New Korean dramas 2020
K-drama fans out there should buckle up because the end of 2020 will be chock-full of new Korean dramas that will get your heart pumping. Expect exciting plot twists and emotional bumps that will keep you thoroughly entertained as you approach the year end.
Here are 21 new Korean dramas in 2020 you shouldn’t miss out on.
1. 18 Again
Image credit: MyDramaList
Main cast:
- Kim Ha-neul as Jung Da-jung
- Han So-eun as 18-year-old Da-jung
- Yoon Sang-hyun as Hong Dae-young
- Lee Do-hyun as 18-year-old Dae-young/Go Woo-young
18 Again is based on 17 Again (2009), the American film starring Zac Efron. It tells the story of Hong Dae-young (Yoon Sang-hyun), a 37-year-old man on the verge of getting divorced, who gets transported back into his 18-year-old body.
Image credit: JTBC Drama
After Dae-young becomes 18 again, he changes his name to Go Woo-young (Lee Do-hyun) and relives his youthful days as a popular basketball player in high school, while gaining a new perspective of life.
Korean title: 18 어게인
Genre: Comedy, romance, youth, fantasy
Airs on: 21st Sept 2020
2. The Zombie Detective
Image credit: KBS 드라마
Main cast:
- Choi Jin-hyuk as Kim Moo-young
- Park Joo-hyun as Gong Seon-ji
Kim Moo-young (Choi Jin-hyuk), a zombie, mimics human behaviour in order to fit into society. He decides to move to the city and work as a private detective while trying to regain memories of his life before he became a zombie.
Moo-young meets Gong Seon-ji (Park Joo-hyun), a writer for a current affairs programme. She applies for a part-time role at his office after a case witness, with whom she worked for her programme, gets attacked by an unknown person.
The Zombie Detective is infused with comedic moments and depicts a heartwarming story about a zombie who tries to discover who he truly is.
Korean title: 좀비탐정
Genre: Comedy, romance, fantasy, zombie
Airs on: 21st Sept 2020
3. The School Nurse Files
Image credit: Netflix
Main cast:
- Jung Yu-mi as Ahn Eun-young
- Nam Joo-hyuk as Hong In-pyo
The School Nurse Files revolves around An Eun-young (Jung Yu-mi), a new school nurse who has a special ability to see and eliminate Jellies – invisible blobs formed by human greed.
Whenever Eun-young encounters Jellies, she uses a toy knife and a BB gun to get rid of them. One day, Hong In-pyo (Nam Joo-hyuk), a Chinese language teacher with strong spiritual energy, finds out about her secret and decides to work with her to protect their students from Jellies.
Season 1 of the new Netflix original, consisting of 6 episodes, will be released on 25th Sept 2020.
Korean title: 보건교사 안은영
Genre: Mystery, comedy, fantasy, action
Airs on: 25th Sept 2020
4. More Than Friends
Image credit: MyDramaList
Main cast:
- Ong Seong-wu as Lee Soo
- Shin Ye-eun as Kyung Woo-yeon
- Pyo Ji-hoon as Jin Sang-hyuk
- Baek Soo-min as Han Jin-joo
- Kim Dong-jun as On Joon-soo
Kyung Woo-yeon (Shin Ye-eun)’s first love was Lee Soo (Ong Seong-wu), her high school friend. However, her confession leads to nothing more than getting friend-zoned by him.
7 years later, she still cannot forget him and decides to confess again – only to be rejected like before. The double rejection leaves Woo-yeon believing that she is under a “love curse” as she fails to find love even after going through 12 relationships.
Image credit: JTBC Drama
One day, she meets On Joon-soo (Kim Dong-jun), who offers to be a test subject to determine the cause of her inability to experience love. Meanwhile, Lee Soo returns to Korea and looks for Woo-yeon, intending on embracing his true feelings for her, but he’s conflicted when he finds her with another man.
Korean title: 경우의 수
Genre: Comedy, romance, youth
Airs on: 25th Sept 2020
5. My Dangerous Wife
Image credit: MyDramaList
Main cast:
- Kim Jung-eun as Shim Jae-kyung
- Choi Won-young as Kim Yoon-chul
- Choi Yoo-hwa as Jin Sun-mi
My Dangerous Wife is a remake of the 2016 Japanese drama Boku no Yabai Tsuma.
