South Korean television networks have released 20 major original drama series in 2026, according to a comprehensive report published by Russian news outlet Lenta.ru.
Culture writer Mikhail Aksenov reported on September 10, 2026, that romantic comedies, crime mysteries, and psychological thrillers dominate the main programming trends across South Korea this season.
Korean dramas, commonly referred to as K-dramas or doramas, are serialized television productions from South Korea that span formats from urban fantasy to social and legal dramas exploring contemporary South Korean societal issues.
Legal Fantasy and Virtual Romance Dramas
Ghost Lawyer, originally titled Sin Irang beopryulsamuso, is a 16-episode fantasy mystery comedy running 1 hour 10 minutes per episode, starring Yoo Yeon-seok, Esom, and Kim Kyung-nam, with ratings of 8.1 on Kinopoisk and 7.6 on IMDb. Shin Yi-rang, played by Yoo Yeon-seok, is a hereditary lawyer who cannot find a job because his late prosecutor father took bribes and used drugs. Yi-rang rents a former shaman office and begins seeing ghosts who ask him to settle their unresolved affairs from life, turning him into an attorney for spirits.
Boyfriend on Demand, originally titled Wolgannamchin, is a 10-episode romantic comedy running 1 hour per episode, starring Kim Ji-soo, Seo In-guk, Yoo In-na, and Gong Min-jung, scoring 7.8 on Kinopoisk and 7.4 on IMDb. Webtoon producer Seo Mi-rae, played by Kim Ji-soo, is a workaholic managing difficult authors who lacks energy for a personal life. Her publisher assigns rival producer Park Kyung-nam, played by Seo In-guk, a rational worker detached from colleagues' feelings. Mi-rae obtains a virtual dating simulator to date ideal partners, becoming fascinated by a virtual man who strongly resembles Kyung-nam.
Spring Fever, originally titled Seupeuring pibeo, is a 12-episode romantic comedy running 1 hour 10 minutes per episode, starring Ahn Bo-hyun and Lee Joo-bin, with ratings of 7.7 on Kinopoisk and 7.3 on IMDb. Schoolteacher Yoon Bom, played by Lee Joo-bin, transfers from Seoul to a provincial school following a scandal and avoids close relationships. Seon Jae-gyu, played by Ahn Bo-hyun, the uncle of one of her students, is widely regarded by locals as a gangster. After multiple chance encounters, Bom realizes Jae-gyu is not who locals believe him to be.
Military Comedies and Historical Time Travel
Military Cook Becomes a Legend, originally titled Chwisabyeong jeonseoli doeda, is a 12-episode sci-fi comedy running 1 hour 10 minutes per episode, starring Park Ji-hoon, Yoon Kyung-ho, Han Dong-hee, Lee Hong-nae, and Lee Sang-yi, holding ratings of 8.2 on Kinopoisk and 8.1 on IMDb. Top recruit Kang Seong-jae, played by Park Ji-hoon, is assigned to the small coastal outpost of Ganrim after being diagnosed with depression and gaming addiction. Company commander Hwang Seok-ho, played by Lee Sang-yi, sends him to the kitchen as an assistant cook. Seong-jae sees a unique game-like holographic interface and hears a voice telling him to follow the Path of the Cook to become a culinary legend.
Brave New World, originally titled Meotjin sinsegye, is a 14-episode sci-fi romantic comedy running 1 hour 10 minutes per episode, starring Lim Ji-yeon, Heo Nam-jun, Jang Seung-jo, Lee Se-hee, and Chae Seo-an, rated 8.0 on Kinopoisk and 7.9 on IMDb. Joseon dynasty Queen Consort Kang Dan-shim, played by Lim Ji-yeon, is executed for treason and attempting to murder a prince. A rare solar eclipse during her execution transmigrates her soul into stuntwoman Shin So-ri in 2026 Seoul. Dan-shim encounters corporate heir Cha Se-gae, played by Heo Nam-jun, whose rivals depict him as a villain, only to discover their lives share deep parallels.
21st Century Prince's Wife, originally titled 21segi daegun buin, is a 12-episode melodrama running 1 hour 10 minutes per episode, starring Lee Ji-eun, Byeon Woo-seok, Steve Noh, Gong Seung-yeon, and Yoo Su-bin, scoring 8.3 on Kinopoisk and 7.9 on IMDb. Set in an alternate modern South Korea under a constitutional monarchy, Prince Lee Ahn, played by Byeon Woo-seok, serves as regent for a child king. Cosmetics and fashion CEO Sung Hee-joo, played by Lee Ji-eun, is a former university classmate of Lee Ahn who receives an invitation to the king's eighth birthday. Classified as a commoner despite her wealth, Hee-joo faces pressure from her father to marry and decides to seduce Prince Lee Ahn.
