The studios in Korea have been BUSY, y’all. Religious thrillers to idol dramas to school dramas to virus dramas (should have seen THAT coming) to a couple of big-budget historicals are looking to dominate our watchlists and they all debut in just 4 short weeks. Come check out the massive wave of dramas headed to our screens in November!

(All plot descriptions courtesy of MyDramaList.com)

Dr. Brain

November 3, Apple TV, starring Lee Sun Kyun (My Mister, Parasite)

An emotional journey that follows a brain scientist who is obsessive about figuring out new technologies to access the consciousness and memories of the brain. His life goes sideways when his family falls victim to a mysterious accident, and he uses his skills to access memories from his wife’s brain to piece together the mystery of what actually happened to his family and why.

Melancholia

November 3, Viki, starring Im Soo Jung (Search WWW), Lee Do Hyun (Youth of May)

A sexual scandal between a math teacher and a student in a prestigious high school ended in tragedy. 4 years later they meet again, now as adults, to reveal the corruption in school and to regain one’s reputation as a teacher.  

Ji Yoon Soo is a high school math teacher with a bright smile and a positive impression of others. She is a hard-nosed and stubborn person who has to push ahead with the decisions she has made. She is a math geek who loves solving difficult problems and teaches students to purely love math.

Baek Seung Yoo is emotionless and has no light in his eyes. He used to be a math genius who appeared on a quiz program at the age of five and surprised the world by solving college-level math problems. He was admitted to MIT at the age of 10 but dropped out at the age of 12, and suddenly disappeared.

Happiness

November 5, Viki, starring Han Hyo Joo (W), Park Hyung Sik (Juror 8, Suits), Jo Woo Jin (Mr. Sunshine)

A new type of deadly virus spread throughout the city, and the apartment where has different social classes of people is sealed off. With the fear of the virus, and the conflicts of the different classes, the residents have to spend and survive in the new habitation. 

Yoon Sae Bom is very quick on decision and judgement. She did not grow up in a good environment. She wants to live comfortably in the complicated world, but she righteous and can’t stand injustice. 

Jung Yi Hyun is a police detective, who is mainly in charge of violent crimes. He used to be a baseball player, but had to quit due to a knee injury. He struggles to protect people from the danger in the apartment. 

Han Tae Seok was an information agent while serving in the military, and after being discharged, he worked as an executive at a pharmaceutical company. He is the perfect person for a position dealing with infectious diseases.

Let Me Be Your Knight

November 7, Viki, starring Lee Jun Young (Imitation), Jung In Sun (How to Be Thirty)

The drama will be a story of romance and healing between one of the world’s greatest idols who is suffering from somnambulism and the doctor who is secretly treating him. 

Yoon Tae In is an untouchable idol star who is loved all around the world, and a musical genius who believes he is the center of the universe.

Secret Royal Inspector and Joy

November 8, Viki, starring Ok Taec Yeon (Vincenzo), Kim Hye Yoon (Extraordinary You)

A secret royal inspector works as an undercover official who inspects local provinces to expose corruption. He teams up with a lady who is searching for happiness by getting divorced with her current husband. The duo then go on a grand scheme to discover the truth and find corruptions.  

Ra Yi Eon wanted to open a dumpling store outside the capital. However, due to his cleverness, he passes the state examination and becomes an official in the Office of Special Advisors. There, he finds himself receiving secret orders to carry out missions as a secret inspector. 

Kim Jo Yi is an unorthodox lady in the Joseon era who dislikes the notion of woman suffering in silence during marriage and is wholeheartedly in support of a divorce. She is passionate and is always ahead of time.  

Idol: The Coup

November 8, iQIYI (?), starring Ahn Hee Yeon (You Raise Me Up), Kwak Shi Yang (Lovers of the Red Sky)

Portrays the last story of “doomed idols” who need a single “success” in order to not  “disband.” The story of young people who confidently let go of their dreams as they grow through their failures and take courageous steps towards their new goals.

Kim Je Na has been a member of Cotton Candy for the past 6 years. 

Cha Jae Hyuk is the CEO of the entertainment company which manages Cotton Candy. Seo Ji Han is a member of the popular idol group Mas, which belongs to the same entertainment company as Cotton Candy.

To not disband the group Cotton Candy needs only a one-time hit.

The Red Sleeve Cuff

November 12, Viki, starring Lee Jun Ho (Confession), Lee Se Young (Kairos)

In Korea during the first half of the 1700s, Yi San is an aloof and perfection-loving young prince. His father’s killing haunts him, although it leaves him in the position to take the throne once his grandfather – the cruel and ruthless current king responsible for Yi San’s father’s death – dies. He has resolved to become a benevolent monarch who will reform the law when he eventually takes the throne, but the way his father was killed has scarred him emotionally.

At court, he meets a young woman named Sung Deok Im. Yi San falls in love with her and tries to convince her to become his official concubine. But Sung Deok Im is strong-willed and free-spirited. She is also intelligent enough to understand that becoming a royal consort to the future king is a prestigious role, but one that would restrict her freedom and likely bring her little in the way of joy. But Yi San’s love for Sung Deok Im is true, and she starts to understand that forming a union with him could ultimately benefit his troubled realm.

