Russian news outlet Lenta.ru published a list of the top 20 South Korean television series released in 2026 on Thursday, September 11. The selection highlights romantic comedies, crime detective stories, and psychological thrillers as the primary trends defining the television season in South Korea.
Every year, South Korea releases numerous original projects spanning various genres, ranging from urban fantasy to social and legal dramas that address issues within South Korean society.
Legal Fantasy and Supernatural Cases
The selection features the 16-episode legal fantasy series Ghost Lawyer, known in Korean as Sin Irang beopryulsamuso. Directed across episodes lasting one hour and 10 minutes, the show stars Yoo Yeon-seok, Esom, and Kim Kyung-nam, holding a rating of 8.1 on Kinopoisk and 7.6 on IMDb.
The narrative follows Shin I-rang, played by Yoo Yeon-seok, a hereditary lawyer who struggles to find employment at any firm because his late prosecutor father damaged the family reputation by taking bribes and using drugs. Desperate for a workspace, I-rang rents an office formerly occupied by a shaman, only to begin seeing ghosts on his first day who request his assistance to settle unresolved business from their lives, turning him into an attorney for spirits.
Virtual Dating and Office Romances
Another highlighted project is the 10-episode romantic comedy Boyfriend on Request, titled Wolgannamchin in Korean. Running for one hour per episode, the series stars Jisoo, also known as Kim Ji-soo, alongside Seo In-guk, Yoo In-na, and Gong Min-jung, scoring 7.8 on Kinopoisk and 7.4 on IMDb.
The story focuses on web-comic producer Seo Mi-rae, played by Kim Ji-soo, a workaholic whose demanding schedule leaves no time for personal relationships. Her workplace dynamic grows tense with the arrival of competing producer Park Kyung-nam, played by Seo In-guk, a highly effective but emotionally detached colleague. Mi-rae later tests a virtual dating simulator featuring ideal partners, only to find that the most intriguing virtual male character suspiciously resembles Kyung-nam.
The list includes the 12-episode romantic comedy Spring Fever, titled Seupeuring pibeo in Korean. Featuring episodes lasting one hour and 10 minutes, the drama stars Ahn Bo-hyun and Lee Joo-bin, carrying ratings of 7.7 on Kinopoisk and 7.3 on IMDb. Schoolteacher Yoon Bom, played by Lee Joo-bin, transfers from Seoul to a provincial school following a scandal and vows to avoid social ties, but her resolve is tested when she meets Seon Jae-gyu, played by Ahn Bo-hyun, the uncle of a student whom locals widely suspect of being a criminal.
Military Culinary Quests and Time Travel
Sci-fi comedy Military Chef Becomes a Legend, titled Chwisabyeong jeonseoli doeda, spans 12 episodes of one hour and 10 minutes each. Starring Park Ji-hoon, Yoon Kyung-ho, Han Dong-hee, and Lee Hong-nae, with Lee Sang-yi portraying company commander Hwang Seok-ho, the show holds ratings of 8.2 on Kinopoisk and 8.1 on IMDb.
Top recruit Kang Seong-jae, played by Park Ji-hoon, is diagnosed with depression and gaming addiction, prompting commander Hwang Seok-ho to reassign him to the kitchen of a small coastal outpost in Ganrim. Seong-jae begins seeing an interactive holographic interface resembling a video game screen, where a voice instructs him to complete culinary tasks along the Path of the Chef to become a legendary cook.
The 14-episode fantasy rom-com Brave New World, titled Meotjin sinsegye in Korean, runs for one hour and 10 minutes per episode. Starring Lim Ji-yeon, Heo Nam-jun, Jang Seung-jo, Lee Se-hee, and Chae So-an, it scored 8.0 on Kinopoisk and 7.9 on IMDb.
Joseon era queen consort Kang Dan-shim, played by Lim Ji-yeon, is executed for treason and an attempted attack on a prince between the 14th and 19th centuries. A rare solar eclipse during her execution transfers her soul into modern actress Shin So-ri in 2026, where she works as a stunt double in Seoul and collides with corporate heir Cha Se-gye, played by Heo Nam-jun, whose business competitors seek to portray him as a villain.
Royal Melodrama and High School Horror
Melodrama 21st Century Prince's Wife, titled 21segi daegun buin in Korean, consists of 12 episodes running one hour and 10 minutes each. Starring Lee Ji-eun, Byeon Woo-seok, Steve Noh, Gong Seung-yeon, and Yoo Su-bin, the project holds ratings of 8.3 on Kinopoisk and 7.9 on IMDb.
Set in an alternative modern South Korea governed by a constitutional monarchy, Prince Lee Ahn, played by Byeon Woo-seok, serves as regent to a young king following the monarch's father's tragic death. Wealthy business executive Seo Hee-joo, played by Lee Ji-eun, attends the king's eighth birthday party and, facing pressure from her father to marry despite her commoner background, decides to seduce her former university classmate Prince Lee Ahn.
