How many dramas do you need to get you through the summer, international drama fans? What about the winter, for those of you on the other side of the world? I hope 16 is enough, because that’s how many the Hallyu Wave is launching our way! Come see what you’ll be adding to your watch list in the month of June.

(All synopses courtesy of MyDramaList.com. Information below is subject to change, because nothing in life is certain except death and taxes.)

Eve

June 1, Viki, starring Seo Yea Ji (It’s Okay to Not Be Okay), Park Byung Eun (Your Honor, Because It’s My First Life)

Lee Ra El was a girl who idolized her loving parents – a highly intelligent father and a strikingly beautiful mother. But when cruel forces beyond their control cause her father’s death, her family crumbles. Embittered by this terrible experience, she vows revenge on the super-rich people who orchestrated this terrible tragedy. Her prime target is Kang Yoon Kyum, the CEO of the lucrative LY Group business empire, and one of the ringleaders of the plot that ultimately destroyed her family.

Lee Ra El’s weapon of choice is divorce. By placing herself at the center of a legal battle worth a staggering USD 1.6 billion, she hopes to bring Kang Yoon Kyum and LY Group down once and for all. But in order to do so, she will need to wage a bitter legal struggle and fight powerful forces both inside and outside the courtroom. However, this plan has been in the pipelines for 13 years for Lee Ra El, who believes she will use all of her guile to catch Kang Yoon Kyum out when he least expects it. Can revenge bring her the satisfaction she craves – or will it end up consuming her?

Why Her? 

June 3, Viki, starring Seo Hyun Jin (You Are My Spring), Hwang In Yeop (The Sound of Magic, True Beauty)

The youngest partner at one of the nation’s most prestigious law offices, Oh Soo Jae has already proven she has what it takes to be one of the country’s best lawyers. Driven by her self-righteous principles and a never-ending desire to win, Soo Jae is well on her way to becoming one of TK Law Firm’s top attorneys. But when one of her cases takes an unexpected turn, Soo Jae is forced to watch as all of her hard work comes crumbling down around her. Demoted at work, Soo Jae is forced to take on the role of adjunct professor at a local law school. Determined to win back her position within the firm, Soo Jae does her best to settle into her new role but the sting of demotion still lingers. Only after meeting Gong Chan, a university student whose path frequently crosses with Soo Jae, does that sting begin to lessen. Despite carrying the burdens of a painful past, Gong Chan’s warm heart remains strong, especially as his affection for Soo Jae grows.

Obviously smitten with Soo Jae, Gong Chan stays by her side, even as she struggles to find a way back into the firm’s good graces. Will her determination and Gong Chan’s support be enough to restore her position, or will the powers that be continue to push her down?

Doctor Lawyer

June 3, Disney+, starring So Ji Sub (Terius Behind Me), Shin Sung Rok (Kairos), Im Soo Hyang (Woori the Virgin)

Han Yi Han was an  elite surgeon. He graduated at the top of the best medical school in South Korea and he specialized in two departments: general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery. One surgery changed his life. Han Yi Han believed he did well on that surgery, but the patient died. He then got his medical license revoked.

Four years later, Han Yi Han works as a lawyer, specializing in medical litigation. He also tries to uncover the truth behind the death of his former patient. For his trials, Han Yi Han defends victims and tries to punish those that commit medical malpractice and negligence. He works with a public prosecutor, who lost a family member and a lover due to the surgery Han Yi Han performed.

Cleaning Up

June 4, starring Yeom Jung Ah (SKY Castle), Jeon So Min (Show Window: The Queen’s House), Kim Jae Hwa (Good Manager)

Tells the story about the struggle cleaners at a security firm have as they try to create a new destiny for themselves after overhearing about insider trading.

To My Star 2: Our Untold Stories

June 5, Viki, starring Son Woo Hyun (To My Star), Kim Kang Min (School 2021)

After his career took a steady turn for the worse, one of South Korea’s brightest stars, Kang Seo Joon, was afraid he might never be happy again. But after a chance meeting brings the talented chef Han Ji Woo into his life, Seo Joon was certain his luck was about to change.

