20 K-Dramas That Nailed the Perfect Ending

by

Lots of Korean dramas, or K-dramas, begin with a bang, but only truly great ones deliver a shocking or satisfying conclusion. It’s easy for a finale to fall flat – either by ending too quickly or stretching the story out unnecessarily. In fact, some popular K-dramas are even recommended with a warning: skip the last 20 minutes to avoid a disappointing ending!

The success of a K-drama often hinges on its main couple. How the love story unfolds, and whether the characters find happiness individually and as a pair, can be the deciding factor in whether the drama is remembered as a classic. A strong couple can elevate a series, while a disappointing ending for them can ruin it.

20. Lovely Runner

2024

The K-drama Lovely Runner has quickly become a fan favorite, with many calling it one of the best ever. It tells the story of Im Sol (Kim Hye-yoon), who goes back in time to try and help the K-pop star she admires, Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon Woo-seok).

Each time Sol falls in love with Sun-jae, he tragically dies, forcing her to start the timeline over. She begins to believe they’re destined for heartbreak, but the show, Lovely Runner, challenges that idea. Once the series’ villain is defeated, Sun-jae and Sol can finally be together, remembering their past lives. It’s a clever and satisfying take on a romance that was previously marked by sadness and fate.

19. Healer

2014

Considered one of the top K-dramas from the 2010s, Healer centers around a mysterious character known as the “night courier.” This character, whose real name is Seo Jung-hoo (played by Ji Chang-wook), works in secret until he’s tasked with protecting a determined journalist named Chae Young-shin (Park Min-young).

This action-packed K-drama features thrilling fight scenes, but the ending takes a calmer turn. Once the villain is captured, Healer pretends to die so he can be with Young-shin. They even start a new life together working at a newspaper, finally safe from danger.

18. Her Private Life

2019

I think Her Private Life might be my favorite workplace romance K-drama so far, and a big part of why is seeing Ryan Gold (Kim Jae-wook) and Sung Duk-mi (Park Min-young) fall in love. The story follows Duk-mi as she tries to keep her secret passion for a K-pop idol under wraps, all while working at an art museum with the new director, Ryan. It’s a really fun balance between her two worlds!

Despite using familiar K-drama tropes, like the leads having a hidden childhood connection, the final scene in Her Private Life is truly satisfying. When Duk-mi is unable to get tickets to a fan event, Ryan steps in to save the day. Duk-mi’s happy ending wasn’t simply about finding romance—it was about Ryan accepting and cherishing all aspects of her life.

17. It’s Okay To Not Be Okay

2020

While the K-drama It’s Okay to Not Be Okay sparked some debate, its conclusion was deeply satisfying. The show follows Moon Gang-tae, Ko Mun-yeoung, and Moon Sang-tae as they cope with significant trauma, and ultimately offers a very hopeful portrayal of their journey towards healing together.

What makes It’s Okay to Not Be Okay stand out is its satisfying conclusion – it neatly resolves every question and storyline. All the supporting characters find their place, Sang-tae achieves his goal of becoming an artist, and the central characters ultimately get the happy ending they deserve after overcoming so many challenges.

16. Reply 1988

2015

The K-drama Reply 1988 is considered the best in the popular Reply series, and while it’s a heartwarming story, it has a surprisingly sad ending that feels true to the show’s overall message. The series mainly focuses on a close-knit group of friends who support each other through the ups and downs of growing up.

It’s bittersweet to watch the close-knit friend group in Reply 1988 grow apart, and the series finale really emphasizes how much things have changed in their neighborhood. While the ending is sad, it fits with the show’s overall message about time passing and things not staying the same forever.

15. The Red Sleeve

2021

I’ve been totally hooked on The Red Sleeve – it’s quickly become one of my favorite historical K-dramas! But honestly, the ending has been a real point of debate among fans, and I get why. The story of Yi San and Seong Deok-im, who are based on actual historical people, felt like a classic doomed romance from the start. It’s heartbreaking because Deok-im essentially sacrificed her own independence, giving up her freedom, all for the sake of loving San.

Deok-im sadly passes away after giving birth to their son, leaving San (who later becomes King Jeongjo) heartbroken. In a touching afterlife reunion, Yi San finds Deok-im waiting for him. The drama highlights the conflict between personal happiness and societal obligations, suggesting that, given their positions, their only path to genuine joy was through death.

14. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

2021

Beyond being a super cozy K-drama, Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha also has a wonderfully heartwarming ending. The story starts with Yoon Hye-jin (Shin Min-a) and Hong Du-sik (Kim Seon-ho) clashing, but their initial dislike quickly blossoms into a sweet romance, all set in the beautiful seaside village of Gongjin.

The romance between Hye-jin and Du-sik is a highlight of Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, especially evident in the heartwarming finale where they both propose. The lively wedding, complete with all the villagers, perfectly wraps up their love story, bringing the series to a happy and satisfying conclusion.

13. It’s Okay, That’s Love

2014

The K-drama It’s Okay, That’s Love is a surprisingly insightful show that explored complex mental health topics over ten years ago. It centers on the romance between author Jang Jae-yeol (played by Zo In-sung) and doctor Ji Hae-soo (Gong Hyo-jin), but their relationship is complicated by Jae-yeol’s hidden schizophrenia and Hae-soo’s critical family.

Ultimately, the couple finds happiness together. After a year of separation – with Jae-yeol in treatment and Hae-sol taking time off – they reconnect and choose to build a life together. The story jumps ahead to show them married and expecting a baby, a future that seemed impossible when they first met.

12. My Mister

2018

The K-drama My Mister features a particularly complex female character, Lee Ji-an (played by IU). Throughout the series, she secretly follows and observes Park Dong-hoon, but largely keeps to herself as a way to stay safe. Ultimately, though, her actions have consequences that she must face.

Ultimately, My Mister is a story about finding healing and moving forward, shown through Park Dong-hoon’s forgiveness of Lee Ji-an and their heartfelt goodbye before she leaves the city. They meet again later, and Ji-an is clearly doing well and has found peace. The series wisely avoids turning their connection into a romance, and the ending maintains their platonic bond.

11. Happiness

2021

If you enjoy K-dramas, especially horror or romance, you shouldn’t miss Happiness. It’s a thrilling series with a really great conclusion. The story follows Yoon Sae-bom (played by Han Hyo-joo) and Jung Yi-hyun (Park Hyung-sik) as they try to survive a zombie outbreak while stuck in quarantine within an apartment building – and things are definitely not safe for them!

Yi-hyun becomes infected, causing Sae-bom to desperately hold him, willing to risk her own life to save him. Fortunately, Sae-bom manages to reverse the infection and ultimately finds a cure for everyone. The series Happiness put its characters through incredibly difficult times, but it ended with a hopeful and romantic resolution.

Read More

2025-11-07 03:01