As we roll into 2024, the K-drama landscape continues to thrive following an explosion of interest in the genre throughout 2023. Mark your calendars as we highlight the most eagerly awaited K-drama series set to premiere this year.
The conclusion of 2024 is approaching, yet the excitement surrounding K-drama content remains vibrant. This year has already seen phenomenal successes with titles like Gyeongseong Creature Season 2, Lovely Runner, and Love Next Door.
But what else does the year have to offer? Among the highlights is a major title that fans have been waiting with bated breath for—more details on that coming soon. Additionally, several lesser-known gems await discovery on your go-to streaming platforms.
The best part is that nearly all of these upcoming shows will be new releases, so there’s no need for prior viewing to fully enjoy them. Here’s a breakdown of the K-dramas we can look forward to in the coming months.
12. Resident Playbook
K-drama enthusiasts are thrilled about the upcoming release of Resident Playbook, set to debut in 2024 on Netflix. This medical drama serves as a spinoff of the hit series Hospital Playlist. Actress Go Young-jung, known for her role in Alchemy of Souls, will portray a first-year resident specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.
True to the original’s spirit, Resident Playbook will delve into the intricate lives and friendships of a cohort of young medical residents, taking place at the Jongno branch of Yulje Medical Center.
However, according to Soompi, the show has been deferred until 2025. This setback is due to an unexpected wave of resignations among medical residents in South Korea, leaving fans awaiting a confirmed release date.
Release Date: 2025
11. When the Phone Rings
Romance thriller alert!#YooYeonseok and #ChaeSoobin star as a couple in a “marriage of convenience”in WHEN THE PHONE RINGS. Korea’s youngest presidential spokesperson finds his cold, calculated three-year marriage thrown into questions when his wife, a sign language… pic.twitter.com/RLUjWZZbJH
— Netflix K-Content (@netflixkcontent) October 1, 2024
Details remain sparse about the forthcoming thriller-romance, but if you appreciated works like Old Boy and Hospital Playlist, this series might pique your interest.
Featuring Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin as an unhappily wed couple, the narrative shifts dramatically when the wife is mysteriously abducted.
The plot synopsis states, “In When the Phone Rings, Korea’s youngest presidential spokesperson finds his meticulously orchestrated three-year marriage called into question when his wife, a sign language interpreter, vanishes without a trace.”
While an exact release date hasn’t been set, a tentative launch in November is anticipated; the show will consist of 12 episodes released weekly.
Release Date: November
10. Mr. Plankton
Unveiled in 2023, Mr. Plankton is another upcoming K-drama slated for 2024 on Netflix. Although information is limited, fans are excited about the talented cast and the themes of alienation that run through the narrative. The protagonist, Hae-jo (Woo Do-hwan), experiences a life of social exclusion akin to plankton because of his unknown paternity.
A pivotal moment occurs when he receives transformative news that propels him on a quest to locate his father. Meanwhile, Jo Jae-mi (Lee Yoo-i) dreams of a large family and plans to marry the heir of the Eo family, a well-known food enterprise.
However, the family’s elders disapprove of their union but reluctantly accept it when they learn Jae-mi is expecting. On her wedding day, she mysteriously disappears, embarking on an adventure alongside Hae-jo.
Release date: November
9. Love in the Big City
This series encapsulates the coming-of-age journey, slices of life, and romance emerging even amidst chaos.
Distinguished from a film of the same title, this TV show chronicles a 10-year adventure with writer Go Young, exploring the dynamics of love and life through various trials. His love story with Gyu Ho ends in heartbreak as he sets off to Thailand, chasing after a stranger during the late monsoon season.
The series can be accessed exclusively on TVING.
Release date: October 21
8. A Virtuous Business
Imagine if The Golden Girls transported to contemporary South Korea—this might just be its equivalent. The Netflix series unveils the adventures of four friends, dubbed the ‘Bangpan Sisters,’ who market products door-to-door during 1922 amidst social stigmas.
As they navigate societal condemnation of their “indiscreet” endeavors, the sisters maintain a progressive outlook. Expect humor and a lively theme reminiscent of Sex and the City.
Release date: October 12
7. Family By Choice
True to its title, Family By Choice underscores the significance of bonds we create ourselves. The story features Kim San Ha, Yun Ju Won, and Kang Hae Jun, who are close-knit despite lacking biological ties. Their fathers, Jeong Jae and Dae Uk, strive to support the children through life’s challenges.
Ten years after their upbringing together, these five family members are reunited, but in typical TV fashion, their lives are far from the same.
Release date: October 9
6. Spice Up Our Love
No, this isn’t a fresh tune from the Spice Girls! This highly anticipated Prime Video romance drama sees R-rated romance novelist Nam Ja-yeon morph into Seo Yeon-seo, the story’s leading lady.
This transformation ignites a tumultuous love affair with the book’s male protagonist, Kang Ha-joon. Adding to the excitement, this series is a spin-off from No Gain No Love, one of the channel’s standout K-Dramas this year.
Release date: October 3
5. Hellbound Season 2
The wait is almost over for one of the year’s most anticipated returns: Hellbound Season 2, which first graced Netflix in 2021.
The previous season concluded with Chairman Jung Jinsu’s mysterious disappearance and Park Jungja’s resurrection. This new season promises a deeper look into the conflicts faced by religious factions and the challenges of sudden resurrections.
While the complete episode count for Season 2 remains undisclosed, all episodes will be available for streaming at once.
Release date: October 25
4. Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born
Drawing from the corresponding webtoon, Disney’s Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born takes us back to the 1950s, chronicling the life of a girl, Jeong-nyeon, who possesses a natural singing talent. Viewers will follow her journey through the Yeoseong Gukgeuk troupe as she grows and flourishes.
Release date: October 12
3. Gangnam B-Side
Continuing its streak, Disney+ follows up with Gangnam B-Side, coming in November with an undisclosed release date.
This drama dives into a series of mysterious disappearances in Gangnam, centering on disgraced Detective Kang Dong U, who leads the investigation. Concurrently, Yun Gil Ho is on a mission to locate the missing Jae Hui and soon realizes he’s not the sole search party.
Release date: November
2. The Trunk
A trunk washes ashore, unveiling a hidden marriage service tied to an equally peculiar union yet to be fully explained.
Additionally, the intrigue thickens as a woman seems to hover near a man on the verge of death—an ominous twist that adds excitement. Keep an eye on Netflix for this series dropping in December.
Release date: December
1. Squid Game Season 2
The much-anticipated Squid Game Season 2 is finally here! While Seong Gi-hun has notably changed since the last season, it promises a thrilling return that will electrify the holiday season.
Set three years after the first season, Gi-hun is relentless in his pursuit to dismantle the sinister game. After taunting a man in a suit, he realizes that to stop the game, he must rejoin it, leading to an inevitable and dramatic confrontation—likely paving the way for a confirmed third season.
Not all familiar characters will return, considering the fates in the previous round, but expect to see some recognizable faces again.
Release date: December 26
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