries, the latest K-drama, or reruns of Friends, she can be found indulging her wanderlust by stalking travel platforms or feeding her obsession with music. She loves animals, running, all things social media, a good conversation over coffee or soju or wine (often rambling on if nobody pulls the brakes on her), and is an avid fan of bursting-at-the-seams laughter.
