K-drama has taken the world by storm on repeat. It has been the golden years for it and it’s not ready to let go nor is the world to be honest. There’s definitely going to be more to compete with the likes of “Goblin” and “Strong Woman Do Bong Soon.” Here’s a list of the upcoming K-drama shows that’ll wreck millions of hearts across the globe all over again.
It’s the year for K-drama firsts and the battle of the directors
K-drama land is on fire for 2018. Expect the world to be bombarded by one great k-drama after another. It is expanding horizons and it’s only just the beginning. On top of that, the greatest minds of the industry are trying to outdo each other by unleashing their masterpieces to the world in the same year. What more is there to ask for?
1. Suits
Sound familiar? That’s because this is going to be the Korean twin of the U.S. legal drama series. It has the same plotline but who knows what twists and curves director Kim Jin Woo will place to own it. This is, after all, the first time the series will be remade in another country. In the front line are seasoned actors Jang Dong Gun and Park Hyung Sik as reported by Soompi.
Jang Dong Geun’s long absence from the K-drama small screen ends as he takes on the lead role of Choi Kyung Seo, the legendary lawyer of Korea’s best law firm. Standing next to him would be Park Hyung Sik who just came from success in the series “Strong Woman Do Bong Soon.” Park Hyung Sik would be taking on the role of Go Yeon Woo, the man with superhuman memory that Choi Kyung Seo hires.
The exact premiere date hasn’t been released but watch out for it in the first half of 2018 on KBS2.
2. Are You Human Too?
Here is another first for the K-drama world. “Are You Human Too?” is the first Korean Al-human romance drama as reported by Soompi. Nam Shin, played by Seo Kang Joon, is the son of a rich family who falls into a coma after an accident. His mother, Oh Ro Ra, played by Kim Sung Ryung, uses her expertise on brain science and artificial intelligence to create an android. This android poses as Nam Shin. Kang So Bong, played by Gong Seung Yoon, is hired as his bodyguard. And as the genre suggests, we know what happens next on this K-drama. On top of the lengthy 2 years that it took to plan the drama, it cost a whopping $9.2 million. The drama will air in the first half of 2018 via KBS.
3. Mr. Sunshine
After working on “Goblin” and “Descendants of the Sun,” screenwriter Kim Eun Sook and director Lee Eung Bok are back with another captivating K-drama. Kim Eun Sook is exploring her new interest in writing historicals.
“Mr. Sunshine” is about a Korean boy who boarded an American warship headed home during the United State’s expedition to South Korea in 1871. He returns to Korea as an American soldier stationed in his home. Both writer and director took careful consideration to gather a strong cast featuring Lee Byung Hun, Kim Tae Ri, Yoo Yeon Seok, Byun Yo Han, and Jo Woo Jin. “Mr. Sunshine” airs on July on tvN.
4. That Man Oh Soo
“That Man Oh Soo” is about Cupid having a taste of his own medicine. For his first leading man role, Lee Jong Hyun will play as Oh Soo, a smart, handsome and promising engineer in the IT field. On the sidelines, Oh Soo plays cupid for young men and women with a mysterious pollen. Because of his carelessness, this pollen causes him to fall in love with Seo Yoo Ri, played by Kim So Eun. Yoo Ri is an officer who supports her family by herself. What happens when the matchmaker falls in love? The rom-com K-drama is set to air on OCN in March.
5. Four Sons
If you like “My Sassy Girl,” you’ll be excited to know that “Four Sons,” otherwise known as “Four Men” is another of PD Oh Jin Seok’s master creations. Nana plays as Yeo Rin, the detective who seeks to solve the death of her boyfriend Dong-Jin, played by Park Hae Jin. Instead, she finds herself involved in a series of mysterious cases with a man who looks like her dead boyfriend. There’s not much more about how the story will go but the interesting point is that Park Hae Jin will be playing 4 characters in the series. It seems like a challenge to the acclaimed actor. “Four Sons” will air on the second half of 2018 under TBA.
6. My Ajussi
Just with the casting, “My Ajussi” has been calling attention. People have divided feelings on whether they’d like to see the K-drama hit off with IU as Lee Ji An and Lee Sun Kyun as Park Dong Hoon.
Lee Ji An, a woman in her 20’s, and Park Dong Hoon, a man in his 40’s are both suffering the from burdens of life. They turn to each other for help and together, they heal. The director Kim Won Seok also boasts of award-winning projects. Under his name are the hits “Misaeng” and “Signal.” “My Ajussi” is expected to air in March under tvN.