Top 20 Upcoming Korean Dramas in 2020

2. 더 게임: 0시를 향하여 The Game: Towards Midnight

“The Game” also known as “The Game: Towards Midnight” is a mystery investigation melodrama.

2PM’s Ok TaecYeon will be staring as Tae Pyeong, who is a prophet. Tae Pyeong has the special ability to see the moments right before the death of someone by looking into their eyes.

A mysterious serial murder case draws Tae Pyeong's attention. He partners with Detective Joon Young (Lee Yeon Hee) to solve murder mystery.

Air Date: First half of 2020

3.더 킹: 영원의 군주 The King: The Eternal Monarch

This drama is probably one of the most anticipated Kdrama of 2020. It is written by a famous screenwriter, Kim Eun Sook who directed many popular dramas like Secret Garden, The Heirs, Descendants of the Sun and Mr. Sunshine.

The King: The Eternal Monarch is a fantasy romance drama about two parallel universes of a monarchy and a democracy.

One universe resembles the modern-day Korea, while the other universe is an alternate universe in which Korea is an empire ruled by a single monarch.

In order to fight evil and close the door between their two worlds, the ruler of the Korean Empire, Lee Gon (Lee Min-ho)  ends up joining forces with a detective  Jung Tae-eul (Kim Go-eun) who is from modern-day Korea.

Air Date: March 2020

 4. 나래, 박차오르다 Na Rae: Kicking Out

Na Rae: Kicking Out is a comical action drama starring U Kiss' Jun and Stephanie Lee.

The drama will center around Taekwondo and a former national Taekwondo athlete who loses his status and a person full of good luck in a countryside town.

Air Date: March 2020

5. 낭만닥터 김사부2 Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim 2

Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim 2 is a medical romantic melodrama.

“Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim” was a popular SBS drama that ran from November 2016 to January 2017 and was loved for its realistic portrayal of medical professionals and its relatable and heartwarming messages.

The lead actor, Han Suk Yu will play the same role as the genius teacher Kim while Lee Sung Kyung will play as Cha Eun Jae, a second-year fellow in the cardio surgery department who enjoys studying and has been an elite student for most of her life.

Ahn Hyo-seop will be playing the role of Seo Woo Jin, a cynical second-year fellow who doesn’t believe in happiness because of his struggles as a child.

However, he shows impressive talent and concentration while performing surgery.

Air Date: Jan 31, 2020 

6. 쌍갑포차 Ssang Gap Pocha/Ssanggab Cart Bar

Ssang Gap Pocha/Ssanggab Cart Bar is a drama adapted from a popular fantasy food webtoon, “Double Decker Carriage” which was rated 10 out of 10 stars on Daum and won the Excellence Award at the 2017 Korea Comic Awards.

The story revolves around a mysterious pojangmacha (an outdoor drinking establishment) that opens only at night on the rooftop of a building.  Customers who visit Ssang Gap Pocha consist of normal people and the dead. 

Hwang Jung Eum will be playing the role of Wol Joo, a woman who works at pojangmacha while Yook Sungjae will be playing the role of Han Kang Bae, a customer service employee of a supermarket.

Air Date: Jan 31, 2020

7. 아무도 모른다 Nobody Knows

Nobody Knows is a detective drama starring actress Kim Seo Hyung who plays the role of Cha Young Jin, the team leader of the Violent Crime Section in the Metropolitan/Provincial Special Detective Division.

Nobody Knows follows the story of a female detective, Cha Young Jin, who lost her closest friend when she was younger at the hands of a serial killer. After 19 years, when the killing spree begins, he hunts down the killer.

Air Date: January 2020

8. 반의 반 Half of Half

Half of Half is a Korean romance drama about Ha Won [Jung Hae-in] artificial intelligence (AI) programmer and Han Seo Woo [Chae Soo-bin] classical recording engineer.

The drama is played from the perspective of a man who believes that even a small fraction of his significant person’s heart is enough for him.

Ha Won is the founder and brain of a portal site called M&H.  He is a kind-hearted rational thinker who never gets angry.

Han Seo Woo always has an optimistic mindset despite her unstable lifestyle with no family or home, and she solves math problems to find comfort in difficult times.

Air Date: Jun 30, 2020

9. Here

Here is an upcoming drama directed by Noh Hee Kyung who previously worked on many hit projects.

The main cast includes Lee Byung Hun, Han Ji Min, Shin Min-a , Bae Sung Woo and Nam Joo Hyuk.

Here tells a story of an international NGO’s (non-governmental organization) work. Not many details have been revealed to the public.

