UPCOMING K-DRAMAS COMING TO NETFLIX IN 2023
By Rashmi Goel
Here are the top upcoming Korean dramas in 2023 that you cannot afford to miss! The popularity of Korean dramas or Kdramas has recently spread to Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, and Europe. It is impossible to miss this list of the Best Korean Dramas that you must watch in 2023, regardless of whether you are a new enthusiast or a seasoned watcher. Their broad appeal is largely attributed to their captivating storylines, fascinating characters, and stunning cinematography.
The fact that K-dramas are popular not only because of their entertainment value but also because of their diverse themes and subjects, which often address important social and cultural issues. K-dramas have thus become a popular form of entertainment for people of all ages.
Years before the popular thriller series Squid Games became a worldwide phenomenon and received numerous significant awards in the film sector, Korean culture was already beginning to influence the world. Due to their abundance of creativity, K-Dramas stand out in this regard. The plot twists in Korean dramas and series are known for being insane.
Gyeongseong Creature
It's time for more monsters, not more romance. The Japanese occupied Seoul in 1945. When Chae-ok - played by Han So-hee (Soundtrack #1) - travels to Gyeongseoung (an older name for Seoul) in search of her missing mother, she meets Tae-sang, a handsome bachelor played by Park Seo-Joon (Itaewon Class). A strange creature is discovered in the underworld of occupied Seoul, apparently born of the greed of the city's inhabitants. Together, they explore the underworld of Seoul. There is a mixture of history, romance, and science fiction in this film, and it looks incredible. This show is so good that there has already been a confirmation for a second season.
All Of Us Are Dead Season 2
Korean TV rarely airs second seasons. However, Netflix is investing heavily in the Korean market and appears eager to exploit as much as possible from its original content. There is a possibility that All of Us Are Dead will reanimate sometime in late 2023. Despite the fact that everyone wants to eat or kiss one another, we're more than ready for another dose of zombie high school drama. At the beginning of 2022, the first season proved enormously popular, so it makes sense to release new seasons so soon. The next installment of this inventive horror is set to premiere this year, so keep your eyes peeled.
Doona!
There has been a growing trend of Korean series adapted from webtoons in recent years, with this one being the latest. This story tells the tale of a successful female star, who was a key component of the group's popularity, and who suddenly announced that she was retiring. As soon as she is away from music, she isolates herself inside a shared house in a college town where she lives alone. She meets an ordinary, broke college student who, with warm and genuine warmth, shelters her from the harsh realities of the life she has chosen for herself in that place. There is a good chance that sparks will fly when this happens. Crash Landing On You director Lee Jung-Hyo will helm this romance drama
Goodbye Earth
There will be a new South Korean streaming television series entitled Goodbye Earth, which will be written by Jung Sung-Joo, directed by Kim Jin-min, and will feature Yoo Ah-in, Ahn Eun-jin, Jeon Sung-Woo, and Kim Yoon-Hye as the main characters. The Netflix original series Goodbye Earth (2023) portrays how people struggle to live in chaos after an asteroid is predicted to collide with the earth in 200 days and destroy the planet. The story is based on the novel "The Fool At the End of the World" by Kōtarō Isaka.
Mask Girl
This k-drama is based on the popular webtoon of the same name with seven episodes reported so far. The story is about a young woman named Mia who wears a mask as a means of concealing her identity. Since Mia lives in a culture where people are judged solely on their appearance, she is frequently harassed and bullied for her odd appearance. In the face of obstacles, Mia is unwavering in her commitment to leading a typical life. She decides to join a rebel group fighting against an oppressive government when she encounters them and becomes their leader. The rebels and Mia work together to bring down the corrupt government and bring people freedom and justice. The mask's true purpose and her true identity are revealed along the way.
