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| (All Pics: Instagram/MBC/Netflix/tvN) |
Korean dramas may be famous for their tearjerkers, time travel and slow-burn romances, but did you know a fair few of those iconic K-dramas actually started out as Taiwanese hits?
That’s right — Taiwan’s been quietly feeding the K-drama machine with some absolute storytelling gems.
Taiwanese dramas and films have long nailed that delicate mix of heart, humour and life’s big feels — whether it’s first love, grief, or finding yourself after heartbreak.
No wonder Korean producers keep turning to them for remake material.
Let’s dive into six standout K-adaptations of popular Taiwanese dramas and films — from swoony noona romances to piano-playing ghosts and emotional time slips.
1. A Witch’s Love (2014)
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Based on the hit Taiwanese drama My Queen, this rom-com gave us Park Seo Joon in his first major lead role — and boy, did he deliver.
Uhm Jung Hwa plays a fierce 39-year-old workaholic reporter, while Park’s character is a 25-year-old with a gentle heart and some deep emotional wounds of his own.
What follows is a charming story about healing, age gaps, and unexpected love, all wrapped in warm humour and proper K-drama feels.
2. Fated to Love You (2014)
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Originally a ratings juggernaut in Taiwan, Fated to Love You got the K-remake treatment starring Jang Na Ra as Mi Yeon — your everyday office worker who’s constantly overlooked.
After an awkward one-night stand with the quirky heir Lee Gun (played by Jang Hyuk), she finds herself unexpectedly pregnant.
Cue a heartfelt tale of self-worth, emotional growth, and a surprisingly wholesome slow-burn love story. Plus: snail memes.
3. Hear Me: Our Summer (2023)
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Adapted from the beloved 2009 Taiwanese film Hear Me, this Korean version leans all the way into tenderness.
Hong Kyung plays a sweet lad working at his family’s lunchbox shop who falls for Yeo-reum (Roh Yoon Seo), a devoted sister raising her hearing-impaired sibling, Ga Eul (Kim Min Ju).
It’s not your typical rom-com — this one’s all about empathy, quiet romance, and meaningful glances over bento.
4. A Time Called You (2023)
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Based on Someday or One Day — a drama often called one of Taiwan’s finest — this Netflix time-travel mystery keeps your heart racing and your tissues close.
Jeon Yeo Been stars as Jun Hee, a grieving woman suddenly pulled back to 1998, into the body of 18-year-old Min Ju.
There, she meets Si Heon (Ahn Hyo Seop), a dead ringer for her late boyfriend.
It’s layered, emotional, and filled with just the right amount of confusion, heartbreak and what-ifs.
5. Secret: Untold Melody (2024)
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This one's a fresh release and stars DO (Doh Kyung Soo from EXO) alongside Won Jin-ah and Shin Ye-eun.
A remake of Jay Chou’s iconic film Secret, it tells the tale of a music student who stumbles upon a mysterious girl playing a haunting tune in an abandoned piano room.
There's romance, mystery, and a sprinkle of fantasy — perfect if you’re into stories where love bends time and melody holds magic.
6. The Time We Were Not in Love (2015)
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Adapted from In Time With You, this rom-com centres on Ha Na (Ha Ji Won) and Won (Lee Jin Wook) — two 34-year-old best mates who've been platonic forever.
Or have they?
They both vow to marry before 35, helping each other find “the one”, only to realise… they might’ve been it all along.
It’s the classic friends-to-lovers arc done with a Korean flair, and a bit of that slow-burn ache we all secretly live for.
Taiwan’s storytelling is gold — raw, relatable, and refreshingly heartfelt.
So it’s no surprise Korea’s been borrowing the blueprints and adding their own sparkle.
Whether you’re new to these stories or revisiting them in a new language, these remakes prove that good tales truly know no borders.