Oh May, we’re so ready for you!
It seems that we’re still getting hung-over after some good dramas that have finally come full circle. But that only means that new ones are lining up for your viewing pleasure!
Here’s a quick look at what’s on the pipeline this merry month of May! Which do you think you’d be excited for? Read on to find out!
Bossam: Steal The Fate
The 1st of May welcomes a period drama with Bossam: Steal The Fate, starring Jung Il-woo and Kwon Yuri.
Bossam was a custom common to the Joseon period under the rule of Prince Gwanghae. It is a practice where a bachelor who missed marriage secretly abducts a widow by wrapping her in a blanket at night and makes her his wife. What’s so interesting is that a Joseon woman can’t remarry once she becomes a widow and this practice is a way around that.
Jung Il-woo transforms into a rougish character named Bau, who is this perverted man who steals, gambles, fights, and even does bossam in exchange for money. Unbeknownst to him, he mistakenly kidnaps a woman who turns out to be Princess Soo-kyeong (Kwon Yu-ri), the daughter of Gwanghae-gun and a blue widow.
Kidnapping your future bride – a widow no less – seems to be new territory for a drama. This is certainly an entertaining plot for romance period drama.
Jung Il-woo is best known for his roles in the sitcom Unstoppable High Kick, and the television dramas The Return of Iljimae, 49 Days, Cool Guys, Hot Ramen, Moon Embracing the Sun and Cinderella with Four Knights. Wile Kwon Yu-ri is more known for being part of the girl group Girls’ Generation, and later its subgroup Girls’ Generation-Oh!
This drama is said to be MBN’s 10th anniversary special offer. It is set to air every Saturday and Sunday at 9:40 P.M.
Youth Of May
Many loved Lee Do-hyun in his role in 18 Again. But this time around, instead of his playing a character doing a major physical throwback, he now stars in a period drama set in the 80s.
Youth of May is actually based on true events that occured in the 1980s, which is an era marked by the Gwangju Uprising. This historically significant event in history lasted for 10 days. It gathered more than a quarter of a million people who staged a protest in rebellion to the brutal military regime that ruled South Korea during that time. Initially, it seemed that the efforts of those brave enough to stand against injustice was doomed to fail. It resulted in thousands of deaths. However, the nationwide demonstration became a major catalyst for democracy in the country.
In the midst of all the chaos was Hwang Hee-tae (Lee Do-hyun), who is an excellent medical student, and Kim Myung-hee (Go Min-si) who is a nurse. The two fell in love, but their relationship was tested by circumstances brought by turbulent times.
Dubbed as a romance retro melodrama, this project is the second time that Lee Do-hyun and Go Min-si starred in a drama after playing the role of siblings in Netflix’s horror drama Sweet Home.
Youth of May will air on May 3rd on KBS2 every Monday and Tuesday, taking over the slot of River Where the Moon Rises.
Imitation
Based on a webtoon of the same name which was penned by Park Kyung-ran, this drama revolves around the lives of K-pop idols.
Lee Ma-ha (Jung Ji-so) is a member of the girl group Tea Party, along with other members, Yu Ri-ah (Kim Min-seo) and Shim Hyun-ji (Lim Na-young). Since their debut, the group hasn’t achieved much success. However, Ma-ha has attracted some attention due to her close resemblance to popular singer La Ri-ma (Park Ji-yeon). Ma-ha finds herself in a somewhat bitter first meeting with a popular idol Kwon Ryok (Lee Jun-young) who’s a member of a global boy group Shax.
The drama is based on K-Pop, the culture, the idols, and the popularity of each. It takes us through the intense competition these idols are constantly subjected to. The urge to rise and shine like a new star in the industry can often create pressure a lot more than we can imagine.
Imitation will air on KBS2 on May 7th as a Friday drama.
Mine
Many are looking forward to Lee Bo-young and Kim Seo-hyung working on one drama. With two big stars headlining this project, it’s sounding like a hit in the making.
Mine gives audiences a sneak peek into the mysterious lives of the rich and high society. The story revolves around two women and the struggles they encounter as members of the elite.
Seo Hee-soo (Lee Bo-young) used to be a top actress, but she quit acting after she married the second son of a conglomerate. Meanwhile, Jung Seo-hyun (Kim Seo-hyung) is the wife of the first son of the same wealthy family. Both of them are ambitious women and they have to use their wits and determination to survive the life of the upper class.
