The end of the year is coming at us with a BANG, drama fans! Some highly anticipated dramas, like Island and Connect, will finally premiere, but there are plenty of other dramas to choose from if high-octane deserted island thrillers or mysterious forced organ donor connections aren’t your thing. Come see how you’ll be filling your December drama time!
DISCLAIMER: All information has been obtained through the fabulous MyDramaList.com. As we all know, though, there are sporting events and other schedule-disrupters that may affect the information below. Stay tuned to our weekly drama teaser posts for the most up-to-date information.
Recipe for Farewell
December 1, starring Han Seok Kyu (Watcher), Kim Seo Hyung (Mine)
Chang Rae is in his 40’s. He works as a translator and a humanities instructor. His wife suffers from terminal bowel cancer. She also has difficulties eating, because of digestive problem. She asks Chang Rae to cook for her everyday, even though the only thing he knows how to make is ramen. Chang Rae begins to cook for his wife and she eats little bits of his food, which he cooks with love and care.
Oh! My Assistant
December 1, Viki, starring Song Seung Hyun (Detective Alice 2), Ko Chan Bin (Love Revolution)
Seon Ho is an artist who draws adult webtoons. It started as an easy way to make money, but it’s caused some unexpected side effects: he hasn’t been aroused for over two years! Exhausted, he hires an assistant. It’s just that he didn’t expect him to be so cute! Mu Yeong is clean, talented, and apparently loaded, so… why does he want to work under Seon Ho?
Turns out, Mu Yeong is Seon Ho’s number one fan…
Connect
December 7, Hulu, starring Jung Hae In (DP), Go Kyung Po (Love in Contract), Kim Hye Joon (Inspector Koo)
A work that depicts the mysterious story of a man who has been deprived of a part of his body by organ hunters and becomes ‘connected’ with a person who has received an organ transplant.
Unlock My Boss
December 7, Viki, starring Chae Jong Hyeop (Love All Play), Park Sung Woong (Rugal), Seo Eun Soo (Missing: The Other Side)
The 39-year-old Seon Ju, a genius CEO of a large corporation who accidentally died and became a smartphone, and In Seong, a 29-year-old job seeker who accidentally picked up the smartphone, work together to find the killer.
Work Later, Drink Now (season 2)
December 9, starring Lee Sun Bin (Work Later, Drink Now), Han Sun Hwa (Why Her?), Jung Eung Ji (Blind), Choi Si Wan (Love is for Suckers)
It’s a sequel. That’s all anyone knows. Though the trailer seems to indicate there will be hiking and a bearded Choi Siwon, so there’s that.
The Forbidden Marriage
December 9, KOCOWA, starring Kim Young Dae (Why Her?), Park Ju Hyun (Love All Play), Kim Woo Seok (Military Prosecutor Doberman)
Lee Heon is the king of Joseon. 7 years ago, when he was a crown prince, his beloved wife died. To this day, he has not been able to get over her death. For the past 7 years, the royal family and government members have tried to get King Lee Heon remarried without success. The nation has also implemented a geumhonryung edict, which is a ban on all single women marrying during this time when the king has not married. People are furious over the marriage ban. One day, King Lee Heon hears of a woman named Ye So Rang, who claims the spirit of the king’s late wife exists within the royal palace.
Meanwhile, Ye So Rang is a swindler and claims to interpret martial harmony signs. She is arrested and jailed where Officer Lee Shin Won works. To get out of her predicament, she pretends to be possessed by a spirit in front of Lee Shin Won. During her ruse, she mentions that the spirit of King Lee Heon’s late wife exists within the royal palace. She is then brought in front of the king and he asks her if she can really see his late wife’s spirit. To survive, Ye So Rang acts like her body is possessed by the king’s late wife. Ye So Rang’s lies get bigger and more audacious.
Money Heist: Korea – Joint Economic Area pt 2
December 9, Netflix, starring Yoo Ji Tae, Park Hae Soo, Jeon Jong Seo, Lee Won Jong, Kim Ji Hoon, Jang Yoon Ju
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.
Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow
December 10, Netflix, starring Lee Jae Wook, GO Yoon Jung, Hwang Min Hyun, Shin Seung Ho, Yoo Joon Sang, Oh Na Ra
Jang Uk returns from death, and 3 years later, the story of the mages unfolds anew.
Red Balloon
December 17, starring Seo Ji Hye (Adamas), Lee Sung Jae (Diary of a Prosecutor), Lee Sang Woo (Uncle), Hong Soo Hyun (Police University), Jung Yoo Min (Red Shoes)
A story of four people attempting to quench their desires and appease their heartbreaks.
