Netflix is expanding its Korean content by adding more titles to its massive slate in 2023. Since they started producing original series and movies, Netflix remains the undisputed king of streaming in terms of total subscribers, having been expanding its slate over the past decade. In recent years, Netflix has broadened its horizons to include Korean content, including movies and series. Thanks in no small part to Squid Game, the titles have exploded in popularity on streaming services and garnered passionate fan bases from around the world.
Now, over the next year, Netflix has rolled out its largest lineup of Korean content to date. Many of South Korea’s biggest stars — including Park Seo-joon, Choi Woo-shik, Bae Suzy and Park Bo-young — have signed on for can’t-miss shows, including historical action epics, sweet rom-coms, healing K-dramas and horror thrillers. The 2023 list includes a slew of returning shows for new seasons, including “Sweet Home,” “D.P.” and “The Glory”. Netflix’s lineup includes several new romances — “Behind Your Touch,” “Crash Course in Romance,” “King the Land,” “Destined with You” and “See You In My 19th Life” — as well as non-romance “The Good Bad Mother.” The expansion pack also includes non-fiction K content, including reality shows Siren: Survive The Island, Nineteen to Twenty, Zombieverse, and The Devil’s Plan. There’s also a true crime documentary, In the Name of God: A Holy Betrayal.
Series:
LOVE TO HATE YOU (Feb 10)
Starring Kim Ok-vin, Yoo Teo, Kim Ji-hun, and Go Won-hee.
The first fake dating drama in 2023 comes from “Asda Chronicles” actors Kim Ok-vin and Yoo Teo, who play people in a war relationship where neither party trusts the opposite sex. Kim plays an entertainment lawyer who hates losing to men, and Yoo plays a top actor who “hates all grown women.” Can their love overcome suspicion?
THE GLORY PART 2 (March 2023)
Starring Song Hye-kyo, Lee Do-hyun, Lim Ji-yeon, Yeom Hye-ran, Park Sung-hoon, and Jung Sung-il.
The highly anticipated revenge drama starring Descendants of the Sun star Song Hye Ko and Guardians: The Great and Lonely God writer Kim Eun Sook will reportedly premiere in two parts. Song will play Moon Dong-eun, an aspiring architect forced to drop out of school after being bullied. Years later, the bullies’ leader has turned into a parent of a primary school student, and Moon is the child’s teacher.
BLOODHOUNDS (Quarter 2)
Starring Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi, Park Sung-woong, and Heo Jun-ho.
CELEBRITY (Quarter 2)
Starring Park Gyu-young, Kang Min-hyuk, Lee Dong-gun, and Jun Hyo-seong.
This thriller series from Netflix and Studio Dragon will chart the ups and downs of celebrity and influencer culture, revealing the fears and painful desires brewing around the world. The cast includes Park Kyu Young from It’s Okay to Not Be Okay and Sweet Home, drummer Kang Min Hyuk from CN Blue, Lee Chung Ah from Awaken and Lee Dong Gun from Angel’s Last Mission: Love.
QUEENMAKER (Quarter 2)
Starring Kim Hee-ae, Moon So-ri, Ryu Soo-young, and Seo Yi-sook.
The show will follow two powerful and tough women: dashing executive and titular “Queen” Hwang Do-hee (Kim Ae-ae of Marriage World), and labor rights lawyer and “crazy rhino” Oh Seung-sook (Life’s Moon So Ri). One is a businesswoman, and the other is a labor rights activist, and the two come together when Do-hee is determined to make Seung-sook the mayor of Seoul.
BLACK KNIGHT (Quarter 2)
Starring Kim Woo-bin, Song Seung-heon, Kang You-seok, and Esom
In this dystopian series set in the fictional year 2071, where only one percent of the population survives severe air pollution, delivery drivers known as knights play key roles in a new social stratification system. It tells the story of the legendary knight 5-8 and a refugee named Sawol who dreams of following in his footsteps.
A TIME CALLED YOU (Quarter 3)
Starring Ahn Hyo-seop, Jeon Yeo-been, Lee Min Goo and Kang Hoon
Based on the hit Taiwanese drama “Someday or One Day,” Jeon Yeo-been of Vicenzo and Ahn Hyo-seop of Business Proposal play dual roles. A year ago, Han Jun-hee (Jeon)’s boyfriend Ko Yeon-jun (Ahn) passed away, and she is still recovering. One day, she somehow travels back to 1998 and finds out that she is Kwon Min-joo, a high school student. There, she meets classmate Nam Si-heon and is surprised to see Si-heon’s resemblance to her late boyfriend.
SONG OF THE BANDITS (Quarter 3)
Starring Kim Nam-gil, Seo hyun, Yoo Jae-myung, Lee Hyun-wook, and Lee Ho-jung.
This historical action drama is set in 1920s Joseon colonized by Japan. The show will tell the stories of those who have been deprived of their homes and livelihoods and how they will do anything for their families, colleagues and the Joseon people.
D.P. SEASON 2 (Quarter 3)
Starring Jung Hae-in, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Sung-kyun, Son Suk-ku, Ji Jin-hee, and Kim Ji-hyun.
