28 Most Anticipated K-Dramas of 2025 That You Can’t Afford to Miss

K-drama fans, rejoice! 2025 is shaping up to be an exciting year for Korean television, with a lineup of highly anticipated shows that have been promising edge-of-the-seat drama, ensemble casts, and scene-stealing moments. With sappy romances, nail-biting thrillers, and fantasy epics in the works, the upcoming year is going to be a treat for K-drama fans.

With A-listers, experimental directors, and fresh narratives, these dramas are already creating a big buzz, and they’re must-watch releases that no fan would wish to miss. No matter if you’ve been a long-time K-drama fan or if you’re a newcomer looking for your next binge-able show, 2025 has something exciting on the way for everyone.

The upcoming slate of K-dramas is packed with high-production-value projects, intriguing plotlines, and star-studded ensemble casts that will dominate screens and social media discourse. Below, we’ll provide you with a sneak peek at the 10 most anticipated K-Dramas of 2025 that will dominate the year—so get ready to set those calendars and add these to your watchlist!

Love Scout (January 3)

Romance workplace drama written by Ji Eun, co-directed by Ham Joon-ho and Kim Jae-hong, and starring Han Ji-min and Lee Joon-hyuk. The series is about the romance between the CEO and the secretary.

When the Stars Gossip (January 4)

Written by Seo Sook-hyang and directed by Park Shin-woo. It stars Lee Min-ho, Gong Hyo-jin, Oh Jung-se, and Han Ji-eun.

When the Stars Gossip is one of the most anticipited K-dramas of 2025, the series follows the fateful encounter of a space-tourist and an astronaut on a space station.

The Queen Who Crowns (January 6)

Director Kim Sang-ho, who worked on the dramas Couple or Trouble (2006), Arang and the Magistrate (2012), Avengers Social Club (2017), and Money Game (2020), confirmed to direct the series, and writer Lee Young-mi, who wrote Money Game, wrote the screenplay.

It stars Cha Joo-young in the title role, along with Lee Hyun-wook, Lee Yi-dam, and Lee Si-a. Queen Won Gyeong, born to Min Je in the Goryeo period, comes from a prestigious family of high-ranking officials. She marries Yi Bang Won (Prince Jeong An), son of King Tae Jo, founder of the Joseon dynasty. When King Tae Jo names his second son, Yi Bang Gwa, as the successor, Lady Min and her husband plot to make Yi Bang Won the next king. After Yi Bang Won becomes King Tae Jong, he takes multiple concubines, causing tension with Queen Won Gyeong. As her relationship with the king worsens, King Tae Jong seeks to control her and her family to strengthen his authority.

Motel California (January 10)

Based on the novel Home, Bitter Home by Shim Yoon-seo, it is a first love remodeling romance drama set in a rural area about a woman who was born and raised in a motel and reunites with her first love in her hometown she ran away from 12 years ago.

Coming-of-age romance drama written by Lee Seo-yoon, directed by Kim Hyung-min, and starring Lee Se-young and Na In-woo.

Study Group (January 23)

Study Group is one of the most anticipated K-dramas based on the webtoon of the Study Group by Shin Hyung-wook, it tells the story of Yoon Ga-min, who is only talented in fighting, trying to study hard to achieve his goal of entering university by forming a study group in the notorious Yusung Technical High School.

Co-written by Eom Seon-ho and Oh Bo-hyun, directed by Lee Jang-hoon and Yoo Beom-sang, and starring Hwang Min-hyun, Han Ji-eun, Cha Woo-min, Lee Jong-hyun, Shin Su-hyun, Yoon Sang-jeong, and Gong Do-yu.

The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call (January 24)

It’s a medical comedy television series written by Choi Tae-kang, directed by Lee Do-yoon, and starring Ju Ji-hoon, Choo Young-woo, Ha Young, Yoon Kyung-ho, and Jung Jae-kwang. B

Based on the web novel Trauma Center: Golden Hour by Hansanleega and Hongbichira, which was serialized into a Naver Webtoon in 2019. The series follows the journey of Baek Kang-hyuk, a brilliant trauma surgeon who joins a struggling university hospital.

