From romantic rendezvous to meeting places for highly confidential assignments and bitter battles of succession to well calculated takeovers, hotels have often played key characters in several K-dramas, especially in iconic dramas such as “Hotel Del Luna.” As passionate love affairs unfolded under the shroud of mystery and deceit, here’s a look at six more K-dramas where the hotel played a key role. “Hotel King” Cha Jae Wan Lee Dong Wook is the hotshot manager of the super luxe Hotel Ciel but hides a dark and painful secret. His rise from the streets to become a force to be reckoned with in the hotel business comes with bearing the cross of his wounded past. His sole agenda to be at Ciel is to take revenge on the owner Ah Sung Won. Jae Wan has been told by the crafty Lee Jong Goo Lee Deok Hwa that Sung Won is his father who had abandoned Jae Won and his mother. But as soon as Jae Wan make this revelation, Ah Sung Won is mysteriously killed. After Sung Won’s death, his only child Mo Ne Lee Da Hae arrives at the hotel, which is in dire financial straits. Mo Ne, who is also suspicious of her father’s death, finds herself drawn toward the cold and emotionally unavailable Jae Won. Jae Won finds his protective instinct come to the fore toward Mo Ne as well as an attraction he cannot resist. As mysteries are unraveled, there is a passionate love story unfolding between Mo Ne and Jae Won amongst the many twists. Love and revenge make for a heady combination, and “Hotel King” gives you enough drama throughout its 32 episodes. Lee Da Hae and Lee Dong Wook’s scorching chemistry is a far cry from their cutesy romance in “My Girl.” And Lee Dong Wook as the detached and brooding hero in his perfectly tailored suits has a swag to his character that is irresistible. Start watching “Hotel King” Watch Now “Lie to Me” In order to save face, Gong Ah Jung Yoon Eun Hye, a government employee, lies to her nosy and hostile friend that she is engaged to be married to a rich man. Not realizing that the lie has snowballed into something bigger, her colleagues and so called friends assume that she is engaged to the uber handsome and wealthy president of World Hotel Hyun Ki Joon Kang Ji Hwan. Hyun Ki Joon is gobsmacked when the rumors start circulating in his circle of friends. Ki Joon plays along with Ah Jung on the condition that she speaks out the truth. When Ah Jung continues to lie, Ki Joon decides to take legal action against her, but she needs to fulfill a contract with him first. Despite the craziness and absurdity of his situation, Ki Joon finds himself falling for Ah Jung, and she for him. But the plot thickens when Ki Joon’s ex-fiancée returns from France and wants to start over with him. “Lie to Me” is a light breezy rom-com. Though it uses a familiar trope, the drama has a certain freshness to it. The love story is sweet, and Kang Ji Hwan and Yoon Eun Hye are in sync as they spar and grow in their romance. Start watching “Lie to Me” Watch Now “Encounter” Cha Soo Hyun Song Hye Kyo, the CEO of Dong Hwa Hotel, has never had it easy. The daughter of influential parents and married into an equally influential family, she has always been a viable asset to be capitalized on. After her divorce, Soo Hyun devotes herself to building the Dong Hwa Hotel. When a work trip takes her to Havana, it ends up being the turning point in her life. Soo Hyun meets a thoughtful young man named Kim Jin Hyuk Park Bo Gum, who is making the most of his trip before he starts looking for a job. Once back in Seoul, Soo Hyun is surprised to find Jin Hyuk as the new recruit in the PR department at her hotel. The embers of the initial spark they had felt in Havana are reignited, and the two find themselves irresistibly drawn toward each other. But can Soo Hyun throw caution to the winds and live life according to her own terms? And will Jin Hyuk be able to withstand the many hurdles in their relationship? “Encounter” is a beautiful show that needs to be savored. Song Hye Kyo is lovely as the reticent Soo Hyun, giving a nuanced performance, and Park Bo Gum as the supportive and charismatic Jin Hyuk will win your heart with the subtlety of his performance. The palpable chemistry between Song Hye Kyo and Park Bo Gum is enchanting, and the drama also has a lilting soundtrack which echoes the many emotions of its lead couple. Start watching “Encounter” Watch Now “Queen of the Game” Lee Shin Jeon Joo Jin Mo, a finance whiz, has been consumed by revenge for years. His sole agenda has been to avenge his father’s death and mother’s honor from Kang Jae Ho Han Jin Hee. Kang Jae Ho, the time partner and friend of Shin Jeon’s father, had not only betrayed him but usurped his position at the very hotel he now owns. Kang Jae Ho had also jilted Shin Jeon’s mother, with whom he had an affair. Consumed by hate, Shin Jeon knows exactly how to bring Jae Ho down, and that is by approaching his daughter Eun Seol Lee Bo Young. He charms Eun Seol on a trip to New Zealand, soon after plays hard to get, and is well aware that she has fallen for him. As Eun Seol expresses her feelings for him, Shin Jeon feels he has at last found his perfect bait. However, his best laid plans go awry when he realizes he has hopelessly fallen in love with Eun Seol, who is a balm to his wounds. But redemption comes at a cost, and will Shin Jeon sacrifice himself in the name of love? “Queen of the Game” is an underrated drama, and though it feeds on the classic trope of revenge, love, and retribution, it does not disappoint. Joo Jin Mo as the dangerously charming Lee Shin Jeon is a heartbreaker. And Eun Seol, who is far from being a pitiful woman, is beautifully depicted by Lee Bo Young. The drama also has a beautiful background score, so if you are in the mood for a dramatic love story, this one’s for you. “Smile Again” Dong Hae Ji Chang Wook is a short-track speed skating champion. He gets a chance to visit his home country Korea for a competition as a representative of the American team. He takes his mother Anna Do Ji Won along, but his sole mission is to meet his steady girlfriend Sae Hwa Park Jung Ah, whom he had promised to marry. But once in Seoul, he is in for a shock. The ambitious Sae Hwa has not only had a change of heart but also imposes several conditions on Dong Hae which she knows he would never be able to meet, including leaving his mother for her. After an accident while saving Sae Hwa ends his sporting career, Dong Hae wants to return home to the States. However, his mother, who has been on the lookout for her husband and Dong Hae’s father, spots James at the Camellia Hotel and is adamant to not return until she reconciles with him. Thus, Dong Hae decides to stay back and fulfill his mother’s wish. In the midst of all this chaos, Bong Yi Oh Ji Eun, a sprightly chef at the hotel, befriends Anna and Dong Hae. Bong Yi gets Dong Hae a job at the Camellia hotel and offers the mother and son a place to stay with her family. As a cute love story unfolds between Dong Hae and Bong Yi, it comes to light that Dong Hae’s father is actually the owner of the Camellia Hotel. Will Anna and Dong Hae get their due? And will Dong Hae be reinstated as the rightful heir of the hotel? “Smile Again” is a long show, spanning over 160 episodes. It packs in everything from love, revenge, emotional entanglements, and family drama. Being one of his earlier shows, Ji Chang Wook is absolutely endearing and gives insight into his acting prowess. He plays Dong Hae effortlessly, bringing forth his character’s resilience and strength with ease. Start watching “Smile Again” Watch Now “My Secret Hotel” Imagine organizing your ex-husband’s wedding. Nam Sang Hyo Yoo In Na, a wedding planner, has certainly signed up for this. Sang Hyo had been briefly married to Gu Hae Young Jin Yi Han, but it was such a short lived marriage that they did not even have it registered. Hae Young, thrown off by the presence of his ex-wife, finds himself pining for her. In the meantime, Sang Hyo’s boss Jo Sung Gyeom Namgoong Min finds himself attracted to her. But a murder in the hotel complicates the situation for everyone. “My Secret Hotel” blends in romance and a murder mystery wherever everyone is a suspect. Though the storyline meanders a bit, Namgoong Min holds the fort as the charming second lead, whom you kind of root for. Start watching “My Secret Hotel” Watch Now Hey Soompiers, which one of these is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below! Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yoo Tae Oh and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on puja_talwar7 on Instagram. Currently watching “The Good Bad Mother,” “Dr. Romantic 3,” and Once We Get Married.”

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