7 New K-Dramas to Look Forward to on Netflix This Year (2024)

Maybe it’s the visceral, almost triggering, based-on-a-true-story depiction of school bullies searing a victim’s skin with a curling iron, or maybe it’s how the victim methodically plots her revenge against her assailants years later. Whatever the reason, the 16-episode Korean drama The Glory became a crowd favorite this year, and now ranks as the fifth most popular non-English TV show ever on Netflix, joining the growing list of South Korea’s blockbuster offerings on the platform.

After releasing the first batch of episodes in December last year, The Glory’s final eight episodes were among the 34 Korean titles that Netflix said it will release this year. It’s the streamer’s biggest line-up of Korean content to date, a testament to the unabated global popularity of South Korean entertainment. And it’s only upward from here: Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos met with South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol in Washington in April and announced that the company will invest $2.5 billion in the country for the next four years, including in the creation of new series, movies, and unscripted shows.

Read More: How Netflix’s The Glory Drew Inspiration From Real Stories of School Violence in Korea

Netflix’s K-dramas have already been off to a great start this year, with a wide variety of genres available. Aside from The Glory’s heavy drama and social commentary, viewers have also raved over the dystopian world of delivery men in Black Knight, the adorable mother-son duo in slice-of-life drama The Good Bad Mother, and the ever reliable fake-dating trope in romantic comedy Love to Hate You.

But 2023 is far from over, and Netflix still has a bevy of other titles in the pipeline. Below, TIME selects the most anticipated titles, listed in no particular order, all of which will be available to watch on Netflix USA.

Bloodhounds

Release date: June 9

Based on a Naver webtoon of the same name, this action thriller revolves around two young boxers who enter the world of loan sharks. Geon-woo (played by The King: Eternal Monarch’s Woo Do-hwan), a high-school dropout who wants to pay off his family’s debts, squares off with Woo-jin (played by Lee Sang-yi of Hometown Cha-cha-cha) in the boxing ring. Despite starting off as opponents, the two end up working together in a quest to exact justice against rich and powerful loan sharks. Directing the series is Jason Kim, who’s known for the 2017 action comedy box-office hit Midnight Runners. This will be Kim’s first time working with Netflix.

D.P. (Season 2)

Release date: TBD; third quarter of 2023

7 New K-Dramas to Look Forward to on Netflix This Year (1)

The first season of D.P., released in 2021, brought to light abuse within South Korea’s mandatory military conscription system and the reasons why some are desperate to get out of it. The show’s title refers to a team of soldiers called “deserter pursuit,” who are tasked with tracking down and capturing military deserters. Despite only having six episodes, the first season deeply resonated with former conscripts and even prompted South Korea’s Ministry of Defense to issue a statement that incidents of violence and abuse in the military were on the decline. Director Han Jun-hee is returning for the second season, as well as actors Jung Hae-in and Koo Kyo-hwan, who respectively played An Jun-ho and Han Ho-yeol, the series’ main duo.

A Time Called You

Release date: TBD; third quarter of 2023

7 New K-Dramas to Look Forward to on Netflix This Year (2)

If you’re a fan of time travel, this remake of the 2019 Taiwanese drama Someday or One Day might be for you. Ahn Hyo-seop, one of the dapper leading men in the 2022 lighthearted romance Business Proposal, teams up with Jeon Yeo-been from Vincenzo in this story about a woman who goes back in time and meets a man who looks like her lover who has passed away. The original Taiwanese show led to a tourism boom for various filming locations in Tainan, and news of the Korean remake has since given them an additional boost, despite the fact that the new series was filmed in Korea.

Read More: The 10 Best Korean Dramas of 2022 to Watch on Netflix

Sweet Home (Season 2)

Release date: TBD; end of 2023

7 New K-Dramas to Look Forward to on Netflix This Year (3)

South Korean heartthrob Song Kang will return for another season of this gritty horror series. The first season of Sweet Home, released in December 2020, follows suicidal high-school student Cha Hyun-soo (played by Song) who relocates to a rundown apartment complex only to soon discover that monsters have taken over the building. The show, which garnered a huge following, has since been renewed for two more seasons, with the second season scheduled to release in the fourth quarter of 2023. The second season of Sweet Home will feature many of the original cast members, while reportedly expanding the in-series universe with new characters and locations.

Doona!

Release date: TBD; end of 2023

7 New K-Dramas to Look Forward to on Netflix This Year (4)

This coming-of-age romance stars K-pop idol Bae Suzy in the titular role of Doona, a retired idol who ends up living with Lee Won-joon (played by Yang Se-jong), a university student. Expect your hearts to flutter as the series will be directed by Lee Jung-hyo, who also directed the hit romantic comedy Crash Landing on You.

Gyeongseong Creature

Release date: TBD; end of 2023

7 New K-Dramas to Look Forward to on Netflix This Year (5)

Park Seo-joon, who stars in the upcoming The Marvels, which will release in November, returns to the small screen following his leading role in the critically-acclaimed 2020 drama Itaewon Class. Park joins a bevy of A-list actors in this creature thriller set in the spring of 1945, just before the end of World War II and the Japanese annexation of Korea. In Gyeongseong Creature, Park plays a wealthy pawnshop owner in Gyeongseong, now Seoul, who fights mythical monsters borne out of human greed. Other cast members include Han So-hee (The World of the Married), Claudia Kim (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald), and Wi Ha-joon (Squid Game).

Daily Dose of Sunshine

Release date: TBD; end of 2023

7 New K-Dramas to Look Forward to on Netflix This Year (6)

This Netflix series was adapted from Morning Comes To Psychiatric Wards Too, a webtoon by Lee Ra-ha. Expected to be a heartwarming drama, Daily Dose of Sunshine takes viewers inside a psychiatric ward and follows Da-eun, a rookie nurse who is just starting out in the hospital’s mental health department. Da-eun, portrayed by Park Bo-young (Strong Girl Bong-soon, Oh My Ghost), is determined to make a difference in the lives of her patients despite the challenges at work. The series is directed by Lee JQ, who also directed the hit series All of Us Are Dead.

