There are roughly 720 hours every month. To watch just 10 of the major upcoming K-dramas that premiere, you would need to dedicate upwards of 160 of them—that’s nearly a full week of your life spent just on new shows! With your time being the most valuable currency you have, endless scrolling and taking a chance on a mediocre series is a risk you can’t afford. Forget analysis paralysis. You need a strategic plan of attack to conquer your watchlist and ensure every minute you spend in front of the screen is a minute well spent. This is your definitive briefing. We’re cutting straight to the chase, breaking down the absolute must-watch premieres so you can pinpoint your next obsession and reclaim your schedule.
Your K-Drama Watchlist for Autumn 2025 is Here!
If you thought your watchlist was full, think again. New K-dramas are on their way to your screens with a diverse and exciting lineup-dramas that have it all. From high-stakes political melodramas and clever crime cases to heartfelt rom-coms and intense mysteries. This guide will break down the 11 most anticipated new Korean dramas of the month to help you find your next obsession. Plus, for those of you returning from a lovely summer vacation, I’ve included a special “Summer Rewind” section for the August hits you might have missed!
Get Ready: The 11 Hottest Upcoming K-Dramas
You and Everything Else (은중과 상연)
The upcoming Netflix drama is titled You and Everything Else, also known by its literal translation, Eun-Joong and Sang-Yeon—the names of the two wonderful protagonists. It’s a deeply moving slice-of-life melodrama about two women who navigate a lifelong journey—from besties to rivals and back again, spanning from their teens into their forties. The cast is a treat for anyone who loves quality acting and deep emotional expressiveness, bringing together the super-talented Kim Go-Eun as a drama writer and Park Ji-Hyun as a top movie producer. They reunite under heartbreaking circumstances when one of them reveals she has terminal cancer and asks her friend to be by her side through the disease’s final stages. Also starring Kim Gun-Woo, the series promises meaningful storytelling that will tug at your heartstrings, offering an intimate look at loss, love, and a friendship that transcends decades. And did I mention that Kim Go-Eun is starring? Okay, I’ll admit it—I’m totally biased!
Tempest (북극성)
Get ready for a sweeping political thriller, as Disney+ is set to release the highly anticipated new drama, Tempest. And no, this isn’t Shakespeare—it’s an original story from the mind of award-winning screenwriter Jung Seo-kyoung.
The iconic Gianna Jun, beloved for her classic role in My Love from the Star, takes on a challenging new role as a sharp-witted diplomat who stumbles upon a massive conspiracy at the heart of an international crisis between the two Koreas. Her path collides with that of a mysterious elite mercenary, played by the legendary Gang Dong-won in his long-awaited return to television after more than two decades.
Forced into an uneasy alliance, the two must navigate a deadly world of international espionage and hidden agendas to find the truth. Expect a story packed with breathtaking action, high-stakes political thrills, and a touch of intelligent romance. Across its 9 episodes, the powerhouse pairing of Gianna Jun and Gang Dong-won is your guarantee of top-tier entertainment.
Confidence Man KR (컨피던스맨 KR)
Get ready for a Korean take on a Japanese classic! The highly anticipated crime comedy Confidence Man KR, a remake of Japan’s hit series The Confidence Man JP, is coming to TV Chosun and Prime Video.
Confidence Man KR stars Park Min-young, Park Hee-soon, and Joo Jong-hyuk as a trio of brilliant con artists who swindle the rich and corrupt through wildly elaborate schemes. Each member of the crew brings a unique skill to the table—from dazzling disguises to masterful planning—making their team an unstoppable force that gives off some serious Mission: Impossible vibes.
Packed with daring heists and hilarious twists, this high-energy caper comedy is one you won’t want to miss.
My Youth (마이 유스)
Are you a fan of heartfelt stories about second chances, overcoming difficulties, and finding love? Then get ready for the new drama My Youth, where slice-of-life romance collides with powerful melodrama.
The drama stars the beloved Song Joong-ki as a former child star whose bright future was derailed by the greed of adults. He now lives a quiet life, working as a novelist and a florist to stay hidden from the spotlight. But his quiet world is turned upside down when his first love—a successful film producer played by the brilliant Chun Woo-hee—reappears in his life after a decade apart. She is driven to achieve her goals in life, while he finds his peace among floral arrangements. Is ten years long enough to forget a first love, or some feelings never truly faded?
