Cover Here are some of the most exciting K-dramas to watch (Photo: Instagram/ @Pinay.ahjumma)

There’s no shortage of new and exciting K-dramas to check out this year

2024 is shaping up to be a great year for K-drama fans. With new K-dramas like Mask Girl, Crash Course in Romance and The Killing Vote taking the world by storm last year, it’s clear that the K-drama industry is thriving with no signs of slowing down anytime soon. This year, we see plenty of new additions ranging from webtoon adaptations to new seasons of our favourite series. 

From historical fantasies to romance, there is something for every K-drama lover. Below, we share some of the most highly anticipated K-dramas we’re adding to our binge-watch list this year.   

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1. Parasyte: The Grey

Train to Busan director Yeon Sang-ho has released his latest drama series Parasyte: The Grey. The new series is a reimagination of classic Japanese manga Parasyte which sees mysterious parasitic human-eating creatures falling to earth and begin living off human hosts. Throughout the series, we follow parasitic life team The Grey as they plan to exterminate these parasites. The latest series features Our Blooming Youth’s Jeon So-nee, DP’s Koo Kyo-hwan and Flex X Cop’s Kwon Hae-hyo.

2. Lovely Runner

Based on popular webtoon Tomorrow’s Best, this time-slip romance drama follows unfolds as fan girl Im Sol gets transported back 15 years into the past to save her favourite idol Ryu Sun-jae from death. We see Im trying to grapple with the challenges of altering the future. The highly anticipated drama has a stellar cast, including Sky Castle’s Kim Hye-yoon and Record of Youth’s Byeon Woo-seok.

3. Chief Detective 1958

A prequel to the classic drama Chief Detective, this crime series follows detective Park Young-han (Taxi Driver’s Lee Je-hoon) and his team who catch petty thieves. As he makes his way to the top, he also goes up against corruption. While the original drama is set in the 1970s and 1980s, the latest series will be set in 1958.

4. Blood Free

This futuristic thriller K-drama takes place in 2025 when genetic engineering enterprise BF creates genetically engineered cultured meat to end the consumption of animal flash among humans. The company’s CEO Yoon Ja-yoo gets entangled in a mysterious death case as people inside and outside the company begin questioning her actions. The series stars Brilliant Legacy’s Han Hyo-joo, Kingdom’s Ju Ji-hoon and The World of the Married’s Lee Moo-saeng.

5. Queen of Tears

Marriage isn’t always smooth sailing, even in this latest K-drama series. We follow the love story between Hong Hae-in and Baek Hyun-woo. Hong is a third-generation chaebol heiress of Queens Group who is known for her cold demeanour while Baek is the legal director for the group who grew up in the countryside. Throughout the series, we see them face obstacles and trials which open their eyes towards each other.

6. Wonderful World

Following the tragic loss of her son, psychology professor and famous writer Eun Soo-hyun decides to pursue justice on her own. Throughout the series, we see Eun get involved with others who suffer similar pain and help to solve their mysterious cases. On top of an exciting plot, the K-drama also features a stellar cast, starring actors including Model’s Kim Nam-joo, True Beauty’s Im Se-mi and Gangnam Beauty’s Cha Eun-woo.

7. The Impossible Heir

This highly anticipated K-drama will see Alchemy of Souls’s Lee Jae-wook star as Han Tae-oh, a high school student with a dark background. Han befriends Kang In-ha (played by South Korean singer and rapper Lee Jun-young), an illegitimate child of a wealthy chaebol family. They grow close throughout their childhood and as adults, they plan to succeed in life and change their fate. A love triangle is formed when they meet Na Hye-won, who joins them on their journey to success.

8. A Killer Paradox

Adapted from the webtoon of the same name, this K-drama follows university student Lee Tang (played by Parasite’s Choi Woo-shik) who kills a person who he discovers is a serial killer. This prompts a change in Lee as he decides to commit more murders. As this happens, he is being hunted by a tenacious police detective, played by DP 2’s Son Suk-ku.

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9. Midnight Photo Studio

Described as a healing romance, this series sees Seo Ki-joo, a lonely photographer who runs a small photo studio that helps souls find refuge. He ends up meeting Han Bom, a lawyer who suffers from financial struggles. Throughout the series, we see the duo begin a partnership, helping lost souls find peace. Anticipate an exciting cast, including Itaewon Class’s Kwon Nara, Good Doctor’s Joo Won, The Uncanny Counter’s Yoo In-soo, and The Fiery Priest’s Eum Moon-suk. 

10. Marry My Husband

Based on the webtoon Nae Nampyeongwa Gyeolhonhaejweo, this romance k-drama follows Kang Ji-won (Park Min-Young) whose marriage is suffering due to her husband Park Min-hwan’s (Lee Yi Kyung) infidelity with her friend Jung Soo-min (Song Ha-yoon). While in a physical struggle with the pair, Kang is killed by her husband in the process. However, she wakes up 10 years in the past and attempts to change her life while trying to get revenge on Park.

11. Love Song for Illusion

This historical fantasy romance follows Sajo Hyun (Park Ji-hoon), a crown prince with two personalities: Sajo Hyun and Ak-hee. As Sajo, he works as a fashion designer while hiding his identity as a crown prince. Meanwhile as Ak-hee, he is a man who makes people fall in love with him but is cursed to feel pain when he touches others. As Ak-hee, he falls in love with Yeon Wol (Hong Ye-ji), a young woman on a quest for revenge.

12. Flex X Cop

Itaewon Class’s Ahn Bo-hyun plays a third-generation chaebol in this action-comedy drama. Pursuing his career as a detective, he joins the Kangha Police Station’s violent crimes department, led by veteran detective Lee Gang-hyun (Park Ji-hyun). Throughout the series, the duo work together as partners as they solve crimes.

13. Queen of Divorce

Queen of Divorce follows divorce lawyers Kim Sa-ra and Dong Ki-joon as they work together to get justice for those suffering through difficult divorces. Kim is a former daughter-in-law of a prominent law family while Kang was a former prosecutor. Throughout the series, we also see the two form a romance with each other. Anticipate a stellar cast, including The Uncanny Encounter’s Kang Ki-young as Dong and The Penthouse’s Lee Ji-ah as Kim.

14. Knight Flower

Transporting us to the Joseon era in Korea, Knight Flower follows Jo Yeon-hwa (Lee Hanee) a widow by day and vigilante by night. While taking care of people in need at night, she gets involved with senior officer Park Soo-ho (Lee Jong-won). As the duo form a bond, Jo begins dreaming of a future with Park.

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