Air Date: Unknown 2020

10. 터치 Touch

Touch is a romantic comedy about a makeup artist, Cha Jung-Hyeok (Joo Sang-Wook) who becomes unemployed with debt and a K-pop idol trainee, Han Soo-Yeon (Kim Bo-Ra) who has been training for 10 years to debut as an idol.

Han Soo-Yeon gets kicked out of the program and finds her new love for makeup. She then meets Cha Jung-Hyeok and begins to work as his new assistant. They fall in love with each other.

Air Date: Jan 31, 2020

11. 안녕 엄마 Hello, Mom

Hello, Mom is a fantasy comedy starring Kim Tae Hee. The actress is reportedly preparing to make her first comeback in 5 years with this drama. This would be her first drama since her marriage to Rain and the birth of their two daughters.

It a story of a mother who died and but gets a chance to reincarnate and live for 49-day.

Air Date: Jan 31, 2020 

12. 슬기로운 의사생활 A Wise Doctor's Life

A wise Doctor's Life is a medical drama that tells the story of humanism. “Wise Doctor Life” will be directed by Shin Won-Ho and scripted by Lee Woo-Jung.

The drama will be in a hospital setting and will depict the desperate struggles of doctors, nurses, and patients.

Cho Jung-Seok has been offered the lead role for the drama.

13. 비긴어게인 Begin Again

Begin Again is a romance drama starring Song Ji Hyo who plays the lead role, Noh Ae Jung. Noh Ae Jung is a single mother and works as a film producer for a movie company.

She has been on her own for 14 years and has not had any boyfriend but everything changes after she meets 4 men who shake up her life.

Air Date: Jan 31, 2020

14. 그 남자의 기억법 The Way He Remembers

The Way He Remembers is a melodrama starring Kim Dong Wook who plays Lee Jung Hoon and Moon Ga Young who plays Yeo Ha Jin.

The story revolves around Lee Jung Hoon who has hyperthymesia, a condition that gives people the ability to remember an abnormally vast amount of their life experiences vividly and Yeo Ha Jin, a woman who has forgotten the most important memories of her life.

These two people fatefully cross paths and fall in love with each other.

Air Date: Mar 18, 2020 – May 7, 2020 

 15. 부부의 세계 The Married Life

The Married Life is a romantic family drama starring Kim Hee Ae and Park Hae Joon.

Ji Sun Woo [Kim Hee Ae] is a family medicine doctor and is married to Lee Tae Oh [Park Hae Joon] and they have a son.

Despite, having a successful career and a happy family, but she is soon betrayed by her husband. Even though he loves his wife, he finds himself falling into a dangerous relationship.

Air Date: Mar 20, 2020 – May 9, 2020

16. 한번 다녀왔습니다 I Have Been There Once

I Have Been There Once is a family drama that tells a story of how a messy divorce changed the lives of everyone in the Song Family.

The song family consists of a miserly father, Song Young Dal [Chun Ho-jin], cute by materialistic mother, Young Dal's wife [Cha Hwa-yeon] and their four grown children that never have a peaceful day.

17. 영혼수선공 Soul Repairer

Sou Repairer is a medical drama that depicts the life of psychiatrists living in a chaotic world.

Shin Ha Kyun will be playing the role of a cranky and eccentric psychiatrist at a general hospital who has a hardened system of beliefs.

Jung So-min will be playing the role of a passionate and righteous musical actress who helps mental health patients recover through theater.

 18. 아만자 Amanza

Amanza is a drama based on the webtoon by Kim Bo Tong. The drama is played by Ji Soo the story of a 26-year-old individual who is diagnosed with terminal cancer.

 19. 메모리스트 Memorist

Memorist is based on the Webtoon that has the same name. Memorist is a mystery thriller that depicts the life of Dong Baek [Yoo Seung Ho], a detective with supernatural powers who loses his memory, as he stumbles upon a mysterious case of serial murders.

20.루갈 Rugal

Rugal is a fantasy Sci-Fi that is based on the webtoon of the same name.

The drama tells the story of a police officer whose attempts to bring down a nationwide criminal organization but he ends up him losing his beloved wife and also his eyesight.

However, he later receives artificial eyes with unique abilities created by a special organization, named Rugal’s biotechnology.

He then sets himself on a mission to wipe out the criminal organization.

Choi Jin Hyuk And Park Sung Woong are said to be considering the roles.

We hope you are excited about these new Korean dramas to air! Do you know of any other upcoming Korean drama in 2020? Let us know in the comments!

Also, read Top 5 Korean drama to binge-watch if you are new to K-drama.