Shim Jae-kyung (Kim Jung-eun), an intelligent, rich, and kind-hearted woman, is married to Kim Yoon-chul (Choi Won-young), a popular chef who manages his own Italian restaurant. Their 6-year marriage starts to grow stagnant and problems emerge as Jae-kyung gets involved in a kidnapping case.
Korean title: 나의 위험한 아내
Genre: Suspense, thriller, psychological, crime, drama
Airs on: 5th Oct 2020
6. Tale of the Nine-Tailed
Image credit: MyDramaList
Main cast:
- Lee Dong-wook as Lee Yeon/Gumiho
- Jo Bo-ah as Nam Ji-ah
- Kim Bum as Lee Rang
- Kim Yong-ji as Yoo Ri
Lee Yeon (Lee Dong-wook), a gumiho (mythical nine-tailed fox) that can transform into a human, moves to the city and goes about cleansing human spirits. Nam Ji-ah (Jo Bo-ah), a capable television producer, discovers Lee Yeon’s supernatural gift and is determined to make him guest on her show about urban myths.
Tale of the Nine-tailed unravels the mystery of Lee Yeon’s origins and Ji-ah discovers that it’s not just his looks that are out of this world.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2lLpne1qmQ
Korean title: 구미호뎐
Genre: Action, thriller, romance, fantasy, melodrama
Airs on: 7th Oct 2020
7. Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol
Image credit: KBS 드라마
Main cast:
- Go Ara as Goo Ra-ra
- Lee Jae-wook as Seon Woo-joon
- Kim Joo-hun as Cha Eun-seok
Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol is a romantic comedy that revolves around Goo Ra-ra (Go Ara), a cheerful and lovable pianist whose life hits rock-bottom when her family’s financial situation plummets. As Ra-ra makes her way to La La Land, a piano academy in the countryside, she crosses paths with Sun Woo-joon, a mysterious and free-spirited man.
Image credit: KBS 드라마
Ra-ra discovers that Woo-joon, who makes a living by doing part-time jobs, is a warm–hearted person despite looking cold on the outside. The two start to fall in love as they spend time together at La La Land.
Korean title: 도도솔솔라라솔
Genre: Comedy, romance, drama
Airs on: 7th Oct 2020
8. Private Lives
Image credit: JTBC Drama
Main cast:
- Seohyun as Cha Joo-eun
- Go Kyung-pyo as Lee Jung-hwan
- Kim Hyo-jin as Jung Yoon-kyung/Jung Bok-ki
- Kim Young-min as Kim Jae-wook
Private Lives is a new Korean drama in 2020 that revolves around 4 swindlers who stumble upon a national secret.
Lee Jung-Hwan (Go Kyung-pyo), a team leader at a major corporation, looks ordinary but is a mysterious person. Cha Joo-eun (Seohyun), who looks demure and innocent, is a swindler who supports herself through crime.
Image adapted from: @jtbcdrama and @jtbcdrama
Meanwhile, Jung Yoon-kyung (Kim Hyo-jin), an elegant lady who takes on a fake identity as Jung Bok-ki, is a professional swindler. She often targets other swindlers with Kim Jae-wook (Kim Young-min), her partner in crime.
Korean title: 사생활
Genre: Comedy, drama
Airs on: 7th Oct 2020
9. Start-Up
Image credit: tvN 드라마(Drama)
Main cast:
- Bae Suzy as Seo Dal-mi
- Nam Joo-Hyuk as Nam Do-san
- Kim Sun-Ho as Han Ji-pyeong
- Kang Han-Na as Won In-jae
Start-Up is set in a fictional place called Sandbox, known as South Korea’s Silicon Valley.
Seo Dal-mi (Bae Suzy), rich in experience and a highly motivated person, dreams of becoming Korea’s Steve Jobs. Nam Do-san (Nam Joo-hyuk), the founder of Samsan Tech and Dal-mi’s first love, struggles with failed business investments.
