LGBTQ+ people are still dealing with the judgements and inequalities they received from the society. They can be judged if they don’t meet the expected image and can be easily taken for granted.
However, it may hard for some heterosexual individuals to accept other’s identity, let us also consider that LGBTQ+ people are still humans who have emotions and just trying to set their true self out of the closet.
Like the conservative Korean culture, they are quite aloof in this topic but as the time goes by, they are slowly opening the doors and show acceptance to the queer community especially through Korean dramas.
And if you are looking for Korean dramas featuring LGBTQ+ characters, then you are in the right path! Below are the guide list of the said dramas:
Itaewon Class (2020)
Episodes: 16
Itaewon Class is not your typical Korean drama. It tells the story of Park Saeroyi played by Park Seo Joon who strived hard to avenge his father’s death. Other than that, it also tackles different issues such as gender inequality, injustices, fame, and racism.
In this drama, a transgender woman named Ma Hyunyi played a big role as she helps Park Saeroyi’s DanBam and becomes the pub’s chef.
Love with Flaws (2019)
Episodes: 32
Love with Flaws is a romantic Korean drama starring Ahn Jae Hyeon and Oh Yeon Seo. It is about a handsome guy who enjoys being in the spotlight and an enthusiastic PE teacher. They usually argue about everything but end up having feelings for each other.
Cha In Ha who plays the character of Joo Wonsuk, is a bartender working in a gay bar. His character finds acceptance from his family and love interest towards a closeted gay.
Moment at Eighteen (2019)
Episodes: 16
Moment at Eighteen is a romance drama with slice of life, friendship, and family. It tells the story of Choi Joon Woo played by Ong Seong Wu who is used of being alone. He transfers to a new school and meets the school’s top student Yoo Soo Bin (Kim Hyang Gi).
Yoo Soo Bin’s life has been controlled by her mom and she dreams to become independent doing what she truly wants. After she meets Choi Joon Woo, her life changed.
One of the character in this drama is Jung Oh Je played by ASTRO’s Moonbin. The character tells a female friend that he likes a male classmate.
Romance is a Bonus Book (2019)
Episodes: 16
Romance is a Bonus Book is a romance-comedy drama about Cha Eun Ho (Lee Jong Suk), a genius writer and the youngest chief editor in his publishing company.
Kang Dan Yi (Lee Na Young) on the other hand, is used to be a popular copywriter but got unemployed. Even with her good credentials and excellent educational background, she’s unable to find a new job.
However, because of desperate needs, she lied about her background and gets a new job at Cha Eun Ho’s publishing company. They begin to develop romantic feelings for each other.
The brief appearance of female same-sex couple in this drama made a noise on social media. It is Cha Eun Ho’s ex-girlfriend who cheated on him and now dating another girl. The couple was introduced in the first episode of the said drama.
The Boy Next Door (2017)
Episodes: 15
The Boy Next Door is a comedy web drama about Kyu Tae (Choi Woo Shik) and Ki Jae (Jang Ki Yong) who are college students and just moved next to each other.
Because of their closeness, their friend Kim Min Ah (Jang Hee Ryung) comes to a conclusion that they are both gay.
Prison Playbook (2017)
Episodes: 16
Prison Playbook is a comedy drama about big-time baseball player Kim Je Hyuk (Park Hae Soo) who is imprison because of his crimes. He meets some interesting people in the prison. Moreover, the drama will tackle about the prisoners and their lives there.
Yoo Han Yang popular as Looney is Lee Kyu Hyung’s character in this drama. He is a gay who involves in drugs and tries to quit using it because of his lover.
The Handmaiden (2016)
The Handmaiden is an historical South Korean movie about a noble lady (Kim Min Hee) who inherited a fortune and a swindler (Ha Jung Woo) who is after the noble lady’s fortune.
In this movie, two women fall in love with each other.
Schoolgirl Detectives (2014)
Episodes: 14
Schoolgirl Detectives revolves around five high school teenagers who are members of a private investigator club at Seonam Girls High School. They aim to solve the school’s sensitive issues such as bullying, abortion and suicide.
This drama shows the first on-screen lesbian kiss in Korean television.
Reply 1997 (2012)
Episodes: 16
Reply 1997 is a romance-comedy drama about group of friends who reminisce their high school years. During the high school setting, it follows Shi Won (Jung Eun Ji) who idolizes boyband H.O.T. Then shifted to their present-day setting having a high school reunion dinner.
In this drama, Kang Joon He is a gay who fell in love with his best friend played by Hoya, former member of INFINITE.
Life is Beautiful (2010)
Episodes: 63
Life is Beautiful is a family drama set in Jeju Island and tackles about loving and blended family. The drama revolves around the personal and social conflicts of a family.
Kim Kyungsoo and Tae Sub are the same sex couple in this drama. It will show the true self of the character and family acceptance.
Coffee Prince (2007)
Episodes: 17
Coffee Prince is a romance-comedy drama that revolves around the dreams and love life of four young individuals who meet at a cafe.
A smart young man who hates to be tied down in one career named Han Gyul (Gong Yoo) meets a cheerful girl Eun Chan (Yoon Eun-Hye) in the cafe he managed. Then they learn to know the meaning of love.
Eun Chan is a girl mistakenly as a guy because of her looks. Han Gyul asked her to pretend to be his gay lover to avoid blind dates arranged by his grandmother.
Moreover, there is also an upcoming Boys Love (BL) web drama The Place Where Your Gaze Rests (literal translation) starring former Produce X 101‘s Han Gi Chan and Jang Eui Soo.
The web drama will premiere on May 22 and it will be on global cinemas this coming June.
What do you think, mga bes? Let me know if I miss some Korean dramas featuring LGBTQ+ characters!