If you have a Netflix account (or are still getting away with sharing one), odds are you watched a Korean TV show in 2023. Last year was the year of abundance with Netflix's Korean scripted and unscripted slates, from acclaimed hits like The Glory, Physical: 100, Bloodhounds, and The Devil's Plan, to beloved returning shows like D.P., Sweet Home, and Single's Inferno. Per Deadline's analysis of streaming giant's viewing data from the first half of 2023, South Korean shows accounted for a combined 3.71 billion hours watched among the top 100 titles on Netflix during that time frame. Long story short, Squid Game was just the start for Korean entertainment's dominance on the platform.
Netflix has just announced its full slate for the coming year of can't-miss shows, from highly-anticipated new rom-coms and Korean thrillers to continuing seasons of several hit reality competitions and action epics (including, finally, Squid Game season 2!). Read on to learn about the packed lineup for Korean TV shows on Netflix in 2024. (Once you build your watch list, check out our guide to the all-time best Korean dramas on Netflix.)
Confirmed Release Date
'The Bequeathed'
Train to Busan and Hellbound creator Yeon Sang-ho returns to Netflix with this thriller based on the popular webtoon of the same name. When Yoon Seo-ha (Kim Hyun-joo) inherits a family graveyard after the death of her uncle, the sudden appearance of a man (Ryu Kyung-soo) claiming to be her half-brother complicates the situation. Soon after, police officers Seong-joon (Park Hee-soon) and Sang-min (Park Byung-eun) show up to investigate a series of mysterious murders taking place nearby.
Premiere: January 19, 2024
Trailer: HERE
'Captivating the King'
This historical romance will depict 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). When the ruler was just a prince, the pair had a close friendship over their shared love of baduk (a.k.a the board game Go), but political intrigue eventually tore them apart. She swears revenge, but eventually the estranged friends become something much more.
Premiere: January 21, 2024
Trailer: HERE
'Doctor Slump'
This highly-anticipated medical rom-com stars The Heirs alums Park Shin-hye and Park Hyung-sik as former academic rivals: top-tier plastic surgeon Yeo Jung-woo (Park Hyung-sik), who sees his perfect life goes downhill after a surgical accident; and anesthesiologist Nam Ha-neul (Park Shin-hye), who realizes that her life has no meaning outside of her busy work schedule. The show follows the pair as they leave their jobs and explore new lives.
Premiere: January 27, 2024
Trailer: HERE
'A Killer Paradox'
Parasite and Our Beloved Summer star Choi Woo-shik stars in this thriller drama, formerly known as Murder DIEary. Lee Tang (Choi) is an ordinary college student who works at a convenience store, when one night he gets into a fight with a customer and accidentally kills him. The student soon learns that he has an innate power to sense and punish evildoers, and becomes a vigilante that only kills bad people. As the student becomes a dark hero, he is investigated by Detective Gang Nan-gam (My Liberation Notes' Son Suk-ku) and former detective Song Chon (Mouse's Lee Hee-joon).
Premiere: February 9, 2024
Trailer: HERE
'Queen of Tears'
My Love From the Star's Kim Soo-hyun and My Liberation Notes' Kim Ji-won will star in this buzzy drama from Studio Dragon. Queen of Tears will follow the love story of Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won), the chaebol heiress known as the "queen" of Queens Group’s department stores, and Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo Hyun), the Queens Group's legal director who was born in the rural village of Yongduri. As they approach their third year of marriage, the couple raised in two different worlds will face an unforeseen crisis and miraculously rekindle their love again.
Premiere: March 9, 2024
Trailer: HERE
'Chicken Nugget'
My Demon’s Kim Yoo-jung, Kingdom's Ryu Seung-ryeong, and Fight For My Way's Ahn Jae-hong will star in this adaptation of the web comic Fried Chicken by Park Ji-dok. Choi Su-man (Ryu) is the owner of the company More Than Machines. When his daughter Min-ah (Kim) becomes intrigued with a new machine that she thinks will help with fatigue, she's accidentally turned into a chicken nugget (yes, you read that right) instead. Her father (Ryu) and a quirky intern who's secretly in love with Min-ah (Ahn) work together to turn her back into her human form, in this comedy-mystery drama.
