Can you believe that we’re a month away from 2025?
Despair not! We still have much to celebrate this year and there are a dozen new J- and K-dramas coming out in December to warm your wintery days up. Are you ready to check them out?
New K-dramas in December 2024
- Release date: December 2nd, 2024
- Network: KBS2
- Episodes: 100
- Main cast: Han Groo, Choi Sang, Na Young-hee
- Where have I seen these people before? Han Groo had a small role in ENA’s The Midnight Studio this year but her last leading role was in tvN’s Marriage, Not Dating. Choi Sang (or Choi Min) was last seen in SBS’s Again My Life. Na Young-hee was Ha-in’s mother in tvN’s Queen of Tears earlier this year.
- Writer: Oh Sang-hee (from KBS2’s Gracious Revenge)
- Director: Lee Hyun-kyung (this is her first daily drama; she’s directed specials such as KBS2’s Love Attack)
Koo Ha-na (Han Groo) is a responsible and caring daughter, dedicating her entire life to her family. One day, she finds out that her mother and father aren’t her biological parents. They were enemies of her blood relatives, taking her away from her real family and using her for their benefit. She then sets out to get her revenge. When the successful CEO of Hyesung Tour, Hwang Jin-Koo (Choi Sang), meets Ha-na, he’s not happy to make her acquaintance. As time goes by, he starts to understand her and decides to help her out.
- Release date: December 4th, 2024
- Network: Disney+
- Episodes: 8
- Main cast: Ju Ji-hoon, Park Bo-young, Bae Sung-woo, Uhm Tae-goo, Kim Seol-hyun, Lee Jung-eun, Kim Min-ha, Park Hyuk-kwon, Kim Dae-myung, Shin Eun-soo, Kim Seon-hwa, and Kim Ki-hae
- Where have I seen these people before? What a cast! So let’s go slowly: This is Ju Ji-hoon’s second Disney+ project this year, after Blood Free (you might also be watching him in tvN’s Love Your Enemy, which is currently airing). The same applies to Park Hyuk-kwon, who was also in this year’s Uncle Samsik. Park Bo-young was amazing in last year’s Daily Dose of Sunshine (Netflix). Also on Netflix, Bae Sung-woo was last seen in The 8 Show. Uhm Tae-goo was in one of this year’s best rom-coms, jTBC’s My Sweet Mobster. Kim Seol-hyun was last seen in ENA’s Summer Strike while this is Lee Jung-eun’s third project this year, after jTBC’s Miss Night and Day and Netflix’s The Frog โ what a busy bee! I’m sure everyone knows Kim Min-ha from Apple TV’s award-winning Pachinko. And I hope you all remember the adorable Kim Dae-myung in tvN’s Hospital Playlist and Shin Eun-soo in tvN’s Twinkling Watermelon. Kim Seon-hwa has had guest roles in the past couple of years and she was part of the supporting cast of Netflix’s The Glory. Finally, Kim Ki-hae led TVING’s Duty After School.
- Writer: Kang Full
- Director: Kim Hae-won
- Adapted from Kang Full’s webtoon of the same name. The story has already been adapted into a Chinese film, Love Life Light.
Six strangers struggling to come to terms with their traumatic past find themselves trapped in a mysterious neighbourhood. There, they find a light shop whose shopkeeper might hold the key to their past, present, and future. It’s only by facing their fears, regrets, and traumas that they will be set free.
The first four episodes come out on December 4th and the remaining four should come out on the following two Wednesdays.
- Release date: December 5th, 2024
- Network: KBS Joy (internationally, you can catch it on Viki)
- Episodes: 12
- Main cast: Jun So-min, Gong Min-jung, Jang Hui-ryoung, and Choi Daniel
- Where have I seen these people before? Jun So-min’s last leading role was in jTBC’s Cleaning Up while Choi Daniel’s was in jTBC’s Salon de Nabi. Gong Min-jung had a supporting role in tvN’s Marry My Husband this year while Jang Hui-ryoung had a supporting role in tvN’s Sh**ting Stars.
- Writer: Min Ji-young, Cho Yoo-jin (from 2024’s Pilot), and Choi Ryong (from Wavve’s The Chairman Is Level 9)
- Director: Min Ji-young (from Wavveโs B*tch x Rich)
Ji Song-yi (Jun So-min) has just broken off her engagement and now finds herself with a huge mortgage to pay off. Alone in a new city, Song-yi starts working all sorts of part-time jobs to make ends meet. She ends up reunited with Choi Ha-na (Gong Min-jung), who used to be her best friend a decade ago, and is introduced to An Chan-yang (Jang Hui-ryoung), a pottery teacher who hides a completely different personality behind her innocent facade.
- Release date: December 14th, 2024
- Network: TV Chosun
- Episodes: 20
- Main cast: Lee Joon
- Where have I seen these people before? Lee Joon was part of the main cast of SBS’s The Escape of the Seven.
