A little more than two months away from a brand new year which everyone is hoping for a better change. You might not be able to plan your vacation any time soon, but here are some K-drama to look forward to in 2021.
JTBC
Snowdrop
Native Title: 설강화
No. of episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Mystery
Drama set in 1987 in Seoul, South Korea. A love story between a student from a prestigious university Im Soo Ho (Jung Hae In) and a cheerful student Eun Young Cho (Blackpink’s Kim Ji Soo). Soo Ho came to the female dorm covered in blood, instead of being shocked, Young Cho helped him to hide and even take care of his wounds.
Drama said to premiere in March 2021.
Freak
Native Title: 괴물
No. of episodes: 16
Genre: Investigation, Police, Thriller
Two fearless men who are willing to go that extra mile to catch a serial killer. Lee Dong Sik (Shin Ha Kyun) was a demoted police working at Manyang Police Substation doing tedious work. Han Joo Won (Yeo Jin Goo) was transferred to the same substation and became Dong Sik’s superior.
She Would Never Know
Native Title: 선배, 립스틱을 쓰지 마
No. of episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Based on a popular novel, Sunbae, Don’t Put On That Lipstick is a love story between a sunbae (senior at work) and a hoobae (a junior at work). Yoon Song Ah (Won Jin Ah) is a brand marketer in a cosmetics company who inspires to create her own brand. Chae Hyun Seung (SF9’s Rowoon) joined the department as a straightforward junior working in the same team as Song Ah.
The drama is set to premiere on 18 Jan 2021.
Monthly House
Native Title: 월간
No. of episodes: 16
Genre: Romance
Monthly House is about housemate romance between a real estate investment company CEO Yoo Ja Sung (Kim Ji Suk) and a magazine editor Na Young Won (Jung So Min). The drama will premiere in the first half of 2021.
tvN
My Roommate is a Gumiho
Native Title: 간 떨어지는 동거
No. of episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Fantasy
Lee Dam (Lee Hye Ri) accidentally swallows the marble of a male gumiho (nine-tailed fox) named Shin Woo Yeo (Jang Ki Yong) who’s goal is approaching to be a human. Once a human swallows the marble, the gumiho left one year to live and it also hinders his goal to be a human. Woo Yeo suggests to live under one roof with Lee Dam and that begins their romance.
Vincenzo
Native Title: 빈센조
No. of episodes: 16
Genre: Mafia, Action
The drama revolves around Vincenzo Casano (Song Joong Ki), a lawyer who works for mafia. Vincenzo original name was Park Joo Hyeong but changed after he was adopted to Italy at 8. War sparks between the mafia groups and he flee to South Korea.
Mouse
Native Title: 마우스
No. of episodes: 20
Genre: Thriller, Action
Rookie police Jung Ba Reum (Lee Seung Gi) face a psychopath serial killer who shook the nation. After surviving the encounter with the psychopath, the life of Ba Reum changes.
Drama is said to premiere in Jan 2021.
Devilish Judge
Native Title: 악마판사
No. of episodes: 16
Genre: Legal, Investigation
The drama follows the story of a judge who tries to punish evil by turning the court into a reality show. ‘Demon Judge’ will premiere in 2021. Yoon Soo Hyun who is a old friend of Kim Ga On (role that Park Jin Young is in talks with) since preschool. Soo Hyun confessed to Ga On multiple times and not going to give up.
Cliffhanger
Native Title: 지리산
No. of episodes: 16
Genre: Action, Sports
The drama set in Mount Jiri National Park, the mystery drama about the park rangers set out the rescue hikers in Mount Jiri. Seo Yi Kang (Jun Ji Hyun) is the top ranger who knows Mount Jiri at the back of her hands, she partner up with a new ranger Kang Hyun Jo (Joo Ji Hoon) who is a military graduate with secrets.
The One Day Destruction Entered the Front Door of My House
Native Title: 어느 날 우리 집 현관으로 멸망이 들어왔다
No. of episodes: 12
Genre: Supernatural
Ruin/ Kim Sa Ram (Seo In Guk) is born between light and darkness where he breathes, countries disappear, when he walks, the season collapse. All he has to do is exist for something to fall into ruin.
SBS
Joseon Exorcist
Native Title: 조선구마사
No. of episodes: 16
Genre: Historical, Action, Fantasy
The fantasy action historical drama takes place shortly after the establishment of the Joseon Dynasty. The undead comes back to life after being killed by the royal family. The royal family includes King Tae Jong (Kam Woo Sung), Prince Chung Nyung (Jang Dong Yoon), and Prince Yang Nyung (Park Sung Hoon).
Hong Chun Gi
Native Title: 홍천기
No. of episodes: 16
Genre: Historical, Romance
Based on a novel, fantasy romance drama is set in the Joseon Dynasty era. A female painter, probably the only female painter Hong Chun Gi (Kim Yoo Jung) is a beautiful and positive individual. She also possesses an extraordinary memory.
Ahn Hyo Seop is currently in talks for the role of Ha Ram to act alongside Kim Yoo Jung.