Parasyte: The Grey
Parasyte: The Grey is a Korean horror series. Hellbound creator Yeon Sang-ho and Train To Busan and Peninsula filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho will direct and co-write the live-action adaptation of Hitoshi Iwaaki's sci-fi manga comic book series, which has sold more than 25 million copies worldwide. It tells of a group of humans waging war against unidentified parasitic life forms that feed off of human hosts to grow stronger. The actress plays Jeong Su-in, who becomes a victim of a parasite that, when it does not take over her brain, enters a bizarre coexistence with it. The film also stars Lee Jung-Hyun and Koo Kyo-hwan, both of whom worked with Yeon in Peninsula. In order to find his sister, Koo plays Seol Kang-woo, who tracks down parasites. The leader of "Team Grey," a task force fighting parasites, is Choi Jun-Kyung. Due to the loss of her husband, she devotes her life to the annihilation of these invasive species.
D.P. (Season 2)
A D.P., which is an acronym for Deserter Pursuit, is a Korean military drama series that is based on the webtoon entitled A Dog's Day (2015). Active frontline soldiers break away from camps and go on adventurous missions in this high-voltage drama. It painted a vivid picture of structural abuse, political connections, and what goes on in the army by the end of its six-episode first season and showed Joon-ho walking away but still having five weeks of conscription left. Ho-Hyeol, however, disobeys his senior Bum-gu in front of all juniors, which may result in his dismissal. This is where the upcoming second season is expected to pick up.
The Glory
The Glory is the second collaboration between Song Hye-Kyo and The Descendants writer Kim Eun-sook, in which she plays a woman seeking revenge on the bullies from high school who bullied her when she was a child. Moon Dong-Eun (played by Song) is shown in the trailer hatching a scheme, in which she attempts to change the life of one of her newly-married classmates into a living nightmare using an elaborate scheme. In the trailer, the drama looks ominous, dark, and dramatic, and lives up to Kim's demand that it be remembered as "a gripping sword dance." The Glory debuts Dec 30 on Netflix; part 2 will air in Mar 2023.
Murder DIEary
A supernaturally enhanced character becomes a vigilante in this fictional story. Lee Tang, an ordinary college student, gets into an argument with a customer while working a night shift at a convenience store, unconsciously swings a hammer, and kills him. As Lee Tang struggles with guilt and fear of murder, he discovers one day that the person he killed is a serial killer and slowly begins to realize he has the ability to identify "bad seeds". Eventually, he becomes a dark hero punishing people who have committed unethical evils. In pursuit of Lee Tang, a charismatic, cold-blooded detective begins to chase him.
Chicken Nugget
Chicken Nugget is a South Korean Netflix Original comedy series based on Park Ji Dok's webtoon Fried Chicken. Director Lee Byung Hun (Be Melodramatic) is responsible for directing the series. There is no doubt that this fun-filled Korean Drama about Chicken Nuggets will tickle your funny bone. During her search for ways to help deal with her fatigue, the beautiful Choi Min Ah accidentally turns into a fried chicken when she is looking for ways to cope with it. As she makes her way back into her human form, Choi Sun Man, her father, as well as the intern Go Baek Jung, play a significant role in helping her overcome some very dark secrets that she discovers along the way.
Arthdal Chronicles (Season 2)
Korean drama Arthdal Chronicles has no plot holes and is a sensation. Eunseom, an Igutu raised in secret among a tribe, is the protagonist of the first season. In accordance with prophecy, he becomes involved in a series of power struggles between tribes, as well as Tagon, the King of Arthdal. Following the reconciliation of 30 clans suppressed by Tagon, he became king of the East. There are so many loose ends to tie up in the second season of the show, which is one of the most anticipated Korean dramas at the moment. This fantasy show will pick up about a decade after the events of the first season. In the older versions of Eun-Seom and Tan-ya, Lee Joon-gi and Shin Se-Kyung will portray the lead roles. Power struggles and the threat of war once again confront the two.
Queen Maker
In order to fight injustice, two women who stand against each other need to set aside their differences and unite as a team. Despite being an old song in Korean thrillers, this female-led drama might stand out from Netflix's long list of compelling Korean thrillers due to its star power. Kim Hee-ae (The World of the Married) and Moon So-ri (Life) in the lead roles give this drama its own distinctive character unlike any other Korean thriller found on Netflix. It is no coincidence that the conflicts in Queen Maker seem like a match for this year's Little Women as one of the characters is a high-flying businesswoman within the establishment while the other is a labor rights lawyer running for office.
