May is chock-full of dramas. We have got romance, comedy, action, mystery, fantasy, historical genres. The month also brings Song Kang Ho‘s first television series in 32 years! I’m interested in so many new Korean dramas this month for different reasons.

The Midnight Romance In Hagwon / The Midnight Romance

Premiere Date: May 11

Network: tvN

Stars: Wi Ha Joon (Little Women), Jung Ryeo Won (King Of Dramas)

Slot: Saturday & Sunday

Number Of Episodes: 16

Genre: Romance, Drama

Synopsis: The drama is about a talented and dedicated academy instructor and her troublemaker student who she helped tirelessly in order for him to get an admission in a prestigious institute. He comes back after 10 years as an adult and to work as a rookie instructor in the same academy after quitting a good corporate job. She is his first love and in the present, both of them start to fall in love.

Thoughts: Super excited for this drama! I love Wi Ha Joon and I love Jung Ryeo Won and them starring in a truly old-school like romantic show (directed by Ahn Pan Suk — of Something In The Rain, Secret Love Affair, One Spring Night fame) is so exciting! They look so good in the promos and posters!

Frankly Speaking

Premiere Date: May 1

Network: JTBC

Stars: Go Kyung Pyo  (Love In Contract), Kang Ha Na (Bloody Heart), Joo Jong Hyuk (Extraordinary Attorney Woo)

Slot: Wednesday & Thursday

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Synopsis: A well-respected news anchor faces an incident that results in him losing his ability to self-censor. A TV variety show writer becomes interested in him and wants to invite him to her variety TV show.

Thoughts: This one looks like a fun, zany rom-com with delightful characters and actors.

The Atypical Family

Premiere Date: May 4

Network: JTBC

Stars: Jang Ki Yong (My Roommate Is A Gumiho), Chun Woo Hee (Be Melodramatic), Soo Hyun (Gyeongseong Creature)

Slot: Saturday & Sunday

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Romance, Fantasy

Synopsis: Once blessed with unique superpowers, a family loses their abilities due to modern day problems — until a mysterious woman changes everything.

Thoughts: The story sounds fresh and intriguing, and I like the main leads.

Uncle Samsik

Premiere Date: May 15

Network: Disney+

Stars: Song Kang Ho (A Taxi Driver, Memories Of Murder), Byun Yo Han (Misaeng), Lee Kyu Hyung (May It Please The Court), Jin Ki Joo (My Perfect Stranger), Seo Hyun Woo (Behind Every Star)

Slot: Wednesday

Number Of Episodes: 16

Genre: Drama, Historical

Synopsis: Set in the turbulent period of 1960s Korea, this is a story of ambitions and friendship of two men — one is a strategist who adapts quickly to any situation and the other is an elite man from the Korean Military Academy, who wants to create a country where everyone lives well. Both of them start working together to achieve this dream.

Thoughts: It’s a no-brainer to watch this show — Song Kang Ho, one of the most acclaimed actors in South Korea, is appearing in his first drama ever! And rest of the cast is full of terrific actors — Byun Yo Han, Lee Kyu Hyung, Seo Hyun Woo and Jin Ki Joo.

Crash

Premiere Date: May 13

Network: ENA

Stars: Lee Min Ki (Behind Your Touch), Kwak Sun Young (Moving), Heo Sung Tae (Adamas)

Slot: Monday & Tuesday

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Action, Crime, Comedy

Synopsis: A crime investigation drama about a Traffic Crime Investigation (TCI) team that tracks crimes that occur on the road.

Thoughts: I’m not really into episodic dramas but the lead actors are making me want to try this one out.

Connection

Premiere Date: May 24

Network: SBS

Stars: Ji Sung (Adamas), Jeon Mi Do (Hospital Playlist)

Slot: Friday & Saturday

Number Of Episodes: 16

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Crime

Synopsis: It is about a well-respected ace detective in the narcotics unit who is kidnapped and forced to become addicted to a mysterious new drug against his will, and an opinionated and outspoken newspaper reporter who gets involved with him.

Thoughts: Ji Sung and Jeon Mi Do — I have seen them in such different types of dramas that it’s very interesting and strange to see them together in a show. The plot sounds kind of different too from regular detective dramas.

The 8 Show

Premiere Date: May 17

Network: Netflix

Stars: Ryu Joon Yul (Reply 1988), Chun Woo Hee (Be Melodramatic), Park Jung Min (You’re All Surrounded), Park Hae Joon (The World Of The Married), Bae Sung Woo (Live), Lee Yeol Eum (Nevertheless), Lee Joo Young (The School Nurse Files), Moon Jung Hee (Search)

Slot: All episodes released together

Number Of Episodes: 8

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Synopsis: 8 individuals, who are facing financial hardships, are invited in a game where they are placed under extreme circumstances in a building after being cut off from the rest of society. They must follow the game’s unique rules while attempting to gather and hold onto as much money as possible.

Thoughts: This totally reminds me of Liar Game and so many other Hollywood movies based on ‘Absurdly High-Stakes Game’ trope. Cast looks good and the plot has the potential for edge-of-your-seats thrills.

Dreaming of Cinde Fxxxing Rella / I Openly Dream Of Cinderella

Premiere Date: TBA

Network: TVING

Stars: Pyo Ye Jin (Moon In The Day), Lee Jun Young (The Impossible Heir)

Slot: TBA

Number Of Episodes: 10

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Synopsis: A love story between an arrogant rich man who doesn’t believe in love and a woman who wants to be like Cinderella and find her prince charming after facing the harsh realities of life.

Thoughts: Looks like a classic Kdrama romance tale of arrogant, cold rich man and a woman from a poorer background. But the fact that the female lead wants to be a Cinderella (as opposed to circumstances making her a Cinderella) adds freshness factor to it.

Dare To Love Me

Premiere Date: May 13

Network: KBS

Stars: L/Kim Myung Soo (Royal Secret Agent), Lee Yoo Young (Insider)

Slot: Monday & Tuesday

Number Of Episodes: 16

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Synopsis: A love story between a a 21st-century scholar from Seongsan village who believes deeply in Confucian values, and a contract worker working at an apparel company who has a reckless and straightforward personality.

Thoughts: This looks cute! The opposites attract romance with them belonging to different ideologies and personalities — modern and traditional — surely makes it interesting.

Bitter Sweet Hell

Premiere Date: May 24

Network: MBC

Stars: Kim Hee Sun (Tomorrow), Lee Hye Young (Boys Before Flowers), Kim Nam Hee (Reborn Rich)

Slot: Friday & Saturday

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Comedy

Synopsis: A top psychiatrist teams up with her mother-in-law, who is a mystery novelist, to protect their family when an anonymous blackmailer tries to put her career and their family at risk.

Thoughts: I’m intrigued by the atypical team-up of a woman and her mother-in-law.

Not Strong But Attractive Homicide Squad / Not Powerful but Attractive Violent Crimes Unit

Premiere Date: TBA

Network: SBS

Stars: Kim Dong Wook (My Perfect Stranger), Park Se Wan (Doona!), Seo Hyun Woo (Adamas), Park Ji Hwan (My Lovely Boxer)

Slot: TBA

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Comedy

Synopsis: It’s about the transformation of the country’s lowest-ranking violent crimes unit (in terms of arrest rate) into the top team after they are assigned with a highly skilled team leader.

Thoughts: This plot of a new leader transforming a team usually works because it is inspiring, fun and full of warmth and camaraderie. Hopefully it works here too.