April is here! The month is bringing a deluge of Korean drama premieres — the icing on the cake is we have a huge range of genres and stories to choose from, or watch them all! Read on to read the details:

Perfect Crown

Premiere Date: April 10

Network: MBC

Stars: IU (When Life Gives You Tangerines), Byeon Woo Seok (Lovely Runner), Gong Seung Yeon (The First Responders), Noh Sang Hyun (Pachinko)

Slot: Friday & Saturday

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy

Synopsis: Set in an alternate universe where modern-day Korea is a constitutional monarchy, the drama is about a contract marriage between a wealthy chaebol heiress who seems to have it all yet holds no noble title, and a royal prince who, despite being the king’s son, lives without power or privilege.

Thoughts: I’m buzzing with excitement for this one and there are so many reasons for it: marriage of convenience trope (it is giving classic Kdrama Goong vibes). The leads (IU is always amazing and this is Byeon Woo Seok’s first drama since his swoony perfromance in mega hit Lovely Runner). The palace setting.

Bloodhounds 2

Premiere Date: April 3

Network: Netflix

Stars: Woo Do Hwan (Mr. Plankton), Lee Sang Yi (No Gain, No Love), Rain (Full House)

Slot: All episodes released together

Number Of Episodes: 7

Genre: Action, Thriller

Synopsis: After dismantling a loan shark operation in the first season, Gun Woo and Woo Jin return in Season 2 to face a new challenge—an international underground boxing league headed by Baek Jeong (Rain).

Thoughts: I did not see the first season, so I’m indifferent to this one.

Sold Out On You

Premiere Date: April 22

Network: SBS

Stars: Ahn Hyo Seop (A Business Proposal), Chae Won Bin (Doubt), Kim Bum (Ghost Doctor)

Slot: Friday & Saturday

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Romance, Comedy

Synopsis: A love story between a farmer who juggles multiple jobs and a top show host who suffers from severe insomnia.

Thoughts: I really like Ahn Hyo Seop and I’m looking forward to see Kim Bum after a long time. We are seeing many village stories these days in dramaland but it is still refreshing to see another one. The ‘multiple jobs’ detail reminds me of Hometown Cha Cha Cha which also had the hero juggling many jobs and was a coastal town resident.

Yumi’s Cells 3

Premiere Date: April 13

Network: tvN, TVING

Stars: Kim Go Eun (The Price Of Confession), Kim Jae Won (The Tale Of Lady Ok), Choi Daniel (Sorry Not Sorry)

Slot: Mondays

Number Of Episodes: 8

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance

Synopsis: It’s about an ordinary office worker named Yumi where we see the story from the point of view of the many brain cells in her head controlling her every thought, feeling, and action. In Season 3, she has achieved her dream of becoming a writer but her days have become boring and monotonous. That’s when she meets a new love interest, the editorial PD at Julie Publishing.

Thoughts: I have heard so many good things about this series but haven’t gotten the chance to watch it yet. Hopefully I’ll be able to see it soon!

Filing For Love

Premiere Date: April 25

Network: tvN

Stars: Shin Hye Sun (The Art Of Sarah), Gong Myung (Second Shot At Love), Kim Jae Wook (Melo Movie), Hong Hwa Yun (The Price Of Confession)

Slot: Friday & Saturday

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama

Synopsis: A workplace romance blossoms between a former star performer on a major corporation’s audit team who gets reassigned to investigate internal misconduct, and a strong-willed and unconventional audit team leader who is hiding a secret.

Thoughts: Workplace romance is one of my favorite type of romance stories. And I love Shin Hye Sun and that poster looks good (LOL). Also, the writer penned Crash Course In Romance which I mostly enjoyed.

We Are All Trying Here

Premiere Date: April 18

Network: JTBC

Stars: Go Yoon Jung (Can This Love Be Translated?), Koo Kyo Hwan (D.P.), Kang Mal Keum (Gyeongseong Creature), Oh Jung Se (Tempest), 

Slot: Saturday & Sunday

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Drama

Synopsis: The show follows a man who, surrounded by successful friends, feels like the only one whose life hasn’t fallen into place. Overwhelmed by frustration, envy, and jealousy, he embarks on a journey in search of inner peace.

