7 K-Drama Female Friendship Duos Who Make the Romance Feel Like a Subplot

K-dramas are known for romance. But female friendships when explored well, deserve a drama of their own. Fighting over a boy? Jealous of each other? No, these women are each other's ride or die so much so that their boyfriends often feel like the third wheels. They match each other's vibe, comfort each other through heartbreaks and cheer for each other through everything.

Some of these friendships even last longer than their romantic relationships. Here are some of the most memorable female friendship duos in K-dramas.

1. Hometown Cha Cha Cha

Hometown Cha Cha Cha follows Yoon Hye Jin (Shin Min Ah) who moves to the seaside town of Gongjin after her life in Seoul takes a hit. One of the most famous romcoms in K-drama history, also has one of the most heartwarming female friendships on screen. As Hye Jin packs up her life to start a small dental clinic in a rural area, she is not alone. Her best friend Pyo Mi Seon (Gong Min Jung), a dental hygienist, also follows her as she embarks on this new journey.

While Hye Jin is shown as someone who doesn't make friends easily, we can see that once she does, it's friendship for life. We see their loyalty, love and care for each other throughout the show. The iconic scene in the police station where they cry and comfort each other across bars while the whole police station just watches on is one of the most hilarious scenes of the show. It is a must watch for those looking for a fun-filled female friendship in K drama.

2. Business Proposal

A friendship more iconic than a rich CEO-employee romance? Shin Ha Ri (Kim Se Jeong) and Jin Yeong Seo (Seol In Ah) in Business Proposal portray one of the most joyous and chaotic female friendships of all time. A long standing friendship where one agrees to impersonate the other to scare off a potential blind date has to be a loyal one.

Both these women are each other’s cheerleaders, problem solvers and partners in crime. They do not hesitate to cover up for each other, willing to do whatever it takes when it comes to their friend. Their friendship is authentic, grounded and given ample screen time rather than being used as a plot device. Kim Se Jeong and Seol In Ah’s chemistry is the cherry on top. Business Proposal has one of the most wholesome friendships in K-drama and definitely worth the watch.

3. Serendipity’s Embrace

In Serendipity's Embrace, we have Lee Hong-Joo (Kim So Hyun) and Kang Hoo Yeong (Chae Jong Hyeop), once school batchmates, reuniting 10 years later. In flashbacks, we see Hong Joo running behind Hoo Yeong with her best friend's love letter. A friend delivering your love letter

to your crush sounds heartwarming. But what happens when you realise that your crush has feelings for your friend instead? That is what the drama explores.

The friendship between Lee Hong-Joo and Kim Hye Ji (Kim Da Som) has to be one of the most layered and refreshing takes on female friendships. Instead of jealousy and misunderstandings, we have two friends who would never let a boy come in between them. The show depicts Hye Ji visibly dejected but also never blaming her friend for her crush’s feelings. In fact, once Hye Ji realises Hoo Yeong’s love, she even helps them get together. The emotional maturity shown by both female characters amidst a complex love triangle makes it one of the most realistic female friendships on screen.

4. Twenty-Five Twenty-One

Who doesn't love the enemies to lovers’ trope? But this time, it's in friendship. Twenty Five Twenty One follows a group of five friends in their most memorable years, their youth. We see Na Hee Do (Kim Tae Ri) running as fast as she can to catch a glimpse of Ko Yu Rim (Bona), her role model and national team fencer.

Despite looking up to Yu Rim her whole life, they both end up being at loggerheads when pitted against each other in fencing. This leads to confrontation, misunderstanding and a national level scandal. But life surely takes a different turn when they realise they have been friends all along without knowing each other's identities. Twenty Five Twenty One depicts one of the most beautiful female friendships in K-drama history. A friendship which even outlives the iconic romance. Through competitions and rivalry, misunderstandings and heartbreaks, they stand by each other. Twenty Five Twenty One is surely more of a friendship drama than romance and is definitely worth a watch if you are in the mood to watch female friendship on screen.

5. Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Woo to the young to the woo,

Dong to the geu to the ra mi!

The introduction scene of the friendship between Woo Young-woo and Dong Geu-ra-mi is enough to convince anyone to watch the show. One of Park Eun Bin’s career-best performances, she plays Woo Young-woo, a rookie attorney with autism spectrum disorder. She is joined by her best friend Dong Geu-ra-mi (Joo Hyun Young), who is the polar opposite of Young-woo with her loud and energetic personality. They have each other’s back since high school days and continue to be each other’s fierce protectors. Their friendship occupies a large part of the show, and almost all scenes of them together fill you with a lot of joy.

Apart from them, we also see a blossoming friendship between Young Woo and Choi Su Yeon (Ha Yoon-kyung). While their relationship starts off on a rocky note, we later see how kind and protective Su Yeon is to Young Woo, leading to one of the most moving scenes of the show. You cannot miss out on Extraordinary Attorney Woo, as the show portrays not just one but two friendships worth watching for.

6. Story of Park’s Marriage Contract

In the 19th Century, Park Yeon Woo (Lee Se Young) is kidnapped and thrown into a well a day after her husband dies. She is now transported to 2023, where a series of mishaps leads to her agreeing to a contract marriage with Kang Tae Ha (Bae In Hyuk), who looks exactly like her husband. Amidst the love story across timelines, we have a very powerful female friendship between Yeon Woo and Sa Wol (Joo Hyun Young), her handmaiden.

From Joseon times to modern-day Seoul, they find each other and care for each other, transitioning from a servant-mistress relationship to a sisterly bond. It also tackles their class difference in a nuanced way, making Sa Wol independent of Yeon Woo while also being deeply indebted to each other. The friendship is often underrated but holds its own against the show's central romance.

7. Hospital Playlist

In a drama which follows the friendship between five doctors, the bond between a surgical resident Jang Gyeo Ul (Shin Hyun Been) and OB/GYN resident Chu Min Ha (Ahn Eun Jin) who are not the core part of the group, becomes one of the most relatable female friendships in K-Drama. They depict the ultimate work friends. The ones who support each other, eat with each other, rant with each other and find comfort amid a very hectic hospital life.

Their friendship is not loud or filled with dramatic action, but rather a very natural part of everyday life. The kind that survives back to back shifts. It also helps that they became friends the normal way, over shared music taste, since they're both ARMYs. Their friendship stands out for being a very authentic portrayal of female work friendships, without any jealousy or competition. While the core group misses out on female friendship with only a single female character, these two more than make up for it.
These shows are best enjoyed with your best friend by your side. If you have any more recommendations, make sure to mention them in the comments !