Intriguing plots and much-talked-about lead pairings are the highlights of some of the most-anticipated upcoming K-dramas of 2026, indicating that we are set to witness another year of record-breaking success of Korean shows around the world.
A standout among the upcoming releases is the highly anticipated second season of the hit action K-drama Bloodhounds. The first season of this Netflix original, which was released in June 2023, became a global phenomenon. Directed by Jason Kim, it amassed an impressive 146.7 million viewing hours within just three weeks of its release and was widely praised for its powerful performances and thought-provoking storyline.
Described by the OTT giant as an “action-packed adventure”, season 2 is expected to elevate the franchise’s success to even greater heights. As one of the most-anticipated K-dramas of 2026, the new season will also see Korean star Rain take on his first-ever villain role, portraying the character Baek-jeong.
Meanwhile, Kim Hye-soo, Jo Jin-woong and Lee Je-hoon are set to reunite in The Second Signal — the long-awaited sequel to the iconic 2016 tvN series Signal. The new season will be directed by Ahn Tae-jin, best known for his work on The Night Owl (2022).
Not to be overlooked is The Remarried Empress, which is one of the highly anticipated upcoming K-dramas of 2026. The series brings together some of Korea’s most renowned stars — Ju Ji-hoon, Lee Jong-suk and Shin Min-ah. It centres on the story of an empress and her battle for dignity, justice and the right to remarry.
Unmissable K-dramas releasing in 2026 to add to your watchlist
1 /30
A Shop for Killers season 2Directed by: Lee Kwon
Cast: Lee Dong-wook, Kim Hye-jun
Streaming platform: Disney+
Synopsis: After defending her uncle Jung Jin-man’s (Lee) inheritance, Jung Ji-an (Kim) becomes the target of a new group of hitmen. Her world turns upside down when her presumably dead uncle suddenly reappears.
(Image credit: disneypluskr/Instagram)
2 /30
Bloodhounds season 2Directed by: Jason Kim
Cast: Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi, Rain
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Boxers Gun-woo (Woo) and Woo-jin (Lee) reunite to take down an illegal boxing league headed by Baek-jeong (Rain). Meanwhile, Baek-jeong uses all his power to draw Gun-woo and Woo-jin into the underground boxing world.
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
3 /30
The Second SignalDirected by: Ahn Tae-jin
Cast: Lee Je-hoon, Kim Hye-soo, Jo Jin-woong
Streaming platform: TBA
Synopsis: A supernatural walkie-talkie allows detective Lee Jae-han (Jo) from the past to contact present-day criminal profiler Park Hae-young (Lee). This mysterious connection reignites an unresolved case, pulling detectives from both timelines into a dangerous investigation.
About the show: Season 1 was remade into the Indian web series Gyaarah Gyaarah, which released on ZEE5 in 2024. Kritika Kamra, Dhairya Karwa and Raghav Juyal play the main roles in the series.
(Image: Courtesy Lee Je-hoon/Instagram)
4 /30
Four HandsDirected by: Park Hyun-suk
Cast: Song Kang, Lee Jun-young, Jang Gyu-ri
Streaming platform: TBA
Synopsis: Two piano prodigies (Lee and Song) navigate friendship, rivalry and ambition in the cut-throat music industry.
About the show: Four Hands marks Song Kang’s first project after his military discharge in October 2025.
(Image: Courtesy Song Kang/Lee Jun-young/Instagram)
5 /30
All of Us Are Dead season 2Directed by: Lee Jae-kyu
Cast: Cho Yi-hyun, Park Ji-hu, Lomon, Yoon Chan-young
Streaming platform: Netflix
About the show: The end of the first instalment of the zombie series saw multiple infected individuals, including Nam-ra (Cho), learning to preserve their humanity while gaining heightened senses and strength. Season 2 promises the unravelling of Nam-ra’s new journey as a hybrid.
All of Us Are Dead is based on Joo Dong-geun’s Naver webtoon of the same name.
6 /30
The RatDirected by: Kim Hong-sun
Cast: Ryu Jun-yeol, Sul Kyung-gu
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Reclusive novelist Moon-jae (Ryu) discovers his identity has been stolen by a mysterious figure known as Rat. As he begins a desperate pursuit to track the culprit and reclaim his life, the trail leads him to a dangerous loan shark (Sul).
About the show: It is based on the webtoon Field Mouse, which draws inspiration from an old Korean folktale where a rat transforms into a human by consuming clipped fingernails. The folktale is also a part of the hit fantasy drama Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow (2023).
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
7 /30
Grand Galaxy HotelDirected by: Oh Choong-hwan
Cast: Lee Do-hyun, Shin Shi-ah, Lee Soo-hyuk
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Eun-ha (Lee) is the new owner of Grand Galaxy, a hotel for dead souls. There, he meets Sang-soon (Shin), the hotel’s only human employee and finds himself falling for her. However, with Eun-ha’s mysterious past resurfacing, the duo’s blooming bond is threatened.
About the show: It is a spin-off of the IU-starrer global hit drama Hotel del Luna (2019).
