October is flooded with Korean drama premieres. I guess this is one of the last months of 2026 to fully air the entire length of a drama. Good thing is you get to choose from such a long list and multiple genres. But I need to complete my pending shows from the year too. Decisions!!

Between Steps

Premiere Date: October 5

Network: ENA

Stars: Choo Young Woo (Head Over Heels), Kim So Hyun (Serendipity’s Embrace)

Slot: Monday & Tuesday

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Romance, Drama

Synopsis: A love story between a former swimmer who lost his right leg due to illness and a graduate student who finds a new path after losing her way.

Thoughts: The drama is directed by late Ahn Pan Seok, who recently passed away. He has created such acclaimed dramas like Secret Love Affair, A Wife’s Credentials, Something In The Rain. He had a very distinct intimate style of direction in his shows. A low key but effective vibe. Between Steps is written by the writer of superhit 2004 drama Full House, which is responsible for making Kdramas so popular globally. This will be writer’s first drama in 20 years! Though the plot sounds predictable, I’m looking forward to it for the director and the college setting.

Merry Berry Love

Premiere Date: October 7

Network: Disney+

Stars: Ji Chang Wook (Healer), Imada Mio (Anpan)

Slot: Wednesday

Number Of Episodes: 14

Genre: Romance, Drama

Synopsis: A successful Korean spatial designer loses everything overnight and then travels to a Japanese island in hopes of turning his life around. There, he meets a young Japanese strawberry farmer who has devoted her life to growing strawberries.

Thoughts: It’s actually a Korean-Japanese drama. Looks like a sweet love story set in an island with gorgeous location being a highlight.

100 Days Of Deception

Premiere Date: October 10

Network: tvN

Stars: Kim Yoo Jung (Dear X), Jin Young (Still Shining), Kim Hyun Joo (The Bequeathed), Jin Sun Kyu (Through The Darkness), Lee Moo Saeng (Hide)

Slot: Saturday & Sunday

Number Of Episodes: 16

Genre: Romance, Thriller, Historical, Action

Synopsis: Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea, the drama features a top pickpocket in Gyeongseong (present-day Seoul), who becomes an undercover spy for the independence movement and infiltrates the Japanese Government-General of Korea. There, she becomes involved with an interpreter who is the adopted son of the Inspector-General of Korea, the second-highest-ranking official in the administration.

Thoughts: Color me intrigued. I always enjoy well made spy thrillers set in the modern historical era. So hoping this one is good!

Doctor X: Mafia In White

Premiere Date: October 9

Network: SBS

Stars: Kim Ji Won (Queen Of Tears), Lee Jung Eun (Parasite), Kim Woo Seok (The Forbidden Marriage), Son Hyun Joo (Reborn Rookie), Lee Jin Hee (To My Beloved Thief)

Slot: Friday & Saturday

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Medical

Synopsis: A freelance genius surgeon takes on the corruption and malpractice at a hospital called the Guseo University Hospital.

Thoughts: It is remake of a Japanese drama. The cast looks good but medical thrillers are not my favorite sub genre of thrillers.

Take Charge Of My Heart

Premiere Date: October 9

Network: Netflix

Stars: Kim Young Kwang (Call It Love), Chae Soo Bin (When The Phone Rings)

Slot: All episodes released together

Number Of Episodes: 10

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Fantasy

Synopsis: A love story between a chaebol heir whose artificial heart is running out of battery and a lonely screenwriter with the unique power to recharge him.

Thoughts: I like the leads (Chae Soo Bin especially). It looks fun but it reminds me of 2011 favorite Best Love which also had a “heart” connection between the leads. But this one seems more straight forward connection as it is also a fantasy. The plot sounds okay but it might be fun!

Love In Disguise

Premiere Date: October 19

Network: tvN

Stars: Im Si Wan (Misaeng), Seol In Ah (Twinkling Watermelon), Kim Jung Hyun (Mr. Queen), Yeon Woo (The Tale Of Lady Ok)

Slot: Monday & Tuesday

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Romance, Thriller, Comedy

Synopsis: An arrogant chaebol heir becomes a murder suspect, leading to a former special forces officer going undercover, disguised as a man, to work as his personal secretary to investigate him.

Thoughts: This is the kind of plot you only (mostly?) see in Kdramas and I’m here for it! It looks like fun. It has been a long time since we had a crossdressing drama on our screens and I’m surely gonna check it out.

Make Me Tingle

Premiere Date: October 15

Network: TVING

Stars: Nam Ji Hyun (To My Beloved Thief), Kim Jae Young (Idol I)

Slot: Thursday

Number Of Episodes: 10

Genre: Romance, Drama, Comedy

Synopsis: A love story between a woman who believes in love but has never truly figured out what it means for her and a sex-toy startup CEO who opens up a whole new world for her.

Thoughts: Another addition to ‘a rom-com that sounds familiar and cliched’. But I’m just the audience for it as for me, romance doesn’t necessarily need to invent anything new. It just needs great chemistry and good execution.

Dead-End Job

Premiere Date: October 30

Network: Netflix

Stars: Lee Jae Wook (Last Summer), Go Min Si (Tastefully Yours), Kim Min Ha (Typhoon Family), Lee Hee Joon (The Scarecrow)

Slot: All episodes released together

Number Of Episodes: 8

Genre: Horror, Mystery, Sci-Fi, Fantasy

Synopsis: A man comes across a strange employment agency offering lucrative part-time jobs that pay 50 times the usual hourly wage— only to find out that it is a terrifying, hellish workplace with horrors he could have never imagined.

Thoughts: It sounds scary but also maybe gory and disturbing.

Final Table

Premiere Date: October 24

Network: JTBC

Stars: Ahn Hyo Seop (Sold Out On You), Hong Hwa Yeon (Filing For Love), Jang Ryool (Love Me), Jung Eugene (Snowdrop)

Slot: Saturday & Sunday

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Drama

Synopsis: Talented Korean chefs from all around the globe gather to compete in The Table: K-Chef 2026, a high-stakes cooking competition to determine the best Korean chef.

Thoughts: I’m not a fan of food based shows. So this one is not on my watchlist. I do like the cast and I might watch it if it gets good reviews!

Summer Vacation

Premiere Date: October 26

Network: Wavve

Stars: Jung Jin Young (Sweet Home Season 2), Jo Yi Hyun (All Of Us Are Dead), Hong Ye Ji (Missing Crown Prince)

Slot: Monday & Tuesday

Number Of Episodes: 10

Genre: Romance, Drama, Fantasy

Synopsis: An ordinary high school student has a mysterious experience during her summer vacation before returning to reality.

Thoughts: It’s not clear what kind of mysterious experience they are talking about. Also, is there a love triangle too?

The Perfect Lie

Premiere Date: October 30

Network: MBC

Stars: Seo Hyun Jin (Love Me), Yoo Yeon Seok (When The Phone Rings)

Slot: Friday & Saturday

Number Of Episodes: 12

Genre: Romance, Thriller

Synopsis: A man and a woman tell completely opposite accounts of the an incident, after having a perfect first date.

Thoughts: The leads are uniting after 10 years as they worked together in Dr. Romantic back in 2016. Their chemistry was loved by many. The premise of this new show sounds really interesting and might be a good psychological thriller. I’m definitely watching this!