Top 7 Most Anticipated Korean Dramas of the First Half of 2025

The first half of 2025 is brimming with highly anticipated Korean dramas across various genres and captivating storylines, ready to enthrall viewers. From OTT platforms like Netflix, Disney+, Tving, and Wavve to major broadcasting stations including KBS 2TV, MBC, SBS, tvN, and JTBC, there's a plethora of must-watch dramas on the horizon, building excitement among drama enthusiasts. Here are 7 dramas carefully selected based on high public interest and buzz.

Title	Platform/Channel	Expected Airing Period	Main Cast	Genre
Melo Movie	Netflix	February 2025	Choi Woo-shik, Park Bo-young	Romantic Comedy
Good Boy	JTBC	May 2025	Park Bo-gum, Kim So-hyun	Action Comedy
Hyper Knife	Disney+	March 2025	Park Eun-bin, Sul Kyung-gu	Medical Thriller
Resident Playbook	tvN/Netflix	April 2025	Go Youn-jung, Shin Si-ah	Medical Drama
Treasure Island	SBS	February 2025	Park Hyung-sik, Heo Joon-ho	Revenge Thriller
My Dearest Nemesis	tvN	February - March 2025	Moon Ga-young, Choi Hyun-wook	Romantic Comedy
Motel California	MBC	January 2025	Lee Se-young, Na In-woo, Choi Min-soo	Romance

1. Melo Movie (멜로무비)

• Platform/Channel: Netflix
• Synopsis: This romantic comedy-drama follows the rekindled relationship between Ko Gyeom (Choi Woo-shik), a film critic with a past connection to the industry, and Kim Mu-bee (Park Bo-young), a film director driven by a complex relationship with her father, as they rediscover forgotten feelings and heal old wounds . The drama promises a heartwarming portrayal of love and growth among young individuals who inspire each other .   
• Cast: Choi Woo-shik, Park Bo-young, Lee Jun-young, Jeon So-nee, Kim Jae-wook .   
• Reasons to Watch:
  • Reliable Romantic Pairing: The pairing of Choi Woo-shik, known globally for his role in the movie 'Parasite,' and Park Bo-young, a beloved actress in the romance genre, has generated significant anticipation even before its release . 
  • New Work by 'Our Beloved Summer' Writer: Penned by Lee Na-eun, the writer acclaimed for the delicate emotional portrayal in 'Our Beloved Summer,' this drama is expected to deliver another profound romance . 
  • Intriguing Film Industry Setting: The unique premise of a film critic and a film director reuniting offers a special appeal to movie enthusiasts .

2. Good Boy (굿보이)

• Platform/Channel: JTBC
• Synopsis: This comedic action-investigation drama centers on former Olympic medalists who become police officers through a special recruitment program. They trade their medals for police IDs and fight against the rampant corruption and injustice in society . Having faced hardships such as financial difficulties, short athletic careers, and injuries, these individuals form the 'Olympic Avengers' to combat crime in an engaging narrative . 
• Cast: Park Bo-gum, Kim So-hyun, Oh Jung-se, Lee Sang-yi, Heo Sung-tae, Tae Won-seok . 
• Reasons to Watch:
  • Park Bo-gum's Action Transformation: Known for his gentle and warm image, Park Bo-gum's portrayal of a former boxing athlete turned detective is highly anticipated for his new action-oriented role .
  • Combination of Talented Actors: The ensemble cast, including Kim So-hyun, Oh Jung-se, Lee Sang-yi, and Heo Sung-tae, all known for their acting skills and unique personalities, is expected to enhance the drama's appeal .
  • Fresh Blend of Sports and Investigation: The distinctive setup of police officers who are former Olympic medalists promises a unique and entertaining viewing experience unlike typical investigative dramas .  

3. Hyper Knife (하이퍼나이프)

• Platform/Channel: Disney+
• Synopsis: This medical crime thriller follows Jung Se-ok (Park Eun-bin), a genius neurosurgeon who lost her medical license due to a past tragedy and now performs illegal surgeries for money . Her pursuit of perfection leads her to a dangerous power struggle and revenge plot when she reunites with her retired mentor, Choi Deok-hee (Sul Kyung-gu) .
• Cast: Park Eun-bin, Sul Kyung-gu, Yoon Chan-young, Park Byung-eun . 
• Reasons to Watch:
  • Park Eun-bin's Transformation: Following her acclaimed role in 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo,' Park Eun-bin takes on a drastically different character as a psychopathic killer, promising a shocking acting transformation . 
  • Reliable Actor Sul Kyung-gu Joins the Cast: The presence of Sul Kyung-gu, an actor known for his strong performances, adds significant weight to the drama and is expected to heighten viewer immersion .  
  • Suspenseful Storyline: The intertwining of a genius doctor's dark desires, conflict with her mentor, and unpredictable events is anticipated to deliver a nail-biting viewing experience .  