Premiere: March 15, 2024
Trailer: HERE
'Physical: 100' season 2
Season 1 of Physical: 100, a thrilling strength and endurance competition involving epic, larger-than-life sets, was Netflix's second-ever Korean un-scripted hit after Single's Inferno. It was no surprise when the streamer announced a season 2 renewal, with creator Jan Ho-gi promising that the next installment would "surpass its predecessor in every aspect."
Premiere: March 19, 2024
Trailer: HERE
'Parasyte: The Grey'
Hitoshi Iwaaki’s sci-fi manga about an invasion of parasitic life-forms that live off of human hosts is getting a K-drama adaptation directed by Train to Busan helmer Yeon Sang-ho. When My Love Blooms' Jeon So-nee plays Jeong Su-in, who enters a bizarre coexistence with a parasite who infects her hand but fails to inhabit her brain. D.P.'s Koo Kyo-Hwan and Peninsula's Lee Jung-hun will also star as people who have devoted their lives to tracking down and battling the parasites.
Premiere: April 5, 2024
Trailer: HERE
'Goodbye, Earth'
This long-awaited sci-fi series, starring Hellbound's Yoo Ah-in and Strangers from Hell's Ahn Eun-jin, is an adaptation of novel The Fool at the End of the World by author Kōtarō Isaka, who's other books haven been adapted into works including the Brad Pitt film Bullet Train. Per the description, the show is "an examination of despair and hope in individuals aware of an asteroid hurtling towards Earth, signifying the end of the world."
Premiere: April 26, 2024
Trailer: TBA
'Frankly Speaking'
This rom-com melodrama staring D.P.'s Go Kyung-po and Start-Up's Kang Han-na takes place in the busy world of Korean broadcasting. Song Ki-baek (Go) is a famous, well-mannered announcer, until he suffers an accident that takes away his ability to lie. As his new brutal honesty leads to professional turmoil, Ki-baek catches the attention of On Woo-joo (Kang), a TV writer in search of a guest for her variety show. Extraordinary Attorney Woo's Joo Jong-hyuk also stars as a trot singer on a mission to win back his ex, Woo-joo.
Premiere: May 1, 2024
Trailer: HERE
'Super Rich in Korea'
After the success of Netflix series like Dubai Bling and Young, Famous & African, South Korea will get its own unscripted exploration of the lives of the ultra-rich. This reality show will follow the lives of multibillionaire expats who have chosen to make Korea their home, including a Singaporean chaebol billionaire, an heir to an Italian luxury brand, a Pakistani noble family member, and an Arab influencer world with 50 million followers.
Premiere: May 7, 2024
Trailer: HERE
'The 8 Show'
The description for this upcoming thriller drama (based on the webtoon Money Game by Bae Jin-soo) gives big Squid Game and Alice in Borderland vibes: "8 people in need of money are invited to appear on reality variety show Money Game. The 8 people are to stay at the studio that consists of nothing but concrete walls. If they are able to hang in there for 100 days, they can divide the winning prize of 44.8 billion won equally. But, everything they spend for, including necessities like food, water, electricity, costs 1,000 times more than normal prices and are deducted from the winning prize."
Premiere: May 17, 2024
Teaser: HERE
Confirmed by Netflix
'Agents of Mystery'
The Devil's Plan producer Jeong Jong-yeon is set to bring his second variety show to Netflix, this time taping an all-star cast including aespa's Karina and former Girls' Day member Lee Hye-ri. The new variety show will follow six celebs turned special agents, who take cases that involve strange events, and solve them in resourceful ways. Actors Kim Do-hoon and Lee Yong-jin, comedian Lee Eun-ji and singer John Park are also set to star.
