K-Dramas like Old Boy

12 shows with a similar feel

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  Ode to Joy (2016)Also drama

  Five independent, career-driven women living in the Ode to Joy apartment building navigate love, ambition, and personal growth as they chase fulfillment on their own terms. As they try to make it in the big city, each faces unique challenges and romantic entanglements while discovering who they truly want to be.
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  I Hear You (2019)Also drama

  Bei Er Duo, a girl from an ordinary family, dreams about studying in Japan to be a professional voice actor. However, her mother wants her to marry rich whilst she is young, leading to continuous blind dates which irritate Bei Er Duo. In her desperation to raise funds for studying overseas as well as helping her best friend Tang Li out of a crisis, Bei Er Duo joins a couple reality program, encountering top violin maker Ye Shu Wei.
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  Love Between Lines (2026)Also drama

  Xiao Zhiyu and Hu Xiu are brought together by a Republic of China-themed murder mystery game. In the scripted NPC game filled with falling snow and spies in the shadows, the two ignite a fateful spark. An unexpected reunion in the real world reveals the mystery of each other's identities. The two shuttle between the misaligned time-spaces of reality and the script, and finally achieve two-way growth in the cross-dimensional bond, completing the transformation of love and self.

  3 tracking it here
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  The Longest Promise (2023)Also drama

  From the Kong Sang Continent comes the tale of the tumultuous love story of Princess Zhu Yan of the Chi Yi Tribe and Royal Prince Shi Ying, The framing of the Queen results in the Prince being banished to Jiu Yi Mountain to cultivate. Once solely focused on his tasks, he develops romantic feelings for his disciple Zhu Yan. But their student/teacher relationship prevents either from expressing their true feelings. Fate then works against them when they choose opposing sides in a political struggle of life and death proportions. Eventually, putting aside their issues, they pledge to protect their beloved Kong Sang Continent.

  1 tracking it here
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  Shine on Me (2025)Also drama

  Her heart was anchored in an unrequited love, while the one who truly saw her from the beginning waited in the wings. A tale of a fateful first encounter that changes everything—and a second chance at a love that was always meant to be.

  4 tracking it here
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  The King's Woman (2017)Also drama

  Gong Sunli is the grand-daughter and disciple of military commander Gong Sunyu. Jing Ke and Li have been in love with each other since they were children. While trying to protect Li during an attack, Jing Ke is poisoned. Li’s beauty has seized the interest of the Qin Emperor, Ying Zheng, and Li agrees to marry him to save Jing Ke.
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  Romance in the Rain (2001)Also drama

  Lu Yiping, one of many children of a retired general with nine wives, is banished from her family home due to Wang Xueqin. Driven by resentment, she plots revenge by targeting her stepsister's love interest, He Shuhuan. But as Yiping navigates life with her mother, she unexpectedly finds forgiveness and love through the people she meets, transforming her journey of vengeance into one of self-discovery and healing.
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  Soldiers Sortie (2006)Also drama

  As a Chinese special forces operative falls from a beam to his possible death during a mission, he recalls the path he took as a dimwitted young man in rural China to reach this point.
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  The Immortal Ascension (2025)Also drama

  Han Li, an ordinary, poor boy from a mountain village, joins a small martial arts sect by chance. Despite his mediocre talent, he eventually cultivates himself into an immortal through hard work and careful planning.

  1 tracking it here
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  Forever Love (2023)Also drama

  Lin Zi Tong is the rich young heiress of the Li group: she is beautiful, cheerful, smart and straightforward. She has everything for her, including a devoted boyfriend, Chi Shan. But when she goes through family changes, this innocent young miss has to become stronger to not only face adversity but also the betrayal of her boyfriend, Chi Shan, and her so-called best friend, Xia Yu Wei, a deceitful hypocrite who on the surface treats Lin Zi Tong like a sister but is actually very jealous and wants to steal everything from her. Sheng Mo Yao is a brilliant medical student who succeeds in everything he does. He is handsome, appears sharp, cold and mysterious and is willing to do everything to protect Lin Zi Tong and help her in the shadows.

  3 tracking it here
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  Lighter and Princess (2022)Also drama

  As soon as Zhu Yun started college life, the world was completely turned upside down by the intrusion of "bad boy" Li Xun. He was regarded by Zhu Yun as a rich, ignorant and incompetent son, but his real identity was actually a special admissions student who was admitted by the school, and a rare programming genius. After several confrontations, the two have some appreciation for each other. The senior Fang Zhijing made things difficult for Zhu Yun many times, Li Xun took action to protect Zhu Yun, and invited her to join the preparation team he set up to win a major programming competition on behalf of the school.

  3 tracking it here
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  Meteor Garden (2018)Also drama

  An ordinary girl is admitted to the most prestigious school in the country where she encounters F4, an exclusive group comprised of the four wealthiest and handsomest boys in the school - Dao Mingsi, Hua Zelei, Xi Men and Mei Zuo.