The new year is starting off with some exciting drama premieres! There are plenty of great actors, thrilling plots, and more to come, and it looks like we’re in for lots of romance, suspense, fun, and intrigue in 2019.

Check out what dramas are coming up in the first half of the year below!

Please note that titles and premiere dates may change.

“The Best Chicken”

Starring: Park Sun Ho, Kim So Hye, Joo Woo Jae, PENTAGON’s Hongseok

A trio of young people named Park Choi Go (Park Sun Ho), Seo Bo Ah (Kim So Hye), and Andrew Kang (Joo Woo Jae) team up with the shared goal of establishing the best chicken restaurant in Korea.

“The Best Chicken” premiered on January 2 on Dramax and MBN, and it’s available on Viki!

Start watching “The Best Chicken”:

Watch Now

“The Crowned Clown”

Starring: Yeo Jin Goo, Lee Se Young, Kim Sang Kyung

A king brings a clown who looks identical to him into the palace in order to avoid assassination. Yeo Jin Goo plays both roles in the drama, which is a remake of the 2012 film “Masquerade.”

“The Crowned Clown” premieres on January 7 on tvN, and it’s available on Viki!

Start watching “The Crowned Clown”:

Watch Now

“My Lawyer, Mr. Joe 2”

Starring: Park Shin Yang, Go Hyun Jung

“My Lawyer, Mr. Joe 2” is the second season of the drama also known as “Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul Ho“! It will continue the story of the hardworking prosecutor Jo Deul Ho, with Park Shin Yang reprising the role. The new season follows Jo Deul Ho’s life after his lawyer license gets taken away when a large law firm charges him for something that he didn’t do.

“My Lawyer, Mr. Joe 2” begins on January 7 on KBS 2TV, and it’s available on Viki!

Start watching “My Lawyer, Mr. Joe 2”:

Watch Now

“Liver or Die”

Starring: Yoo Joon Sang, Jeon Hye Bin, Oh Ji Ho, Lee Chang Yeob, Lee Si Young

Poong Sang (Yoon Joon Sang) is a middle-aged man who’s spent his life looking after his four younger siblings as he supports them financially. The drama will consider the true meaning of family as it follows the siblings through their turbulent daily lives and various mishaps.

“Liver or Die” premieres on January 9 on KBS 2TV, and it’s available on Viki.

Start watching “Liver or Die”:

Watch Now

“Spring Turns to Spring”

Starring: Lee Yoo Ri, Uhm Ji Won, Lee Jong Hyuk

A body-switching fantasy comedy about two women: an announcer who only cares about herself (Lee Yoo Ri) and a former actress (Uhm Ji Won) who is now the wife of a National Assembly member.

“Spring Turns to Spring” will premiere on January 23 on MBC, and it’s available on Viki.

Start watching “Spring Turns to Spring”:

Watch Now

“Kingdom”

Starring: Joo Ji Hoon, Ryu Seung Ryong, Bae Doona, Kim Sang Ho

This zombie historical drama penned by “Signal” and “Ghost” writer Kim Eun Hee is based on her 2014 webtoon series “Land of the Gods.” The story focuses on a Joseon era crown prince investigating a mysterious epidemic that threatens the entire country.

“Kingdom” premieres on Netflix on January 25.

“Romance is a Bonus Book”

Starring: Lee Na Young, Lee Jong Suk

A talented and well-known copywriter (Lee Na Young) struggles when she finds herself unemployed but overqualified for every position she tries for. She hides her academic background when she applies for a job at a publishing company, where she meets the editor-in-chief (Lee Jong Suk), who is the youngest in the company’s history. It’s there that she starts her life anew.

“Romance is a Bonus Book” will premiere on tvN on January 26.

“Tower of Babel”

Starring: Park Shi Hoo, Jang Hee Jin

A mystery melodrama that focuses on the story of a prosecutor (Park Shi Hoo) who is out for revenge and an actress (Jang Hee Jin) whose life becomes ruined after she marries into a rich family. The two characters meet when she becomes the main suspect in her husband’s murder.

“Tower of Babel” begins on January 27 on TV Chosun, and it’s available on Viki.

Start watching “Tower of Babel”:

Watch Now

“Touch Your Heart”

Starring: Lee Dong Wook, Yoo In Na

“Goblin” co-stars Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na reunite in this drama about the romance that blooms when top actress Oh Yoon Seo (Yoo In Na) meets perfectionist lawyer Kwon Jung Rok (Lee Dong Wook) at a law firm.

