Next on Omona's to-watch list: upcoming Kdramas in August 2022
I present to you seven dramas airing in the eighth month of this year! Will you go for the thrillers, the historical meets mental health, the contemporary tear jerker, the classic legal romcom or the quirky capitalist setting? Find these dramas and some returning actors within!
Opinions are mine and should be taken lightly as they are just my first impressions. Other thoughts are welcomed!
Previous post: Kdramas in July
I marked trailers with English subtitles with an asterisk (*)
Click to viewHunted
Release date: 1 August, MBC
Runtime: Monday
Cast: Park Ho San, Ye Soo Jung, Kim Soo JinPlot: While boar hunting goes on in an ordinary country village, a missing person case takes place. Surrounding the missing person case, the villager's secrets are revealed one by one.
Young-Soo (Park Ho-San) is a middle-aged man in the country village. He is married to Chae-Jung (Kim Soo-Jin). One day, Young-Soo goes into the mountain to hunt boars with his friends. The boars damage crops in the village. While in the mountain, Young-Soo faces an unexpected situation.
Ok-Soon (Ye Soo-Jung) has lived with her grandson since her son and daughter-in-law died in a fire. Ok-Soon believes the fire was set by some people in the village. She doesn't trust the villagers and, after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, she is even more wary of them.
Chae-Jung is Young-Soo’s wife. She often bursts out with anger at Young-Soo, but she is otherwise a warm-hearted person. Due to her personality, she is popular among the villagers. After her son goes missing on the day Young-Soo is boar hunting, she becomes mentally destroyed.Will I watch? I love it when dramas spotlight older actors in interesting roles. I am not sure if I will pick up this drama, but the plot sounds quite original for a thriller-crime drama in a small village setting!
Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist*
Release date: 1 August, TVN/Viki
Runtime: Monday, Tuesday
Cast: Kim Min Jae, Kim Hyang Gi, Kim Sang KyungPlot: Yoo Se Poong’s legendary abilities as a physician are well-known in the royal palace. Nonetheless, he was expelled from the royal court when his involvement in a conspiracy against the royal family came to light. He moves and begins work in the strange, but, beautiful, Gyesu Village.
There he meets Kye Ji Han, Sorak Village’s grumpy old doctor with the heart of gold. Upon the encounter with Yoo Se Poong, Kye Ji Han is motivated to transform the young doctor into one who heals hearts.
Another resident of the village is Seo Eun Woo, who hails from a noble family and has keen observational skills and deep empathy. Now a widow, she mirrors the stories of the heartbroken. She feels wronged by her sudden marriage and is about to become an unwilling wife who stays virtuous to a deceased husband. Will I watch? Don't you feel that there have been countless of Joseon [insert profession] dramas in K-Dramaland? This makes me feel this drama might fly under the radar for both domestic and international viewers. I am not sure whether I'll pick it up, unless I am looking forward to a light historical drama and I'm hearing positive reviews. Dramas dealing with mental health can often be tricky, but I do think it's interesting that this drama will show that mental health issues are not bound to the modern day.
If You Wish Upon Me*
Release date: 10 August, KBS2, VIU, VIki
Runtime: Wednesday, Thursday
Cast: Ji Chang Wook, Choi Soo Young, Sung Dong Il, Won Ji AnPlot: Yoon Gyeo Rye’s life has been tough. He lived at an orphanage and also spent time in a juvenile detention center and prison. He struggles to have a normal life. Due to an incident, he begins to volunteer at a hospice. There, he works with volunteer team leader Kang Tae Shik and nurse Seo Yeon Joo.
Will I watch? Will this be the first Ji Chang Wook drama I will pick up in years?? I think so! Not necessarily because I found his emotional acting in the trailer convincing, but the plot, albeit set-up as a tearjerker, sounds like it will tell small stories, something I always love in Korean Dramas. But actually I am mostly looking forward to Soo Young's acting after seeing her in Run on and Move to Heaven!
A Model Family*
Release date: 12 August, Netflix
Runtime: Friday
Cast: Jung Woo, Park Hee Soon, Yoon Jin Seo, Park Ji Yeon, Kim Sung OhPlot: The story follows what happens when an ordinary family that is on the verge of collapse due to bankruptcy and internal feuds gets involved with a bloodthirsty drug ring. In the midst of dangerous missions and close calls, the members of the family will band together and become a model family as they stand up against the drug ring that threatens their livelihoods.
Will I watch? Oooh this looks like a traditional thriller! Will Jung Woo go Liam Neeson style and turn on the gang to protect his family? I am mostly looking forward to see the rest of the family involved in the game, but only if they all go into therapy after!
Stockstruck*
Release date: 12 August, TVing
Runtime: Friday
Cast: Han Ji Eun, Hong Jong Hyun, Jang Gwang, Jung Moon Sung, Kim Sun Young
Plot: Five people, who invested in the stock market, take part in a mysterious stock meeting. There, they learn about life, love, and friendships through investing in stocks.
Yoo Mi Seo is set to marry very soon. She hasn't invest very long in the stock market, but so far she has lost money.
Choi Sun Woo is 33-years-old and works part-time at a convenience store. He is also a mysterious man. When he gets off from work at the convenience store, he drives an expensive imported car.
Kang San is a person who focuses on happiness and doesn't care about work or finding success. He works part-time to make a living.
Jung Haeng Ja runs her own pork feet restaurant.
After Kim Jin Bae retired from his job he began investing in the stock market.
Will I watch? Wow, Hong Jong Hyun, I haven't seen him in ages! Apparently he got discharged around this time last year. Anyway, a drama around stocks doesn't sound too appealing to me, but maybe the comedic focus on regular people investing in stocks might make it fun! And we all know that Kim Sun Young will do well in her role as always.
(I couldn't find a trailer but this 2 min script reading gives an early idea of the drama's vibe!)
Love by Law/The Law Cafe*
Release date: 29 August, KB2, Viu
Runtime: Monday, Tuesday
Cast: Lee Seung Gi, Lee Se Young, Kim Nam Hee, Kim Seul Gi, Oh Dong Min
Plot: A law romance drama that depicts the story of Kim Jeong Ho, a former prosecutor who is now a building owner, and Kim Yu Ri, a lawyer with a 4-D personality. The story will focus on the events surrounding a law firm that also runs as a cafe.
Kim Jeong Ho is a former prosecutor and current building owner who used to be known as a "monster genius". Kim Yu Ri is a lawyer who has a beautiful appearance but is not hesitant to show her fiery personality when witnessing injustice.
Will I watch? Kim Seul Gi finally in a kdrama main role again? And with Lee Se Young? Heaven be praised! If you've been following these posts then you'll probably know I love a good romcom and legal drama, and considering the cast I will tune in!
Unicorn
Release date: August (exact date unknown), Coupang Play
Runtime: ???
Cast: Shin Ha Kyun, Won Jin AhPlot: This sitcom follows the riveting tale of the crew at the fictional company McCom as they navigate the chaotic battlefield of Korean start-ups.Steve is the slightly mad mastermind behind McCom. Ashley is one of Steve’s smartest employees and a member of the innovation team at McCom.
Will I watch? I am generally not the biggest fan of sitcoms and especially the topic of startups in shows, so I will most likely pass on this one. However, I am curious to see how this drama will be received and how Won Jin Ah will do in a comedic role!
Source: My Dramalist 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 | MBCDrama 1 | Coupang Play 1 | Viu Philippines 1, 2 | The Swoon 1 | Zapzee official 1 | seunggiholic | mrmalcolmslist on Tumblr
What are you currently watching, Omona? Which dramas will you pick up this month, or are you waiting for other scheduled dramas?