Dramas and movies where love either has tremendous difficulties reaching fulfillment or cannot be ever realised because Fate intervenes in some form and Fate is a tricky thing. In fact, without Fate we would hardly have any of these dramas. This theme is about love which is fated or ill-fated because of various reasons, family feuds, past mistakes, about love which tries to transcend those obstacles in order for the lovers to reach a union. Fate can also take the form of material barriers: social differences, wealth, politics, or “because mother (father or whomever) said so”. 
At times it can be the character’s own folly which leads to an entaglement of Fate that is difficult to unravel. Sometimes, it is inevitable because a set of corcumstances combined with lack of communication leads to that. Most saeguks will have it. Here are some examples.
- The Princess’ Man
- A step into the past (HK drama)
- Love Rain
- The Classic
- Dolls
- House of Flying Daggers
- Boh Le Chun
- Late Autumn
- Il Mare
- Project Makeover
- Secret (2007)
- The Promise
- Heundae Lovers
- My Bratty Princess
- Endless Love
- Hana Yori Dango / Boys before flowers
- Jewel in the Palace
- Korean Peninsula
- Prosecutor Princess
- Wedding Scheme
- A gentleman’s dignity
- Giant
- The King2Hearts
- Jumong
- Queen SeonDuk
- JIN 1 and 2
- My girlfriend is a gumiho
- Nagareboshi
- Jejoongwon
- Operation Proposal
- Padam Padam
- That Winter, The Wind Blows
- Palace The Lock Heart Jade
- Save the Last Dance
- Secret garden
- Bad Guy
- Sungyunkwan Scandal
- Tatta Hitotsu No Koi
- That Fool
- The Bridal Mask
- The Painter of The wind
- Horse Doctor
- Rooftop Prince
- Queen In-hyun’s Man
- What’s Up?
- Witch Yoo Hee
- Wild romance
- Ace wo nerae
- Yi San
- Cheongdamdong Alice
