Summertime is the perfect time to binge-watch your Korean drama back-log; school's over, you can stay inside air-conditioned rooms and avoid getting sunburned. But just because you're having a marathon, doesn't mean you have to miss out on the best the season has to offer.
Bask in these summer-set dramas where the season is a viable co-star:
Coffee Prince
Yeah, yeah, I know, everyone has seen Coffee Prince by this point. But the list wouldn't be complete without it. Soompi's rughydrangea put it best: "The viewer feels[...] the heat, humidity, and stickiness of summer exist in every scene." And who can forget this scene on the beach?!
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho
This is another one of those dramas where one of the first things you
notice (besides Shin Min Ah's adorable dimples) is that it's set in the dead heat of summer. The heat just radiates off our leads, and the sound of cicadae serves as the perfect backdrop to this peppy supernatural rom-com.
It's Okay, That's Love!
This drama is beautiful in more ways than one, but while the psychological drama and the relationships are without a doubt the real stars of the show, you can't deny that Jeju Island and that steamy kiss in the waterfall make for some strong co-stars...
Jeju Island Gatsby (Warm and Cozy)
Come for the setting, stay for the food porn!
Speaking of Jeju Island, this drama has it in the name! So you just know you're going to be getting a lot of lovely summer-themed scenery. With Jeju often being considered the "Hawaii" of Korea, enjoy a little escapism with this cute summer drama!
Marriage, Not Dating
Rom-coms are at a height during summer-time, when dates are super-fun and skinship is at its peak! Enter Marriage, Not Dating, one of the funniest rom-coms you'll ever have the joy to see. In addition to multiple love lines and great couples, you get lots of cute outdoor scenery and some beautiful open-air restaurants!
The Heirs
Love 'em or hate 'em (I am solidly in the "love" category), there's no doubt that The Heirs is chock-full of pretty faces and pretty settings, and there's hardly a setting more summery than the coast of California, where the characters in this drama spend most of the first episodes. This drama was the biggest hit of Summer 2015, and you bet I'll be sporting as many of Park Shin Hye's timeless looks as I can this year!
Check out:
-> 10 Perfect Dramas to Keep You Occupied During the Hot Summer