Although the romantasy genre has gained worldwide popularity in recent years, it is not a new concept for the Korean drama industry. Over the past decade, there has been an increasing number of books, series, and films that blend fantastical elements with captivating love stories. From bestselling novels like "A Court of Thorns and Roses" to famous TV series like "Outlander" and blockbuster films like "The Shape of Water," romantasy is a subgenre that can emerge in any form and is becoming more popular each year. Korean dramas are at the forefront of this trend, serving as the source for many beloved romantasy series.

The concept of romantasy has actually become one of the cornerstones of Korean dramas. Long before gaining popularity through BookTok, series like "My Love from the Star" and "Oh My Ghost" successfully combined fantastical elements with ordinary love stories. In fact, many of the best Korean drama couples of all time have a touch of magic or fantastical elements behind their happy endings. While the industry continues to evolve, new interpretations of classic tropes like romantasy are still being introduced, allowing for the emergence of numerous successful works.

While Western romantasy novels often focus on fairy-like creatures, the fantastical Korean drama genre has its own conventions. These include mythological figures inspired by Asian folklore and mythology. The most common among them is the gumiho, a nine-tailed fox spirit. Although series like "My Roommate Is a Gumiho" and "No Tail to Tell" offer different takes on this concept, none can compare to "Tale of The Nine Tailed." This 2020 series presents a much darker atmosphere than most fantasy works while adding genuine suspense and believable conflicts to the forbidden love of the lead couple. The female lead character adds a bittersweet charm to the story as she is a reflection of all the people loved and lost by Lee Yeon (Lee Dong-wook), who has lived as a fox spirit for centuries.

"While You Were Sleeping" takes a completely different approach, seamlessly integrating a single fantastical element into an otherwise realistic world. The romance between Nam Hong-joo (Bae Suzy) and Jung Jae-chan (Lee Jong-suk) is understood to be filled with challenges and struggles from the very beginning of the series. Both characters have the ability to see the future through prophetic dreams, but knowing what will happen is not enough to change it. With the help of a police officer, journalist Hong-joo and prosecutor Jae-chan work together to rewrite their fate and save the world from their prophecies, and as their struggle progresses, the attraction between them begins to spark.

"Doom at Your Service" essentially presents a story about resistance against fate and the rejection of divine will. When Tak Dong-kyung (Park Bo-young) is diagnosed with terminal brain cancer, the calm editor finds herself in an unexpected rage. However, unbeknownst to her, a Korean grim reaper named Myulmang (Seo In-guk) is listening and decides to use her desperation as an excuse to destroy the world. Thus begins a doomsday self-discovery journey, and ironically, Dong-kyung finds her misfortune in her closest advisor. As they grow closer, Myulmang, an entity that has awaited the end of the world for centuries, falls in love with a person who begins to question everything. Although the series is relatively new, its love story instantly gains universal value.