[Also Read: 7 New K-Dramas Releasing in January 2025 That You Shouldn’t Miss]

Kick Kick Kick Kick (February 5)

Ji Jin-hee and Jo Young-sik, who are former stars in the entertainment industry decided to establish a new content production company, Kick Kick Kick Kick Company, where they race to reach three million subscribers.

The series is co-written by Jung Soo-hyun, Nam Eun-kyung, and Jung Hae-young, directed by Koo Seong-jun, and starring Ji Jin-hee, Lee Kyu-hyung, Baek Ji-won, and Lee Min-jae.

Newtopia (February 7)

Newtopia series was directed by Yoon Sung-hyun, who directed Bleak Night (2010) and Time to Hunt (2020), and the script was co-written by Han Jin-won, who wrote Parasite (2019), and Ji Ho-jin, who wrote A Shop for Killers (2024).

It is based on the novel Influenza by author Han Sang-woon, a couple who have recently broken up attempt to reunite following the emergence of a zombie outbreak that overtakes South Korea. It stars Blackpink member Jisoo and Park Jeong-min in the tutor cast.

Friendly Rivalry (February 10)

Teen mystery-thriller television series based on the webtoon of the same name by Song Chae-yoon and Shim Jae-young, starring Lee Hye-ri, Chung Su-bin, Kang Hye-won, and Oh Woo-ri.

The series was directed by Kim Tae-hee and co-written by Kim Tae-hee and Min Ye-ji. If you’re a fan of mystery thriller K-dramas then you definitely love this.

Melo Movie (February 14)

Director Oh Chung-hwan, who directed Hotel del Luna (2019) and Castaway Diva (2023), and writer Lee Na-eun, who wrote Our Beloved Summer (2021–2022).

It is one of the best romantic comedy K-dramas of 2025, featuring Choi Woo-shik, Park Bo-young, Lee Jun-young, and Jeon So-nee. The series follows the intertwined lives of aspiring young individuals navigating love and challenges.

My Dearest Nemesis (February 17)

Another most popular Korean drama of 2025 ‘My Dearest Nemesis’, starring Moon Ga-young, Choi Hyun-wook, Im Se-mi, and Kwak Si-yang.

The series is based on a webtoon by Hye Jin-yang. It was directed by Lee Soo-hyun, who directed Delightfully Deceitful, and the screenplay is written by writer Kim Soo-yeon. Baek Su Jeong leads a planning team at a renowned department store. She meets her new boss, Ban Ju Yeon, her first love from an online game 16 years ago, stirring up memories of when he confessed his feelings but she rejected him.

Buried Hearts (February 21)

Buried Hearts is a revenge drama written by Lee Myung-hee who wrote Money Flower (2017), directed by Jin Chang-gyu. It stars Park Hyung-sik, Huh Joon-ho, Lee Hae-young , and Hong Hwa-yeon. The series centered around a massive political slush fund and the intertwined fates of two men.

[Also Read: 13 New K-Dramas Releasing in February 2025 That You Shouldn’t Miss]

The Potato Lab (March 1)

Set in a mountain valley at a potato research center, the series is about a woman named Kim Mi-kyung, a potato-crazy researcher who is starting a fresh life again, and So Baek-ho, who energizes her fighting spirit.

Rom-coms K-dramas of 2025 written by Kim Ho-soo, directed by Kang Il-soo, and starring Lee Sun-bin and Kang Tae-oh.

When Life Gives You Tangerines (March 7)

Well, well ever since its release, When Life Gives You Tangerines has been everywhere—talked about by friends, colleagues, and all over the internet. Slice-of-life period romantic drama follows the adventurous life and many trials of Ae-sun, a poor girl wanting to become a poet who was born in Jeju in 1951, and Gwan-sik, a young man who cherishes and loves her, throughout the four seasons.