Jo Eun Gang wants to become a school teacher, but she has failed to pass her teaching examination. She now works as a private tutor. She appears calm, but she holds something hot within her heart. She is a person who will do anything to get what she wants.
Ji Nam Cheol comes from a poor family, but he is married to a woman from a rich family. He runs a business that is actually owned by his father-in-law. Ji Nam Cheol is powerless at the company.
Han Ba Da is a married woman. She works as a jewelry designer. Right before her wedding, her parents went bankrupt. She was about to give up on her wedding, but her fiance persuaded her to marry him. Her life is not easy due to her mother-in-law.
Go Cha Won works as a dermatologist. He became a doctor as his parents expected and is married to Han Ba Da. He doesn’t like his job and he knows his wife is having a hard time due to his mother, but he doesn’t know what to do. His brother-in-law is Ji Nam Cheol.
Trolley
December 19, starring Kim Hyun Joo (Hellbound), Park Hee Soon (A Model Family), Kim Mu Yeol (Juvenile Justice)
“Trolley” will tell the story of a lawmaker’s wife who hides her past. It will showcase the dilemma and struggles that couples face as their secret is revealed to the world.
(No trailers available at this time.)
Casino
December 21, Disney+, starring Choi Min Shik (Oldboy), Son Seok Koo (My Liberation Notes), Lee Dong Hwi (Glitch), Ryu Hyun Kyung (Cheer Up), Heo Sung Tae (Insider)
A crime-action drama about a casino king who is taking risks and trying to get back into the game.
Interests of Love
December 21, starring Yoo Yeon Seok (Narco-Saints), Moon Ga Young (Link: Eat, Love, Kill), Geum Sae Rok (Youth of May), Jung Ga Ram (Love Alarm)
Takes place at Nara Bank’s Yeongpo branch, which is celebrating the 99th anniversary of its foundation. The story focuses on the scandalous office romance between the characters Ha Sang Soo, Ahn Soo Young, Park Mi Kyung, and Jung Jong Hyun.
Ha Sang Soo is the senior head of the comprehensive consultation team at Nara Bank’s Yeongpo branch. Ha Sang Soo has had this position for three years already, and he is a handsome, intelligent, and sturdy person who will not waver in the face of life’s difficulties. Although he is an upright character, Ha Sang Soo is not cold or too formal but rather warm hearted with a humorous side. Not to mention, he has an athletic form fit for a national athlete rather than a bank employee. He entered his job as the top employee from Nara Bank’s training center, so he is very popular but also the source of envy for many others.
Ahn Soo Young is a fourth-year chief bank teller at Nara Bank’s Yeongpo branch. Known as the goddess of Yeongpo branch, she possesses gorgeous looks and a sweet voice. She started off as a part-time teller and is now a fourth-year chief, but she seems to be forever stuck at that level.
Island
December 30, Amazon Prime, starring Kim Nam Gil (Through the Darkness), Lee Da Hee (Love is for Suckers), Cha Eun Woo (True Beauty), Sung Joon (Casting a Spell to You)
Won Mi Ho is the only daughter of her father who runs Daehan Group. Her arrogant and selfish attitude causes her to make a big mistake that eventually angers her father into banishing her to Jeju island. There, she is assigned to work as a high school ethics teacher. Unbeknownst to her, the island is where evil roams free. She meets other individuals on the island and together, the characters join forces to live.
The Glory
December ?, Netflix, starring Song Hye Kyo (Now We Are Breaking Up), Lee Do Hyun (Melancholia), Im Jo Yeon (Rose Mansion), Park Sung Hoon (Into the Ring), Yeom Hye Ran (The Uncanny Counter), Jung Sung Il (Our Blues)
It’s a sad revenge story that begins with a high school student who dreamed of becoming an architect. However, she had to drop out of school after suffering from brutal school violence. Years later, the perpetrator gets married and has a kid. Once the kid is in elementary school, the former victim becomes their homeroom teacher and starts her thorough revenge towards the perpetrators and bystanders of her bullying days.
Missing: The Other Side (season 2)
December ?, starring Go Soo (Missing: The Other Side), Heo Joon Ho (Why Her?), Ahn So Hee (Missing: The Other Side)
3 Gongdan is a village where missing deceased people, including Kang Eun Sil and Oh Il Yong, stay. Meanwhile, Kim Wook, Jang Pan Seok, Lee Jong A, and Detective Shin Joon Ho try to find the bodies of missing people and chase after the truth behind their deaths.
Which dramas are calling your name, dramas fans? I can tell you I’ve got Island and Missing: The Other Side on my list! Drop down in the comments below and share with us!
The Fangirls
Dramas with a Side of Kimchi