Now, We Are Breaking Up

November 12, Viki, starring Jang Ki Yong (My Roommate is a Gumiho), Song Hye Kyo (Encounter)

As the design department’s team leader of one of the nation’s top fashion companies, Ha Young Eun has made quite a name for herself in the fashion industry. Beautiful, trendy, and intelligent, Young Eun loves her work and she’s good at what she does. But when it comes to relationships, things are a bit different. Pragmatic to a fault, Young Eun often comes across as cold-hearted, as she prioritizes stability over all else.

Content in both her work and her life, Young Eun has never really been bothered by the fact that others might see her as cold. But when she meets Yoon Jae Kook, a popular freelance fashion photographer, things take an unexpected turn. The living definition of the perfect man, Jae Kook is wealthy, handsome, and intelligent, but that’s not what catches Young Eun’s attention. There’s something more to Jae Kook that Young Eun just can’t seem to ignore. 

As if in a dream, Young Eun and Jae Kook find themselves falling for each other. But not all fairy tales have a happy ending. Is theirs a story that will end in heartbreak or will they manage to find their own version of happily ever after, after all?

Fly Again

November 13, Viki, starring Hyungwon (Monsta X), Kim Myung Ji (Class of Lies)

With dreams of becoming a celebrity constantly pushing him forward, Han Yo Han decides it’s time to make the transition from a genius dancer to an all-around talented idol. To better pursue his dreams, he transfers to Hanbit Art High School. Unfortunately, things for Yo Han don’t work out so well at his new school, especially not after an unfortunate accident steals his lifelong dreams.

Despite the accident, Yo Han is doing his best to search for a new way to make his dreams come true. Coincidentally, he finds himself frequently crossing paths with the members of the dance club, “Villains”. The more time he spends with the dance club, the more he begins to realize an entirely new world has opened up to him. As Yo Han begins to explore this exciting new world, he meets On Ji Min, an honor student who was born to be an idol. With her family constantly pushing her to do better and be the best, she has no idea how to do anything other than overachieving. However, things for both Ji Min and Yo Han change completely after their relationship takes an unexpected turn.

With new roads open before them, Yo Han and Ji Min begin to find the courage to dream new dreams. But will they be able to pursue those dreams when everyone and everything around them seems to be trying to hold them back?

School 2021

November 17, Viki, starring Kim Yo Han (A Love So Beautiful), Choo Young Woo (Police University), Jo Yi Hyun (Hospital Playlist)

School 2021 is the story of students attending a specialized high school and seeking their ambitions, rather than going off to college. It will delve into how these students learn about love, friendship, true passions, and growing up in an intense environment.

Gong Ki Joon is a hardworking student who assumes work and school simultaneously. He is a person who loses his 11-year dream of taekwondo due to injury and is unsure of knowing what to do. Jeong Young Joo is a transfer student with a hidden story and a past connection to Gong Ki Joon. 

Jin Ji Won, a confident high school girl with a solid dream, confidently communicates her opinion though she is in conflict with her mother about going to college. Kang Seo Young is a gifted student who is preparing, by herself, for college entrance exams. She is aiming to enter one of the top five universities in Korea.

Lee Kang Hoon is a teacher who values a work-life balance. He gradually grows along with his students. Lee Jae Hee is the chairman of the board’s nephew, while Gu Mi Hee is the twin sister of Lee Jae Hyuk. She is a quiet person and strives to make many new changes. Lee Jae Hyuk is Lee Jae Hee’s twin. Unlike Jae Hee, Jae Hyuk is the person who receives support from the foundation.

Hellbound

November 19, Netflix, starring Yoo Ah In (Chicago Typewriter), Park Jung Min (Entourage)

People hear predictions on when they will die. When that time comes, a death angel appears in front of them and kills them.

Jung Jin Soo is the head of the new religion Saejinrihwe. He speaks about the phenomenon when death angels from Hell come and state it’s a revelation from God. Jung Jin Soo has intense charisma and a mysterious aspect.

Bae Young Jae is a program director for a broadcasting station. He tries to dig out the truth about the religious group Saejinrihwe. Min Hye Jin is a lawyer. She stands up against the group “Hwasalchok” (‘Arrowhead’), which consists of people who blindly follow Saejinrihwe.

Song So Hyun is Bae Young Jae’s wife. She collapses in emotional pain, which she can not deal with. Jin Kyung Hoon is a detective and investigates cases involving the appearance of angels of death.

One Ordinary Day

November 27, starring Cha Seung Won (Hwayugi), Kim Soo Hyun (It’s Okay Not to Be Okay)

A drama that explores the criminal justice system from an extremely popular perspective through the fierce story of two men surrounding the murder of a woman. Hyun Soo, an ordinary college student, suddenly becomes the primary suspect in a murder case. Shin Joong Han is the only lawyer willing to help Kim Hyun Soo. Having just barely passed law school, Shin Joong Han’s involvement in Kim Hyun Soo’s case eventually takes his unremarkable life to new heights. 

Which of these dramas will have you eagerly pushing play? Drop down in the comments and let us know, drama fans!

The Fangirls

Dramas with a Side of Kimchi