Directed by Kim Won-seok and written by Lim Sang-choon marking her return after writing the 2019 KBS drama When the Camellia Blooms. It stars IU, Park Bo-gum, Moon So-ri and Park Hae-joon.

The Art of Negotiation (March 8)

The series is written by Lee Seung-young and directed by Ahn Pan-seok, who previously directed The Midnight Romance in Hagwon (2024) It stars Lee Je-hoon, Kim Dae-myung, Sung Dong-il, Jang Hyun-sung, Oh Man-seok, Ahn Hyun-ho, and Cha Kang-yoon. The series deals with the story of mergers and acquisitions between companies.

The Divorce Insurance (March 31)

Workplace romantic comedy television series starring Lee Dong-wook, Lee Joo-bin, Lee Kwang-soo, and Lee Da-hee. Director Lee Won-suk, who directed Killing Romance (2023), and Choi Bo-kyung to co-direct while writer Lee Tae-yoon, who wrote Secret Royal Inspector & Joy (2021), penned the series.

Noh Ki-joon is a successful insurance worker, but his love life isn’t going well. After going through three divorces and losing a lot of money and happiness each time, Ki-joon decides to make a new kind of insurance: divorce insurance. As he works through the challenges of creating and launching this unique product. On his journey, he faces different types of problems at work and in his personal life. He works with a group of coworkers, each with their own special traits and backgrounds, as they try to determine how much divorce costs and learn more about love and relationships. As Ki-jun looks more closely at divorce, he starts to think about his own past relationships and why they didn’t work out. He begins to like one of his coworkers, which could lead to a workplace romance.

[Also Read: 8 New K-Dramas Releasing in March 2025 That You Shouldn’t Miss]

Way Back Love (April 3)

It is adapted from the novel “A Week before I Die” (내가 죽기 일주일 전) by Seo Eun Chae (서은채). The excitement for Way Back Love’s formal release is only increased by the positive reviews given by critics who viewed the first few episodes at the Busan International Film Festival in October 2024.

Jung Hee-Wan (Kim Min-Ha) is 24-year-old woman who doesn’t have the will to live. She lives her life as a recluse. One day, her childhood friend and first love Kim Ram-Woo (Gong Myung) appears in front of her. He died 6 years ago and is now a grim reaper. When Kim Ram-Woo was alive, they were best friends and also had feelings for each other. Due to their own reasons, they did not tell the other person how they felt.

An accident then caused Kim Ram-Woo’s death. Now, Kim Ram-Woo tells Jung Hee-Wan that she has only 1 week before she dies. He continues to tell her that if she wants to die peacefully, she needs to call his name 3 times. Jung Hee-Wan, who lives a lonely life, doesn’t want to separate from him again and does not call his name. Kim Ram-Woo gets her to make a bucket list of things to do before she dies and they carry out her list together.

Karma (April 4)

Crime thriller television series, would be made into a drama with six episodes and is directed and written by Lee Il-hyung, who helmed A Violent Prosecutor (2016) and Remember (2022). It stars Park Hae-soo, Shin Min-a, Lee Hee-joon, Kim Sung-kyun, Lee Kwang-soo, and Gong Seung-yeon.

Based on the Kakao Webtoon of the same name by Choi Hee-seon, the series is about people who are entangled in an unexpectedly ill-fated relationship and destroy each other while pursuing their own desires.

[Also Read: 11 New K-Dramas Releasing in April 2025 That You Shouldn’t Miss]

Squid Game 3 (June 27)

Squid Game’s first season was a global sensation, and its second season levelup the expection that’s why Squid Game season 3 is the most anticipated K-drama of the year. The story will continue exactly where Squid Game season 2 left off, with players in the midst of a mutiny against the guardians and the game far from over.

Filming for the season started in July 2023 and ended in June 2024, as it was filmed back-to-back along with the second season.It stars Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-joon, Im Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-shim, Jo Yu-ri, Lee David, and Roh Jae-won.

