42 New K-Dramas To Binge Watch Throughout 2022
Add these new exciting k-dramas to your watch list so that you will never find yourself bored anytime in the year
2021 was the year that saw many K-dramas win the hearts of viewers all over the world. Whether it was Squid Game, Nevertheless or Vincenzo that won your heart, 2022 is set to be a year packed with more new dramas for you to binge on.
Here are the K-dramas to look out for coming up soon.
Starring Kang Daniel and Chae Soo-bin, Rookies Cops is a campus romance drama that follows the lives of a group of reckless freshmen at the Korean National Police Academy. Watch how they come together to pursue their dreams while learning what it takes to serve and protect the community as challenges loom ahead.
Rookie Cops is now available on Disney+.
For K-drama fans who can’t get enough of Kingdom and Sweet Home, All Of Us Are Dead is likely to be right up your alley.
Slated to be released this Friday (Jan 28), the series is about a group of students who are trapped in a school amid a zombie virus outbreak, where they are forced to join hands and fight for survival. The show is based on a popular webtoon by Joo Dong-geun, and stars Yoon Chan-yeong, Park Ji-hu, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, Yoo In-soo and many more.
All of Us Are Dead will air on Netflix on Jan 28.
A nostalgic drama about the days of youth, Twenty Five, Twenty One focuses on the lives of five youths who had to give up their dreams because of the 1998 financial crisis. Amid the struggles faced by these youths, a deep friendship begins to blossom between the two main characters, Na Hee-do (played by Kim Tae-ri) and Baek Yi-jin (Nam Joo-hyuk).
Twenty Five, Twenty One will air on Netflix on Feb 12.
Touted as one of the most highly-anticipated romantic comedies in 2022, Forecasting Love and Weather takes place at the Korea Meteorological Administration. After a bad break-up, Jin Ha-kyung (Park Min-young), swears that she will never date a colleague ever again. However, her vow is soon broken when she meets newcomer Lee Si-woo (Song Kang).
Forecasting Love and Weather will air on Netflix on Feb 12.
This mystery-thriller stars Seo Kang-joon, Kim Ah-jung and Lee Si-young in a story that spans the past, present and future. A mysterious figure appears to complicate things, tying all three points in time together. From this, a question springs: Is this figure here to help or harm humanity?
Grid will air on Disney+ on Feb 16.
Thirty Nine is a slice-of-life drama rooted in reality and romance, with three high-school friends — who have been through thick and thin together — on the cusp of turning 40. Dermatologist Cha Mi-jo (Son Ye-jin), acting coach Jeong Chan-young (Jeon Mi-do) and cosmetic sales manager Jang Joo-hee (Kim Ji-hyun) must navigate their lives amid friendship and love, and prepare their farewells as life takes a depressing turn.
Thirty Nine will air on Netflix on Feb 16.
In the latest K-drama about the fierce and competitive world of home shopping, TV and movie veteran Kim Ha-neul stars as Woo Hyun, an exceedingly average and mundane home shopping host. Her stagnant working career causes her anxiety, especially when compared with the popular Ok-sun (Kim Sung-ryung), the highest paid celebrity host in the home shopping field.
Kill Heel will air on Viu on Feb 24.
Juvenile Justice features a charismatic judge Sim Eun-seok (Kim Hye-soo) who is newly appointed to a district with one of the highest juvenile delinquency rates. With a dislike for juvenile delinquents, she makes unusual decisions to existing judgements, while sending out the message that society is responsible for juveniles’ immoral and illicit acts.
Juvenile Justice will air on Netflix on Feb 25.
Pachinko — based on the novel by Korean-American writer Lee Min-jin — features Lee Min-ho in a historical drama that spans four generations of Korean immigrant families.
Told in Korean, Japanese and English, it begins with a forbidden love and crescendos into a saga that journeys between Korea, Japan and America to tell a story of war and peace, love and loss, triumph and reckoning.
Pachinko will air on Apple TV+ on March 25.
Based on the wildly popular web novel and webtoon of the same name, Business Proposal is an office romance drama.
