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Tatler Asia
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
5 memorable K-drama mothers-in-law we'd love to have in our family
2. Ae Sun – 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' (2025) Ae Sun (IU, Moon So-ri) is determined, ambitious and loving—traits she wants to pass on to her daughter Yang Geum-myeong (also IU). So when she sees Yang Geum-myeong being demeaned by her potential mother-in-law, Ae Sun defends her in her quiet, resilient way. For instance, when Yang Geum-myeong was criticised for not knowing how to ladle soup, Ae Sun points out that she purposely didn't teach these domestic tasks to her daughter because she was too precious to their family, and because she wanted more for her child than to be confined at home. That said, when Ae Sun finally met a man who was worthy of her daughter, she was warm and welcoming. See more: 5 life lessons from 'When Life Gives You Tangerines' 3. Cha Yeon-hwa – 'Perfect Marriage Revenge' (2023) Above 'Perfect Marriage Revenge' (Photo: IMDB) Lee Mi-sook might have been a conniving con artist in Queen of Tears , but she was exactly the opposite in Perfect Marriage Revenge , where she was Seo Do-guk's (Sung Hoon) stepmother. She gives all stepmothers and mothers-in-law a good name, in fact. She sees through other people's fake niceness, doesn't hesitate to call out abusive behaviour and gives her daughter-in-law the love and acceptance that she's often craved. See more: Love contracts: 8 fake relationships in K-dramas that had us invested 4. Hwang Jin-yi – 'Strong Girl Bong-soon' (2017) Above 'Strong Girl Bong-soon' (Photo: JTBC) You'd think a mother with a superpowered daughter would give you a hard time, but not Hwang Jin-yi (Shim Hye-jin). Like many mothers-in-law, she's not perfect, though she often acts like she is. Similar to the rest of the women in her family, she's strong and stubborn, plays favourites and can be controlling at times. However, she does have a warm and loving relationship with her son-in-law (Park Hyung-sik), whom she pampers with food. 5. Madame Choice – 'What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?' (2018) Above 'What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?' (Photo: tvN) Here's another mom who's far from perfect. After all, what kind of parent would hide their son's traumatic childhood kidnapping and go along with a fake story? That said, Madame Choi (Kim Hye-ok) was only trying to do what she thought was best for everyone. She loves her son's eventual love interest, Secretary Kim (Park Min-young), and understands her significance in her son's (Park Seo-joon) life. We also appreciate mothers-in-law who take their daughters-in-law shopping.
Tatler Asia
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
7 K-drama proposals that had us crying into our soju
2. 'Destined With You' (2023) Jang Shin-yu (Rowoon) and Lee Hong-jo (Jo Bo-ah) are quite literally fated lovers—though fate comes with a sinister curse and centuries of tragic reincarnations. Their relationship begins with mistrust, blossoms into hesitant affection and deepens as they uncover the painful past that binds them. From ancient magic to modern misunderstandings, these two weather every possible emotional tempest. The proposal happens not in a grand gesture but in a moment of quiet resolve. After surviving spiritual possession, inherited trauma and multiple heartbreaks, Shin-yu kneels before Hong-jo and asks her to marry him—not to defy fate, but to finally claim it on their terms. It's tender, almost subdued and made all the more meaningful by the fact that this time, their love isn't doomed. Also read: 10 sweetest meet-cutes in K-drama history 3. 'Oh my Venus' (2015) Joo Eun (Shin Min-a) and Young Ho (So Ji-sub) didn't start with candlelit dinners or stolen glances—they bonded over sweat, self-discipline and late-night banter. She was a once-popular beauty struggling with body image and health; he was a celebrity trainer with a childhood marked by trauma and strict expectations. What began as a fitness contract slowly turned into a deeply respectful and emotionally grounded relationship. By the time Young Ho proposes, their love has been forged through resilience and recovery—both physical and emotional. The moment is quiet, sweet and uniquely symbolic: he hands her a ball of yarn, letting it unravel to reveal a ring tucked delicately inside (quite similar to Stepmom ). It's not just a creative gesture—it's a reflection of how their lives slowly wound around each other, stitch by stitch. A metaphor for care, patience and the gentle way they've helped each other heal. 4. 'What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?' (2018) He's a narcissistic CEO, she's the hyper-competent secretary ready to resign. Their workplace dynamics sizzle with banter and underlying attraction. What starts as a misunderstanding-filled chase morphs into one of K-drama's most endearing modern romances. Lee Young-joon (Park Seo-joon), the self-assured CEO, plans an extravagant rooftop proposal complete with candles, flowers, and a city skyline backdrop. But it's Mi-so (Park Min-young) who flips the script. Before he can utter his rehearsed lines, she gently proposes first—with subtlety, confidence and affection. In a drama known for its humour and charm, this unexpected reversal becomes one of its most romantic moments. 5. 'Business Proposal' (2022) Kang Tae-moo (Ahn Hyo-seop), the brilliant but emotionally reserved CEO, falls for Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jung), a bright, spunky employee who originally entered his life under false pretenses—pretending to be a wild, chaebol -repelling date for his matchmaking appointments. What followed was a comedy of errors, corporate chaos and a surprisingly touching romance that defied every trope it leaned into. When Tae-moo finally proposes, it's in a downpour that seems almost orchestrated by the drama gods themselves. He holds an umbrella over Ha Ri, confesses his love with a level of vulnerability he rarely shows, and asks her to share the rest of her life with him. It's classic K-drama stuff—but the chemistry between the leads and Tae-moo's earnest delivery makes it unforgettable. It's not just a confession—it's a clearing of emotional rainclouds. Don't miss: Love contracts: 8 fake relationships in K-dramas that had us invested 6. 'Queen of Tears' (2024) Up-and-coming lawyer Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun) thinks he's smooth but his secretly chaebol girlfriend is in control all along, booking the aquarium for a private event and even controlling the mood music. With everything seemingly falling into place, Hyun-woo believes that the universe is on their side and she asks for Hong Hae-in's (Kim Ji-won) hand in marriage. What's even sweeter is that we get two proposals in this series. Spoiler alert: the couple divorce later and Hyun-woo once again attempts to ask for her hand with a stunning Bvlgari solitaire. She rejects his profession of love only to be caught by Hyun-woo wearing and admiring the ring later. 7. 'King the Land' (2023) Gu-won (Lee Jun-ho), the emotionally reserved hotel heir, and Cheon Sa-rang (Im Yoon-ah), the ever-optimistic concierge, go from clashing co-workers to an unexpectedly tender couple. Despite their class divide and a boardroom full of obstacles, their relationship blossoms on the foundation of trust, empathy and just enough office flirting. As far as proposals go, this one is private, heartfelt and refreshingly un-flashy. Gu-won whisks Sa-rang away to a scenic resort and drops the CEO bravado for a raw confession: she's the light in his otherwise sterile life. No flash mobs or champagne-fueled theatrics—just sincerity, a ring and a man finally brave enough to smile for real.