The eight-episode horror series Wish Upon Your Death, titled Girigo in Korean, features 45-minute episodes. Starring Jeon So-yeon, Kang Mi-na, Baek Seong-ho, Hyun Woo-seok, and Lee Hyo-jae, the series holds matching 7.0 ratings on Kinopoisk and IMDb.
Sorin High School student Choi Hyun-wook, played by Lee Hyo-jae, uses a mysterious wish-granting mobile app to secure a top score on a math exam by holding a paper with his name and birth date on video. After receiving his grade, a countdown timer appears on his phone accompanied by terrifying apparitions, driving him to suicide before the timer spreads to his friends' smartphones.
High Society Murders and Defector Spies
Eight-episode detective thriller The Art of Sarah, titled Reidi Dua in Korean, runs for 45 minutes per episode. Starring Shin Hye-sun, Lee Joon-hyuk, Kim Jae-won, and Jung Da-bin, the series earned ratings of 7.9 on Kinopoisk and 7.3 on IMDb.
Luxury accessory executive Sarah Kim, played by Shin Hye-sun, leads a high-profile life in Seoul's fashion industry while maintaining total privacy regarding her background. When a female body found after a party is identified as Sarah Kim, Detective Park Mu-gyeong, played by Lee Joon-hyuk, investigates the death, exposing systemic corruption, manipulation, and secrets within high society.
Crime comedy Manager Kim, titled Kim bujang in Korean, runs for 10 episodes at one hour and five minutes each. Starring So Ji-sub, Choi Dae-hoon, Yoon Kyung-ho, Joo Sang-wook, and Seo Soo-min, the show holds ratings of 7.9 on Kinopoisk and 7.6 on IMDb. Office clerk Kim Do-hyun, played by So Ji-sub, searches for his missing teenage daughter Min-ji, played by Seo Soo-min, forcing him to draw upon his secret past as a former elite North Korean spy who defected to South Korea, while evading intelligence agents from both nations and a hostile construction executive.
Cinema Dreams and Multilingual Reality Shows
The 12-episode romantic comedy Dreaming of You, titled Geudaeege deurim in Korean, features one-hour-and-10-minute episodes. Starring Hwang In-youp, Lee Hye-ri, Lee Yeol-eum, and Baek Song-chul, the show holds ratings of 7.9 on Kinopoisk and 7.4 on IMDb.
High school sweethearts Woo Soo-bin, played by Hwang In-youp, and Joo Yi-jae, played by Lee Hye-ri, shared a passion for filmmaking before a painful breakup led Soo-bin to study abroad and direct a successful movie. Soo-bin eventually returns to South Korea to reconnect with Yi-jae, who works as a television host for a low-rated program, to fulfill her long-held dream of creating a film together.
The 12-episode romantic comedy Can This Love Be Translated?, titled I sarang tongyeok doenayo? in Korean, runs for one hour and 10 minutes per episode. Starring Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung, and Sota Fukushi, the series scored 8.1 on Kinopoisk and 7.9 on IMDb.
After rising to global fame, actress Cha Moo-hee, played by Go Youn-jung, joins the reality show Romantic Trip alongside Japanese actor Hiro Kurosawa, played by Sota Fukushi. Multilingual interpreter Joo Ho-jin, played by Kim Seon-ho, who previously helped Moo-hee handle a situation involving her Japanese ex-boyfriend, is hired to translate, though his mastery of six languages fails to bridge their personality clashes.
Unexpected Pregnancy and Cold Case Investigations
Romantic comedy Undeniably Yours, titled Agiga saenggyeosseoyo in Korean, consists of 12 episodes lasting one hour and 10 minutes each. Starring Choi Jin-hyuk and Oh Yeon-seo, the show earned ratings of 7.3 on Kinopoisk and 6.8 on IMDb.
Alcohol company manager Jang Hwi-won, played by Oh Yeon-seo, rejected marriage and children due to childhood criticism from her mother, while financial heir Kang Doo-joon, played by Choi Jin-hyuk, avoids relationships due to trauma from his brother's death. A single night together results in an unexpected pregnancy, prompting both to re-evaluate their lives and build a relationship.
Detective thriller Scarecrow, titled Heosuabi in Korean, runs for 12 episodes of one hour each. Starring Park Hae-soo, Lee Hee-joon, Kwak Sun-young, and Song Geon-hee, the drama holds matching 8.2 ratings on Kinopoisk and IMDb.