Tempest (Q3 2025)

It’s an action thriller tv series where Moon-Joo (Gianna Jun) is a diplomat and a former ambassador to the United States. She has built great trust in the international community through her insightful judgment and actions. She learns that there were political maneuvering behind an assassination case involving South and North Korea.

Meanwhile, San-Ho (Gang Dong-Won) is an elite mercenary. He is a mysterious figure whose nationality and past are both shrouded in secrecy. Moon-Joo and San-Ho together pursue the truth behind the major incident.

Weak Hero Class 2 (Q2 2025)

Weak Hero Class season 2 is based on the webcomic “Yakhanyoungwoong” written by Seo Pae-Seu & illustrated by Kim Jin-Seok. Park Ji Hoon will be back for his titular role for the second season along with the actors: Ryeoun, Choi Min-young, Yoo Su-bin, Bae Na-ra, Lee Jae-min, and Lee Jun-young.

Yeon Si-Eun (Park Ji-Hoon) transfers to Eunjang High School and makes friends with Park Hoo-Min (Ryeo Un), Seo Joon-Tae (Choi Min-Young) and Go Hyun-Tak (Lee Min-Jae). But, Yeon Si-Eun must now face an even bigger and more violent called group called Alliance. Members of the notorious group includes Na Baek-Jin (Bae Na-Ra) Geum Sung-Je (Lee Jun-Young).

Mercy for None (Q2 2025)

Another one of the most awaited K-dramas of 2025 is also based on popular webcomic “Gwangjang” written by Oh Se-Hyeong & illustrated by Kim Kyun-Tae. In his past, Nam Gi-Jun (So Ji-Sub) was a member of the Bongsan Gang that was led by Gu Bong-San (Ahn Kil-Kang). Nam Gi-Jun defeated other gangs through violent battles and the gang grew into a large company, but Nam Gi-Jun decided to leave the gang. His younger brother Nam Gi-Seok (Lee Jun-Hyuk) joined the Joowoon Gang that was led by Lee Joo-Woon (Heo Jun-Ho). The two gangs were rivals. For his brother, Nam Gi-Jun quit the Bongsan Gang by cutting his left Achilles tendon.

11 years later, Nam Gi-Jun lives peacefully and makes a living by suppling drinks to businesses run by Bongsan. His brother Nam Gi-Seok is now the second highest ranked person in Joowoon, but he suddenly dies. In order to reveal the secret behind Nam Gi-Seok’s death and take revenge on those responsible, Nam Gi-Jun goes back to the gang world that he left behind 11 years ago.

Trigger (Q3 2025)

The purchase, selling, or owning of a gun are banned in South Korea. There are almost zero crime cases involving guns in the country. Things change quickly. Illegal guns, from unknown sources, are brought into the country, and gun incidents proliferate. Yi-Do (Kim Nam-Gil) is a righteous detective. In the past, he served in the military as a sniper. Now, Yi-Do struggles to stop a series of gun incidents and chases after the source of the illegal firearms.

Moon-Baek (Kim Young-Kwang) is a key figure in the underground arms broker world. He acts like an easy going person, but he is a person who meticulously plans out his actions and then puts his plan into action. These two men, Yi-Do and Moon-Baek, hold a gun for their own reasons. The series will be directed by Kwon Oh-Seung and Kwon Oh-Seung pinned the story.

The Manipulated (Q3 2025)

It’s a K-drama crime thriller starring Ji Chang Wook as Tae Joong, an ordinary man whose life is shattered after being wrongly imprisoned for a heinous crime. Discovering that his downfall was orchestrated by Yo Han, played by Doh Kyungsoo (EXO’s D.O.) in his chilling first villain role, Tae Joong sets out on a relentless quest for revenge.

It will direct by Kim Chang-Ju and Oh Sang-Ho surve as a writer and it will be premiered on Disney+.