- Writer: Moon Young-nam (from TV Chosunโs Red Balloon)
- Director: Jin Hyung-wook (from TV Chosunโs Red Balloon)
Han-bi had a difficult childhood, in which she had to mostly rely on her stepfather’s family. The person she was closest to was Tae-rang (Lee Joon), who disappeared the day they were supposed to move to the US together. Years later, Han-bi becomes a bodyguard and is hired to protect Tae-rang. Now in a completely different relationship, Han-bi and Tae-rang are brought together once again.
We’re still waiting to hear about the female lead and more information about the drama. Since everything still seems to be up in the air, we’re not completely sure I Can’t Live Without You is coming out in December.
- Release date: December 18th, 2024
- Network: KBS2
- Episodes: 12
- Main cast: Kim Hae-sook, Jung Ji-so, Jung Jin-young, and Chae Won-bin
- Where have I seen these people before? The incredible Kim Hae-sook was last seen in Netflix’s Mr. Plankton this month. Jung Ji-so had supporting roles in Netflix’s The Glory and KBS2’s Curtain Call. Jung Jin-young, who was also in the original feature film Miss Granny, was last seen in Netflix’s Sweet Home series. Chae Won-bin has just finished MBC’s Doubt.
- Writer: Heo Seung-min (from MBC’s Risky Romance)
- Director: Park Yong-soon (from SBSโs Secret Mother)
- Remake of 2014’s Miss Granny (dir. Hwang Dong-hyuk)
Oh Mal-soon (Kim Hae-sook) is a woman in her seventies who has dedicated her life to taking care of her family. After an argument with her daughter, for whom she’s done everything, she decides to leave home. She visits a photo studio and there, she’s magically transformed into a 20-year-old young woman. She sees this as a miracle that can help her make her decades-old dream of becoming a singer come true.
- Release date: December 21st, 2024
- Network: Channel A (internationally, you can catch it on Netflix)
- Episodes: 16
- Main cast: Bae In-hyuk, Kim Ji-eun, Jung Gun-joo, and Park Jae-chan
- Where have I seen these people before? Bae In-hyuk led MBC’s The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract last year while Kim Ji-eun was part of the main cast of tvN’s Love Next Door. Jung Gun-joo was last seen in MBC’s Bitter Sweet Hell and Park Jae-chan, in jTBC’s My Sweet Mobster.
- Writer: Park Hyun-jin (from jTBCโs My Military Valentine)
- Director: Myung Hyun-woo (from Amazon Primeโs My Man Is Cupid)
Four young people start working at Yongcheonru, the most important guesthouse in Joseon. Lee Eun (Bae In-hyuk) is a prince in disguise, Hong Deok-soo (Kim Ji-eun) pretends to be a man to get a position, Chun Jun-hwa (Jung Gun-joo) is the heir to Yongcheonru, and Go Soo-ra (Park Jae-chan) needs the job to save his family. Despite their completely different backgrounds, these four become friends as they work together.
- Release date: December 23rd, 2024
- Network: ENA (internationally, you can catch it on Viki)
- Episodes: 12
- Main cast: Go Hyun-jung, Ryeoun, and Yoon Sang-hyun
- Where have I seen these people before? Go Hyun-jung was last seen in Netflix’s Mask Girl while Ryeoun was part of the main cast of tvN’s Twinkling Watermelon. Yoon Sang-hyun’s last leading role was in jTBC’s 18 Again.
- Writer: Eom Seong-min (from 2018’s Default)
- Director: Jung Da-won (this is his first K-drama; he previously wrote and directed 2019’s Miss & Mrs. Cops) and Han Sang-jae (from tvN’s A Poem A Day)
Kang Su-hyun (Go Hyun-jung) is the CEO of an entertainment agency and a talented producer. Facing problems at home and in her career, she decides to create a new star that can get her life back on track. She then chooses Yoo Jin-woo (Ryeoun), a young man who has been trying to break into the entertainment industry for the past decade. Jin-woo decides to do his very best under Su-hyun’s guidance.
- Release date: December 26th, 2024
- Network: Netflix
- Episodes: 7
- Main cast: Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-joon, Yim Si-wan, Yang Dong-geun, Jo Yu-ri, Kang Ha-neul, and Park Sung-hoon
- Where have I seen these people before? Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, and Wi Ha-joon are all reprising their roles from the first season. Yim Si-wan was last seen in Coupang TV’s Boyhood while Yang Dong-geun had supporting roles in TVING’s Secret Playlist and Disney+’s Moving. Jo Yu-ri led Viki’s Mimicus a couple of years ago. Kang Ha-neul was part of the main cast of KBS2’s Curtain Call and Park Sung-hoon was last seen in tvN’s Queen of Tears.
- Writer & Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk (from the first season and the Miss Granny movie mentioned above!)
Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) decides to return to the Squid Game and wear his Player 456 sweatsuit again to not only save the lives of the other participants but to bring an end to the game once and for all.