7 New K-Dramas to Look Forward to on Netflix This Year (2024)

FAQs

What new K-drama should I watch on Netflix? ›

The 20 best Korean shows on Netflix to watch now
  • 01 of 20. All of Us Are Dead (2022–present) ...
  • 02 of 20. Boys Over Flowers (2009) ...
  • 03 of 20. Business Proposal (2022) ...
  • 04 of 20. Crash Landing on You (2019–2020) ...
  • 05 of 20. D.P. (2021–2023) ...
  • 06 of 20. Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022–present) ...
  • 07 of 20. Hellbound (2021–present) ...
  • 08 of 20.
Aug 14, 2024

What is the #1 K-drama on Netflix? ›

1. Squid Game – 1 season, 2021–present. The show that launched Korean shows on Netflix into living rooms worldwide, Squid Game is a brutal yet thrilling drama series with heart. It set records when it came out in 2021, reaching number one on Netflix's top 10 in 94 different countries, including the US and UK.

What is the top 10 best K-drama? ›

Here are the best Korean dramas to date that are definitely worth the watch.
  • 6 'Healer' (2014-2015)
  • 7 'Boys Over Flowers' (2009) ...
  • 8 'Full House' (2004) ...
  • 9 'Fated to Love You' (2014) ...
  • 10 'While You Were Sleeping' (2017) ...
  • 11 'Gu Family Book' (2013) ...
  • 12 'Squid Game' (2021-2024) ...
  • 13 'The King's Affection' (2021) ...
5 days ago

What is the most trending K-drama right now? ›

6 unmissable K-dramas to watch on Prime Video now
  1. Marry My Husband (IMDb 7.9/10) ...
  2. The Kidnapping Day (IMDb 8.9/10) ...
  3. The World of the Married (IMDb 8.0/10) ...
  4. The Penthouse: War in Life (IMDb 7.9/10) ...
  5. SKY Castle (IMDb 8.5/10) ...
  6. May I Help You (IMDB 7.7/10)
Mar 27, 2024

What is the number 1 K-drama in the world? ›

1. The World of the Married. A story about a married couple whose betrayal of one another leads to a whirlwind of revenge.

What is the highest ranking K-drama on Netflix? ›

Contents
  • The Untamed (2019)
  • Love Between Fairy and Devil (2022)
  • The Longest Promise (2023)
  • Word of Honor (2021)
  • Eternal Love (2017)
  • Handsome Siblings (2020)
  • Who Rules the World (2022) Chinese Historical Series.
  • The Ghost Bride (2020)
Jul 8, 2024

What is Korea No 1 on Netflix? ›

1 Season 1 is a Netflix original South Korean reality TV show that debuted in 2022.

What is the top 10 best series on Netflix? ›

Best Netflix Series of All Time
  1. Daredevil. 2015–201839 epsTV-MA. 8.6 (482K) Rate. ...
  2. Money Heist. 2017–202141 epsTV-MA. 8.2 (544K) Rate. ...
  3. Narcos. 2015–201730 epsTV-MA. 8.7 (479K) Rate. ...
  4. Top Boy. 2011–202332 epsTV-MA. ...
  5. Stranger Things. 2016–202542 epsTV-14. ...
  6. Godless. 20177 epsTV-MA. ...
  7. Dark. 2017–202026 epsTV-MA. ...
  8. Our Planet. 2019–202312 epsTV-PG.

What K-drama should I watch next? ›

Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)

The series blends legal drama with romance, family plots, comedy and life lessons that will keep you glued to the screen. You can stream season 1 of Extraordinary Attorney Woo now, and Netflix has renewed the fan-favorite for a second season, expected to air sometime in 2024.

Which is the best romantic K-drama on Netflix? ›

Romantic FavoritesExplore more
  • Queen of Tears.
  • Reply 1988.
  • Descendants of the Sun.
  • My Love from the Star.
  • Crash Course in Romance.
  • Twenty Five Twenty One.
  • Guardian: The Lonely and Great God.
  • Mr. Sunshine.

What is the new K-drama coming to Netflix 2024? ›

'Captivating the King'

This historical k-drama depicts the love story between King Yi In (Hospital Playlist's Jo Jung-suk), a mistrusting and paranoid monarch of Joseon, and Kang Hee-soo (Run On's Shin Se-kyung).

What is the most watched Korean drama on Netflix? ›

Most watched Korean dramas on Netflix 2023. by hours viewed

As of June 2023, psychological thriller drama "The Glory" was the most watched Korean TV series on Netflix, with around 622.8 million hours viewed globally.

Which Korean drama has a 9.5 rating? ›

– Which K-drama has a 9.5 rating? The K-drama Doom at Your Service has a 9.5 rating on the American streaming platform Rakuten Viki.

What is the 2nd highest rated Korean drama? ›

'Queen of Tears' dethrones 'Goblin' to claim 2nd highest ratings in drama history. 'Queen of Tears' exceeds expectations with over 20% viewership, led by Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won. This drama has become tvN's second-highest-rated drama after 'Crash Landing on You'.

What is the number one Korean romantic drama? ›

1. Descendants of the Sun. This drama tells of the love story that develops between a surgeon and a special forces officer.

Which K-drama is trending now in 2024? ›

Summary
K-dramaIMDB Rating
Queen of Tears8.2
A Shop For Killers8.1
Marry My Husband7.9
Flex X Cop7.8
6 more rows
Jun 26, 2024

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