As we welcome a new month, a whole set of K-drama series is upon us with stories from different genres! While we bid goodbye to some favorites, here’s a sneak peek on what’s coming out this month.
1. Lonely Enough to Love (2020)
Set to premiere on August 11th, MBC’s upcoming romantic comedy stars Ji Hyun Woo (“Queen and I”, “Wanted”, “Bad Thief, Good Thief”, “Risky Romance”) and Kim So Eun (“Boys Over Flowers”, “Horse Doctor”, “The Scholar Who Walks The Night”, “Our GapSoon”). The story revolves around young people co-existing in a “shared house” who would like to date but are burdened by commitment, and ironically, don’t want to be lonely.
Cha Kang Woo (Ji Hyun Woo) is a single man in his 30s who works as a psychiatrist with a peculiar personality. In one of the comical teasers released, the romantically jaded Kang Woo convinces himself that dating is too bothersome. But is his resolve strong enough?
Lee Na Eun (Kim So Eun), on the other hand, is a freelance copy editor and aspiring novelist who steered clear from the dating scene for the past four years. Teasers show her being immune to seduction by various men but go on to confess that she hates being lonely.
Along with the announcement for the airing date (August 11, 10:50 p.m KST), MBC also revealed that the drama has already been exported to Japan and three Southeast Asian countries which means the drama is gaining international interest.
Also known as: Can’t Be Bothered to Date, But Don’t Want to be Lonely, Dating is Annoying, But I Don’t Like Being Lonely
2. Stranger 2 (Forest of Secrets)
Cho Seung Woo (“The Classic”, “Marathon”, “Inside Men”) and Bae Doo Na (“Kingdom”, “Persona”, “The Drug King”) reprise their role for the highly-anticipated second season of Stranger. The crime thriller drama continues where it left off. It treads on the world of corruption where the prosecutor’s office and the police find themselves on opposing sides all wanting discretionary authority over investigations.
Amidst the brewing tension, Prosecutor Hwang Shi Mok (Cho Seung Woo) and Detective Han Yeo-Jin (Bae Doo-Na) form an unlikely alliance to eliminate corruption within the prosecutor’s office. Lead down a trail of murders that are linked to the case, the emotionless-prosecutor-righteous-detective duo uncovers the truth behind the Prime Minister’s corruption case. However, as truth is often concealed, fans are in for a season of suspense and mystery
The series is set to be released simultaneously on tvN and Netflix. Scheduled to air this August 15th as a Saturday-Sunday drama, Stranger 2 will take over the It’s Okay to Not Be Okay time slot (8:00 p.m.).
3. When I Was The Most Beautiful (2020)
Im Soo Hyang (“Graceful Family”, “My ID is Gangnam Beauty”, “Lovers in Bloom”) plays the role of Oh Ye Ji, a ceramic artist who only longed for ordinary happiness but found herself caught up between the affection of two brothers.
Seo Hwan, played by Ji Soo (“My First Love”, “Bad Guys: City of Evil”, “Strong Woman Do Boon Soon), is a young and innocent architectural designer who fell in love with Oh Ye Ji first the moment he laid eyes on her. However, his feelings put him at odds with his older brother, Seo Jin, played by Ha Seok Jin (“Radiant Office”, “Drinking Solo”, “Shark”).
It started when Seo Hwan brought Ye Ji to his father’s workshop to impress her. Unfortunately, things did not pan out as he expected as she gets close to Seo Jin.
A racecar driver and the leader of his rally team, Seo Jin exudes calmness on the outside, but he is also ruthless in pursuing what he desires. This is why he didn’t hesitate to make an honest woman out of Ye Ji. But, trouble started brewing when Seo Hwan expressed his long-kept feeling for Ye Ji after his brother’s disappearance. Adding to the tension is Carrie Jung, who is Seo Jin’s ex-girlfriend who is still hung-up on him.
If romance and love triangles pique your interest, then this should be right up your alley. This series is considered one of MBC’s most anticipated shows and is set to air on August 19th, with new episodes every Wednesday and Thursday at 8:30 p.m.
Here’s a small piece of trivia: Ha Seok Jin previously appeared in Crash Landing on You. He played the roled of Captain Ri’s big brother.
Note: Also known as My Prettiest Moments.
4. Alice (2020)
This SBS drama is a story of a man and woman who were separated by death and how they overcome the limits of time and space to reunite.
It stars Joo Won (“My Sassy Girl”, “Clocking Out, “Yong Pal”) as Park Jin Gyeom, a detective who doesn’t show emotions, which has been a trend in a number of K-dramas, as was the case with Stranger.