Lee Bo-young is best known for her roles in the television dramas My Daughter Seo-young, I Can Hear Your Voice, Whisper, Mother and When My Love Blooms. Kim Seo-hyung rode her way to the spotlight for her portrayal as Shin Ae-ri in the SBS revenge drama Temptation of Wife (2008) and as Coach Kim in the JTBC television series Sky Castle (2018).
‘Mine’ will air on May 8th to run as a Saturday and Sunday drama at 9:00 P.M. on tvN, a slot previously taken by Vincenzo.
Doom At Your Service
Doom At Your Service is a love story that takes place in the fantasy world of fictional gods. It is top-billed by Park Bo-young and Seo In-guk.
This romance drama is about a web novel editor named Tak Dong-kyung (Park Bo-young), who finds herself signing a hundred-day contract with Myul-mang (a name which literally means “doom” or “ruin).
Myul Mang is no ordinary person since everything he touches would vanish. He is actually a mythical being who acts as a mediator between God and humans. Having sealed a deal with Myul Mang puts Dong-kyung’s life on the line, but she does so to avoid a sadder fate.
Park Bo-young is best known for her leading roles in the hit films Scandal Makers, A Werewolf Boy and On Your Wedding Day, and the television series Oh My Ghost, Strong Girl Bong-soon and Abyss. Seo In-guk is equally recognizable having starred in dramas like High School King of Savvy, Hello Monster, Squad 38, and The Smile Has Left Your Eyes.
‘Doom at Your Service’ will air on May 10th as a Monday and Tuesday drama at the 9:00 P.M. slot on tvN, taking the place of ‘Navillera’.
Move To Heaven
It has been a long time coming for this drama to air since the project was first announced in late 2019. The drama was inspired by an essay “Things Left Behind” by Kim Sae-byul, who is a former “trauma cleaner”.
The story revolves around Geu-ru (Tang Joon-sang), a young man with Asperger’s syndrome and was left alone in the world when his father died. Sang-gu (Lee Je-hoon), his uncle who was recently released from prison, suddenly finds himself as Geu-ru’s guardian. The pair work as “trauma cleaners.” They are responsible for clearing out the last possessions of the deceased, and along the way, they uncover stories that are left behind.
Director Kim Sung-ho and writer Yoon Ji Ryun team up to present diverse stories left behind by those who passed away told from the honest and unbiased perspective of Geu-ru who has Asperger’s syndrome.
‘Move to Heaven’ is a Netflix Original and will be released on the platform on May 14th.
My Roommate Is A Gumiho
2021 also has its own share of Gumiho-centered K-dramas. My Roommate is a Gumiho (nine-tailed fox) is an adaptation of the webtoon, ‘Live Together,’ a popular Naver webtoon. However, this drama adaptation will be penned by Baek Sun-woo and Choi-Bo-rim (What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim), and directed by Nam Sung woo (Kkondae Intern).
It’s about a 999-year-old gumiho named Shin Woo-yeo (Jang Ki-yong) who tried to become human for over nine centuries. His life gets intertwined with a female university student named Lee Dam (Lee Hye-ri) who accidentally swallows his special fox bead, on which his chance of being human relies on. They had to figure out how to resolve this dilemma by living together.
‘My Roommate is a Gumiho’ will air every Wednesday and Thursday at 10:30 P.M. on tvN, taking the slot of ‘Mouse’.
Racket Boys
K-dramas are picking up steam on Netflix and they are serving fans with a sports-themed series with Racket Boys.
Starring Oh Na-ra as the legendary badminton player Ra Young-ja, the 46-year-old actress will embark on a journey coaching a co-ed team of 16-year-olds.
Ra Young-ja has since retired from being a professional athlete. She is then hired to coach for a middle school badminton team. Having to train a ragtag group of young boys and girls with the intention of bringing them to the nationals was a true test of character for everyone involved.
Pairing up with Young-ja is Yoon Hyeon-jong (Kim Sang-kyung), is also a coach of a middle school badminton team on the brink of being dismantled.
You may have recognized Oh Na-ra for her roles in Yong-pal, Hyde, Jekyll, Me, Flowers of the Prison, and Sky Castle. Expectations are high for this series as it is written by Jung Bo-hoon (Prison Playbook) and directed by Jo Young-gwang (Innocent Defendant, Heart Surgeon).
Racket Boys will air on SBS and Netflix on May 17th.