Despite their differences in personality, the chef and the celebrity found themselves unable to resist the other’s charms. Head-over-heels for each other, Seo Joon and Ji Woo believed they had finally found their happily ever after. But their happiness turns out to be short-lived when one of them disappears, leaving nothing but a note behind.

Lost without the other, will these two star-crossed lovers find a way back to each other, or has their fairy tale romance truly come to an end?

Link: Eat, Love, Die

June 6, Disney+, starring Yeo Jin Goo (Beyond Evil), Moon Ga Young (True Beauty)

A fantasy mystery drama about a man and woman who share the same emotional state.

Eun Gye Hoon is a chef who sets up a restaurant in the town where his twin sister went missing 20 years ago. He finds himself randomly experiencing emotions one day, spontaneously crying and laughing, and it turns out that they are the emotions of a woman named Noh Da Hyun.

Insider

June 8, starring Kang Ha Neul (When the Camellia Blooms), Lee Yoo Young (Dr. Brain)

Tells the story of a judicial trainee named Kim Yo Han. After going undercover for an investigation, Kim Yo Han experiences a crisis and ends up struggling to try to obtain a hand of cards that will change his fate as he gambles in prison. Kim Yo Han is prudent and always thinking a few moves ahead, and he keeps a poker face on. Although he gets into a dangerous situation when he becomes embroiled in an unexpected incident during the investigation, he’ll continue to fight to survive and manage to grow with his ability to turn a crisis into an opportunity.

Yumi’s Cells 2

June 10, Viki, starring Kim Go Eun (Yumi’s Cells), Park Jin Young (The Devil Judge)

Yumi matured through her relationship and breakup with Goo Woong, and she took on a new challenge after gaining the courage to do so from her co-worker Yoo Babi. The new season will depict the story of Yumi’s love and dreams.

New Normal Zine

June 10, starring Jung Hye Sung (Pegasus Market), Hwang Seon Eun (Welcome to Wedding Hell)

Cha Ji Min is a single woman who pursues a slow living lifestyle. She worked as a local news reporter for a current affairs magazine, but that magazine was shut down. She then starts work as an editor for digital magazine “New Normal Zine” under the same parent company.  

There, her new boss is Chief Editor Song Ro Ji. Cha Ji Min and Song Ro Ji are familiar with each other, as they started to work for the parent company in the same year. Song Ro Ji is a workaholic and totally different from Cha Ji Min. Now, Cha Ji Min tries to survive there.

(no trailers available at this time)

Jinxed At First

June 15, iQIYI (unconfirmed), starring Na In Woo (Cleaning Up), Seo Hyun (Private Lives)

It revolves around a man who has come to terms with his unlucky fate and a goddess who has jumped into the real world to break her curse. Gong Soo Kwang, a brewmaster who runs a craft beer store. He is full of passion in his heart, but he always manages to keep calm and collected. Also equipped with a serious demeanor, he is a charming man who is popular among women wherever he goes. Lee Seul Bi is the goddess of fortune who meets Gong Soo Kwang and fights her own fate.

Alchemy of Souls

June 18, Netflix, starring Lee Jae Wook (Do Do Sol Sol La La So), Jung So Min (Monthly Magazine Home), Hwang Min Hyun (Live On)

The fate of these people become twisted due to “hwanhonsool” (the soul of the dead return to the living).

In the country of Daeho, Jang Wook comes from the noble Jang family. He holds an unpleasant secret about his birth, which people all around the country talk about. He’s a troublemaker. Jang Wook happens to meet Deok Yi. She is an elite warrior, but her soul is trapped in a physically weak body. She becomes Jang Wook’s servant, but she also secretly teaches him how to fight.

Seo Yool comes from the noble Seo family. He seems perfect with good appearance, intelligence, and strong martial arts skills. Go Won is the crown prince of Daeho. He hopes to become a generous king.

Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area

June 24, Netflix, starring Yoo Ji Tae (Mad Dog), Kim Yoo Jin (Miss Ma, Nemesis)

Thieves overtake the mint of a unified Korea. With hostages trapped inside, the police must stop them — as well as the shadowy mastermind behind it all. 

Ultimate Weapon Alice

June 24, starring Park Se Wan (Never Twice), Song Geon Hee (Missing: The Other Side)

A youth action romance about the bloody high school lives of mysterious transfer student and killer Gyeo Wool and traumatized high school student Yeo Reum as they meet and get chased down by a criminal organization.

(no trailer available yet)

The Witch Is Alive

June 25, starring Lee Yoo Ri (Spring Turns to Spring), Lee Min Young (Love ft. Marriage and Divorce), Yoon So Yi (The Goddess of Revenge)

Three friends from different backgrounds each encounter enemies they’d like to kill. 

Gong Ma Ri is a housewife who has a satisfying life with her husband and daughter. When she discovers her spouse’s affair, she seeks an alternate method of ending her marriage.

Chae Hee Soo is the daughter-in-law in a chaebol family. Her married life isn’t going well. Not only must she tend to her mother-in-law who ails physically and suffers from Alzheimer’s, she must also endure her husband’s cold indifference toward her as she struggles to become pregnant. One day, Hee Soo’s mother-in-law makes her a terrifying yet tempting offer.

Yang Jin A’s husband is a bad person. Upon his death, Jin A collects a significant sum from his life insurance policy. With that money, she is able to enjoy a lifestyle she was unaccustomed to in the past.  Instead, she keeps a watchful eye over her windfall, anxiously fearing that someone will take it from her.

Cafe Minamdang

June 27, Netflix, starring Seo In Gook (Pipeline), Oh Yeon Seo (Mad for Each Other)

Follows the mysterious events experienced by the former profiler Han Joon and his colleagues. It will tell the story of a suspicious café named Minamdang and the clients that visit the café.

(no trailer available yet)

Extraordinary Attorney Woo

June 29, Netflix, starring Park Eun Bin (The King’s Affection), Kang Tae Oh (Doom at Your Service)

About a 27-year-old lawyer with Asperger’s syndrome. Due to her high IQ of 164, impressive memory, and creative thought process, the brilliant Woo Young Woo graduated at the top of her class from the prestigious Seoul National University for both college and law school. However, she still finds herself struggling when it comes to social interactions.

(no trailer available yet)

Dear.M

June (rumored), Viki, starring Park Hye Su (Introverted Boss, Age of Youth), Jeong Jae Hyun (NCT)

Campus life at Seoyeon University has always been relatively peaceful, but when an anonymous post pops up on the school’s online community, the entire campus is flipped upside down. Posted by a mysterious individual, known only as “M”, the entire school is abuzz with curiosity and excitement. Determined to uncover the identity of the mysterious “M”, students all across the campus set out to uncover the truth. But the task will prove to be anything but easy.

Second year student in the Business Administration Department, Ma Joo Ah has taken a keen interest in uncovering the identity of “M”. While she has no interest in pursuing either her own dreams, nor any sort of romantic relationship, she does have a strong desire to solve the school’s current mystery. Alongside her is Cha Min Ho, a second year student in the Computer Science Department, and Joo A’s oldest friend. Together with Economics major Seo Ji Min and Business Administration major Park Ha Neul, the four are determined to discover “M”’s true identity and bring an end to this mystery, once and for all.

As their journey towards the truth progresses, the four friends find themselves in an ever-changing tangle of morphing relationships and budding romances. With emotions high and hearts aflutter, uncovering the identity of “M” has never been more complicated. Will the friends be able to solve this mystery or will “M”’s true identity remain hidden forever?

Let us know what you’ll be watching, drama fans! Drop down in the comments below to join in the discussion.

The Fangirls

Dramas with a Side of Kimchi