Reunited, they must learn to navigate daily life together while also confronting the painful, shared past they survived and the feelings left unspoken. In the process, they are forced to reconcile the innocent dreams of their younger selves with the adults they have become. With this powerhouse cast, get ready for all the heartfelt, second-chance-romance vibes you can handle.
Pro-tip: For a fully immersive experience, watch with a vase of fresh flowers nearby. (Just a suggestion from a fellow fan, not a florist!)
Miss Incognito (착한 여자 부세미)
If you’re in the mood for a thrilling blend of crime and romance, look no further than Miss Incognito. The drama stars the incredible Jeon Yeo-bin as a down-on-her-luck bodyguard who seizes a dangerous, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity: assuming a fake identity to escape her life.
To secure a massive inheritance, she enters a three-month contract marriage with a terminally ill chaebol heir. Her mission is to lay low while the clock runs down, so she adopts the perfect cover: playing a sweet, warm-hearted kindergarten teacher in a quiet village. But her cover is nearly perfect, until she meets a sharp-eyed single father (played by Jin Young). As the only one suspicious of her flawless charm, he’s left with a thrilling question: will he risk his heart for a woman he can’t really trust?
The story promises to balance high-stakes inheritance battles with the unexpected charm of a small-town romance, as our hero is forced to live and love on borrowed time. So, what about you? Would you trade your identity for a lie to get a shot at a luxurious life? And could you handle falling in love while hiding such a massive secret? Get ready to be hooked.
Queen Mantis (사마귀: 살인자의 외출)
Get your detective caps ready for Queen Mantis, a thrilling new Korean remake of the acclaimed 2017 French series La Mante. The brilliant Go Hyun-jung stars as a legendary serial killer, known as ‘the Mantis,’ who is pulled from prison two decades after her capture. Her mission? To help her estranged son, a police officer played by the compelling Jang Dong-yoon, hunt down a twisted copycat killer recreating her signature murders.
This gripping adaptation forces the mother and son to navigate an emotional minefield, confronting a traumatic past filled with resentment and a fragile, desperate need for trust. For fans of dark psychological thrillers and complex crime stories, Queen Mantis is shaping up to be an absolute must-watch and one of the most promising upcoming K-dramas.
A Hundred Memories (백번의 추억)
In the midst of a turbulent 1980s South Korea, a powerful friendship between two young women is put to the ultimate test: falling for the same first love. The new drama A Hundred Memories centers on these two determined young bus attendants (played by the wonderful Kim Da-mi and Shin Ye-eun) as they navigate the turbulent waters of ambition and heartbreak.
The man who captures both their hearts is the kind-hearted son of a department store owner, played by Heo Nam-jun. Prepare for a story brimming with heartfelt nostalgia, a charming retro setting, and beautiful slice-of-life moments that will transport you back in time.
Let’s Go to the Moon (달까지 가자)
Next up is Let’s Go to the Moon, a slice-of-life rom-com that blends workplace struggles with the universal dream of escaping the mundane. It features a fantastic trio—Lee Sun-Bin, Ra Mi-Ran, and Jo A-Ram—as contract employees battling economic hardships and the gloom of corporate life. Adapted from the celebrated novel Dal-e Gaja (the Korean title for Let’s Go to the Moon) by author Jang Ryu-jin, the story kicks off when one friend suggests they invest in cryptocurrency. When another excitedly shouts the famous trading slogan, ‘Let’s go to the moon!’ the trio begins a life-changing adventure. This warm and witty story is all about finding inspiration and hope, proving that there’s more to life than the constraints of office walls and the daily nine-to-five. And for the romance fans, the brilliant Kim Young-dae also joins the cast! Whether he’s coming to the rescue, or needs rescuing himself, is something we’ll have to wait and see on our screens.
Shin’s Project (신사장 프로젝트)
Meet Mr. Shin: a small-town fried chicken shop owner with a mysterious past and an uncanny knack for solving impossible problems. This new mystery-comedy, Shin’s Project, stars the legendary veteran actor Han Suk-kyu. That’s right, it’s Dr. Romantic himself, this time trading his scalpel for modest kitchen utensils!
Despite his aloof and grumpy demeanor, his brilliant past as a top-tier negotiator can’t stay hidden as he secretly helps his neighbors solve their most complicated disputes. It’s clear there’s more to this chicken shop owner than meets the eye, and the mystery of his true identity only deepens with each problem he solves.
