We’re halfway through December, and the days have grown shorter and colder. I no longer leave the warmth of my home (and the fuzzy cat slippers I got from H Mart) unless it’s absolutely necessary. I’m entering winter recluse mode, so that means more snacks and more Korean dramas. If you’re also entering this mode and need something to watch, this list is for you!
Five of these dramas have already aired, but the second half of December will give us everything from apocalyptic horror to a sweet coming-of-age tale, so grab your favorite blanket and take your pick.
#1 Cheat On Me, If You Can (Alternate time: If You Cheat, You Die)
Genre: Suspense/Thriller, Comedy
Starring: Cho Yeo-jung & Go Joon
Plot: When you write mysteries like Kang Yeo-joo (Cho Yeo-jung) thinking up ways to murder people is simply an occupational hazard. But it may be something she’s thinking about more recently since her divorce lawyer hubby Han Woo-sung (Go Joon) is exhibiting suspicious behavior. When they tied the knot, he penned a memorandum stating, “If I cheat, I die.” Will those words come to pass?
This is a really fresh and funny concept, and I’ve been hearing good things. So if you like a side of laughs with your murder, be sure to check this drama out.
#2 True Beauty
Genre: Comedy
Starring: Moon Ga-young, Cha Eun-woo, and Hwang In-yeop
Plot: An insecure high school girl named Lim Joo-gyung (Moon Ga-young) learns how to catfish in real life when she masters makeup and becomes the school’s beauty queen overnight. She works hard to keep her bare face hidden, but heartthrob Lee Su-ho (Cha Eun-woo) sees it anyway. Now Joo-gyung must navigate life with him knowing her secret, and keep an eye on another male student named Han Seo-jun.
Good news…we’re doing a live recap! So head on over and join the fun.
#3 Hush
Genre: Comedy/Drama
Starring: Hwang Jung-min & Im Yoon-ah
Plot: Lee Ji-soo (Im Yoon-ah), a plucky newbie reporter, throws herself in the path of veteran Han Joon-hyuk (Hwang Jung-min) in the hopes of learning from him and becoming someone who makes a difference.
Sounds like a drama that’s just waiting to test your ethical and moral boundaries. Ahhh…my favorite kind.
#4 Mr. Queen
Genre: Comedy/Historical
Starring: Shin Hye-sun & Kim Jung-hyun
Plot: A chef working at the Blue House suddenly finds himself in the body of a queen named So-yong (Shin Hye-sun). Now in another time period and another body, he must try and fit in and get along with the king (Kim Jung-hyun) who is being controlled by the previous king’s wife.
What a unique plot! We’re live recapping this one too, so enjoy! It’ll be interesting to see Kim Jung-hyun in his first role post Crash Landing On You.
#5 Run On
Genre: Romance
Starring: Im Shi-wan, Shin Se-kyung, Choi Soo-young, and Kang Tae-oh
Plot: Ki Seon-gyeom (Im She-wan), a regimented track star, follows his heart for the first time when a film translator by the name of Oh Mi-joo (Shin Se-kyung) steps into his life.
This should be on Netflix right now! I’m a fan of the Shin Se-kyung movies I’ve seen, but for some reason none of her dramas have ever held my interest. Maybe this one will be different. If nothing else, I know a lot of people are excited about Im Shi-wan’s return to the small screen.
#6 Sweet Home
Genre: Horror
Starring: Song Kang, Lee Jin-wook, Lee Shi-young, Lee Do-hyun, Park Gyu-young, and Go Min-shi
Plot: Based on the popular webtoon by Kim Kan-Bi & Hwang Young-Chan, this drama will follow reclusive high school student Cha Hyun-soo (Song Kang). After his family dies in a tragic car accident, he moves into a small apartment and bands together with its residents to fight horrifying monsters that were once human.
This webtoon is critically acclaimed by horror enthusiasts, so it’s highly anticipated. I googled the trailer (because I’m a masochist) and watched the whole thing through the space between my index and middle fingers. As a scaredy-cat, I will not be streaming this drama, but the cast is stellar and the premise is interesting.
#7 Secret Royal Inspector (Alternate title: Royal Secret Agent)
Genre: Suspense/thriller, Comedy
Starring: Kim Myung-soo (aka L), Kwon Na-ra, and Lee Yi-kyung
Plot: Caught gambling, a young government official named Sung Yi-gyum (Kim Myung-soo) is assigned to work as a secret royal inspector as punishment. In his new role, he’ll be responsible for catching corrupt government officials. He’s joined by his enthusiastic servant Park Chun-sam (Lee Yi-kyung) and Hong Da-in (Kwon Na-ra), a female inspector.
It sounds like hijinks will ensue. This is also Kwon Na-ra’s first drama since Itaewon Class.
#8 Lovestruck in the City (Alternate title: City Couple’s Way of Love)
Genre: Romance
Starring: Ji Chang-wook & Kim Ji-won
Plot: Ji Chang-wook plays Park Jae-won, a passionate architect who can’t forget the woman who stole his heart and disappeared years ago. Prone to wandering alleyways and collecting the things he finds, he meets Lee Eun-oh (Kim Ji-won), a woman with a free-spirited alter ego. She falls for Jae-won as her alter ego, and now has to balance both of her lives.
I’ve been looking forward to this one. The premise is so whimsical and romantic. Not to mention it’s directed by the same person who directed It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. I’m so ready!
#9 A Love So Beautiful
Genre: Romance
Starring: Kim Yo-han, So Ju-yeon, and Yeo Hoe-hyun
Plot: A remake of the Chinese drama by the same name, this drama will follow a bubbly high school girl named Shin So-yi (So Ju-yeon). She’s not the sharpest tool in the shed, but her classmate and neighbor Cha Heon (Kim Yo-han) is. She has a massive crush on him even though he’s cold and distant. A Love So Beautiful will follow them throughout high school and into college as they learn life lessons and form an unbreakable bond.
The original is often compared to a milder version of It Started With A Kiss/Itazura na Kiss. If you enjoyed those dramas, give A Love So Beautiful a shot.
As aforementioned, I’m super excited to watch Lovestruck in the City. The premise sounds fun, and I want to see if the director can make me fall in love with the drama the way I fell in love with It’s Okay to Not Be Okay.
Which drama are you excited to watch, and what are you hoping it’ll make you feel?
Am a die heart fan of ji Chang wook ND I literally haven’t left a single one of his dramas coz they’re the best ones 💜
Yeahhh I too fall for its okay to not be okay❤️aaaah it was so so so gud❤️
So now am waiting for#lovestruck in the city
Fingers crossed for this one too🤞
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Same! I love Ji Chang-wook. We only have to wait two more days!