“Touch Your Heart” airs January on tvN after the end of “Encounter,” and is available on Viki!

Start watching “Touch Your Heart”:

Watch Now

“Radiant”

Starring: Kim Hye Ja, Han Ji Min, Nam Joo Hyuk, Son Ho Jun

The story of a woman who lost time before she got to use it all and a man who wastes his best days by doing nothing.

“Radiant” will premiere in February on JTBC, and it’s available on Viki!

Start watching “Radiant”:

Watch Now

“Love in Sadness”

Starring: Ji Hyun Woo, Park Han Byul, Ryu Soo Young, Wang Bit Na

The lead characters of this upcoming drama include a woman being chased, a man chasing after her, and another man who helps her hide. The drama is a remake of the 1999 Japanese TBS drama “Beautiful Person” (literal title).

“Love in Sadness” begins in February, and it’s available on Viki!

Start watching “Love in Sadness”:

Watch Now

“The Fiery Priest”

Starring: Kim Nam Gil, Kim Sung Kyun, Honey Lee

A priest with anger issues and a detective join forces to solve the murder case of an old priest.

“The Fiery Priest” will begin in February on SBS, and it’s available on Viki!

Start watching “The Fiery Priest”:

Watch Now

“The Item”

Starring: Joo Ji Hoon, Jin Se Yeon, Kim Kang Woo

Two people whose fates are intertwined attempt to solve a mystery behind items with supernatural powers.

“The Item” will premiere in February on MBC, and it’s available on Viki.

Start watching “The Item”:

Watch Now

“Big Issue”

Starring: Joo Jin Mo, Han Ye Seul

A news photographer named Han Seok Joo (Joo Jin Mo) loses everything, including his job and family, because of one photograph. He takes a job as a paparazzo after he meets Ji Soo Hyun (Han Ye Seul), an editor-in-chief who’s famous for uncovering celebrity scandals.

“Big Issue” begins airing in February, and it’s available on Viki.

Start watching “Big Issue”:

Watch Now

“Haechi”

Starring: Jung Il Woo, Go Ara, Kwon Yool, Park Hoon

A prince (Jung Il Woo) with a commoner mother teams up with a ragtag band of people to stake his claim to the throne. The drama is a fusion sageuk drama inspired by the myth of Haechi, a guardian of justice.

“Haechi” premieres in February on SBS, and it’s available on Viki.

Start watching “Haechi” below:

Watch Now

“Possessed”

Starring: Song Sae Byuk, Go Jun Hee, Yeon Jung Hoon, Jo Han Sun

Detective Kang Pil Sung (Song Sae Byuk) and psychic Seo Jung (Go Jun Hee) chase after spirits that commit crimes after taking over people’s bodies.

“Possessed” will premiere on February 13 on OCN.

“Legal High”

Starring: Jin Goo, Seo Eun Soo, Yoon Park, Chae Jung An, Jung Sang Hoon

Go Tae Rim (Jin Goo) is an arrogant lawyer who can’t stand to lose. He has a 100 percent success rate and knows how to manipulate the law for his own ends. He ends up teaming up with Seo Jae In (Seo Eun Soo), an eager rookie lawyer who believes in the law and justice but realizes the importance of winning cases.

“Legal High” begins in February on JTBC. It is a remake of the Japanese drama of the same name.

Start watching “Legal High” below:

Watch Now

“Dear Citizens”

Starring: Super Junior’s Choi Siwon, Lee Yoo Young, Kim Min Jung

A con man (played by Choi Siwon) marries a police officer (Lee Yoo Young) and ends up running to become a member of the National Assembly.

“Dear Citizens” will begin its run in March on KBS 2TV.

“The Banker”

Starring: Kim Sang Joong, Chae Si Ra, Yoo Dong Geun

This drama based on the Japanese manga series “Nozaki Shuhei” will tell the story of people who attempt to preserve justice in the face of corruption at a large bank.

“The Banker” will premiere in March on MBC.

“Beautiful World”

Starring: Park Hee Soon, Chu Ja Hyun, Oh Man Seok, Jo Yeo Jung

A boy stands on the precipice of life or death after an incident of school violence, and his family seeks the truth.

“Beautiful World” will premiere in April on JTBC, and it will be available on Viki.