Filming has wrapped on the second season of the award-winning drama, which has received critical acclaim for its honest, brutal portrayal of bullying and toxic masculinity in the South Korean military.
MASK GIRL (Quarter 3)
Starring Go Hyun-jung, Ahn Jae-hong, Yeom Hye-ran, and Nana.
Based on the webtoon of the same name, this dark comedic thriller follows two office workers who have low self-esteem when it comes to their looks. Kim Mo-mi (Gao Hyun-jung in “Your Reflection”) livestreams part-time, and she wears a mask to cover her face. Her colleague Joo Oh-nam (Ahn Jae-hong, Fight For My Way) is so obsessed with Mo-mi that his only source of pleasure is watching webcasts. The two are soon involved in an unexpected incident.
GYEONGSEONG CREATURE (Quarter 4)
Starring Park Seo-jun, Han So-hee, Claudia Kim, Kim Hae-sook, Cho Han-cheul, and Wi Ha-jun.
Set in Gyeongseong in the spring of 1945, during the Japanese rule of Korea, the series will follow two young men (Han and Park) battling strange creatures born out of human greed. Co-starring Avengers: Age of Ultron’s Claudia Kim and Squid Game’s Wi Ha-jun, the highly anticipated series has reportedly been renewed for Season 2 before it even airs!
SWEET HOME SEASON 2 (Quarter 4)
Starring Song Kang, Lee Jin-uk, Lee Si-young, Ko Min-si, Park Gyu-young, Yoo Oh-seong, Oh Jung-se, Kim Mu-yeol, Jin-young.
Another hit horror show is back this year, with Netflix announcing seasons 2 and 3 in June 2022. In the season 1 finale, Hyun Soo (Nevertheless’ Song Kang) escaped Green Homes, he woke up in a military camp, somehow still alive.
DOONA! (Quarter 4)
Starring Suzy, Yang Se-jong
Veteran K-pop singer Bae Suzy will play a retired idol in this TV adaptation of the webtoon “The Girl Downstairs.” Lee Doona (Suzy) is the most popular member of the girl group, but suddenly announces her retirement and becomes a co-rental otaku. When eager college student Won Joon (Yang Se Jong) moves in, the two eventually grow closer and begin a romance.
DAILY DOSE OF SUNSHINE (Quarter 4)
Starring Park Bo-young, Yeon Woo-jin, Jang Dong-yoon, and Lee Jung-eun.
Adapted from the webtoon “Morning Comes To The Mental Ward”, it is a healing drama about various events that happened in the mental hospital. Park Bo Young will play Jung Da Eun, a psychiatric nurse.
GOODBYE EARTH (Quarter 4)
Starring Ahn Eun-jin, Yoo Ah-in, Jeon Seong-woo, and Kim Yoon-hye.
CRASH COURSE IN ROMANCE (Jan 14)
Starring Jeon Do Yeon and Jung Kyung Ho.
This light-hearted tvN drama tells the story of Nam Haeng-sun (The Good Wife’s Jeon Do-yeon), a former athlete with a super positive personality and boundless physical strength who now runs a side-dish shop. When her daughter tries to join the class of celebrity math teacher Choi Chi Yeol (Jung Kyung-ho of Hospital Playlist), a romantic connection is formed between the enthusiastic mom and the reclusive teacher.
THE GOOD BAD MOTHER
Starring Ra Mi-ran, Lee Do-hyun, Ahn Eun-jin.
BEHIND YOUR TOUCH
Starring Han Ji-min, Lee Min-ki, Ju Min-kyung, and Suho.
KING THE LAND
Starring Lee Jun Ho and Lim Yoon-a.
DESTINED WITH YOU
Starring Rowoon, Cho Bo-ah, Ha Jun, Yura.
SEE YOU IN MY 19TH LIFE
Starring Shin Hye-sun, Ahn Bo-hyun, Ha Yoon-Kyung, and Ahn Dong-goo.
Film:
JUNG_E (Jan 20)
Starring Kang Soo-youn, Kim Hyun-joo, and Ryu Kyung-soo.
UNLOCKED (Feb 17)
Starring Yim Si Wan, Chun Woo Hee, Kim Hie Won
KILL BOKSOON (Quarter 1)
Starring Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Kim Si-a, Esom, Koo Kyo-hwan.
THE MATCH (Quarter 2)
Starring Lee Byung-hun and Yoo Ah-in.
BELIEVER 2 (Quarter 4)
Starring Cho Jin-woong, Cha Seung-won, Han Hyo-joo, Oh Seung-hoon, Kim Dong-young, and Lee Joo-young
BALLERINA (Quarter 4)
Starring Jun Jong-seo, Kim Ji-hun, and Park Yurim.
Reality & Variety:
PHYSICAL: 1OO (Jan 24)
After the success of Single’s Inferno, Netflix’s second original reality show presents a contest of strength and agility. 100 participants of various ages, races and genders will take part in multiple fitness challenges to determine who has the “perfect body”.
Leave a Reply