Head Over Heels – The Fantasy Romance You Didn’t Know You Needed (2025)

Love fantasy, folklore, and teenage healing in one tidy story? Head Over Heels (also Gyeonwoo and Fairy) blends Korean shaman myths, high‑school tension, and heartfelt romance into a short 12‑episode package. Based on a beloved webtoon, this underrated drama stood out in mid‑2025 and deserves a spot on your watch‑list.

Plot & Story

Park Seong‑ah is ordinary in class, but by night she becomes Fairy Cheon Ji, a masked teenage shaman who uses her spiritual gift to help clients.

Her life flips when Bae Gyeon‑woo and his mother visit her shrine, and she foresees his ominous fate walking upside down, a sign of imminent death .

Next day he transfers into her class. Consumed by love and duty, Seong‑ah sets out to change Gyeon‑woo’s fate while hiding her identity and battling increasing supernatural threats. Each episode balances romantic tension with suspenseful exorcisms and spooky folklore intrigue .

Cast & Characters

Cho Yi‑hyun as Park Seong‑ah / Fairy Cheon Ji — a shy high schooler and powerful young shaman living a double life .

Choo Young‑woo as Bae Gyeon‑woo — Gyeon‑woo is allegedly cursed, deeply guarded, and at the center of Seong‑ah’s mission to save him .

Choo Ja‑hyun as Yeom‑hwa — a senior shaman linked to Seong‑ah’s spiritual crisis.

Cha Kang‑yoon as Pyo Ji‑ho — Seong‑ah’s supportive friend whose emotions simmer beneath the surface.

Additional strong supporting cast: yoon byung‑hee, Kim Mi‑kyung

Where You’ve Seen Them Before

Before Head Over Heels, Cho Yi-hyun impressed audiences with her standout role in All of Us Are Dead (2022, 12 episodes), where she played a strong-willed student trying to survive a zombie apocalypse.

She also starred in the period medical drama Hospital Playlist (2020–2021, 24 episodes total) as a sharp, determined intern, and led the heartwarming mini-series School 2021 (2021, 16 episodes) a coming-of-age high school tale that truly put her on the map.

Choo Young-woo, who plays Bae Gyeon-woo, previously led the romantic drama School 2021 (2021, 16 episodes) alongside Cho Yi-hyun, where his quiet charm and emotional depth caught viewers’ attention.

He also starred in Once Upon a Small Town (2022, 12 episodes), a sweet countryside love story,

and took on a more serious role in Oasis (2023, 16 episodes), a melodrama set in the 1980s filled with friendship, revenge, and love.

Cha Kang-yoon, a rising face in the K-drama world, may be new to leading roles but has already caught attention with his roles in supporting casts and web dramas. One of his standout appearances was in the youth mini-series User Not Found (2021, 10 episodes), where he played a mysterious student entangled in identity swaps and high school politics. His fresh energy and growing fanbase are signs of a promising future in drama land.

Episodes & Streaming Info

Episodes: 12 (approx. 70 min each)

Runtime: ~70 minutes each

Aired: June 23 – July 29, 2025 on tvN, Mondays & Tuesdays at 20:50 KST

Where to Watch: South Korea on TVING / tvN; Internationally on Amazon Prime Video

Why It’s Worth Watching

Fantasy with Heart: A shaman teen, supernatural suspense, and real emotions blend beautifully

Lead Chemistry: Cho Yi‑hyun (Seong‑ah) and Choo Young‑woo (Gyeon‑woo) deliver natural, heartfelt performances praised by viewers

Tight & Pacy: Just 12 episodes , no filler, just emotional storytelling

Myth Meets Modernity: Incorporates Korean shaman folklore into a teenage love story with real stakes

Genre fusion done well: Fantasy, teen romance, school life, and shaman folklore merge into a fresh emotional blend .

Powerful chemistry: Viewers love the lead pair. Reddit fans say:

“The most beautiful thing… so many acts of kindness… story about people who have been broken…”

“It’s really good… One of my favorites. The leads are one of my favorite couples. They have great chemistry.”

Cultural depth: Realistic portrayal of Korean shamanism, rituals, and traditional spiritual motifs within a modern teen setting

Emotional pacing: Every episode introduces new supernatural threats or emotional revelations, with possession arcs, cleansing exorcisms, and first‑love confessions

Strong ratings and buzz: Premiere captures #1 in its time slot; Choo Young‑woo tops actor brand reputation rankings in 2025 .

Viewership & Finale

Initial episodes recorded ratings around 4.3–5.6% impressive for a cable drama, topping its time slot nationwide. The finale on July 29, 2025 delivered emotional closure and set up a 2028 time‑skip, teasing possible Season 2 or spin‑off potential .

Final Thought : Is Head Over Heels Worth Your Time?

Yes! If you enjoy smart school romances with a supernatural twist, beautiful visuals, and emotional payoff in just 12 episodes, this drama delivers. It’s ideal if you liked Goblin, Hotel del Luna, or Extraordinary You , but want a fresh, heartfelt, teen‑focused story with mythology at its core.

Also check out: 8 Dark High School K‑Dramas You Need to Watch (2021–2025) for more intense teen‑aged twists and survival themes.

Have you watched Head Over Heels yet? Share your favorite supernatural moment or spoiler‑free reaction in the comments. Thinking about it? Share to a friend who loves fantasy romance , they need this one.