2022 has been an interesting year for K-dramas with an eclectic mix of apocalypse thrillers, fresh rom-coms and odes to first love. With 2023 setting off, there has already been a lot of buzz regarding which K-dramas are in store for us in the new year. Besides the second seasons of hits like All of Us Are Dead and Squid Games, there are some fresh new K-dramas we are looking forward to. The Telegraph rounds up some of the most anticipated ones:
Gyeongsang Creature
Starring: Park Seo-joon, Han So-hee, Wi Ha-joon
Park Seo-joon’s long-anticipated comeback to the small screen is finally here! Set in 1945, this drama is set to be a historical thriller set in Gyeongsang of South Korea, under the Japanese occupation. The plot will follow the unlikely alliance between Jang Tae-sang (Park Seo-joon), a wealthy noble, and Yun Chae-ok (Han So-hee), a bounty hunter, as they fight monsters that emerge in the region as a result of human greed. ê
Vigilante
Starring: Nam Joo-hyuk, Yoo Ji-ate
Based on a webtoon of the same name, this K-drama is all set to release on Disney+ and stars Twenty-five Twenty-one star Nam Joo-hyuk. Nam plays Kim Ji-yong, a former student of the police training academy whose mother gets mysteriously murdered. He takes up matters in his own hands to solve the case, but in the process ends up being chased by the authorities.
The Glory
Starring: Song Hye-kyo, Lee Do-hyun
If the dark and quick-paced trailer of this series is anything to go by, this is certainly going to be an interesting watch. Song Hye-kyo stars as Moon Dong-eun and pairs up with her The Descendants of the Sun writer Kim Eun-sook. The trailer, which starts with Dong-eun’s chilling declaration, “From now on, every single day will be a nightmare”, shows her as a protagonist out to get revenge from her school bullies. Lee Do-hyun probably joins her, as we spot him saying, “I’ll be your executioner”.
Island
Starring: Cha Eun-woo, Lee Da-hee, Kim Nam-gil
Love your dose of fantasy? Well, this K-drama will provide loads of it. As the intriguing trailers of the series have already conveyed, it is set in Jeju Island and features a group of people who fight against an evil spirit that is trying to take over the world. While Kim plays Ban, a trained assassin, Lee plays a chaebol heiress who works as a teacher on the island and Cha, a Catholic priest who performs exorcisms.
Ask the Stars
Starring: Gong Hyo-jin, Lee Min-ho
A unique tale of love, this drama is set in outer space. Gong Ryong (to be played by Gong Hyo-jin) is an obstetrician. She likes to take the utmost care of each of her patients and is keen on carrying out her job. On the other hand, Eve Kim (to be played by Ji Chang-wook) is a Korean-American astronaut, who is known to be a perfectionist. They meet at a space station.
The Interest of Love
Starring: Yoo Yeon-seok, Moon Ga-young, Jung Ga-ram
This sweet and simple (for now, at least) romance revolves primarily around the employees of the Yeongpo branch of KCU Bank. Ha Sang-soo (Yoo Yeon-seok) is a model employee with a brilliant track record and a warm demeanor. Ahn Soo-young (Moon Ga-young) has climbed the rung from a part-time position to a chief rank, but seems to be stuck at her place.