Jin Gyeom discovers the existence of time travellers who comes from the future through a device called Alice. He then meets a genius physicist named Yoon Tae Yi, played by Kim Hee Sun (“Room No. 9”, “Woman of Dignity”, “Ice Fantasy”), who holds the key to uncovering the secrets of time travel. Interpreting this meeting as a fateful reunion, they unveil the secrets of time travel together and discover other truths.
This is the first acting role of Joo Won since he was discharged from his mandatory military service in 2019. Alice will air on Fridays and Saturdays with its first episode slated to premiere on August 28th at 9:00 p.m.
5. Do You Like Brahms?
This upcoming SBS drama follows the dreams and romance between talented students in a prestigious music school.
Park Eun Bin (“Host Stove League”, “The Ghost Detective”, “Age of Youth”) takes the role of Chae Song Ah, who gets into a classical music school on her fourth attempt after she graduated as a business major. While facing uncertainty over her career path, she met a famous pianist, and her life begins to change.
Park Jun Young, played by Kim Min Jae (“Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency”, “The Great Seducer”, “Hit the Top), possess astounding musical prowess as a world-renowned, multi-awarded pianist. He earned all these even without any known knowledge of music when he was young. Upon his return to Korea for a sabbatical year, he met Chae Song Ah, who stroke a different chord in his life.
Park Eun Bin and Kim Min Jae had successful projects in the past, but viewers are excited to see their chemistry onscreen. Initially reported to premiere in June 2020, Do You Like Brahms? will finally premiere on August 31st, with new episodes every Monday and Tuesday at 9:00 p.m.
6. Missing: The Other Side (2020)
This OCN series centers on a village that holds the spirits of missing and deceased people, and the searches that ensued to track down their missing bodies.
Kim Wook, played by Go Soo (“Money Game”, “Heart Surgeons”, “Flowers of the Prison”), is a smooth talker who commits fraud to make a living. One day, he strays into a strange village named Duon, and it’s where the missing deceased people gather.
Jang Pan Seok, portrayed by veteran actor Heo Joon Ho (“Kingdom 1&2”, “Designated Survivor: 60 Days”, “Come and Hug Me”), served as the link between Duon Village and the outside world. He then coordinates with Kim Wook to solve the cases.
Lee Jong A, played by Ahn So Hee (“Eulachacha Waikiki 2”, “Memories”, “Anu & Huyga”)is a white-hat hacker and a 9th level government employee who works with Kim Wook as she aims for social justice. Meanwhile, Ha Joon (“Black Dog”, “Bad Papa”) takes on the role of Detective Shin Joon Hoo to complete the “missing person squad” as he is desperate to find his fiance who also disappeared a month before their wedding.
Eerie and mysterious, this series is getting a lot of anticipation already. It’s going to be a late-night treat every Saturday and Sunday, starting August 22nd at 9:50 p.m.
Note: Also known as Missing: They Were There
7. Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol (2020)
Goo Ra Ra, played by Go Ara (“Reply 1994″, “You’re All Surrounded”, “Hwarang”), is a carefree and mischievous pianist who enjoyed her family’s money. But, her life changed when they fell into bankruptcy. After hitting rock bottom, she finds her way to a piano academy named La La Land where she crossed paths with Sun Woo Joon, portrayed by Lee Jae Wook (“When the Weather is Fine”, “Extraordinary You”, “Search: WWW”)
Secretive and mysterious, Sun Woo Joon doesn’t care what other people think about him, but he has a warm heart. He doesn’t have a concrete goal in life, and he makes ends meet by working part-time jobs.
If you’re a Jae Wook fan, mark your calendars in support of his first drama as the male lead! This romantic comedy will air on August 26 and it will take over KBS2’s Wednesday and Thursday 8:30 p.m. timeslot previously held by Memorials.
8. Love Alarm 2 (2020)
This Netflix original series is based on a webtoon where high school students downloaded a love application that will notify them if someone within 10-meter radius loves them. With a blend of interesting effects, lovable characters, and a cliffhanger ending, the first season was well-received. In fact, it’s the third Netflix original Korean series that gets picked up for another series next to Kingdom and My First First Love.
The original lead cast which includes Kim So Hyun (“The Tale of Nokdu”), Song Kang (“When the Devil Calls Your Name”), and Jung Ga Ram (“Mistress”, “When the Camellia Blooms”), all signed up to reprise their roles. As Kim Jo Jo (Kim So Hyun) gets caught up in a love triangle due to the viral dating app, there will be more adventure to look out for as she realizes who she truly wants.
While the release date has been moved due to the COVID-19 pandemic, its new season is finally airing on August 22nd.
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