K-DRAMA NEWS - Aug 2026
By Sharon Stern
I have said a number of times that the success of a K-drama is all in the storytelling – when the writing, directing, acting, but all of the other elements like setting and music all come together and grab you. Several of the dramas coming up this month sound complicated and intriguing and they could turn out to be really interesting…but it will all come down to how the stories are told. Dig in and enjoy!
A Bona Fide Killer – 유부녀 킬러
Starring: Gong Hyo-jin, Jung Joon-won, Lee Sang-yi, Sung Dong-il
Genre: Slice-of-life, action, comedy, drama, thriller
This drama is based on a Kakao webtoon by the same name.
Yoo Bo Na (Gong Hyo-jin) has spent three years on parental leave, spending time with her loving family. It’s time for her to return to work. What her family doesn’t know is that her “work” is as a legendary vigilante sniper named “Kingfisher”, executing justice on ruthless criminals where the law has failed. Her husband, Kwon Tae Sung (Jung Joon-won), is an investigative journalist, trying by all means to find the identity of Kingfisher. Tae Sung begins to unravel the mystery and put the pieces together. Bo Na is helped by her trusted ally Kim Bong Pal (Sung Dong-il) and she must walk a fine line in order to not threaten the double life she loves and pull her family apart.
I love this cast! The director had the hit Lovely Runner two years ago. The plot seems a bit silly. The trailer doesn’t look silly, though. I’m holding out some hope!
My Bias, My Boss - 최애의 사원
Viki, HBO Max
Starring: Kang Hoon, Kim Hye-jun, Cha Woo-min, Yuna
Genre: Rom-com, workplace, rom-dram
This drama is based on a Naver webtoon by the same name.
Nam Da-reum (Kim Hye-jun) has been a super fan of idol Lee Chan (Cha Woo-min) since she was 17 – that’s 12 years ago. Her fandom helped her overcome loneliness and set her goals in life. She begins work at the fashion house Appello in the marketing team, where Chan is one of the co-founders. Kang Ha-gi (Kang Hoon) is the young CEO of Appello, which he helped build from the ground up. He begins to fall for Da-reum, even though her eyes and heart are locked on Chan. Cha, has never experienced a true love. When he discovers that Da-reum has been a fan for 12 years, he becomes curious about her. This love triangle moves its way through mishaps and misunderstandings. To make things messier, Yoon Choi (Yuna), who has spent time rehearsing lines with idol-turned-actor/model Chan, has feelings of her own for Chan.
Flex X Cop Season 2 – 재벌X형사2
Disney+
Starring: Ahn Bo-hyun, Jung Eun-chae, Kim Shin-bi, Kang Sang-jun
Genre: Comedy, action, mystery
Flex X Cop extends to a second season because of how high viewership was for the first season in 2024. Jin Yi-soo (Ahn Bo-hyun) returns. He is an immature third generation chaebol, but stumbles into being a detective and works in the violent crime division – using his money and connections to help him solve crimes. Joining the crimes unit for season 2 is Ju Hye-ra (Jung Eun-chae), a notable police person of the National Police Agency’s counter-terrorism team known as the “devil instructor”, who volunteers to lead the violent crimes division, becoming Jin Yi-soo’s boss. She once made him do push-ups until he cried. Can they survive each other?
This is another good cast. I admit I didn’t see the first season, but it is available on Disney+, so we can catch the first story.
Our Sticky Love – 이런 엿같은 사랑
Netflix
Starring: Ha Young, Jung Hae-in
Genre: Rom-com
Go Eun-sae (Ha Young) is a prosecutor working on a case against a crime syndicate until she has an accident that completely blanks out her memory and lands her in a small town with no idea who she is or why she is there. The first person she sees is Jang Tae-ha (Jung Hae-in), who is a boxing coach. OK, Jung Hae-in seriously doesn’t have a boxer’s body, but whatever. He tells her she is his girlfriend. She was, in fact, his first love. She has no memories to either believe or disbelieve him, so she goes with the flow. In actuality, Tae-ha is a former gang member who was mixed up with the crime syndicate she was investigating, so it is very convenient for him to manipulate her. What happens to a relationship built on a manipulative lie and buried past feelings? Well, I could tell you what I think should happen, but I will guess that in dramaland rom-com universe it becomes true love.
A Trap Called Desire – 욕망의 덫
Kocowa
Starring: Jang Seo-hee, Jeon Hye-won, Seol Jung-hwan, Joo Sae-byeok
Genre: Revenge drama
This drama comes with an age 15+ label
Premieres Aug 10 | Go Eun-seol (Jeon Hye-won) grows up as the beloved daughter of adoptive parents until she is falsely accused of murder. She loses everything in her life, but is determined to both clear her name and find revenge. She starts down a path to reveal the truth and find those responsible. Cho Mi-ran (Jang Seo-hee) is standing in her way. She comes across as a warm and compassionate person, but she is the one who framed Eun-seol and has built her career as the head of a scholarship foundation on lies. As Eun-seol gets closer to the truth, Mi-ran is not about to let her ruin the life she has built. The further she digs, the more Eun-seol crosses paths with Mi-ran. She also re-encounters Seol Jung-hwan (Cha Seok-jin), her first love, and comes into conflict with the heiress who created the scholarship foundation where Mi-ran works.
Mousetrap (also known as The Rat) – 들쥐
Starring: Ryu Jun-yeol, Sul Kyung-gu
Genre: Crime, thriller
Premieres August 28 | Adapted from the webtoon “Field Mouse" (들쥐) by Ludvico (루드비코).
Je Moon-jae (Ryu Jun-yeol) is a writer who lives pretty much as a hermit. One day the fingerprint recognition on his phone stops working. He has a friend who has helped him manage his affairs and this friend completely disappears at the same time. Someone called “The Rat” has stolen his name, identity and all of his money. In order to get his life back, Moon-jae has to try to track The Rat. No Ja (Sul Kyung-gu) is a loan shark that also has a private investigation agency. He will do absolutely anything for money. Moon-jae has an outstanding load with No Ja and No Ja has been looking for him for three years. Moon-jae reappears to No Ja to ask for help in finding “The Rat”. Moon-jae and No Ja team up to hunt him down.
The only trailer out is super short, very violent and as mysterious as the plot description sounds.
Four Hands, Two Sonatas – 포핸즈
Starring: Song Kang, Lee Jun-young, Jang Gyu-ri
Genre: Music, romance, youth
Premieres August 29 | At an elite high school for the arts, two pianists and viola player’s lives are woven together through music, rivalry and their emotions.
Pianist Kang Bi-oh (Song Kang) is a prodigy and has come in first in everything his entire life. He has his future completely planned out in precision detail. But he has always been number one and never doubted that or had to fight for it. Choi Jeong-yo (Lee Jun-young) enters the high school. He had abandoned playing the piano because of his difficult childhood. But precisely the fact that there is competition ignites Jeong-yo’s passion to try again. Bi-oh is not expecting this sudden competition. Viola player Hong Jae-in (Jang Gyu-ri) is drawn to Bi-oh’s playing because it moves her. As the competition between Jeong-yo and Bi-oh intensifies, the passion and rivalry of all three also finds a synchronicity through the music.
