Top 10 Highly Anticipated K-Dramas in 2024

As we say goodbye to 2023, K-drama fans are eagerly looking forward to a fantastic lineup of series coming in 2024. Several K-dramas are set to debut in the first week of the new year, so get ready for a wide variety of must-see shows.

Excitement is building for the return of favorites like Squid Game, All of Us Are Dead, Moving, and more. The 2024 list of K-dramas is packed with plenty to keep fans entertained all year long. The strong finish to 2023 with My Demon, Gyeongseong Creature, and popular series like Vigilante has set the stage for what's to come. Gyeongseong Creature and Death's Game are both scheduled to return in the first week of the year.

In 2024, the genre pool is brimming with exciting offerings, from an action crime-comedy featuring Ahn Bo-hyun to a historical K-drama starring a Hospital Playlist actor. With such a well-packed list, there are several highly anticipated K-dramas that stand out. Stay tuned for the scoop on the top 2024 K-dramas, including their storylines and release dates.

10. Mr. Plankton

Set to be released in 2024, Mr. Plankton is an upcoming K-drama that is currently in development. While specific details are still scarce, the casting of its lead actors and the theme of being outcasts has generated excitement among fans. Similar to plankton, the character Hae-jo (played by Woo Do-hwan) is portrayed as an outcast who is unloved due to not knowing his father's identity.

One day, he receives life-altering news and sets out to find the person connected to it. Meanwhile, Jo Jae-mi (played by Lee Yoo-i) has always dreamed of having a large family and is preparing to marry into the Eo family, who are prominent in the food industry. However, the family elders are not pleased with the match, but agree to it when their son claims that Jae-mi is expecting. On the day of the wedding, Jae-mi goes missing and begins a journey with Hae-jo.

Release date: 2024

9. Everything Will Come True

Following his successful performance in Black Knight, actor Kim Woo-bin is poised to make a comeback in a Netflix K-drama in 2024. He will be starring alongside Everything Will Come True actress Bae Suzy in a romantic comedy with a unique twist. Woo will portray the character of Genie, a spirit that emerges from a lamp, exhibiting various conflicting and evolving emotions.

Ga-young, a woman devoid of emotion, unexpectedly summons a genie from his lamp and is granted three wishes. Everything Will Come True, a highly anticipated K-drama set for release in 2024, marks the reunion of two actors who previously starred together in Uncontrollably Fond.

8. A Killer Paradox

The upcoming 2024 K-drama is sure to captivate fans who enjoy a blend of mystery and comedy. The confirmed cast includes Parasite actor Choi Woo-shik, My Liberation Notes Son Suk-ku, and Lee Hee-joon.

A Killer Paradox is based on a webtoon and centers around Lee Tang (Choi), an average college student who discovers he has the ability to detect evil people after accidentally killing a serial killer. His life takes a dark turn when Detective Jang Nan-gam (Son) starts pursuing him for the murder, leading to an intense game of cat and mouse. Former detective Song Chon (Lee) is also hunting Lee Tang, resulting in never-ending chase. The release date for the movie is set for February 9, 2024.

7. Sejak: Charmed Deceit

Jo Jung-suk, beloved by Hospital Playlist fans, may not be making a return to the medical K-drama, but fans can look forward to seeing him in a new K-drama. Sejak: Charmed Deceit, also known as Captivating the King, tells the story of Lee In (Jo), a crown prince who idolizes his older brother, the king. Despite his vow of loyalty, when he is captured, the king's feelings towards him take a drastic turn.

Lee In soon becomes enamored by a buduk player named Kang Hee-soo (Shin Sae-kyeong). As Lee In ascends to kingship and garners respect and power, he remains internally haunted by heartbreak. Unbeknownst to him, Hee-soo had developed feelings for him while she was a player. In a shocking turn of events, she transforms into a vengeful spy, determined to seek revenge against Lee In.

Release date: January 21, 2024

6. The Bequethed

Uncovering the grim truth of her family, Yoon Seo-ha (Kim Hyun-joo) finds herself in the midst of unusual events after inheriting her uncle’s gravesite. The Bequest is a chilling, enigmatic tale that is sure to captivate fans of thrillers.

Seo-ha's confusion deepens with the involvement of her step-brother, Kim Young-ho (Ryoo Kyung-soo), which draws the attention of detective Choi Sung-joon (Park Hee-soon) who suspects a connection to the family gravesite. Meanwhile, he contends with a strained relationship with the chief of the detective squad stemming from a previous case.

Scheduled release date: January 19, 2024

5. Long Time No Sex (LTNS)

The 2024 K-drama title is captivating on its own. In recent times, K-dramas have been pushing boundaries with more daring and sexually charged storylines, such as Love and Leashes and Hit the Spot. Now, Long Time No Sex or LTNS joins the lineup.