With perfect looks, smarts and a CEO position in the company, Kang Tae-moo (Ahn Hyo-seop) certainly seems a mismatch for the average employee-turned-blind-date Shin Ha-ri (Kim Se-jeong). As the two flounder between professional and personal, the drama gives us a stellar office romance to watch in 2022.
Business Proposal will air on Netflix.
It seems that the controversy surrounding Deserter Pursuit wasn’t sufficient — director Han Jun-hee and screenwriter Kim Bo-tong have returned with a sequel to the Netflix series that sparked a debate regarding the harshness of conscription in South Korea.
Deserter Pursuit 2 will air on Netflix.
From the mind of Extracurricular writer Gin Han-sai, Glitch is about Hong Ji-hyo (Jeon Yeo-bin) and her investigation into the whereabouts of her missing boyfriend. Finding assistance from a UFO club, she tackles mysteries and secrets along her path. Glitch is directed by Roh Deok and also features Nana (Heo Bo-ra) and Lee Dong-hwi (Lee Si-kook).
Glitch will air on Netflix.
The Korean adaptation of global hit La Casa de Papel, Money Heist: Korea — Joint Economic Area marries genius strategy with criminal activity as a group of highly-skilled thieves try their hand at the greatest heist in the Korean Peninsula. Be sure to catch this series as the gang encounters various problems and try their best to not be caught.
The drama stars Yoo Ji-tae (Professor), Kim Yun-jin (Seon Woo-jin), Park Hae-soo (Berlin), Jun Jong-seo (Tokyo) and Lee Won-jong (Moscow).
Money Heist: Korea — Joint Economic Area will air on Netflix.
The popular webtoon Annarasumanara may be a mouthful to say, but this adaptation may just fill you up with magic.
The Sound of Magic follows Yoon Ah-yi (Choi Sung-eun), a girl overly matured for her age, and Rieul (Ji Chang-wook), an enigmatic magician who would rather become a kid again. The drama is also directed by Kim Sung-youn of Itaewon Class fame, with writing by Love in the Moonlight’s Kim Min-jeong. The drama will also feature Hwang In-youp as Ah-yi’s classmate Na Il-deung.
The Sound of Magic will air on Netflix.
Elitism has been given a drama and its name is Remarriage and Desires. If you’ve ever wondered what a South Korean society where the pursuit of desire reigns supreme looks like, this satirical drama will answer that for you.
People try to utilise Rex — an exclusive matchmaking agency catering to the elite — to marry themselves into the upper echelons of society. Watch Seo Hye-seung (Kim Hee-seon), Lee Hyung-ju (Lee Hyun-wook) and Jin Yoo-hui (Jung Yoo-jin), as they explore a dystopian world of commercialised dating and marriage.
Remarriage and Desires will air on Netflix.
Fans of Lawless Lawyer may have a sense of deja vu with this K-drama as Lee Joon-gi once again dons the mantle of a lawyer. There are some differences, however.
Instead of a rough childhood amid a lawless neighbourhood, Kim Hee-woo (Joon-gi) is your average underachieving student. Through sheer hard work and determination, he manages to turn his life around as he pursues law and becomes a prosecutor.
Unfortunately, he is cut down before his prime while attempting to take down a corrupt politician, but surprisingly wakes up the next day to find himself back in the past, a student once more.
South Korea is famous for their chaebols, or family-owned business conglomerates.
This K-drama follows the ultimate demise of a loyal and hardworking individual within a chaebol, who was framed for embezzlement and slaughtered in cold blood by the same family he served.
The now-dead Yoon Hyun-woo (Song Joong-ki) finds himself reincarnated into the body of the family’s youngest son, where he plans to exact revenge and take over the family.
In her younger days, Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo) yearned to become an architect but her ambitions were cut short when she was forced to drop out of school due to egregious bullying. Her dreams dashed and her credentials insufficient, she becomes a teacher instead.
Yet, this choice wasn’t one of resignation as she becomes the teacher of her antagonists’ children and slowly metes out punishment.
Text: Khoo Yi-Hang & Claudia Tan/AsiaOne