Summer Edition: K-Drama List

As we venture into the second half of 2020, I've compiled the summer edition of the list of K-dramas to look forward to that is set to premiere from June until August - just about the same time as we are now in the phase of  'Recovering Movement Control Order (RMCO) in Malaysia. 

I hope these dramas will keep you company and entertained as we all brace through this difficult time. It's not over until it's over, guys so stay safe and healthy! Without further ado, let's dive in! 

Summer Edition: K-Drama

Dinner Mate (저녁 같이 드실래요?)

Release: May 2020 (32 episodes)

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Life 

Starring: Song Seung Hoon, Seo Ji Hye, Lee ji Hoon, Son Na Eun

Screenwriter: Kim Joo

Director: Go Jae Hyun (Player, Black)

Adapted from the webcomic "Jeonyeok Kati Deusilraeyo?" by Park Shi In, this drama talks about the stories of two individuals who have grown jaded about romance after their painful experiences in love. After their fateful encounter in Jeju, a love-hate relationship soon develops between Kim Hae Kyung, a psychiatrist and Woo Do Hee, a producer for a media company. Yet that on that one evening, life has its way of uniting them in Seoul for their love for food. 

I've been hearing good reviews about this drama from a friend but haven't got the chance to start yet and now I think I see some references from Crash Landing On You in the upcoming episodes! 

It's Okay Not To Be Okay (사이코지만 괜찮아)

Release: June 2020 (16 episodes)

Genre: Psychological, Comedy, Romance, Melodrama

Starring: Kim Soo Hyun, Seo Ye Ji, Oh Jung Se, Park Kyu Young

Screenwriter: Jo Yong (After the Rain, Jugglers)

Director: Park Shin Woo (Trap, Encounter, Jealousy Incarnate)

In this drama, Moon Kang Tae is a community health worker at a psychiatric ward who lives a far-from-leisurely life while Ko Moon Young is a writer of children's literature who suffers from antisocial personality disorder. This is a story of a man who defies love and a woman who doesn't know love - an unusual romance bloomed when they realized that they might be the ones to heal each other.

Oh wow the visuals for this drama - I mean it is definitely about time to see Kim Soo Hyun on the screen again after all his cameos in Crash Landing on You and Hotel Del Luna. 

Backstreet Rookie (편의점 샛별이)

Release: June 2020 (16 episodes)

Genre: Action, Comedy, Romance

Starring: Ji Chang Wook, Kim Yoo Jung, Han Sun Hwa, Do Sang Woo

Screenwriter: Son Geun Joo (Too Hot to Die, Sweet, Savage Family)

Director: Lee Myung Woo (The Fiery Priest)

Based on the popular 2016 webtoon “Convenience Store Saet-byul” by Hwalhwasan, this is a story of Choi Dae Hyun who runs a convenience store and his athletic part-timer, Jung Saet Byul. Since their first encounter four years ago, he became imprinted on her. Watch how their love story begins to unfold within the familiar scene of a convenience store. 

Did We Love (우리 사랑했을까)

Release: July 2020 (16 episodes)

Genre: Romance, Comedy, Drama

Starring: Song Ji Hyo, Son Ho Jun, Song Jong Ho, Koo Ja Song, Kim Min Joon and Kim Da Som

Director: Kim Do Hyung

This drama talks about the life of Noh Ae Jung, a movie producer and a single mother living alone for 14 years. She suddenly find herself embarking on another chapter on romance with four different men - her ex-boyfriend, an A-list actor, a cheerful and confident physical education teacher and a former gangster now turned CEO. 

Flower of Evil (악의 꽃)

Release: July 2020 (16 episodes)

Genre: Thriller

Starring: Lee Joon Gi and Moon Chae Won

Screenwriter: Yoo Jung Hee (Naked Fireman)

Director: Kim Chul Gyu (On the Way to the Airport, Chicago Writer and Mother) 

On the surface, Baek Hee-Sung appears as an ideal husband who works hard at the metal-working studio to provide for his wife and daughter. However, there are some very dark secrets beneath this perfect exterior that he would keep them hidden from his detective wife, Cha Ji-Won. As a homicide detective, Cha Ji-Won is always on a quest for the truth but she find herself going down a path only to find that the criminal she has been chasing may have been standing next to her all along. 

This sounds just like my kind of drama and especially with Lee Joon-Gi and Moon Chae-Won as the main leads, I have to say that this seems promising! Good chance I'll have this on my list ;) 

Love Alarm Season 2 (좋아하면 울리는 2)

Release: August (8 episodes)

Genre: School, Romance, Friendship 

Starring: Kim So Hyun, Jung Ga Ram, Song Kang 

Screenwriter: Lee Ah Yeon, Seo Bo Ra (Love Alarm)

Director: Lee Na Jung (Fight For My Way)

A continuation from the highly raved first season, season 2 is coming up this August! Based on a popular webtoon, Love Alarm is an app that one could use to find out who likes them within 10 meters around them. A simple yet charming love triangle that made hearts flutter and filled with anticipation to find out who Kim Jo-Jo will give her heart to!  

What I'm Watching

Just in case you're curious about what I'm watching, here's what I have on my list!

Mr. Sunshine (미스터 션샤인)

Release: July to September 2018 (24 episodes)

Genre: Action, Military, Historical, Romance 

Starring: Lee Byung Hoon, Kim Tae Ri, Yoo Yeon Seok, Kim Min Jung

Screenwriter: Kim Eun Sook 

Director: Lee Eung Bok

A drama that centers about Eugene Choi who was born into slavery in Joseon but escaped to the United States after the 1871 Shinmiyangyo (U.S. expedition to Korea). He later returns to Joseon as a U.S marine officer and falls in love with an aristocrat's daughter, Go Ae-Shin. While he's in Joseon, he discovers a plot by foreign forces to colonize Korea and soon, he becomes embroiled in the fight for Joseon’s sovereignty.

Just started watching this a few days ago after finishing The King: Eternal Monarch and a few episodes in, I'm hooked to the storyline. Don't get me started on the cinematography and the architecture in this drama - it is clearly top notch and as expected from Goblin's screenwriter and director.

Love, Sara