Most anticipated K-drama pairings of 2026: IU and Byeon Woo-seok in ‘Perfect Crown’ & more

With the Korean entertainment industry gearing up for a new year of K-dramas, we have decided to take a closer look at the most anticipated on-screen pairings to look forward to in 2026. After fans were charmed by IU and Park Bo-gum’s electrifying on-screen chemistry in 2025’s When Life Gives You Tangerines, which of the upcoming K-drama couples of 2026 could recreate the spark? Let’s find out.

Leading the line-up is the highly anticipated pairing of Son Ye-jin and Ji Chang-wook in Scandals. Described by Netflix as “a dangerous and daring love game stained by desire, jealousy, betrayal, and conspiracy,” the drama marks the duo’s first collaboration.

Another on-screen couple making it onto our list of upcoming K-drama pairings of 2026 is Gong Yoo and Song Hye-kyo, starring in the period drama Show Business. Written by the screenwriter behind Our Blues, Show Business will explore the lives of individuals in the entertainment business, as they navigate the industry’s glittering yet unforgiving demands.

Speaking about her role during an appearance on the variety show Fairy Jaehyung, hosted by musician Jung Jae-hyung, Song said, “I cut my hair for my next project. It’s a work by writer Noh Hee-kyung. The story is set in the ’60s and ’70s.”

Not to be forgotten are Kim Seon-ho and Bae Suzy, who will reunite on screen for the first time since Start-Up (2020) in Portraits of Delusion. The series is directed by renowned filmmaker Han Jae-rim, known for acclaimed Korean movies such as The King (2017) and Emergency Declaration (2022).

So, who else has made it to our list? Read on.

These dreamy on-screen pairings are sure to entertain K-drama fans in 2026

1 /9

Directed by: Jung Ji-woo

Streaming platform: Netflix

Synopsis: Royal lady Cho (Son) and infamous playboy Cho Won (Ji) make a dangerous bet, which leads to a chain of chaotic events in the Joseon era.

About the show: The idea of Ji and Son sharing the screen for the first time, that too for an intense adaptation of Pierre Choderlos de Laclos’ 1782 racy epistolary work Les Liaisons dangereuses, is enough to excite fans.

(Image credit: Son Ye-jin/Ji Chang-wook/Instagram)

2 /9

Directed by: Kim Jung-sik

Streaming platform: Prime Video

Synopsis: When nine-tailed fox Gu Ja-hong (Jun) and shaman Choi Seok’s (Ji) destinies collide, the duo uncover dark secrets about each other that change their lives forever.

About the show: After Jun Ji-hyun’s comeback drama Tempest (2025), her first since Jirisan (2021) following a four-year hiatus, her chemistry with Kang Dong-won became a major point of fascination for viewers. The excitement is even higher in 2026, as she is now paired opposite Ji Chang-wook, who is celebrated for his nuanced and emotionally charged romantic roles.

(Image credit: Disney+/Ji Chang-wook/Instagram)

3 /9

Directed by: Yoo Young-eun

Streaming platform: Netflix

Synopsis: When translator Ju Ho-jin (Kim) and celebrity Cha Mu-hee (Go) begin working together, an unexpected romance begins between the duo.

About the show: The chemistry between Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021) and Start-Up (2020) star Kim Seon-ho and Go Youn-jung, of Sweet Home (2020-2024) and Alchemy of Souls (2022) fame, in the teaser released, has already captured fans’ attention.

(Image credit: Netflix)

4 /9

Directed by: Han Jae-rim

Streaming platform: Disney+

Synopsis: Artist Yun I-ho (Kim) begins staying at the Nammoon Hotel after being commissioned to paint a portrait of its mysterious owner, Song Jeong-hwa (Bae Suzy). As the two begin to share the same space, I-ho gradually uncovers Jeong-hwa’s secret past, all the while falling deeper into her enigmatic world.

About the show: In Start-Up (2020), many fans were left disappointed when Bae Suzy’s Seo Dal-mi did not end up with second lead Han Ji-pyeong, played by Kim Seon-ho. Now, fans will get to see their dream materialise, as Bae Suzy and Kim Seon-ho reunite in a drama of their own.

(Image credit: disneypluskr/X) 

5 /9

Directed by: Lee Yoon-jung

Streaming platform: Netflix

Synopsis: Childhood friends Min-ja (Song) and Dong-gu (Gong Yoo) enter the world of stardom together but soon find themselves battling its growing pressures and glittering illusions.

About the show: Not pairing Gong Yoo and Song Hye-kyo together in a drama has long been considered a missed opportunity in the K-drama world, given their range and history of successful roles. With the pair finally set to lead Show Business in 2026, anticipation is at an all-time high.

(Image credit: Song Hye-kyo/Gong Yoo/Instagram)

6 /9

Directed by: Kim Won-suk

Streaming platform: TBA

About the show: Produced by Studio Dragon, Soul is a period romance written by Park Ji-eun, known for Crash Landing on You (2019). It is helmed by acclaimed director Kim, who returns after the global success of When Life Gives You Tangerines. It marks Kim Go-eun and Kang Dong-won’s first on-screen collaboration in a K-drama.

(Image credit: Kim Go-eun/Disney+ Instagram)

7 /9

Directed by: Park Joon-hwa

Streaming platform: Disney+

Synopsis: Heiress Sung Hee-joo (IU) enters into a contract marriage with Prince Lee Ahn (Byeon) to get rid of her commoner status. Soon, their relationship of convenience steers both their lives towards unexpected change.

About the show: Byeon Woo-seok became a global phenomenon after Lovely Runner in 2024. Meanwhile, IU won over even non-Korean drama fans with When Life Gives You Tangerines in 2025. The duo leading a show together in 2026 is naturally one of the year’s biggest highlights.

(Image credit: disneypluskr/X)

8 /9

Directed by: Yoo Seon-dong

Synopsis: Film director Woo Soo Bin (Hwang) and a reporter Joo Yi Jae (Hyeri) reunite after years over an unfinished film and rewrite their unresolved love story.

About the show: After Hwang In-yeop’s devastating arc in the critically acclaimed K-drama Dear X in 2025, fans are eager to see him in a more playful role in Dream To You opposite Lee Hyeri, who is known for her well-loved rom-com performances.

(Image credit: Lee Hyeri/Hwang In-yeop/Instagram)

9 /9

Directed by: Kim Jung-sik

Streaming platform: Netflix

Synopsis: When webtoon producer Mi-rae (Jisoo) gets entangled with her work rival Park Kyeong-nam (Seo) over a virtual dating simulation program, chaos ensues.

About the show: The unusual but innovative plot of the show has generated tremendous anticipation from both fans of the BLACKPINK idol and the Twelve (2025) star.

(Image credit: Netflix)