Premiere: TBA (expected Q2 2024)
Trailer: TBA
'Gyeongseong Creature' season 2
Netflix has already announced a second season for it's brand-new historical action epic, which took inspiration from real-life historical events to tell a supernatural horror story that centers on a mysterious creature terrorizing Japanese-occupied Seoul (then known as Gyeongseong) in the spring of 1945. While season 1 took place in the past, a finale cliffhanger revealed that season 2 will bring the series to the 21st century.
Premiere: TBA (expected Q3 2024)
Teaser: HERE
'Hellbound' season 2
The 2021 horror-thriller drama from director Yeon Sang-ho will return this year, bringing viewers back to the crumbling society shaken by hellbound decree, incidents where people are told the exact times of their death, and smoky monsters appear to kill the targets. In addition to returning actors Kim Hyun-joo (as lawyer Min Hye-jin), Kim Shin-rok (as Park Jung-ja), and Yang Ik-june (as Jin Kyung-hoon), Kim Seong-cheol will join the cast as Jung Jin-soo, taking over for Yoo Ah-in.
Premiere: TBA (expected Q4 2024)
Trailer: TBA
'Hierarchy'
This youth melodrama will follow all the drama that takes place when new student Kang Ha (Crash Course in Romance's Lee Chae-min) disturbs the pecking order at Jusin High School, an elite school where the children of society's top 0.01 percent reign with a rigid set of rules. While plot details are still under wraps, the show boasts a talented young cast, including Our Beloved Summer's Roh Jeong-eui, King the Land's Kim Jae-won, The Sound of Magic's Ji Hye-won, and My Perfect Stranger's Lee Won-jeong.
Premiere: TBA (expected Q2 2024)
Trailer: TBA
'Mr. Plankton'
After starring in popular 2023 dramas, Bloodhounds' Woo Do-hwan and Strong Girl Namsoon's Lee You-mi will star in this rom-com drama that depicts an unlikely friendship between a man who should not have been born and the unhappiest woman in the world. Hae-jo (Woo), is a ma born out of wedlock who wanders through life without a family. One day he encounters his ex-girlfriend Jae-mi (Lee), who is an unhappy bride-to-be engaged to a respected older man (played by Sweet Home's Oh Jung-se). Netflix regular Kim Hae-sook (Gyeongseong Creature, Under the Queen's Umbrella) rounds out the cast.
Premiere: TBA (expected Q4 2024)
Trailer: TBA
'Resident Playbook' (working title)
The beloved medical drama Hospital Playlist is getting a spin-off focused on the intense but heartfelt lives of OB-GYN residents learning the ropes at Jongno Yulje Medical Center. Rising star Go Youn-jung (Moving, Alchemy of Souls) will lead the new cast, which includes Shin Si-a (The Witch: Part 2), Kang You-seok (Black Knight), Han Ye-ji, and Jung Jun-won (A Model Family).
Premiere: TBA (expected Q2 2024)
Trailer: TBA
'Single's Inferno' season 4
After season 3 saw some fierce competition for love and a major twist on the Inferno setting, Single's Inferno's producers have promised that season 4 will continue to introduce surprises, including some to-be-determined format changes. "We will continue to do our best and make sure Season 4 is even more entertaining for you by paying closer attention to the fans’ feedback on Season 3, both positive and negative," says producer Kim Jae-won.
Premiere: TBA (expected Q4 2024)
'Squid Game' season 2
The second season of Squid Game will finally arrive this year, with creator Hwang Dong-hyuk continuing former winner Gi-hun's (Lee Jung-jae) mission to end the Game once and for all. In addition to the returns of the Front Man (Lee Byung-hun) and cop Hwang Jun-ho (Wi Ha-jun), season 2 will also introduce viewers to a stacked cast of new faces, including Netflix regular Park Gyu-young (Celebrity, Sweet Home), Yim Si-wan (Run On, Unlocked), Kang Ha-neul (When the Camellia Blooms), Lee Jin-uk (Sweet Home, Doona!), Park Sung-hoon (The Glory), Yang Dong-geun (Moving), Kang Ae-sim (Queen of Divorce), and former IZ*ONE member Jo Yuri.
