10 Best, Most Passionate Kdrama Kiss Scenes That Will Make You Weak at the Knees

We all know the dreaded K-drama dead fish kiss—when the female lead stands with her eyes wide open as the man inches towards her face and then they barely brush lips. Nothing is more infuriating after you've invested hours watching a romance develop. I'm not saying that they need to rip each others' clothes off during the first date, but when people are in love (and especially when they overcome absurd plot hurdles for that love), physical desire is a manifestation of that emotional connection.

Just like a bad K-drama kiss can undermine the emotional payout of the show, a good kiss filled with passion makes the whole thing worth watching.  So, for those of you tired of frozen lip-bumps, here are the 10 best gut-flipping, knee-melting kisses we've ever seen in K-dramas.

(Note: We've overhauled this post to celebrate all the many fantastic kiss scenes since we originally wrote it in 2013. Updated: February 2017)

1. Lie to Me: Karaoke Kiss/Cola Kiss

I agonized over which kiss to choose from this series. The cola kiss is more generally popular, but the the karaoke kiss was what really sold me on this show. In both scenes, it's this intense, immediate realization of attraction that leads to on-screen magic. There have been some close competitors in recent years, but this show still takes the cake as the best K-drama kiss.

2. Healer: Apartment Kiss

I know what you're thinking, and you can just stop right now. Yes, the "hat kiss" is the more iconic one from this show. No, that does not make it the best kiss.

K-dramas looooooove to use props that make kisses "memorable" (aka easy to nickname), but those props often undermine the execution itself. No, I don't think that licking foam off of someone's face or sharing a piece of sharp, pointy toast is romantic. Call me a kissing purist, but I'm sticking with this beautiful, vulnerable, loving kiss instead of the one where the female lead can't see anything.

3. It's Okay, That's Love: Waterfall Kiss

Surprise! Adults actually like to kiss each other sometimes. If you want to see a series that actually addresses the topic of sex, this is the show for you.

           

4. Coffee Prince: Man or Alien Kiss

You had to know this was coming.New K-dramas may try to edge this one out, but it's a classic for a reason. The pure emotion behind this scene ramps up the passion, and of course, Yoon Eun Hye pulls her weight, which explains how she ended up in 2 of the top 5 Korean drama kisses on this list.

5.  Queen In Hyun's Man: Tiptoe Kiss

I remember hearing about how good this kiss was, and I wasn't disappointed. This is one of the best K-drama love stories of all time, and the kissing matches the romance.

6. Answer Me 1988: Noona Kiss

Consent is sexy, y'all.

7. Warm and Cozy/Jeju Island Gatsby: Restaurant Kiss

This show was nonsense, but this kiss was probably the best part of the whole thing. I don't know that it's worth watching the entire series just for the kiss, so let me tell you the important parts. Yoo Yun Suk's character is a jerk for no reason, Kang So Ra's character puts up with him for no reason, and then this kiss happens, and then blah blah.  Just watch this on repeat and skip the rest.  

8. Jealousy Incarnate: "We Must Be Crazy" Kiss

She's dating his best friend, and they have no business kissing, but when Jo Jung Suk looks at her like that, it's impossible not to put this one on the list. #sorrynotsorry

9.  Another Oh Hae Young: Wall Kiss

This kiss isn't entirely unproblematic since he's pinning her up against a wall before it begins, but it's pretty clear from the start that they're both extremely invested in that kiss. Seo Hyun Jin is like a younger Yoon Eun Hye—she's always just as passionate as her male costars in the kissing department.

10.  She Was Pretty: Proposal Kiss

I debated whether I should reward Park Seo Joon's kissing abilities in Witch's Romance or She Was Pretty, and a drama-watching friend convinced me this one was the better choice. Really, you can't go wrong with Park Seo Joon.

I'll have you know that I ended up cutting about another 10 fantastic kisses from this list (Seo In Guk, I'm sorryyyyyy, but there just wasn't space, okay?). I know there are some other good options out there! Which of these kisses was your favorite? Which ones did we miss? Are there any more passionate drama kisses out there that we should check out?

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If you're curious how our list from 2013 was ranked, here it is. Only Lie to Me and Coffee Prince made the cut for the update, but I definitely agonized over leaving Personal Taste out this time around. I'd say it landed just outside the top 10.

1. Lie to Me
2. Prosecutor Princess
3. Flower Boy Ramyun Shop
4. Coffee Prince
5. Goong
6. Personal Taste
7. My Princess
8. My Lovely Sam Soon
9. Secret Garden
10. A Gentleman's Dignity


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