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
8 /30
Doctor X: Age of the White MafiaDirected by: Lee Jung-rim
Cast: Kim Ji-won, Kim Woo-seok, Lee Jung-eun, Son Hyun-joo
Streaming platform: TBA
Synopsis: Surgeon Gye Su-jeong (Kim Ji-won), director Bu Seung-gwon (Son), and intern Park Tae-kyung (Kim Woo-seok) struggle to strike a balance as they work together at Guseo University Hospital, a corrupted medical centre on the verge of shutting down.
(Image: Courtesy Kim Woo-seok/Kim Ji-won/Instagram)
9 /30
Good Partner 2Directed by: Kim Ga-ram
Cast: Jang Na-ra, Nam Ji-hyun, Kim Hye-yoon, P.O
Streaming platform: TBA
Synopsis: Star divorce lawyer Cha Eun-kyung (Jang) and rookie lawyer Han Yu-ri (Nam) tackle a new series of complicated cases at Daejung law firm.
About the show: Season 1 premiered in 2024 and earned a peak nationwide rating of 17.7 per cent, according to Nielsen Korea. Additionally, Jang Na-ra won the Grand Prize at the 2024 SBS Drama Awards for her performance.
10 /30
ClimaxDirected by: Lee Ji-won
Cast: Ju Ji-hoon, Ha Ji-won, Nana, Oh Jung-se, Cha Joo-young
Streaming platform: TBA
Synopsis: Lawyer Bang Tae-seob (Ju) and actor Chu Sang-ah (Ha) struggle to keep their marriage afloat after Sang-ah loses her popularity following their wedding. Meanwhile, Tae-seob discovers key evidence that could expose a major cartel. With his personal life in shambles, will Tae-seob be able to balance his duties at home and the courtroom?
(Image: Courtesy blitzway_ent/Ha Ji-won/Instagram)
11 /30
SoulDirected by: Kim Won-suk
Cast: Kang Dong-won, Kim Go-eun
Streaming platform: TBA
About the show: The South Korean romantic period drama is produced by Studio Dragon and written by Park Ji-eun of Crash Landing on You fame. Additionally, it is helmed by Kim Won-seok, who gained worldwide recognition with When Life Gives You Tangerines in 2025.
12 /30
Gold LandDirected by: Kim Sung-hoon
Cast: Park Bo-young, Kim Sung-cheol, Lee Hyun-wook
Streaming platform: Disney+
Synopsis: Kim Hee-joo (Park) unexpectedly ends up with smuggled gold bars. Soon, debt collector Woo Gi (Kim) approaches her under the pretence of helping her get rid of the bars. However, as Hee-joo turns greedy to keep the gold all for herself, the duo’s uneasy partnership turns into a dangerous game of survival.
About the show: Hwang Joyoon, the screenwriter of Oldboy (2003), which is widely hailed as one of the best Korean movies of the 21st century, is the writer of this thriller series.
(Image: Courtesy Disney+)
13 /30
Wish Your DeathDirected by: Park Youn-seo
Cast: Jeon So-young, Kang Mi-na, Baek Sun-ho, Hyun Woo-seok, Lee Hyo-je
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Five school students discover an app that grants wishes through video submissions, but at a dangerous cost. As their desires come true, horrifying consequences force them to face their darkest truths.
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
14 /30
Miss Undercover BossDirected by: Park Sun-ho
Cast: Park Shin-hye, Go Kyung-pyo, Yuna
Streaming platform: TBA
Synopsis: Hong Geum-bo (Park) is a 35-year-old officer at the Financial Supervisory Service. When she is assigned to investigate suspicious financial activity at a major securities firm, Geum-bo goes undercover as a 20-year-old high school graduate, leading to a series of chaotic events.
About the show: The comedy drama marks ITZY member Yuna’s official acting debut.
15 /30
The WONDERfoolsDirected by: Yoo In-shik
Cast: Park Eun-bin, Cha Eun-woo, Kim Hae-sook, Choi Dae-hoon
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Haeseong City’s Eun Chae-ni (Park) becomes entangled in a chain of unexpected events that grant her superpowers. Lee Woon-jung (Cha), a civic servant from Seoul, approaches her to help uncover a series of mysterious disappearances unfolding across the city.
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
16 /30
The Remarried EmpressDirected by: Jo Soo-won and Shim Na-yeon
Cast: Ju Ji-hoon, Lee Jong-suk, Shin Min-ah
Streaming platform: Disney+
Synopsis: When her husband Sovieshu (Ju) cheats on her and proposes divorce, Empress Navier (Shin) of the Eastern Empire demands remarriage to Prince Heinrey (Lee) of the Western Kingdom.
(Image: Courtesy disneypluskr/Instagram)
17 /30
East PalaceDirected by: Choi Jung-kyu
Cast: Nam Joo-hyuk, Roh Yoon-seo, Cho Seung-woo
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: A ghost slayer (Nam) and a court lady (Roh) join forces to investigate supernatural disturbances within the royal palace and get rid of vengeful spirits and an old curse.