Woo-jin (Esom) is a determined woman with a kind and compassionate side. After five years of marriage to Samuel (Ahn Jae-hong), the couple is childless. Woo-jin works at a hotel, while Samuel, previously a successful college graduate climbing the corporate ladder, has become a taxi driver due to mental health issues.

Feeling unfulfilled in their lives, Woo-jin uncovers the truth about a couple they know, prompting her and Samuel to begin following them to expose their secrets and ultimately resort to blackmail. Through this experience, the couple gains insights into their own relationship.

Release date: January 19, 2024

4. A Shop For Killers

K-dramas have started to create more second seasons, as well as spinoffs. Fans of A Killer’s Shopping List will recognize A Shop For Killers, which is a 2024 K-drama spinoff. The show follows Jung Ji-an (played by Kim Hye-jun) who was orphaned after her mother's murder and her father's suicide. Raised by her uncle Jung Jin-man (played by Lee Dong-wook), Ji-an always felt that something was not right about the shopping mall her uncle owned.

When she’s at college, she’s informed that her uncle has died. She goes back home and learns the truth behind the shopping mall, its purpose, and its customers.

Release date: January 17, 2024

3. Flex X Cop

Ahn Bo-hyun is set to take on a new crime-focused K-drama in 2024 titled Flex X Cop. In this series, he portrays Jin Yi-soo, a playful and carefree third-generation chaebol heir who transforms into a determined detective on a mission to thwart criminals, leveraging his affluence, intellect, and charisma.

Flex X Cop documents his partnership with Detective Lee Kang-hyun (portrayed by Park Ji-hyun), a seasoned member of the Violent Crimes unit committed to fighting crime. Despite their initial friction, she is forced to team up with him due to unforeseen circumstances.

Scheduled release date: January 26, 2024

Amazon Prime Video is set to release the 2024 K-drama Marry My Husband, starring Park Min-young. The actress underwent weight loss to accurately portray her leading character, Kang Ji-won, in this adaptation of a popular webtoon. Marry My Husband is a poignant romance revenge K-drama that is sure to captivate audiences.

Ji-won has dedicated herself to pleasing her husband and in-laws, only to be constantly disregarded. Her husband is selfish, unemployed, and buried in debt. To make matters worse, she receives a devastating cancer diagnosis. The blows keep coming when she uncovers her husband's affair with her best friend.

On the same day she makes the discovery, she meets her demise at the hands of those she unwittingly crosses paths with. But her fate takes a different turn when instead of death, she is granted a chance for redemption. Awakening in the past, when she and her husband were only engaged, Ji-won is determined to alter her destiny armed with the knowledge of her future. Intentionally, she sets out to bring her best friend and husband together and carve out her own path to joy. In the midst of it all, Yoo Ji-hyeok (portrayed by Na In-woo), Ji-won's colleague, starts to acknowledge his true feelings for her. The film is set to be released on January 1, 2024.

1. Doctor Slump

Two individuals with a shared history found themselves reunited during the most challenging phase of their lives. Yeo Jung-woo (Park Hyung-sik) had achieved success through his academic prowess, attending a prestigious medical school, and establishing himself as a skilled plastic surgeon. However, a perplexing medical mishap led to a downward spiral in his life.

Nam Ha-neul, portrayed by Park Shin-hye, is renowned for her hard work and dedication to her studies. As an anesthesiologist consumed by her work, she discovers her own unhappiness and desires a shift. In their pivotal moments, Ha-neul and Jung-woo find solace in each other and kindle a romance.

Scheduled release: January 27, 2024

Read more TV & Movies news here, K-drama content here, and Dexerto’s best 2023 K-dramas here.

Editor's P/S

As a passionate K-drama fan, I am thrilled about the upcoming lineup of shows in 2024. The variety of genres and the return of popular series like "Squid Game" and "All of Us Are Dead" have me eagerly anticipating the new year. The casting of talented actors and the intriguing storylines of dramas like "Mr. Plankton," "Everything Will Come True," and "A Killer Paradox" have only heightened my excitement. I can't wait to immerse myself in these captivating worlds and follow the journeys of the characters.

The diversity of the upcoming K-dramas is particularly exciting. From action crime-comedies to historical dramas, there is something for everyone. I am especially looking forward to "Mr. Plankton," which explores themes of identity and belonging, and "Everything Will Come True," which promises a unique blend of romance and fantasy. The mystery and suspense of "A Killer Paradox" also have me intrigued, and I can't wait to see how the story unfolds. Overall, 2024 is shaping up to be an incredible year for K-drama fans, and I can't wait to see what these highly anticipated shows have in store.