4. Resident Playbook (언제가는 슬기로울 전공의생활)

• Platform/Channel: tvN, Netflix
• Synopsis: A spin-off of the popular 'Hospital Playlist' series, this medical drama depicts the hospital lives and friendships of obstetrics and gynecology residents at Yulje Hospital's Jongno branch . It will warmly and humorously portray the growth and struggles of young doctors who choose the less popular field of obstetrics and gynecology in an era of low birth rates . 
• Cast: Go Youn-jung, Shin Si-ah, Han Ye-ji, Kang You-seok, Jung Joon-won .  
• Reasons to Watch:
  • 'Hospital Playlist' Universe: As a spin-off of the much-loved 'Hospital Playlist,' this drama is expected to garner high interest from fans of the original series .  
  • Fresh Energy from Young Actors: Rising rookie actors are anticipated to vividly portray the fresh and passionate aspects of obstetrics and gynecology residents .
  • Relatable and Touching Medical Drama: The drama is expected to resonate with viewers and offer touching moments through the growth stories of the young doctors . 

5. Treasure Island (보물섬)

• Platform/Channel: SBS
• Synopsis: This high-stakes revenge drama follows Seo Dong-joo (Park Hyung-sik), who hacks into a 2 trillion won political slush fund and risks everything to take revenge against the absolute evil forces that tried to kill him . The drama promises a suspenseful portrayal of human desires intertwined with money, politics, and power .
• Cast: Park Hyung-sik, Heo Joon-ho, Lee Hae-young .
• Reasons to Watch:
  • Park Hyung-sik's Intense Acting Transformation: Known primarily for his roles in romantic comedies, Park Hyung-sik is expected to showcase a new side as Seo Dong-joo, who is determined to seek revenge .
  • Powerful Presence of Heo Joon-ho: Heo Joon-ho's return as a villain with his overwhelming charisma is anticipated to maximize the drama's tension . 
  • SBS's History of Revenge Drama Success: Given the popularity of previous revenge dramas aired on SBS, 'Treasure Island' is also expected to deliver thrilling catharsis . 

6. My Dearest Nemesis (그놈은 흑염룡)

• Platform/Channel: tvN
• Synopsis: This romantic comedy-drama unfolds as Baek Soo-jung (Moon Ga-young), a planning team leader at Yongsung Department Store, reunites with her first love from 16 years ago, Ban Joo-yeon (Choi Hyun-wook), who was also her embarrassing online game nemesis 'Black Dragon,' as her new boss . The drama will humorously depict the chaotic story between their memories of innocent first love and their current relationship as a boss and subordinate . 
• Cast: Moon Ga-young, Choi Hyun-wook, Im Se-mi, Kwak Si-yang . 
• Reasons to Watch:
  • Romantic Comedy Chemistry between Moon Ga-young and Choi Hyun-wook: The pairing of Moon Ga-young, who showed her lovely charm in 'True Beauty,' and rising star Choi Hyun-wook is expected to create a heart-fluttering romantic comedy .  
  • Intriguing Premise of Reuniting with First Love: The relatable scenario of reconnecting with a first love is expected to resonate with viewers and evoke memories .  
  • Humorous Story Set in the Workplace: The bickering romance between a first love couple who reunite as a boss and employee is anticipated to provide both relatability and entertainment for working viewers . 

7. Motel California (모텔 캘리포니아)

• Platform/Channel: MBC
• Synopsis: This turbulent first love romance drama centers on a woman who grew up in a rural motel and returns to her hometown after 12 years, where she reunites with her first love . The drama will warmly depict the reunion and love story of the two individuals against the backdrop of an old motel . 
• Cast: Lee Se-young, Na In-woo, Choi Min-soo .  
• Reasons to Watch:
  • Nostalgic First Love Reunion Story: The drama is expected to delicately portray the emotional changes of a couple who reunite after a long time, evoking a sense of nostalgia and excitement in viewers . 
  • Meeting of Actors Known for Romance Genre: The pairing of Lee Se-young, who received much love for 'The Red Sleeve,' and Na In-woo, who showed a stable performance in 'River Where the Moon Rises,' is expected to satisfy romance drama fans .  
  • MBC's Strong Track Record in Romance Dramas: Having produced numerous hit romance dramas like 'My Lovely Sam Soon' and 'Coffee Prince,' MBC's 'Motel California' also has high potential to deliver a well-made romance . 
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Major Upcoming Dramas in the First Half of 2025 (Partial List)

Title	Airing Period	Channel
My Perfect Secretary	Jan-Feb 2025	SBS
Ask the Stars	Jan-Feb 2025	tvN
The Queen Who Crowns	Jan-Feb 2025	tvN
Kick Kick Kick Kick	Feb-Mar 2025	KBS2
The Witch	Feb-Mar 2025	Channel A
Undercover High School	Feb-Mar 2025	MBC
The Scandal of Chunhwa	Feb-Mar 2025	TVING
Newtopia	Feb 2025	Coupang Play
The Potato Lab	Mar-Apr 2025	tvN
Bunny and Brothers	Apr 2025	MBC
Heavenly Ever After	Apr-May 2025	JTBC