Thoughts: Definitely looking forward to this show. Reason — the screenwriter has written shows like My Mister and My Liberation Notes. So I’m expecting another introspective, nuanced, realistic and poignant drama. I also like the cast.

The Scarecrow

Premiere Date: April 20

Network: ENA

Stars: Park Hae Soo (The Price Of Confession), Lee Hee Joon (Karma), Kwak Sun Young (Crash)

Slot: Monday & Tuesday

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Synopsis: A detective probing a string of killings is compelled to team up with a man he can’t stand. Spanning the years 1988 to 2019, the tense narrative follows two men tied together by circumstance and a reluctant, hostile partnership as they pursue the truth across three decades.

Thoughts: It looks like a thrilling, tensed and intriguing drama, headlined by a strong cast. I also like thrillers that involve a mystery that spans many years. Color me interested!

Gold Land

Premiere Date: April 29

Network: Disney+

Stars: Park Bo Young (Our Unwritten Seoul), Kim Sung Cheol (Our Beloved Summer), Lee Hyun Wook (The Queen Who Crowns), Kim Hee Won (Moving), Moon Jeong Hee (Times), Lee Kwang Soo (The Divorce Insurance)

Slot: Wednesday

Number Of Episodes: 10

Genre: Action, Thriller, Crime

Synopsis: A security screening officer at an international airport unexpectedly finds herself in possession of gold bars linked to a smuggling operation. As greed and betrayal begin to consume those around her, she is pulled into a perilous struggle—facing not only dangerous adversaries, but also her own rising temptation to hold onto the gold.

Thoughts: I think these kind of stories were popular in the 90s and 2000s — where a person finds lots of money or gold and then things get twisted. In dramaland, we saw something like this in Little Women. Hopefully, this drama delivers the right tension, thrills and adventure needed for such stories.

If Wishes Could Kill

Premiere Date: April 24

Network: Netflix

Stars: Kang Mi Na (Café Minamdang), Lee Hyo Je (Hunted), Jeon So Young (My Youth), Baek Sun Ho (Kick Kick Kick Kick), Hyun Woo Seok (Cheer Up)

Slot: All episodes released together

Number Of Episodes: 8

Genre: Horror

Synopsis: A group of high school students discovers they’re doomed to die after being cursed by a mysterious wish-granting app known as “GIRIGO.” As they struggle against the clock to break free from its lethal grip, they begin to unravel the app’s dark and unsettling secrets.

Thoughts: Many horror movies consist of this trope of ‘a curse leading to death’. I have not seen Kdramas with this plot. I’m a horror genre fan, so I will check this one out and we anyway don’t usually get horror Korean dramas.

Absolute Value Of Romance

Premiere Date: April 17

Network: Coupang Play

Stars: Kim Hyang Gi (Secret Playlist), Cha Hak Yeon (Castaway Diva), Kim Jae Hyun (Kpop group N.Flying)

Slot: Friday & Saturday

Number Of Episodes: 14

Genre: Comedy

Synopsis: It is about a high school student who secretly writes BL novels featuring her teachers as the main characters. When she unexpectedly encounters these teachers outside of school, her previously calm school life is thrown into chaos.

Thoughts: Points for having a fresh story. It looks hilarious and fun.

Reverse

Premiere Date: April 17

Network: Wavve

Stars: Go Soo (Parole Examiner Lee), Seo Ji Hye (Nice To Not Meet You), Kim Jae Kyung (Again My Life)

Slot: Fridays

Number Of Episodes: 8

Genre: Thriller, Mystery

Synopsis: A woman who becomes involved in an explosion at a wealthy family’s villa loses her memory and sets out to regain it, hoping to uncover the hidden truths about her suspicious fiancé and the real cause of the accident.

Thoughts: So many thriller movies, TV shows and novels involve the amnesia trope. But it’s always thrilling to watch or read if done well. Also, I’m always excited to see a mystery thriller in dramaland which is not episodic/ investigative thriller where main character is a detective/cop. I’m surely giving this drama a try.