Get ready for a heartwarming and hilarious story where the surprising elegance of a grumpy chicken shop owner solving impossible problems is guaranteed to win you over.
Walking on Thin Ice (은수 좋은 날)
While it may start with familiar slice-of-life moments, prepare for a gritty, high-stakes story that quickly dives into the world of organized crime—a premise so chilling it will give you goosebumps.
The new thriller Walking on Thin Ice stars the legendary Lee Young-ae as an ordinary housewife pushed to the absolute brink by her husband’s crippling medical bills. One desperate choice plunges her into the illegal drug trade, where an accidental first step quickly spirals into a perilous new life she can’t escape. She doesn’t navigate these muddy waters alone, finding a mysterious partner in a teacher named Yi-kyeong (Kim Young-kwang). But their every move is tracked by a relentless veteran detective, Tae-gu (Park Yong-woo), who is determined to bring them down.
It’s a harrowing spiral down the rabbit hole into a world of ruthless crime syndicates—all to save the person she loves. It forces you to ask yourself: how far would you go in her shoes? Thankfully, you won’t have to find out, because this drama puts you right in the driver’s seat for every heart-pounding decision.
First Lady (퍼스트레이디)
Rounding out our list is the political melodrama, First Lady, starring the talented Ji Hyun-woo and Eugene. The story follows a man who overcame the hardships of an orphanage to become the president-elect of South Korea.
But with only 67 days until his inauguration, he shocks the nation—and his wife—by suddenly demanding a divorce from the very woman who helped make him president. His demand unleashes a firestorm of ambitious power plays, devastating secrets, and public scandals, exposing a marriage collapsing under the weight of ambition and betrayal.
With a powerful cast and sky-high political stakes, First Lady promises an emotionally charged melodrama that you won’t be able to look away from.
Summer Rewind: Did You Miss These Summer 2025 Hits?
Feel like missing something? Here are a few honorable mentions—some recent gems and exciting summer aired dramas that definitely deserve a spot on your watchlist!!
Aema (애마)
Step into the vibrant and cutthroat world of 1980s Chungmuro, the heart of the Korean film industry. Lee Ha-nee stars as Jeong Hee-ran, the country’s fiery top actress who rules the scene with an iron will. But when a ruthless producer (Jin Sun-kyu) fires her from a star-making role and replaces her with an ambitious nightclub dancer (Bang Hyo-rin), it ignites a spectacular war of egos, ambition, and survival.
Twelve (트웰브)
Get ready for epic fantasy action as twelve celestial warriors, the embodiment of the Zodiac spirits, rise to protect humanity from evil forces that have once again broken free to bring chaos to the world. Each warrior brings a unique power to the fight—from superhuman strength to mystical abilities—and they must unite to stand against the overwhelming darkness. Leading the charge is the unstoppable Ma Dong-seok as the formidable Tiger, joined by an all-star cast including Park Hyung-sik and Seo In-guk. Prepare for some seriously powerful punches!
My Golden Star (금쪽같은 내 스타)
The legendary Uhm Jung-hwa stars as a top celebrity who vanished 25 years ago, only to reappear with no memory of her past. Meanwhile, Song Seung-heon plays a hot-headed detective who, after a demotion, goes undercover as her manager in a desperate bid to get his old job back. He’s tasked with helping the amnesiac star reclaim her place in the spotlight, but as secrets from her forgotten past begin to surface, his undercover mission takes a complicated and unexpectedly romantic turn.
Tip: My Golden Star (literal title) is also Know as My Troublesome Star.
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty (폭군의 셰프)
A brilliant modern chef (Lim Yoon-a) is on the verge of her Michelin-star dream in Paris when she’s suddenly transported to the Joseon era. Her cooking immediately catches the attention of King Yi Heon (Lee Chae-min), a notorious tyrant with an impossibly refined palate, who forces her to become his personal royal chef. Trapped in the past, she must now navigate deadly palace politics and ambitious rivals with only her spectacular fusion cuisine to keep her alive.
Final Thoughts: Which New Drama Will You Watch First?
With such an incredible variety on offer, this lineup of upcoming and current K-dramas truly has something for every taste. From the high-energy fun of crime comedies like Confidence Man KR to the dark thrills of Queen Mantis and the touching emotion of You and Everything Else, there’s a new obsession waiting for everyone.
So, which of these upcoming K-dramas are you most excited to watch? Let me know in the comments, and don’t forget to share this list with your fellow fans
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