Celebrity
Celebrity explores the darker side of Korean influencer culture for those who cannot miss YouTube dramas. Gyu-young leads an impressive cast in a series that examines the insecurity, heartbreaks, and fear that come with fame in the Internet age. It's all wrapped in a warm blanket of Korean TV tropes, as we might expect. As the lead in It's Okay to Not Be Okay, Sweet Home, and Romance is a Bonus Book, Park should be familiar to K-drama fans. As we move into 2023 and beyond, we can expect to see more of her.
Song of the Bandits
An upcoming South Korean Netflix Original drama series, Song of the Bandits is written by Han Jung Hoon (Bad Guys) and directed by Hwang Joon Hyuk (Black Dog). A historical action drama set during the Japanese occupation in the 1920s. Taking on the role of Lee Yoon will be Kim Nam Gil. Former Japanese soldier who left everything to protect the land and its people. As Nam Hee Shin, the director of the railway bureau at the Governor-General of the Joseon Dynasty, Seo Hyun will play the role. Despite knowing her true identity, she hides it. Former medical officer Yoo Jae Myung will be a landlord in the Joseon village Choi Choong Soo. The character named Lee Kwang Il will be played by Lee Hyun Wook. Lee Yoon and he have a bad relationship as Japanese military officials. Lee Ho Jung will portray the role of Eon Nyeon Yi, a gunman heading to Gando.
Black Knight
Cho Ui-Seok is an upcoming South Korean director and writer of the upcoming streaming television series Black Knight. In 2071, toxic air pollution decimates the global environment. A strict social class now exists because only about 1 percent of the population has survived. As a result of the air pollution, people rarely leave their homes and wear gas masks when they do. For their needs, citizens rely heavily on parcel delivery services. Package delivery drivers, or knights, protect their packages from thieves as well as deliver them. A legendary knight is Knight 5-8 (Kim Woo-Bin). Furthermore, he has a high level of physical skill. During the course of his journey, he meets the refugee boy Sa-Wol (Kang You-Seok). Sa-Wol admires Knights 5-8 and dreams of becoming a knight. The Defense Intelligence Command's Seol-A (Esom) is an officer. Like a family member, she cares for Sa-Wol like he is her own. In order for Sa-Wol to become a knight, Knight 5-8 helps him
Hunting Dogs
Woo Do-Hwan (Gun-Woo) is a promising boxer. Myung-Gil (Park Sung-Woong) is a powerful and notorious moneylender who owes his mother a great deal of money. In order to pay off his mother's debt, Gun-Woo quits boxing and starts working for CEO Choi (Heo Jun-Ho). A legendary figure in the moneylending industry, CEO Choi suddenly disappeared. He reappeared one day and began lending money to people in need without interest. Gun-Woo is allowed to work for him. Aside from Hyun-Joo (Kim Sae-Ron), Woo-Jin (Lee Sang-Yi) also works for Choi.
The Interest Of Love
The Interest of Love is an ensemble romance directed by Jo Young-min (Do You Like Brahms?). The series follows four co-workers as they navigate a complex and sometimes scandalous office romance featuring Yoo Yeon-Seok (Mr. Sunshine) and Keum Sae-rok (Youth of May). It's the perfect Korean romance. A police officer, a person without the belief in love, and a major corporation are likely to prevent the couple from falling in love. It's going to be a story about beautiful people falling in and out of love. The Interest of Love premiered on December 21 and runs through mid-February 2023.
A Time Called You
After the death of her boyfriend, Jun-hee (Ahn) finds herself transported back to the year 1998 and into the body of Min-Joo, a high schooler who has just graduated. Jun-hee's life is turned upside down when her dead boyfriend bears a striking resemblance to the most popular boy in school, forcing her to navigate the complexities of teenage love as a woman out of time. A Time Called You might be the balm you need if you feel time travel is overdone in western media today. TV shows in Korea seem to handle time travel much better than western shows, and the sense of nostalgia for the 90s only helps. There will be a lot of tears shed with this one.