KBS
Sell Your Haunted House
Native Title: 대박부동산
No. of episodes: 32
Genre: Supernatural, Romance
The drama is about the supernatural events that happen in the real estate environment. Real estate brokers hire exorcist to clean out building that frequent by non-humans. Hong Ji Ah (Jang Nara) is the boss of Daebak Real Estate and also posses the exorcist ability from her mother. Oh In Bum (CN Blue’s Jung Young Hwa) on the other hand is a con artist who does not believe in ghost but use it to milk more money.
Dear. M
Native Title: 디어엠
No. of episodes: –
Genre: Romance, School
The drama start off with a group of students in Seoyeon University. Mysterious M sparks interest among the community and people start the campus-wide search for him/her. Cha Min Ho (NCT’s Jung Jae Hyun) is a smart second-year computer engineering student who wants to develop his app. Ma Joo Ah (Park Hye Soo) is a second-year business admin major who has zero dating experience yet always caught between others’ affairs. Min Ho and Joo Ah are childhood friends for the past 12 years.
School 2021
Native Title: 학교 2021
No. of episodes: 32
Genre: School, Romance
The drama is about a specialized high school and students pursuing their own dreams rather than going off to the usual route of university. Joo Do Bin (WEi’s Kim Yo Han) is a hardworking student who takes on part time jobs and school at the same time in order to achieves his dream.
MBC
Smoking Gun
Native Title: 스모킹 건
No. of episodes: 16
Genre: Action, Thriller
The action-thriller is about a former South Korean agent Kim Do Young (Seo In Guk) with memory loss and a North Korean secret agent who is ordered to kill him as they carry out a chase to prevent a possible terrorism plot.
Be A Meal
Native Title: 밥이 되어라
No. of episodes 120
Genre: Family, Drama
Sitcom is about Young Shin (Jung Woo Yeon) in her 20s is born with a cooking talent specially for traditional royal cuisine. The sitcom is set to air from 4 Jan to 18 Jun 2021.
Red Cuff of the Sleeve
Native Title: 옷소매 붉은 끝동
No. of episodes: 16
Genre: Historical, Romance, Drama
The drama begins with the story of Prince Moon Hyo Ja’s birth mother who started as a court lady and move up to be the highest-ranking queen. Seong Deok Im (Park Hye Soo) is the legendary figure who turns from an ordinary woman to the mother of the crown prince.
Both Park Hye Soo and Kim Kyung Nam are in talks for the lead roles.
Netflix
Love Alarm Season 2
Native Title: 좋아하면 울리는 2
No. of episodes: 8
Genre: Fantasy, Sci-fi, Romance
The second season of Love Alarm, a sci-fi romance drama about a mobile application Joalarm. Joalarm is an app that will detect if there are anyone loves you within 10 meter radius from you.
Undercover
Native Title: 언더커버
No. of episodes: –
Genre: Mystery, Drama, Investigation, Crime
Yoon Ji Woo (Han So Hee) is a member of an organized crime ring, she goes undercover as a police officer to plot her revenge and to find out the truth behind her father’s death. Jeon Pil Do (Ahn Bo Hyun) is a police detective under the Drug Investigation Unit who plays by the rule. Pil Do was partner up with Ji Woo when she joins the police force.
So Not Worth It
Native Title: 내일 지구가 망해버렸으면 좋겠어
No. of episodes: –
Genre: Sitcom, School, Drama
So Not Worth It is created by Kwon Ik Joon who also created Three Guys And Three Girls and Nonstop. The story will be co-written by Seo Eun Jung who wrote New Nonstop and Baik Ji Hyun who wrote Rude Miss Young Ae. A sitcom about a group of multinational students living in a college dorm.
Hellbound
Native Title: 지옥
No. of episodes: 6
Genre: Horror, Drama, Thriller, Mystery
Adapted from a webtoon Jiok. New religion Saejinrihwe speaks about death angles from hell comes and states it’s a revelation from God. The head of Saejinrihwe Jung Jin Soo (Yoo Ah In) is a charming yet mysterious person. Bae Young Jae (Park Jung Min) is a producer who is curious about Saejinrihwe, wanting to dig out the truth behind this new religion. Hwasalchok (known as ‘Arrowhead’) are people who follow and trust Saejinrihwe, Min Hye Jin (Kim Hyun Joo) is a lawyer that will stand up against this group of people.
D.P Dog Day
Native Title: D.P 개의 날
No. of episodes: 6
Genre: Military, Drama
Based on a webtoon, D.P Dog Day is a military drama that follows a solider who was delegated to track down military deserters. Ahn Joon Ho witness the struggles of each one of them he managed to track down.
All of Us Are Dead
Native Title: 지금 우리 학교는
No. of episodes: –
Genre: Horror, Zombies, School, Thriller
Based on a webtoon ‘Now at Our School’. The drama is about a group of high school students trapped and stuck in the school while facing a crisis, a zombie virus that is spreading in the school like a wildfire.
Even though not all are confirmed cast line up, but it is a good enough indicator as most of the cast are in talks for the respective roles.
Source (1)