Genie, Make a Wish (Q4 2025)

The series is written by renowned writer Kim Eun-sook and directed by Lee Byeong-heon. The cast includes Kim Woo-bin (Black Knight, Our Blues, Uncontrollably Fond) as the genie Jinn, and Suzy (Doona!, Start-up, Uncontrollably Fond) as the emotionally detached Ka-young. The two are reuniting on-screen after seven years, fueling the excitement of their fans. Supporting them are Ahn Eun-jin (The Good Bad Mother, My Dearest) as the mysterious Mi-joo, Noh Steve Sang-hyun (Pachinko) as Soo-hyun, Jinn’s brother and rival, Ko Kyu-phil as Sayyid, Jinn’s assistant who’s secretly a black jaguar, and Lee Zoo-young as Min-ji, Ka-young’s only friend.

It explores the enchanting story of Jinn, a genie who awakens after a thousand years, and Ka-young, his new impassive master. The series weaves a romantic comedy around their conflicts over three wishes, setting the stage for magical mishaps and heartfelt moments.

Can This Love Be Translated? (Q4 2025)

This romantic comedy revolves around Ju Ho-jin, a skilled multilingual interpreter who becomes the personal interpreter for top actress Cha Mu-hee. Cha Mu-hee and Ju Ho-jin hold contrasting perspectives on love, which results in misunderstandings. However, as they gradually grow closer, their conversations become increasingly enjoyable, leading to subsequent moments of understanding.

The series is written by the Hong sisters, directed by Yoo Young-eun, and starring Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung, Sota Fukushi, Choi Woo-sung, and Lee Yi-dam.

Nine Puzzles (Q4 2025)

Its a murder suspense thriller series directed by Yoon Jong-Bin and written by written by Lee Eun-Mi. The story folloed one night, Yi-Na’s (Kim Da-Mi) uncle, who was like a father, mother and friend to her, was murdered. She was the only witness of her uncle’s murder case. She was also suspected as the murderer by Han-Saem (Son Suk-Ku).

10 years later, Yi-Na now works as a criminal profiler. She has been a member of the criminal analysis team at Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency for the past 6 years. Yi-Na is usually the first to figure out the motive of a crime from the crime scene. Yi-Na now meets Han-Saem, who was convinced that she killed her uncle. They work together to uncover the truth behind the murder.

The Price Of Confession (Q4 2025)

Its a Netflix mystery thriller K-drama directed by Lee Jung-Hyo and written by Kwon Jong-Kwan. An Yoon-Soo (Jeon Do-Yeon) works as an art teacher. She has peaceful and ordinary days, but her life suddenly changes. Her husband is murdered and she is accused of killing him. She struggles to clear herself from the murder charge. While in prison, a mysterious woman named Mo Eun (Kim Go-Eun) approaches her. Mo Eun is called a witch by the other prisoners, because she can see through others and easily know what they think and feel. An Yoon-Soo and Mo Eun both have secrets and they make a dangerous deal.

Meanwhile, Baek Dong-Hoon (Park Hae-Soo) is a earnest prosecutor, who is recognized by his fellow prosecutors. He maintains his composure in any circumstance and holds firm convictions. He digs into the secrets of An Yoon-Soo and Mo Eun, risking his belief and honor. Jang Jung-Koo (Jin Sun-Kyu) is An Yoon-Soo’s lawyer. He is former boxer with a tenacious personality. He begins to pursue the truth to prove An Yoon-Soo’s innocence.

Slowly, Intensely (Q4 2025)

It’s official, Hallyu stars Gong Yoo and Song Hye-kyo are set to star in the upcoming K-drama Slowly, Intensely. It is a 22-episode series with a production budget estimated to exceed 70 billion KRW (approximately 47.7 million USD).

The series is one of the most anticipated K-dramas of 2025, written by It’s Okay, That’s Love’s screenwriter Noh Hee-kyung and directed by K-drama classic Coffee Prince’s Lee Yoon-jung.

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