High School Horror and Secret Agent Comedies
Wish Your Death, originally titled Girigo, is an eight-episode teen horror thriller running 45 minutes per episode, starring Jung So-yeon, Kang Mi-na, Baek Seong-ho, Hyun Woo-seok, and Lee Hyo-jae, with 7.0 ratings on both Kinopoisk and IMDb. Sorin High School students discover a mobile app that fulfills wishes made on video while holding a paper with their name and birthdate. Underperforming student Choi Hyun-wook, played by Lee Hyo-jae, wishes for an A grade on a math exam and receives it. A countdown timer appears on his phone, he sees a ghost, and he dies by suicide, leaving his friends to investigate the app when the timer appears on their phones.
The Art of Sarah, originally titled Reidi Dua, is an eight-episode mystery thriller running 45 minutes per episode, starring Shin Hye-sun, Lee Joon-hyuk, Kim Jae-won, and Jung Da-bin, rated 7.9 on Kinopoisk and 7.3 on IMDb. Regional luxury brand director Sarah Kim, played by Shin Hye-sun, is a prominent public figure whose private life is unknown. After a party, a woman's body is identified as Sarah Kim. Detective Park Mu-gyyeong, played by Lee Joon-hyuk, investigates the death, exposing deception, corruption, and manipulation within Seoul high society while uncovering Sarah's true past.
Manager Kim, originally titled Kim bujang, is a 10-episode crime comedy running 1 hour 5 minutes per episode, starring So Ji-sub, Choi Dae-hoon, Yoon Kyung-ho, Joo Sang-wook, and So Soo-min, with ratings of 7.9 on Kinopoisk and 7.6 on IMDb. Office clerk Kim Do-hyun, played by So Ji-sub, raises his teenage daughter Min-ji, played by So Soo-min, alone following his wife's death. When Min-ji runs away after an argument, Do-hyun draws on his hidden past as an elite North Korean spy who defected to South Korea. He faces threats from North Korean intelligence, South Korean intelligence, and a construction firm director whose daughter bullied Min-ji.
Reunion Melodramas and Multilingual Romances
Dreaming of You, originally titled Geudaeege deurim, is a 12-episode romantic comedy running 1 hour 10 minutes per episode, starring Hwang In-youp, Lee Hye-ri, Lee Yeol-eum, and Baek Sung-chul, scoring 7.9 on Kinopoisk and 7.4 on IMDb. Woo Soo-bin, played by Hwang In-youp, and Joo Yi-jae, played by Lee Hye-ri, were high school sweethearts who dreamed of making films together. Following a painful breakup, Soo-bin studied abroad and directed a successful movie, while Yi-jae stayed in South Korea working as an obscure television host. Soo-bin returns home 15 years later to help fulfill her dream.
Can This Love Be Translated?, originally titled I sarang tongyeok doenayo?, is a 12-episode romantic comedy running 1 hour 10 minutes per episode, starring Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung, and Sota Fukushi, rated 8.1 on Kinopoisk and 7.9 on IMDb. Actress Cha Moo-hee, played by Go Youn-jung, becomes a global celebrity and joins the reality show Romantic Trip alongside Japanese actor Hiro Kurosawa, played by Sota Fukushi. Multilingual interpreter Joo Ho-jin, played by Kim Seon-ho, who speaks six languages fluently and previously helped Moo-hee handle her Japanese ex-boyfriend, is hired to translate but struggles to understand the emotional actress.
Definitely Yours, originally titled Agiga saenggyeosseoyo, is a 12-episode romantic comedy running 1 hour 10 minutes per episode, starring Choi Jin-hyuk and Oh Yeon-seo, holding ratings of 7.3 on Kinopoisk and 6.8 on IMDb. Alcohol company manager Jang Hwi-won, played by Oh Yeon-seo, rejected marriage and children after being raised by a cold, critical mother. Wealthy conglomerate heir Kang Doo-joon, played by Choi Jin-hyuk, suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder following his brother's death and avoids romance. After a one-night stand, Hwi-won becomes pregnant, forcing both to navigate relationships for the first time.
True Crime Investigations and School Supervision
Scarecrow, originally titled Heosuabi, is a 12-episode mystery thriller running 1 hour per episode, starring Park Hae-soo, Lee Hee-joon, Kwak Sun-young, and Song Geon-hee, scoring 8.2 on both Kinopoisk and IMDb. Inspired by the true story of the Hwaseong serial killer, the narrative spans two timelines. In 1988, Detective Kang Tae-joo, played by Park Hae-soo, is demoted to Gangseong after arresting an official's nephew. He investigates nighttime murders by a killer disguised as a scarecrow alongside prosecutor Cha Shi-young, played by Lee Hee-joon, his former school bully. In 2019, retired Tae-joo is asked to interview the captured suspect who refuses to speak to anyone else.