Image credit: @baekkotmaeul
Han Ji-pyung (Kim Sun-ho), a team leader with strong investment skills and sharp tongue, begins a start–up company to pay off a debt while Won In-jae (Kang Han-na), a 2nd-generation chaebol, gets cast aside by her father and decides to set up a company to prove her worth.
Korean title: 스타트업
Genre: Comedy, romance
Airs on: 10th Oct 2020
10. Search
Image credit: MyDramaList
Main cast:
- Jang Dong-yoon as Yong Dong-jin
- Krystal as Son Ye-rim
- Moon Jeong-hee as Kim Da-jung
- Yoon Park as Song Min-kyu
- Lee Hyun-wook as Lee Joon-sung
Set in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), Search follows military search troop members Sergeant Koo Dong-jin (Jang Dong-yoon) and First Lieutenant Son Ye-rim (Krystal) as they fight a mysterious murderous creature lurking in the area.
Image adapted from: MyDramaList and MyDramaList
As the two struggle to stay alive and escape from the DMZ, they build a strong camaraderie and share heartwarming moments during the suspenseful journey.
Korean title: 써치
Genre: Military, thriller, mystery
Airs on: 17th Oct 2020
11. The Spies Who Loved Me
Image credit: @mbcdrama_now
Main cast:
- Yoo In-na as Kang Ah-reum
- Eric Mun as Jun Ji-hoon
- Im Joo-hwan as Derek Hyun
The Spies Who Loved Me is a romantic comedy about a woman who inadvertently gets dragged into the world of espionage.
Kang Ah-reum (Yoo In-na) is a wedding dress designer who gets married twice – to two men hiding many secrets. Her first husband, Jun Ji-hoon (Eric Mun), is a charismatic Interpol secret agent disguised as a travel writer, while her second husband, Derek Hyun (Im Joo-hwan), is an intelligent corporate spy disguised as a diplomat.
Korean title: 나를 사랑한 스파이
Genre: Comedy, romance, thriller, suspense
Airs on: 21st Oct 2020
12. Penthouse: War In Life
Image credit: MyDramaList
Main cast:
- Eugene as Oh Yeon-hee
- Kim So-yeon as Cheon Seo-jin
- Lee Ji-ah as Shim Soo-ryun
- Uhm Ki-joon as Joo Dan-tae
- Park Eun-seok as Gu Ho-dong
- Yoon Jong-hoon as Ha Yoon-chul
- Bong Tae-kyu as Lee Gyu-jin
- Yoon Joo-hee as Go Sang-ah
- Shin Eun-kyung as Kang Ma-ri
Penthouse: War In Life is centred on a woman who strives to achieve her goal of becoming part of high society by becoming the “Queen” of a Gangnam penthouse on the 100th floor – the pinnacle of success in her eyes.
The suspense-filled drama showcases women becoming villains to achieve what they want, as well as to protect themselves from others.
Korean title: 펜트하우스
Genre: Suspense, drama
Airs on: 26th Oct 2020
13. Kairos
Image credit: @mbcdrama_now
Main cast:
- Shin Sung-rok as Kim Seo-jin
- Lee Se-young as Han Ae-ri
- Ahn Bo-hyun as Seo Do-gyun
- Nam Gyu-ri as Kang Hyun-chae
Kairos is a time-bending fantasy thriller that challenges fate.
Kim Seo-jin (Shin Sung-rok), a perfect man and the youngest executive at his company, is happily married to Kang Hyun-chae (Nam Gyu-ri), who is a violinist. However, the family is left distraught when their young daughter gets kidnapped. Meanwhile, Han Ae-ri (Lee Se-young) balances her studies with a part-time job to pay for her mother’s surgery fees.
Image adapted from: @mbcdrama_now and @mbcdrama_now
One day, Ae-ri’s mother goes missing. While she is left in despair, Ae-ri receives a call from Seo-jin, living one month in the future, who pleads with her to help change his daughter’s fate.
