Korean dramas in December 2022
In the blink of an eye, we’re nearing the end of yet another tumultuous year. But before you heave a sigh of relief knowing that the year is almost done and dusted, check out the final list of Korean dramas to watch in December 2022. What better way to wrap up the year than binge watching K-dramas, aight?
Table of Contents
1. Connect
Image credit: @disneypluskr
Main Cast:
- Jung Hae In as Ha Dong Soo
- Ko Kyung Pyo as Oh Jin Seop
- Kim Hye Joon as Lee I Rang
Following their collaboration in the Netflix military series D.P., Jung Hae In and Ko Kyung Pyo are back with a Display+ picaresque drama titled Connect.
The term “connect” carries 2 significant meanings. First, it refers to the name of an immortal human race. Secondly, it highlights the connection between organ donors and recipients.
Organ donation and transplantation should be a voluntary process, but that’s not the case for those part of the Connect race. Strangers are abducted by unknown individuals, and their organs are harvested without consent.
Ha Dong Soo is one such victim, and he loses an eye.
It turns out that a serial killer by the name of Oh Jin Seop received the transplanted eye, which means that Dong Soo and Jin Seop are now connected. Dong Soo, the organ donor, is now able to see what Jin Seop, the recipient, sees.
Watch the teaser here:
Video credit: Disney Plus Korea 디즈니 플러스 코리아
Korean title: 커넥트
Genre: Dark fantasy, cosmic horror, crime, picaresque
Airs on: 7th December 2022
2. Unlock My Boss
Image credit: @channel.ena
Main Cast:
- Chae Jong Hyeop as Park In Seong
- Park Sung Woong as Kim Seon Ju
- Seo Eun Soo as Jeong Se Yeon
Weaving elements of fantasy and thriller, Unlock My Boss follows Kim Seon Ju’s success as a CEO and subsequent downfall as a result of a mysterious murder. Seon Ju has it all: he owns an IT company and his career is soaring. But his successes become futile when he gets murdered with no known motivation or intention.
Just when Seon Ju thought it’s time to bid farewell to life, his spirit leaves his body and possesses his smartphone.
One day, an ordinary man, Park In Seong, comes across the smartphone. Now a living thing imbued with Seon Ju’s spirit, the smartphone communicates with In Seong and even asks him for a favour. In return, Seon Ju promises to reward him with 10 billion won. Desperate to make ends meet, In Seong agrees to help Seon Ju.
Catch the teaser here:
Video credit: 네이버 웹툰
Korean title: 사장님을 잠금해제
Genre: Thriller, comedy, fantasy
Airs on: 7th December 2022
3. The Forbidden Marriage
Image credit: @mbcdrama_now
Main Cast:
- Kim Young Dae as Lee Heon
- Park Ju Hyun as Ye So Rang
- Kim Woo Seok as Lee Shin Won
Set in the Joseon Dynasty, The Forbidden Marriage is a historical drama that follows the king and his quest for love, which has been dormant for years.
Lee Heon, the King of Joseon, has never been the same since his wife passed on 7 years ago. The royal family tried everything in their power to find the him a new wife, but their efforts were futile.
Extreme measures were taken to ensure that Lee Heon remarries, such as prohibiting all single women from getting married until the king himself settles down. But when news of a woman who’s said to be possessed by Lee Heon’s late wife spreads like wildfire, the King finally sees a ray of hope.
What he doesn’t know is that the woman, named Ye So Rang, is actually a swindler, and her lies snowball into a mess that gets out of hand.
Check out the teaser here:
Video credit: MBCdrama
Korean title: 금혼령, 조선 혼인 금지령
Genre: Historical fiction, romance, comedy
Airs on: 9th December 2022
4. Work Later, Drink Now 2
Image credit: TVING
Main Cast:
- Lee Sun Bin as Ahn So Hee
- Han Sun Hwa as Han Ji Yeon
- Jung Eun Ji as Kang Ji Gu
- Choi Si Won as Kang Buk Gu
- Yoon Shi Yoon as Mr. Nice Paper
Work Later, Drink Now is finally returning with Season 2 following the successful premiere of the 1st season in October 2021.
Season 1 revolved around the solid friendship of our 3 protagonists Ahn So Hee, Han Ji Yeon, and Kang Ji Gu. They showed off a synergy like no other, and put up a realistic performance that many viewers could relate to.
As indicated by the title, the drama is centred on a shared conviction that involves lots of drinking. How will their friendship flourish in the sequel?
Don’t miss out on the teaser:
Video credit: TVING
Korean title: 술꾼도시여자들2
Genre: Friendship, comedy, romance
Airs on: 9th December 2022
5. Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area Part 2
Image credit: Netflix
Main Cast:
- Yoo Ji Tae as The Professor
- Park Hae Soo as Berlin
- Jeon Jong Seo as Tokyo
- Lee Won Jong as Moscow
- Kim Ji Hoon as Denver
- Jang Yoon Ju as Nairobi
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area Part 2 is finally back to tie up the loose ends from Part 1, which aired in the first half of 2022.