The Girl Downstairs
A new Netflix k-drama series based on the popular webtoon The Girl Downstairs is in the works by Studio Dragon. Featuring Bae Suzy as Lee Doo Na. Among Netflix's many shows, The Girl Downstairs follows Won-Joon as he moves to a new town to start college only to discover his neighbor is a former celebrity. Despite trying to ignore her, Won-Joon cannot help but be fascinated by her storied, and somewhat mysterious, life. It would be remiss of us not to include a typical Korean romance. Despite The Girl Downstairs' promise of a trope-filled romp with the usual suspects of Korean love stories, there are hints that we might be in for some surprises.
Daily Dose Of Sunshine
A Netflix series called "Daily Dose of Sunshine" is based on the webtoon "Morning Comes to the Mental Ward" by Iraha. Park Bo Young plays nurse Jung Da Eun as she deals with her patients' struggles and experiences in a psychiatric ward. Dong Go Yoon is played by Yeon Woo Jin, a proctologist surgeon who is attracted to Da Eun's innocence, and Song Yoo Chan, who conceals his pain behind a smiling smile, is played by Jang Dong Yoon. Psychiatrist Song Hyo Shin is played by Lee Jung Eun. Director Lee Jae Gyoo, writer Lee Nam Gyu, and producer Film Monster will produce the series. As well as Lee Sang Hee and Lim Jae Hyeok, the film also stars Lee Sang Hee.
The Uncanny Counter 2
Based on Jang Y's webtoon Amazing Rumor, this supernatural Korean drama series follows noodle shop workers by day and demon hunters at night. When he was a young man, So Mun met with a car accident and lost his parents. In the course of uncanny events, he learns about the Counters, and the spirit of one Counter enters him, imparting strange abilities. A powerful evil force threatens the Counters, forcing So Mun and the others to break the rules and unite.
Queen of the Scene
The upcoming comedy series, Queen of the Scene, stars Gong Hyo Jin and Park Ha Sun in the leading roles. Screenwriter Kim Soo Ah (Whispering Corridors 3: Wishing Stairs) has written the script for Queen of the Scene, which is directed by Lee Won Suk (Killing Romance). The extremely twisted stories she writes have made her an industry star thanks to her fame in the industry. As she attempts to escape, and return to reality, she encounters a variety of amusing situations as she becomes trapped within one of her own stories.
Squid Game (Season 2)
This global chart-topping phenomenon returns to screens soon with a second season. At the earliest, the next batch of episodes will not be ready for release until 2023, according to its creator, Hwang Dong-hyuk. One thing's for sure, the second season of Netflix's most-watched series is going to have some big shoes to fill. It won't be released until 2024. Hwang confirms that some familiar faces will return for the second season, although it is still in its early stages. Gi-hun, last year's winner, will be returning with the Front Man as well as a brand-new character. Young-hee, everyone's favorite killer doll, is no longer on the market, and viewers will meet her boyfriend Cheol-Su. The couple might sing a romantic duet just before giving you that deadly look. Can we expect more slappings by The Salesman? There is a possibility the man with ddakji will return, Hwang, teases. Now is the time to cue up Pink Soldiers' theme song because the game hasn't ended yet.
Sweet Home (Season 2)
For two more seasons, Netflix is bringing back its hit Korean creature drama Sweet Home. The show is based on the Naver webtoon of the same name by Kim Carnby and Hwang Young-chan, in which humans transform into savage monsters. In an apartment building, a troubled teen and his neighbors fight to survive - and hold onto their humanity in the process. There will be a new setting in Season 2, says Lee. During Season 2, we will refine the technical details we were unable to refine in Season 1. For the new seasons, Song Kang and Lee Jin-Uk will return, along with Lee Si-young, Ko Min-si, and Park Kyu-young. There are four new cast members in Sweet Home: Yoo Oh-seong, Oh Jung-se, Kim Moo-Yeol, and Jung Jin-young.