Korean title: 카이로스
Genre: Action, thriller, romance, fantasy
Airs on: 26th Oct 2020
14. Extraordinary Rumor
Image credit: MyDramaList
Main cast:
- Jo Byung-kyoo as So Moon
- Kim Se-jeong as Do Ha-na
- Yoo Joon-sang as Jang Cheol-jung
- Yeom Hye-ran as Choo Mae-ok
- Ahn Suk-hwan as Choi Jang-mool
Extraordinary Rumor is a new Korean drama in 2020 based on a webtoon about demon hunters called “Counters”. They disguise themselves as employees of a noodle restaurant while going about capturing evil spirits that roam the streets.
Jo Byeong-gyu plays So Moon, the youngest of the Counters, while Kim Se-jeong plays the role of Do Ha-na, talented girl who can sense the location of evil spirits hundreds of kilometres away and read memories through touch.
Along with Jang Cheol-jung (Yoo Joon-sang) who has super-strength, Chu Mae-ok (Yeom Hye-ran) with healing abilities, and Choi Jang-mool (Ahn Suk-hwan), the account manager, the Counters strive to eliminate all the evil spirits on Earth – which is, of course, not an easy feat.
Korean title: 경이로운 소문
Genre: Mystery, drama, fantasy
Airs on: 28th Nov 2020
15. Live On
Image credit: @jtbcdrama
Main cast:
- Hwang Min-hyun as Go Eun-taek
- Jung Da-bin as Baek Ho-rang
- Choi Byung-chan as Kim Yoo-shin
- Lee Da-bin as Kang Jae-yi
- Noh Jong-hyun as Do Woo-jae
- Yang Hye-ji as Ji So-hyun
Live On is a high school romance comedy that is centred on the lives of Baek Ho-rang (Jung Da-bin), a pretty and popular girl in Seo Hyun High School, and Go Eun-taek (Hwang Min-hyun), a perfectionist and the head of the broadcasting club.
When a mysterious figure threatens to reveal Ho-rang’s past, she joins the broadcasting club to get help from Eun-taek.
Image adapted from: @jtbcdrama
The drama marks NU’EST’s Min-hyun’s acting debut and also stars VICTON’s Byungchan as Kim Yoo-shin, an ingenious guy.
Korean title: 라이브온
Genre: Romance, school
Airs: Nov 2020
16. If You Cheat, You Die
Image credit: @kbsdrama
Main cast:
- Cho Yeo-jung as Kang Yeo-joo
- Go Joon as Han Woo-sung
- Lee Da-bin as Mi Rae
- Kim Young-dae as Cha Soo-ho
If You Cheat, You Die is a thriller comedy about Han Woo-sung (Go Joon), a divorce lawyer who wrote a memorandum titled “If You Cheat, You Die”, and his wife Kang Yeo-joo (Cho Yeo-jung), an author who writes stories of how to kill people. It tells an unconventional tale about adults who battle the guilt of making bad choices.
Image credit: @kbsdrama
Rookie actor Kim Young-dae, who showcased his visuals and acting skills in Extraordinary You (2019), will be playing the role of Cha Soo-ho, a pretty boy who works in a convenience store as a part-timer.
Korean title: 바람피면죽는다
Genre: Thriller, mystery, comedy, romance
Airs on: 2nd Dec 2020
17. True Beauty
Image credit: @true_beautyworld
Main cast:
- Moon Ga-young as Lim Joo-kyung
- Cha Eun-woo as Lee Su-ho
- Hwang In-yeob as Han Seo-jun
- Park Yoo-na as Kang Soo-jin
True Beauty is based on a popular webtoon of the same name. It tells the story of Im Joo-kyung (Moon Ga-young), a girl who is insecure about her looks and relies on makeup to feel beautiful.
She meets Lee Su-ho (Cha Eun-woo), a perfect all-rounded boy with a hidden secret, and the more they find out about each other, the fonder their relationship grows.
Image credit: MyDramaList
Astro’s Cha Eun-woo is known for his handsome visuals and has proven his acting skills through My ID is Gangnam Beauty (2018) and Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung (2019).
Meanwhile, Moon Ga-young made her debut as a child actress in 2006 and has appeared in dramas such as Tempted (2017), Welcome to Waikiki 2 (2018), and Find Me in Your Memory (2020).