“Vagabond”

Starring: Lee Seung Gi, Suzy, Shin Sung Rok

A stuntman with dreams of being an action star (Lee Seung Gi) becomes involved in the investigation of a mysterious plane crash, and he ends up learning about the country’s deep corruption. Meanwhile, Go Hae Ri (Suzy) has decided to become a National Intelligence Service agent to support her family after her father’s death.

“Vagabond” will premiere in May on SBS.

“Asadal”

Starring: Song Joong Ki, Kim Ji Won, Kim Ok Bin, Jang Dong Gun

A fantasy drama that takes place in the mythical city of Asadal, which is said to have been the capital city of the Gojoseon kingdom.

“Asadal” is reportedly aiming for a May premiere on tvN.

“Blue Eyes”

Starring: After School’s Nana

A man becomes a killer in order to find his family and a woman chases after him to avenge her dead lover.

“Blue Eyes” will air in the first half of 2019 on OCN.

“Abyss”

Starring: Park Bo Young

A beautiful female prosecution lawyer (Park Bo Young) and a less attractive guy are revived through an abyss to have completely different appearances, which changes their lives dramatically.

“Abyss” begins in the first half of the year on tvN.

“One and Only Love”

Starring: INFINITE’s L (Kim Myung Soo), Shin Hye Sun

Angel Dan (played by L) must help ballerina Lee Yeon Seo (Shin Hye Sun) find love in order for him to get back in to heaven.

“One and Only Love” will premiere in the first half of 2019.

“Hip Hop King — Nassna Street”

Starring: APRIL’s Naeun, Hoya (Lee Ho Won), Cross Gene’s Shin Wonho, Han Hyun Min,

A coming-of-age drama that focuses on both hip hop music and the evolving world and culture of hip hop itself.

“Hip Hop King — Nassna Street” will premiere in the first half of 2019.

“He Is Psychometric”

Starring: Shin Ye Eun, GOT7’s Jinyoung

Yi Ahn (Jinyoung) has the ability to find out a person’s secrets by touching them, while Yoon Jae In (Shin Ye Eun) desperately wishes to hide her painful secret.

“He Is Psychometric” premieres in the first half of 2019.

“Farming Academy”

Starring: Lee Tae Hwan, Apink’s Yoon Bomi, Lee Min Ji

Young people show their dreams, passion, and friendship as they try to become professional farmers.

“Farming Academy” will premiere in the first half of the year on SBS and SBS’s mobile platform.

“Trap”

Starring: Lee Seo Jin, Sung Dong Il

The nation’s beloved news anchor Kang Woo Hyun (Lee Seo Jin) goes on a trip with his family and gets caught in a trap, which leads to a tragedy. Detective Go Dong Kook (Sung Dong Il) uses his skills and instincts to find out the truth behind his case.

“Trap” is the first project in OCN’s “Dramatic Cinema” series, which combines film-quality production with high-quality stories found in dramas.

The drama will hit the airwaves on OCN in the first half of 2019.

“Waikiki Season 2”



Starring: To be announced

The second season of “Waikiki” is slated to air in the first half of 2019, with many actors in talks including Lee Yi Kyung, Moon Ga Young, Ahn So Hee, Kim Seon Ho, Shin Hyun Soo, Kang Han Na, and more.

“Ugeumchi”

Starring: Jo Jung Suk, Han Ye Ri, Yoon Shi Yoon

Two half-brothers find themselves on opposing sides of the fight during the Donghak Peasant’s Movement in 1894.

“Ugeumchi” premieres in the first half of 2019 on SBS.

“Designated Survivor”

Starring: Ji Jin Hee

A Korean remake of the U.S. series of the same name, “Designated Survivor” follows the events that occur when the Ministry of Environment (the 12th person in line of succession) ends up having to take the role of acting president after a terror attack during a presidential speech causes devastation.

The drama will air in the first half of 2019 on tvN.

More to look forward to

More dramas that are slated to air sometime in 2019 without premiere dates include “So I Married An Anti-Fan” with Choi Tae Joon and Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung; “Me Alone and You” with Yoon Hyun Min and Go Sung Hee, a second season of “Partners for Justice,” “Love Alarm” starring Kim So Hyun, and Song Kang; “My Country” with Woo Do Hwan and Yang Se Jong; and more.

What early 2019 drama are you the most excited about?