The Hallyu wave continues to grow every year, ever since the enormous success of Korean dramas like ‘Crash Landing On You’ and ‘Squid Game.’ After setting the bars incredibly high again last year with dramas like ‘Little Women,’ ‘Twenty Five Twenty One,’ and ‘A Business Proposal,’ the K-drama industry has already shed some light onto some of the most anticipated releases this year.
1. A Time Called You
‘A Business Proposal’ actor Ahn Hyo-Seop, ‘Vincenzo’ actress Jeon Yeo-been and Kang Hoon are set to star in ‘A Time Called You,’ which is adapted from the Taiwanese television series ‘Someday or One Day.’ The romantic drama is set in two time periods, 1998 and 2023, revolving around the lives of people as they fall in love while going back and forth between each other’s world. There is a beautiful blend of nostalgia too along with romance so make sure to keep an eye out for this drama’s release later this year!
2. All Of Us Are Dead Season 2
Fans were waiting patiently for the announcement of another season of popular zombie drama ‘All Of Us Are Dead’ after the first season ended on several cliffhangers. The good news was finally revealed earlier last year through Netflix Korea’s official Instagram handle with the caption, “Can we survive again? The second story of Hyosan High School friends’ fierce zombie survival period begins. #AllofUsAreDead #Netflix.” The new season is scheduled to be released in mid-2023.
3. The Girl Downstairs (Doona!)
‘Start-up’ actress Bae Suzy along with Yang Se-jong are starring in ‘The Girl Downstairs,’ which is based on a webtoon with the same name written by Min Song-ah. This lighthearted drama is about a normal college student, Won-joon, who happens to become neighbours with former celebrity Duna, who has stepped away from the limelight to catch up with her studies. A release date hasn’t been announced yet by Netflix but it is expected to arrive by Spring 2023.
4. Vigilante
Another webtoon adapted drama with the same name, this anti-hero series starring Nam Joo-Hyuk as Kim Ji-yong, a rookie cop who is set to seek revenge upon assailants who murdered his mother will definitely keep fans of action hooked. Kim ends up forming a group of his own underground vigilantes and in the course of seeking revenge becomes a fugitive hunted by the Metropolitan Investigation Unit team.
5. Gyeongseong Creature
To get a break from romance, make sure to delve into this historical thriller. There is already a lot of buzz around the casting of this drama which includes Park Seo-joon and Han So-hee. Yoon Chae-ok, a young woman, sets out on a trail to find her mother when Seoul is occupied by the Japanese regime. Along her way she meets Tae-sang, a bachelor, and together they explore the underworld of Seoul.
6. Celebrity
Influencer culture has been rising in recent years and ‘Celebrity’ captures the dark side of this culture in Korea. Directed by Kim Chul-Gyu, and starring Park Gyu-young and Kang Min-hyuk, the series will take us beneath the smiles and glamour of celebrity life to the struggles, fear, heartaches, and insecurity.
7. Daily Dose Of Sunshine
Set in a psychiatric ward and based on the real-life experiences of a nurse, this drama gives the audience a glimpse into the lives of inmates and nurses with a positive message about the process of healing. A-lister Park Bo-Young plays the lead as a nurse named Jung Da-eun.
8. Dr. Romantic Season 3
Popular medical drama ‘Dr. Romantic’ was renewed for a third season in September last year and is set to air in April this year. The show will continue from where it left off, portraying the realistic story of doctors working at a rundown hospital called Doldam Hospital.