Melodrama

Just Between Lovers - As children, the leads were victims of a tragic accident. Years later, their lives are still haunted by the effects of the tragedy, and as they cross paths, they seek to overcome and heal from their traumas. This was a beautifully poignant drama with excellent acting that pulled at all the emotions, and it also called out some valuable life lessons along the way. - u/craftsycandymonster

When The Weather is Fine - After losing her job our female lead ends up back in the small town where she grew up. There she reconnects with our shy yet kind male lead who runs a small bookstore. Due to their pasts, both our leads have put walls around their hearts and have a hard time trusting others. While it does touch on some heavier themes, this is a warm and cozy drama that makes you want to wrap up in a blanket while drinking hot cocoa. - u/zuzubee123

I'm Sorry, I Love You - Recipe for a sure fire Melodrama - Everything that can possibly go wrong happens to a young So Ji Sub  who was adopted then abandoned in a foreign country: Girlfriend marries an bigger gangster than himself,  Less-than-a-year-to-live, birth secrets, secret identity, Jealousy, accused falsely of stealing, Super Love Quadrangle.  Best reason to watch:  Young So Ji Sub, super young Jung Kyung Ho playing an idol (he sings!), young Im Soo Jung (Bae Tami of Search: WWW).  Be sure to have a box of tissues on hand.  - u/LcLou02

What Happened in Bali -

A drama with "no fluff" guarantee.

Something Happened In Bali is a story of two young chaebols, a strikingly handsome but poor office worker and a simple girl trying to get by  intangled in a love quadrangle, which unfortunately ends awfully for almost all the involved. If you like your dramas intense, on the darker side and with a distinctly tragic ending, look no further. SHIB may not have aged well visually but it will tug at your heart strings with all its might anyway. Paired with a pleasantly emotional OST, plenty deep stares and unexpected plot twists it's an excellent contender to your "binge watch melo" list. - u/imerremi

A more current melodrama that I'd recommend is Beyond the Sun.  It is a good revenge drama.  I love the main actor, Yoon Kye Sang, and it also has a good soundtrack. - u/gordonshumway85

One old goodie I like is All In - starring Lee Byung Hun and Song Hye Gyo. It has the action, the romance, the tragedy. So satisfying.  - u/stone_soup

Thank You - it's about a mother and her daughter with AIDS/HIV+. It was pretty good. -  unknown

I am not entirely sure what constitutes a melodrama, but I think Scarlet Heart Ryeo probably fits the bill. Epic story, strong emotions, romance, light on the comedy, etc. A girl time travels to Goryeo into the body of a palace lady, and immediately gets tangled up in the affairs of a whole gang of princes.  - u/eroverton

W probably counts. Elaborate premise, danger, romance, fun, etc. A girl gets pulled into the world of a popular comic book/graphic novel (manhwa?) and has to save the main character from a shady killer while figuring out how to get out of there (all while falling all in love with the main character).  - u/eroverton

Love Affairs in the Afternoon - A wife with no children neglected by her husband befriends her new neighbour, a rich and glorious married woman who is having an affair. The wife builds a connection with a local teacher who is married, encouraged by her neighbour, and they begin a slow and passionate affair. It’s gradual and magnetising and addictive: the perfect elements in a melodrama!!!!  - u/ang-ela

Why I loved My Love Eun Dong? Because it's full of uncomfortable questions. Filled with plenty of your usual kdrama tropes, it manages to challenge a good handful of Korean values which don't normally get focused on with such ease. It's neither overly judgemental nor too lenient but might leave some with a bitter aftertaste despite its happy ending. It's a journey worth taking if you don't mind feeling uncomfortable at times and deeply moved at others while watching a lifelong story of forgotten love get its closure. - u/imerremi

My Love Eu Dong / This Is My Love - If the novel My Sweet Audrina by V.C. Andrews and an 1980’s night time soap opera (like Dallas or Dynasty) got drunk and had a baby, it would be this K-drama. It unabashedly embraces all the tropes and I love it for that. - u/PAHi-LyVisible

Misty - Filled with twists and turns - a high flying news anchor finds herself caught in a murder investigation as her complicated past comes back to haunt her, threatening her marriage and her career.  - u/so_just_here

Dear My Friends - Slice-of-life story about a group of senior friends and aging. - u/vcconut

Bubblegum - Childhood friends struggling in romance due to parental connections. Light and sweet at times, and at other times a bit heavy. - u/vcconut

Uncontrollably Fond - When Shin Joon Young and No Eul were younger, they were separated and became heartbroken. As adults, they meet again. Shin Joon Young is now a top actor and singer. He is intelligent and attractive. No Eul is the PD of documentaries. She values money over justice and kisses up to those with more power than her. - u/thabz2281

Autumn in my Heart - Melodrama of Melodrama's.  If you don't mind watching older Kdramas give this one a try if you like melo's.  It's claimed that elements of this series are used frequently in Kdramas since its first broadcast. Well duh – it has just about every f'n cliche in the book! It takes the early innocent love-hate bonding of a brother and sister and flips it on end by the second episode.  From that point on everyone must come to terms with this pure love and how it affects them personally. Heroes become villains and enemies become friends in a constant shake of melodrama that is layered on thicker than a Subway sandwich with all the extras. On my Tear-O-Meter I'd give it a sold five out five. Also features a very young Song Hye Gyo just after she's stashed her version of a Dorian Grey painting in the attic.  - u/stumpy1949