Let It Be a Lesson to You, originally titled Chamgyoyuk, is a 10-episode dramedy action series running 1 hour per episode, starring Kim Mu-yeol, Lee Sung-min, Jin Ki-joo, and Pyo Ji-hoon, rated 8.6 on Kinopoisk and 8.4 on IMDb. Addressing school violence in South Korea, the story follows the Bureau of Field Educational Supervision. Lead inspector and former special forces officer Na Hwa-jin, played by Kim Mu-yeol, uses unrestricted authority, words, and physical force to protect students from bullies across individual cases in different Korean schools.
Siren, originally titled Seiren, is a 12-episode mystery thriller drama running 1 hour per episode, starring Park Min-young, Wi Ha-joon, and Kim Jung-hyun, with ratings of 7.5 on Kinopoisk and 6.6 on IMDb. Based on the 1999 Japanese drama Ice World, insurance fraud investigator Cha Woo-seok, played by Wi Ha-joon, receives a tip about an auction house scam, but his informant dies. Woo-seok investigates chief auctioneer Han Seol-ah, played by Park Min-young, whose former partners all died under mysterious circumstances shortly after obtaining life insurance policies.
Supernatural Heroes and Corporate Investigations
The Super-Freaks, originally titled Deo wondeopulseu, is an eight-episode sci-fi comedy adventure running 1 hour 5 minutes per episode, starring Park Eun-bin, Cha Eun-woo, Choi Dae-hoon, Im Sung-jae, and Sung Dong-il, rated 8.0 on Kinopoisk and 7.6 on IMDb. Set in 1999 during Y2K fears, 28-year-old Eun Chae-ni, played by Park Eun-bin, fakes her own kidnapping to pay for travel before dying of a heart condition. Her heart stops during recording, and her accomplices dump her in toxic waste. She revives with teleportation powers triggered by high heart rates and joins other empowered friends to battle Dr. Ha Won-do, played by Sung Dong-il, who seeks her power for immortality.
Secret Audit, originally titled Eunmilhan gamsa, is a 12-episode romantic comedy running 1 hour 10 minutes per episode, starring Shin Hye-sun, Gong Myoung, Kim Jae-wook, and Hong Hwa-yeon, scoring 8.0 on Kinopoisk and 7.4 on IMDb. Elite auditor Noh Ki-joon, played by Gong Myoung, is demoted on day one by ruthless new department head Joo In-ah, played by Shin Hye-sun. Transferred to an ethics enforcement team, Ki-joon investigates workplace affairs and corporate misconduct under a manager who conceals her own secret.
Your Best Time, originally titled Challanhan neoui gyejeore, is a 12-episode melodrama running 1 hour 10 minutes per episode, starring Lee Sung-kyung, Chae Jong-hyeop, Lee Mi-sook, and Han Ji-hyun, rated 8.1 on Kinopoisk and IMDb. Fashion designer Song Ha-ran, played by Lee Sung-kyung, isolated herself after losing her parents and boyfriend in a Boston explosion seven years prior. She encounters animator Sun Woo-chan, played by Chae Jong-hyeop, who survived the same blast with severe burns, single-ear hearing loss, and partial amnesia, and who believes Ha-ran saved his life twice.
Bloody Flower, originally titled Beulleodi peullawo, is an eight-episode mystery thriller running 55 minutes per episode, starring Ryeoun, Sung Dong-il, and Keum Sae-rok, holding ratings of 7.7 on Kinopoisk and 7.1 on IMDb. Former medical student Lee Woo-gyyeom, played by Ryeoun, is accused of killing 17 victims but claims he tested a cure for an incurable disease on patients. Defense attorney Park Han-joon, played by Sung Dong-il, represents him after Woo-gyyeom promises to cure his sick daughter, while prosecutor Cha Yi-yeon, played by Keum Sae-rok, demands maximum punishment.
Human from Today, originally titled Oneulbuteo inganimnida, is a 12-episode fantasy romantic comedy running 1 hour 10 minutes per episode, starring Kim Hye-yoon, Park Solomon, Lee Si-woo, and Jang Dong-joo, scoring 7.2 on Kinopoisk and 6.5 on IMDb. Eun Ho, played by Kim Hye-yoon, is a nine-tailed mythical fox gumiho who grants human wishes while enjoying eternal youth. Her cynical, independent lifestyle changes after a chance meeting with star soccer player Kang Shi-yeol, played by Park Solomon.
