January 2026 K-Dramas: New Shows, Top Casts, and Fresh Storylines

The upcoming year is a blessing in disguise for K-drama enthusiasts as it is going to lead with new exhilarating and very talented casts. The first month of the year 2026 is going to be full of surprises, with eight incredible series highlights on different Korean broadcasting stations and Netflix too. Keep reading to find out all about the upcoming shows this month.

“The Judge Returns” (판사 이한영)

Cast: Ji Sung, Park Hee Soon, Won Jin Ah

Premiere: January 2

Schedule: MBC, every Friday and Saturday, KST 9:40 p.m. | Viki

The storyline revolves around Judge Lee Han Young (Ji Sung), who is stuck in a corrupt system run by a huge law firm. He finds himself mysteriously going back in time to ten years ago and taking advantage of the rare opportunity to put right his past mistakes and fight for justice against the mighty wrongdoers.

“To My Beloved Thief” (은애하는 도적님아)

Cast: Nam Ji Hyun, Moon Sang Min, Hong Min Ki, Han So Eun

Premiere: January 3

Schedule: KBS2, every Saturday and Sunday, KST 9:20 p.m. | Viki

The plot of this historical fantasy revolves around Hong Eun Jo (Nam Ji Hyun), who mistakenly gets turned into the notorious thief Gil Dong. While a chasing Yi Yeol (Moon Sang Min), a Joseon prince, accidentally changes soul with her, which leads to comical and dramatic situations due to the clash of identities.

“Spring Fever” (스프링 피버)

Cast: Ahn Bo Hyun, Lee Joo Bin, Cha Seo Won, Cho Jun Young, Lee Jae In

Premiere: January 5

Schedule: tvN, every Monday and Tuesday, KST 8:50 p.m.

A romantic comedy with Yoon Bom (Lee Joo Bin), a shy and reserved high school teacher and Sun Jae Gyu (Ahn Bo Hyun), whose lively character gradually melts her icily emotional heart.

“Can This Love Be Translated?” (이 사랑 통역 되나요?)

Cast: Kim Seon Ho, Go Youn Jung, Fukushi Sota

Premiere: January 16

Schedule: Netflix, all episodes available at 5 p.m. KST

The narrative delves into the unanticipated love story of the interpreter Joo Ho Jin (Kim Seon Ho) and the leading star Cha Mu Hee (Go Youn Jung), whose character's involvement in the profession is tested and enriched personally.

“No Tail to Tell” (오늘부터 인간입니다만)

Cast: Kim Hye Yoon, Lomon

Premiere: January 16

Schedule: Fridays and Saturdays, 9:50 p.m. KST on SBS

A fantasy love story revolves around Eun Ho (Kim Hye Yoon), a gumiho of the Gen Z age refusing to accept her transformation to a human, and a top-notch footballer Kang Si Yeol (Lomon) as they meet and discover each other in an unexpected way in aspects of their lives that need growth.

“Undercover Miss Hong” (언더커버 미쓰홍)

Cast: Park Shin Hye, Ko Kyung Pyo, Ha Yun Kyung, Cho Han Gyul, Yuna (ITZY)

Premiere: January 17

Schedule: Saturdays and Sundays, 9:10 p.m. KST on tvN

The late 90s are the backdrop for the series where Hong Geum Bo (Park Shin Hye) is depicted as a finance officer in her 30s. To uncover the shady dealings, she sneaks in as a 20-year-old neophyte at a brokerage firm, creating an atmosphere of humor and tension simultaneously.

“Positively Yours” (아기가 생겼어요)

Cast: Choi Jin Hyuk, Oh Yeon Seo, Hong Jong Hyun, Dasom

Premiere: January 17

Schedule: Saturdays and Sundays, 10:30 p.m. KST on Channel A | Available on Viki

Inspired by a bestselling webtoon, the series takes on the repercussions of a one-night stand between Kang Du Jun (Choi Jin Hyuk) and Jang Hui Won (Oh Yeon Seo). The pair had cross-examined themselves thus swore no marriage but the situation around them is challenging their convictions.

“Recipe for Love” (사랑을 처방해 드립니다)

Cast: Jin Se Yeon, Park Ki Woong

Premiere: January 31

Schedule: Saturdays and Sundays, 8 p.m. KST on KBS2

Two families that have been enemies for generations start to heal their rift as the past wrongs are put to rest. The passage of time will take away discord, and people will get united through the establishment of new kinship.

After years of quarrels, two families slowly start to mend their relationship as they manage to clear the air of old resenting. Eventually, the struggle is replaced by harmony thus bonding the two families.

Streaming & Broadcast Notes: The majority of the shows can be found on streaming platforms such as Viki or Netflix, which allows the world to watch the January K-drama together with the international audience.