The story spans two timelines, beginning in 1988 when Detective Kang Tae-joo, played by Park Hae-soo, is demoted to Gangseong for arresting an official's nephew and teams up with prosecutor Cha Shi-yeon, played by Lee Hee-joon, to catch a serial killer disguised as a scarecrow on rural roads. In 2019, 30 years later, the retired detective works as a teacher when the prime suspect is apprehended without direct evidence and demands to speak only with Tae-joo.
Anti-Bullying Operations and Insurance Scams
Action dramedy Let That Be a Lesson to You, titled Chamgyoyuk in Korean, features 10 episodes of one hour each. Starring Kim Mu-yeol, Lee Sung-min, Jin Ki-joo, and Pyo Ji-hoon, the series leads the ratings with 8.6 on Kinopoisk and 8.4 on IMDb.
Former special forces operative Na Hwa-jin, played by Kim Mu-yeol, leads the Bureau of Operational Supervision of Education to combat school violence in South Korea. Granted unrestricted authority, Hwa-jin and his team employ both verbal discipline and physical force to protect students from bullies and enforce respect for educators.
Detective thriller Siren, titled Seiren in Korean, consists of 12 episodes running one hour each. Starring Park Min-young, Wi Ha-joon, and Kim Jung-hyun, the show earned ratings of 7.5 on Kinopoisk and 6.6 on IMDb.
Insurance fraud investigator Cha Woo-seok, played by Wi Ha-joon, investigates an auction house scheme after his informant dies before delivering evidence. Woo-seok targets chief auctioneer Han Seol-ah, played by Park Min-young, whose previous male partners all died under mysterious circumstances shortly after obtaining life insurance policies.
Y2K Superpowers and Corporate Ethics
Sci-fi comedy Super Freaks, titled Deo wondeopulseu in Korean, runs for eight episodes of one hour and five minutes each. Starring Park Eun-bin, Cha Eun-woo, Choi Dae-hoon, and Im Seong-jae, with Song Hyun-joo as Dr. Ha Won-do, the show holds ratings of 8.0 on Kinopoisk and 7.6 on IMDb.
Set in 1999 ahead of the millennium, 28-year-old Eun Chae-ni, played by Park Eun-bin, suffers from severe heart disease and fakes her own kidnapping to extort money from her wealthy grandmother. When her heart stops during the video recording, her accomplices discard her body at a toxic waste dump, where she survives and gains the ability to teleport whenever her heart rate spikes, joining her empowered friends to fight Dr. Ha Won-do.
The 12-episode romantic comedy Secret Audit, titled Eunmilhan gamsa in Korean, features episodes running one hour and 10 minutes. Starring Shin Hye-sun, Gong Myoung, Kim Jae-wook, and Hong Hwa-yeon, the series scored 8.0 on Kinopoisk and 7.4 on IMDb. Elite auditor Noh Ki-joon, played by Gong Myoung, is demoted to a low-tier ethics team by uncompromising new department head Joo In-ah, played by Shin Hye-sun, forcing him to investigate workplace romances and corporate intrigues instead of financial fraud.
Boston Explosion Survivors and Ethical Dilemmas
Melodrama Your Best Time, titled Challanhan neoui gyejeore in Korean, consists of 12 episodes running one hour and 10 minutes each. Starring Lee Sung-kyung, Chae Jong-hyeop, Lee Mi-sook, and Han Ji-hyun, the series holds matching ratings of 8.1 on Kinopoisk and IMDb. Fashion designer Seo Ha-ran, played by Lee Sung-kyung, lives in isolation following the death of her boyfriend in a Boston explosion seven years earlier, until she meets animator Sun Woo-chan, played by Chae Jong-hyeop, who survived the same blast with severe burns and memory loss.
The eight-episode detective thriller Flower of Death, titled Beulleodi peullawo in Korean, runs for 55 minutes per episode. Starring Ryeoun, Sung Dong-il, and Keum Sae-rok, it earned ratings of 7.7 on Kinopoisk and 7.1 on IMDb. Former medical student Lee Woo-gyeom, played by Ryeoun, is tried for killing 17 people while claiming he tested an experimental cure for an incurable illness, defended by lawyer Park Han-joon, played by Sung Dong-il, whose sick daughter Woo-gyeom promises to heal, while prosecutor Cha Yi-yeon, played by Keum Sae-rok, demands maximum punishment.
Rounding out the selection is the 12-episode fantasy romantic comedy A Man from Today, titled Oneulbuteo inganimnida in Korean. Featuring episodes lasting one hour and 10 minutes, the series stars Kim Hye-yoon, Park Solomon, Lee Si-woo, and Jang Dong-joo, scoring 7.2 on Kinopoisk and 6.5 on IMDb. Mythological nine-tailed fox Eun Ho, played by Kim Hye-yoon, lives as a human fulfilling wishes without moral bias, but her commitment to immortal youth is upended after meeting popular soccer player Kang Shi-yeol, played by Park Solomon.