In the sequel, The Professor’s heist will be done and dusted while Moscow executes an escape plan for the heist team. Part 2 is the final showdown of the series, which means that some light will be shed on the burning questions that were left unanswered in the 1st part.
Watch the teaser here:
Video credit: Netflix
Korean title: 종이의 집: 공동경제구역 2
Genre: Suspense, thriller, crime, action
Airs on: 9th December 2022
6. Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow
Image credit: @tvn_drama
Main Cast:
- Lee Jae Wook as Jang Uk
- Go Yoon Jung as Naksu
- Hwang Min Hyun as Seo Yul
- Shin Seung Ho as Go Won
Historical fantasy Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow is the sequel to Alchemy of Souls, which was released in the first half of the year.
Entwining elements of magic and romance, the 2nd part takes place 3 years after the events in the 1st season. The story revolves around the return of Naksu, who was previously dead.
Catch the teaser here:
Video credit: tvN drama
Korean title: 환혼: 빛과 그림자
Genre: Historical fiction, action, comedy, romance
Airs on: 10th December 2022
7. Red Balloon
Image credit: TV Chosun
Main Cast:
- Seo Ji Hye as Jo Eun Kang
- Lee Sung Jae as Ji Nam Cheol
- Lee Sang Woo as Go Cha Won
- Hong Soo Hyun as Han Ba Da
Red Balloon is a family-oriented drama that focuses on the hurdles and desires of 4 different individuals.
Jo Eun Kang aspired to become a teacher, but she ended up working as a private tutor as she didn’t meet the necessary qualifications. She seems calm and collected on the surface, but deep down, she’s determined to attain success.
On the other hand, Ji Nam Cheol goes from 0 to 100 after he weds a woman who comes from an affluent background – or so he thought. Though he runs a business that belongs to his father-in-law, he’s often belittled and inferior to his wife’s family.
Check out the teaser here:
Video credit: TVCHOSUN
Korean title: 빨간 풍선
Genre: Family
Airs on: 17th December 2022
8. Trolley
Image credit: @sbsdrama.official
Main Cast:
- Kim Hyun Joo as Kim Hye Joo
- Park Hee Soon as Nam Joong Do
- Kim Mu Yeol as Jang Woo Jae
- Jung Soo Bin as Kim Soo Bin
What happens when a person, who’s the face of the country, marries a private person with a dark secret?
Trolley is a melodrama that follows a happily married couple, Kim Hye Joo and Nam Joong Do. While Hye Joo lives a tranquil life with most of her time spent in a bookstore, Joong Do is a politician with big ambitions.
However, they are in imminent danger: Hye Joo’s hidden secret, which even her husband isn’t privy to, is disclosed to the public. What does she have to hide, and who’s responsible for the exposé?
Don’t miss out on the teaser:
Video credit: SBS Catch
Korean title: 트롤리
Genre: Melodrama, thriller
Airs on: 19th December 2022
9. Island
Image credit: @tving.official
Main Cast:
- Kim Nam Gil as Van
- Lee Da Hee as Won Mi Ho
- Cha Eun Woo as Kang Chan Hyuk
Island is a 3-in-1 drama that weaves exorcism, action, and fantasy.
Won Mi Ho is the daughter of a chaebol (family-run conglomerate), and she has everything she needs and wants in life. However, her picture-perfect life comes to a halt when she’s banished to Jeju by her own father.
Mi Ho becomes a teacher on the island, and just when she thinks her life is coming back together, a string of strange events begins to take place on the island, where evil supersedes everything else.
Korean title: 아일랜드
Genre: Fantasy, exorcism, action
Airs on: TBA
10. Missing: The Other Side 2
Image credit: @tvn_drama
Main Cast:
- Go Soo as Kim Wook
- Heo Joon Ho as Jang Pan Seok
- Ahn So Hee as Lee Jong Ah
- Ha Joon as Shin Joon Ho
The sequel to Missing: The Other Side is finally back after 2 years with a solid cast including veteran actor Go Soo and idol-turned-actress Ahn So Hee.
The drama revolves around a group of missing people in a strange village. These people are not just kept out of sight from the public, but they’re also no longer alive.
Kim Wook and his sidekick Lee Jong Ah work hand in hand to locate the missing people within the village, while Heo Joon Ho plays a significant role in straddling the secluded village and the “real world”.
Catch the teaser here:
Video credit: tvN drama
Korean title: 미씽: 그들이 있었다 2
Genre: Thriller, mystery, fantasy
Airs on: TBA
Korean dramas in December 2022 that’ll keep you company
It’s quite a feat to conquer 365 days of hustling, and we hope you take some time to reward yourself with a well-deserved break by catching these new Korean dramas in December 2022. Kudos to everyone for getting through 2022, and cheers to a brighter year.
Also check out:
- 11 horror Korean dramas
- 12 Korean crime dramas
- 20 historical Korean dramas
- 20 best Korean dramas of 2021
- 23 Korean shows on Netflix in 2022
Cover image adapted from: @tvn_drama, TVING, @tvn_drama