New J-dramas in December 2024
- Release date: December 4th, 2024
- Network: BS NTV
- Episodes: TBC
- Main cast: Wada Masanari and Sasamori Hiroki
- Where have I seen these people before? Wada Masanari also led TVK’s Kamisama no Saikoro, which airs its last episode today. Sasamori Hiroki was in MBS/TBS’s RealโFake series.
- Writer: Watashi Omu (this is his first J-drama but he also wrote this year’s Reminiscence Journey II: Re-enact)
- Director: Yasoshima Miyako (from Fuji TVโs Boku no Ita Jikan), Yamaguchi Yuya (from BS TV Tokyoโs Watashi no Otto wa: Ano Ko no Koibito), and Ono Candice Mana (this is her first J-drama, she also directed 2022’s Ai-chan’s Story)
Sada Seiya (Wada Masanari) is a handsome 30-year-old who works in the Intermedia Communications Department of a big company. He’s not only excellent at what he does but he always looks super cool, which has led him to pretend to have a long-term girlfriend. Because of this white lie, he calls himself a “half-virgin” or “0.5D”. For the first time in a decade, Sada actually falls in love and struggles to understand what he should do next. He decides to reach out to his junior at university and at work, the only person who knows his 0.5D secret: Uno Daiki (Sasamori Hiroki), a guy who has had 8 girlfriends in the past.
- Release date: December 8th, 2024
- Network: WOWOW
- Episodes: 4
- Main cast: Eguchi Yosuke and Makita Aju
- Where have I seen these people before? Both Eguchi Yosuke and Makita Aju were part of the main cast of Netflix’s House of Ninjas.
- Writer: Maekawa Yoichi (from WOWOW’s Shotai)
- Director: Sato Yuichi (from Fuji TVโs Kazoku Game)
- Adapted from Sano Hiromi’s novel of the same name
Mochizuki Maki (Makita Aju) is a young woman who grew up in a children’s care facility because her family disappeared 19 years ago. She’s determined to find out what happened to them, which leads her to investigator Masaki Yuichi (Eguchi Yosuke). Masaki lost his own daughter to suicide and lives a sorrowful life full of regrets. He decides to help Maki and together they head to her hometown. Things get more complicated when, amidst their investigation, they unearth the murder of a 6-year-old boy 23 years ago.
- Release date: December 9th, 2024
- Network: AbemaTV (internationally, you can catch it on Netflix)
- Episodes: 8
- Main cast: Yokohama Ryusei and Minami Sara
- Where have I seen these people before? Yokohama Ryusei’s last leading role on TV was in TBS’s DCU while Minami Sara played Sawako in Netflix/TV Tokyo’s adaptation of From Me To You.
- Writer: Yokoo Chisato (who co-wrote Fuji TV’s Snowdrop no Hatsukoi) and Sakon Keitaro (who co-wrote 2019’s Mio on The Shore)
- Director: Nakagawa Ryutaro (from Huluโs Iki wo Hisomete)
- Adapted from Jung Seo’s webtoon Nevertheless,, which received a K-drama adaptation by jTBC in 2021.
Kosaka Ren (Yokohama Ryusei) is a talented artist who accepts a temporary position as a lecturer at an art university in Kamakura. His charming personality naturally attracts people to him but he doesn’t let anyone get too close. Ren seems to lead a carefree life but there’s something mysterious about his nature as he never shows his true feelings to anyone. One day, he meets Hamasaki Miu (Minami Sara), an assistant in the sculpture department. Ren feels that Miu is different from other women he’s met and takes an interest in her. Meanwhile, Miu reacts to Ren with a mix of admiration and jealousy as she can’t help but see the differences between her life and his.
- Release date: December 18th, 2024
- Network: MBS
- Episodes: 10
- Main cast: Kimura Keito, Tsubaki Taiga, and Kasamatsu Sho
- Where have I seen these people before? Kimura Keito led TBS’s Dear Sa-chan earlier this year while this is Tsubaki Taiga’s first big role on TV. Kasamatsu Sho led NHK’s Jiken wa, Sono Mawari de Okiteiru series.
- Writer: Takase Shuho
- Director: Hayashi Takayuki and Furusawa Takeshi (from TV Asahiโs Perfect Crime)
- Adapted from Namikiri Atsushi’s manga of the same name
Suzuki Aoba (Kimura Keito) is a high school freshman who is constantly engaging in what his classmate calls “play-fighting.” He’s fine with being beaten up until another one of his schoolmates, Akazawa Kenshin (Tsubaki Taiga), a martial arts ace, berates him for his behaviour and introduces him to Shark Gym. There, he meets Amachi Wataru (Kasamatsu Sho) who agrees to become his mentor. And so, Aoba sets a goal for himself: win the MMA High School Championship.
Pin this list so you remember to watch them all!
So what J- and K-dramas will you be watching in December? Let me know in the comments!
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