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
18 /30
The Art of SarahDirected by: Kim Jin-min
Cast: Shin Hye-sun, Lee Jun-hyuk, Kim Jae-won
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Sara Kim (Shin) is the head of a high-end brand’s Asia branch. When she gets entangled in a murder case, detective Mu-gyeong (Lee) begins to unravel dark secrets from her past that threaten to expose her carefully constructed identity.
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
19 /30
Merry Berry LoveDirected by: Kim Soo-jung
Cast: Ji Chang-wook, Mio Imada
Streaming platform: Disney+
Synopsis: Korean space planner Lee Yoo-bin (Ji) and strawberry farmer Shirahama Karin (Mio) cross paths on a mysterious Japanese island and begin to fall for each other.
(Image: Courtesy disneypluskr/Instagram)
20 /30
True LessonsDirected by: Hong Jong-chan
Cast: Kim Mu-yeol, Lee Sung-min, Jin Ki-joo
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Special agents Na Hwa-jin (Kim) and Im Han-rim (Jin) of the Educational Rights Protection Bureau confront students, parents and teachers who overstep boundaries and disrupt order, to restore authority within schools.
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
21 /30
VarietyDirected by: Kim Yong-hoon
Cast: Son Ye-jin, Jo Yu-ri
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Entertainment executive So-eun (Son) risks everything to revive an idol group she created. Seung-hui (Jo) is an obsessed fan who is ready to risk everything to meet her favourite idol. When So-eun and Seung-hui’s paths cross, chaos ensues.
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
22 /30
Show BusinessDirected by: Lee Yoon-jung
Cast: Gong Yoo, Song Hye-kyo, Kim Seol-hyun
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Childhood friends Min-ja (Song) and Dong-gu (Gong Yoo) enter the entertainment industry together but struggle to hold their ground amid the glitz and glamour.
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
23 /30
LiarDirected by: Jo Young-min
Cast: Seo Hyun-jin, Yoo Yeon-seok
Streaming platform: TBA
Synopsis: Kang Ji-seon (Seo) is a reclusive teacher at an arts school. Min Jun-ho (Yoo) is a single father. When the two meet through Jun-ho’s son, Ji-seon gradually begins opening her heart to Jun-ho.
About the show: The drama marks the reunion of Hyun-jin and Yeon-seok 10 years after their award-winning partnership in Dr. Romantic (2016–2023).
(Image: Courtesy Yoo yeon-seok/management_soop/Instagram)
24 /30
ScandalsDirected by: Jung Ji-woo
Cast: Ji Chang-wook, Son Ye-jin, Nana
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Lady Cho (Son), a royal of the Joseon dynasty, makes a risky bet with playboy Cho Won (Ji), which leads to a chain of chaotic events and draws chaste widow Hui-yeon (Nana) into their scheme.
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
25 /30
Perfect JobDirected by: Han Jun-hee, Kim Da-min
Cast: Lee Jae-wook, Go Min-si, Kim Min-ha, Lee Hee-joon
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Hyuk-jun (Lee) takes up a part-time job with unusually high pay through the Spyder Human Resource Centre. His new role quickly turns into a nightmare when supernatural events unfold at the facility. Soon, he teams up with Yeon-joo (Go), an investigator, to uncover the truth behind the unsettling events.
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
26 /30
Perfect CrownDirected by: Park Joon-hwa
Cast: IU, Byeon Woo-seok
Streaming platform: Disney+
Synopsis: Sung Hee-joo (IU) is a chaebol heiress who doesn’t like living as a commoner. She crosses paths with Lee Ahn (Byeon), a royal. Soon, unavoidable circumstances force the duo to enter a contract marriage, changing their lives in unexpected ways.
(Image: Courtesy Disney+)
27 /30
RoadDirected by: Han Jun-hee
Cast: Son Suk-ku, Eita Nagayama, Kim Shin-rok, Choi Sung-eun, Jung Jae-young
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Two detectives (Son and Eita) investigate serial murders taking place across Korea and Japan.
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
28 /30
Human x GumihoDirected by: Kim Jung-shik
Cast: Jun Ji-hyun, Ji Chang-wook
Streaming platform: Prime Video
Synopsis: Gu Ja-hong (Jun) is a Gumiho who exists as a top actress in the human world. Choi Seok (Ji) is a shaman who can spot mythical creatures. As the two cross paths, their lives begin to change dramatically.
29 /30
Can This Love Be Translated?Directed by: Yoo Young-eun
Cast: Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: When translator Ju Ho-jin (Kim) starts working for celebrity Cha Mu-hee (Go), love blossoms. Will the duo’s budding relationship pose a threat to their profession?
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
30 /30
Take Charge of My HeartDirected by: Park Soo-won
Cast: Kim Young-kwang, Chae Soo-bin, Cha Woo-min
Streaming platform: Netflix
Synopsis: Baek Ho-rang (Kim), who lives with an artificial heart, meets No Bo-bae (Chae), a woman who has electricity running through her veins and can recharge his heart as a result.
(Image: Courtesy Netflix)
(Hero and featured image: Courtesy Netflix/Disney+)Note : The information in this article is accurate as of the date of publication.