Premiere: TBA
Teaser: HERE
'Sweet Home' season 3
After season 2 made its long-awaited return last year, the final installment of Netflix's monster-horror series will return to a world teetering on the edge between humanity and monsterization, as survivors make hard decisions in the struggle to survive. Season 3 has already been filmed, with the show's cast, including Song Kang as Cha Hyun-su, Go Min-si as Lee Eun-yu, and Lee Jin-uk as Jung Ui-myeong, completing their character's arcs. (For a full, spoiler-filled breakdown of what to know going into season 3, check out our explainer.)
Premiere: TBA (expected Q2 2024)
Trailer: TBA
'The Frog'
This mystery-thriller drama from The World of the Married director Mo Wan-il (previously titled Alone in the Woods) will see Netflix regular Go Min-si (Sweet Home, Love Alarm) star alongside esteemed actor Kim Yun-seok (Escape from Mogadishu, The Thieves). Young-ha's (Kim) life begins to crumble when a mysterious woman (Go) shows up at his motel deep in the woods, leaving him to cling to his former ways of life. Other actors appearing in the drama include Yoon Kye-sang (Spiritwalker) as the hotel's previous owner, and Lee Jung-eun (Parasite) as a former ace detective relentlessly pursuing a case.
Premiere: TBA (expected Q3 2024)
Trailer: TBA
'The Influencer'
Netflix's new survival show will be a battle for social media supremacy. In this competition, 77 Korean influencers come together in a survival competition to find out who has the most social media influence. Details are still under wraps, but we're excited for how they'll judge pre-existing online sway on this reality series.
Premiere: TBA (expected Q3 2024)
'The Trunk'
Goblin's Gong Yoo and Why Her's Seo Hyun-jin will star in this series adaptation of Kim Ryeo-ryeong's 2015 novel of the same name. The logline reads: “A clandestine marriage service is uncovered when a trunk washes up on the shore of a lake, bringing to light the strange marriage between a couple in the thick of it all.”
Premiere: TBA (expected Q4 2024)
Trailer: TBA
'The Whirlwind'
This gripping political drama will depict a harsh feud within South Korea's executive leadership. (In South Korea, the president is the head of the country and the prime minister is his second-in-command, per Korea.net.) Prime Minister Park Dong-ho (Kill Bok-soon's Sol Kyung-gu), seeks to change the political status quo and uproot the corrupt president, who colludes with the chaebols (powerful family-owned conglomerates). He soon finds himself in conflict with Deputy Prime Minister for Economy and Finance Jeong Soo-jin (Queenmaker's Kim Hee-ae), who opposes his efforts.
Premiere: TBA (expected Q3 2024)
Trailer: TBA
'Unknown Chefs' (working title)
Korean celebrity chef Paik Jong-won will host this unscripted cooking competition series, which will try to answer the question of “Who is the best cook in South Korea?” All other details on the season is under wraps, but we're excited after seeing chef Paik's work on previous food shows including Paik's Spirit and Korean Pork Belly Rhapsody.
Premiere: TBA (expected Q3 2024)
Trailer: TBA
'Zombieverse' season 2
Season 1 of this unscripted series put actors, comedians, and TV personalities (including Dex from Single's Inferno) in the middle of a zombie apocalypse, testing their survival skills as they were put through different quests. Zombieverse joins the other Korean variety shows that are returning for season 2, with the announcement promising, "upgraded quests, enhanced zombies, a new cast, and an expanded universe.”
Premiere: TBA (expected Q4 2024)
Trailer: TBA
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