Korean title: 여신강림
Genre: Comedy, romance, drama
Airs on: 2nd Dec 2020
18. Queen Cheorin
Image credit: joynice841
Main cast:
- Shin Hye-sun as Kim So-yong
- Kim Jung-hyun as King Cheol Jong
- Bae Jong-ok as Queen Sun-won
- Kim Tae-woo as Kim Jwa-geun
- Seol In-ah as Jo Hwa-jin
Queen Cheorin is a refreshing spin on gender-swap stories and set in the Joseon dynasty.
One day, the spirit of Jang Bong-hwan, a male chef in the present day, finds his way into the body of Queen Kim So-yong (Shin Hye-sun), who lives in the Joseon dynasty. She meets King Cheol Jong (Kim Jung-hyun), who is treated as a puppet of Queen Sun-won (Baek Jong-ok), the wife of the late King.
Kim Jung-hyun is known for his role in Crash Landing On You (2019) as the 2nd male lead while Shin Hye-sun last starred in Angel’s Last Mission: Love (2019). B.A.P’s Youngjae, who made his acting debut last year, stars as Kim Hwan, the youngest son of the wealthy Kim family.
Korean title: 철인왕후
Genre: Historical, comedy, romance, fantasy
Airs on: 5th Dec 2020
19. Hello? It’s Me!
Image credit: MyDramaList
Main cast:
- Choi Kang-hee as Yoo Byul-na
- Kim Young-kwang as Han Yoo-heon
- Eum Moon-suk as Ahn So-nee
Hello? It’s Me! is a fantasy romance comedy that showcases the growth of its characters, Yoo Byul-na (Choi Kang-hee), a 37-year-old single woman, and Han Yoo-heon (Kim Young-kwang), the son of a chaebol family.
The drama will showcase the lives of the two very different individuals – one learning to heal from her past and the other learning to handle the responsibilities of an adult.
Korean title: 안녕? 나야!
Genre: Comedy, romance, fantasy
Airs: Dec 2020
20. Run On
Image credit: MyDramaList
Main cast:
- Im Si-wan as Ki Seon-gyeom
- Shin Se-kyung as Oh Mi-joo
- Choi Soo-young as Seo Dan-ah
- Kang Tae-oh as Lee Young-hwa
Run On tells a love story between Ki Sun-gyeom (Im Si-wan), a former national team sprinter, and Oh Mi-Joo (Shin Se-kyung), who translates subtitles for movies. At the same time, love also blossoms between Seo Dan-ah (Choi Soo-young), CEO of a sports agency, and Lee Young-hwa (Kang Tae-oh), an art major in university.
The drama marks Im Si-wan’s return to the small screen after his discharge from the army on 27th March 2019.
Korean title: 런온
Genre: Romance, drama, sports
Airs: End 2020
21. Sweet Home
Image credit: Asianwiki.com
Main cast:
- Song Kang as Cha Hyun-soo
- Lee Jin-wook as Pyun Sang-wook/Wook Pyeon
- Lee Si-young as Seo Yi-kyung
- Park Gyu-young as Yoon Ji-soo
- Lee Do-hyun as Lee Eun-hyuk/Hyuk Lee
Sweet Home is adapted from a webtoon and revolves around Cha Hyun-soo (Song Kang), a high school student who becomes traumatised after getting bullied in school, causing him to stay in his room all day.
He then loses his entire family in a car accident, forcing him to overcome his trauma and fend for himself. Shortly after, the world is suddenly struck by a mysterious phenomenon where humans turn into monsters. Hyun-soo, together with the residents of his apartment, go on a nerve-racking journey to survive the apocalypse.
Korean title: 스위트홈
Genre: Suspense, thriller, mystery, horror, psychological
Airs: End 2020
New Korean dramas in 2020 to watch
Even as the year is coming to an end, there’s no need to worry that you’ll run out of K-dramas to watch. With a long list of new Korean dramas in 2020, you’ll definitely be thoroughly entertained till year end. All we can say is mark the broadcast dates down and get ready to watch to your heart’s content.
Check out other K-drama articles:
- K-dramas adapted from webtoons
- Underrated K-dramas
- Iconic K-dramas
- Thriller K-dramas
- Romantic K-dramas
Cover image adapted from (left to right): tvN 드라마(Drama), KBS 드라마 and MyDramaList