Endless love series

Padam Padam... The Sound of His and Her Heartbeats - about  a guy who was jailed because of a murder he never did; trying to live life the best possible way (with kindness etc) but nothing ever goes his way.  - u/eunhaneul

Angry Mom - Motherly love and powerlessness to protect a child.  - unknown

Angry Mom - FL is a mother whose daughter is a victim of bullying at her school. FL decides to go to her daughter's school to end the bullying and get her daughter justice. Turn of events leads her to uncover some dark secrets of the school. Along with a melodrama, it's also a really hilarious and wholesome drama that shows at what all lengths a mother can go to for her daughter. It's also perfect if you're looking for a drama with a strong FL because the FL was strong in the most purest of ways! - u/Fatooz

Woman of Dignity - What happens when a charlatan schemes her way into marrying into a rich businessman's family to get rich. - u/so_just_here

Should We Kiss First? - What it is to go on living with wounds that will never heal.  - unknown

It's Okay, That's Love - ML and FL have a hate sort of relationship on their first meet however they end up living together and it so happens that ML gets intrigued by the FL. This drama has one of the really matured romances and it also deals with an important topic - mental health. This was one of those dramas that deals with the mental health aspect very nicely. Highly recommend it for its acting, romance and writing.  - u/Fatooz

Mother - A drama that depicts different kinds of mothers and makes you fall in love with your own mothers. This is one of those dramas that give you all the feels and the acting of each and every actor in this drama was outstanding. One of the really good melodramas out there. - u/Fatooz

The Innocent Man - ML is wronged by SFL and ends up taking revenge on her by using FL. Turn of events lead the ML and FL to fall for each other, however ML now fears losing FL because of his lie. A drama that could've been done better but the ML and FL's acting was good and their chemistry was great. Plot wise it was a bit cliched but regardless a good watch if you're in the mood for a pre-2015 melodrama. - u/Fatooz

A Piece of Your Mind - ML and FL have both faced a traumatic childhood event, but tried to find peace in different ways. An AI device and a chance encounter leads them to get entangled with each other, as they both become each other's happy place. One of the very matured and pure romantic melodramas out there that will give you all the feels. Main leads have great chemistry and the cinematography is therapeutic. - u/Fatooz

Descendants of the Sun - ML and FL have a chance encounter but sparks fly from their first meeting itself. However both their different professions makes it difficult for them to be together. A drama that depicts hardships between the love of a doctor and a South Korean soldier. It has some witty and quirky dialogues and is definitely one of the Kim Eun-Sook classics.  - u/Fatooz

Do You Like Brahms? - ML and FL are both awkward souls who find peace in music. However, FL loves her Violin but does not have the talent for it, while the ML has the talent to play Piano but instead of comforting him it troubles him. A chance encounter and an unintentional friendship leads them to find comfort in each other. A drama that has one of the best character developments and soothing cinematography along with an amazing soundtrack. The relationship between the ML and FL can be a bit difficult to like, however, they're both adorable and grow into great partners. - u/Fatooz

Come and Hug Me - ML's father is a serial killer and ends up killing the FL's parents, but ML and FL love each other since their childhood. A forbidden romance where the ML and FL despite all odds love each other and get together. Loved the cinematography, romance and story of the drama. It's a genuine drama that will definitely touch your heart. - u/Fatooz

Encounter - ML is a free soul and FL is hurt and has burden of her past. Both end up meeting in Cuba and spending the best of their time together, however it so turns out that ML is now working in the FL's hotel. A melodrama where the FL is rich while the ML is poor. A bit of a cliched drama but the cinematography, acting and romance is worth the watch. - u/Fatooz

Goblin - ML is stuck in between the living realm and the after life. He is given a punishment and reward by the deities. FL is a high school student whose life had been miserable ever since she was a kid, she has also been avoiding death thanks to the ML. I love this drama not for its romance but its bromance and its plot. The cinematography and soundtrack were an add on. - u/Fatooz

One Spring Night - ML and FL meet by chance but their first meet makes them both feel infatuated with each other. However FL is already in a relationship with the SML and the ML is a single dad. This drama deals with a societal issue regarding single dads and how the FL despite all odds supports and loves the ML. I loved how the drama dealt with almost all side topics and the main plot. It was an endearing watch despite the fact that there were a few frustrating characters. - u/Fatooz

The Heirs - A high school melodrama where nothing is to be taken seriously. It's filled with all our favourite classic tropes and a stellar cast. Another one of Kim Eun-Sook's classics with a nice soundtrack including Love is the Moment. Plot wise it's cliched but absolutely loved the bromance between Lee Min-Ho and Kim Woo-Bin. - u/Fatooz

Tomorrow with You - ML can time travel and ends up seeing his and FL's future which leads him to get entangled with the FL. At first he is with her only because he wants to change his future but as they start living together and get married the ML actually falls in love with the FL and now he wants to protect her. It's not a drama for everyone but it indeed is one of the hidden gems. I loved the chemistry between the main leads and the acting of all actors was great.  - u/Fatooz

Youth of May -A melodrama that takes place in the Gwangju Uprising of South Korea. The drama deals with an important event but does it perfectly. There were barely any flaws and though it tends to get a bit cliched, the characters, acting, writing and execution all overshadow the flaws. It's a short and beautiful drama that deserves all the love and attention. - u/Fatooz