In 2021, international mega-hit Squid Game introduced the power of South Korean storytelling to a broader worldwide audience. K-drama fans have historically streamed content on services like Viki or hoped their favorite TvN or JBTC series would be picked up by Netflix. Then streamer invested $500 million in South Korean movies and series to produce and serve up their own offerings. How to sort through them all? K-Pop and K-Drama Podcaster Emily Mallon sifts through the latest.
Ghost Doctor
Date: January 3rd, 2022
Episodes: 16
Rating: PG-13
Cast: Boo Seong-cheol Rain, Kim Bum, Uee, and Son Na-eun
Where to Watch: Viki
A medical drama with a twist, the plot follows a selfish and arrogant doctor (Rain) whose spirit is transferred into another doc (Kim Bum) with completely different standards and morals. Ghost Doctor marks Rain’s return to K-drama after a three-year hiatus to focus on his music career.
All of Us Are Dead
Date: January 28th, 2022
Episodes: 12
Rating: TV-MA
Cast: Yoon Chan-young, Park Ji-hoo, Cho Yi-hyun, Park Solomon, and Yoo In-soo
Where to watch: Netflix
Following in the footsteps of 2021’s hit Sweet Home, All of Us Are Dead is a Netflix webtoon adaptation. Based on 2009’s Now at Our School, the eight episode horror series will follow trapped high school students battling a horde of their zombie-fied classmates.
Juvenile Justice
Date: January TBD
Episodes: TBD
Rating: TBD
Cast: Kim Hye-Soo, Kim Moo-yeol, and Lee Sung-min
Where to Watch: Netflix
A legal drama that’s sure to tug at the heartstrings, Juvenile Justice stars Kim Hye-soo (Hyena) as a tough judge who reexamines her own life after being appointed to the juvenile court system. Although the release date has yet to be revealed, Netflix previously announced a January 2022 premiere date for the first episode.
39
Date: February 16th
Episodes: 12
Rating: TBD
Cast: Son Ye-jin, Jeon Mi-do, and Kim Ji-hyun
Where to Watch: JTBC / Netflix (Rumored)
39 follows three friends who met in their second year of high school. Now grown and working as a dermatologist, an acting teacher, and a department-store cosmetics manager, the friends navigate love, loss, and new beginnings as they approach 40. Premiering in February on JTBC, there have been unverified rumors the series will be available for streaming on Netflix.
Rookies (a.k.a. Rookie Cops)
Date: First half of 2022
Episodes: 16
Rating: TBD
Cast: Kang Daniel, Chae Soo-bin, Lee Shin-young, Go Eun-gang, and Park Yoo-na
Where to Watch: Disney+
Rookies is an ensemble comedy series that follows students at the Korean National Police University as they try to become police officers. The colorful cast of characters includes an honor student following in his fathers footsteps (Kang Daniel) and a troublemaker (Go Eun-gang.) The clever initial marketing campaign has featured the characters’ MBTI (Myers-Briggs) personality types.
Money Heist
Date: 2022 TBD
Episodes: 12
Rating: TBD
Cast: Yoo Ji-tae, Park Hae-soo, Jun Jong-seo, Lee Won-jong, Park Myung-hoon, and Kim Ji-hoon
Where to Watch: Netflix
The Korean adaptation of the hit Spanish series Money Heist is perhaps the most anticipated K-drama of 2022. The superstar cast includes Squid Game‘s Park Hae-soo, Flower of Evil’s Kim Ji-hoon, and Healer’s Yoo Ji-tae. There are currently five seasons of the original Money Heist are available to stream on Netflix (the fifth was just released this past December).
The Sound of Magic
Date: 2022 TBD
Episodes: 6
Rating: TBD
Cast: Ji Chang-wook, Choi Sung-eun, and Hwang In-youp
Where to Watch: JTBC / Netflix
The Sound of Magic is a musical drama series that tells the story of a hard working high school student and a mysterious magician. Directed by Kim Sun-youn (Itaewon Class) and based on the webtoon Annarasumanara, the series already has a fan following excited to see this story brought to life. Although an official rating has yet to be released, this may be a watch the entire family will enjoy!
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