Next on Omona's to-watch list: upcoming Kdramas in January 2023
Happy new year drama watching Omona! Are you ready to start the new drama year? Aside from some revenge dramas, most notably one with Lee Sun Kyung, there are a few romantic, mature dramas coming up with Kang So Ra, Jung Kyung Ho, Kim Jung Hyun and Im Soo Hyang: will you pick one up?
Opinions are mine and should be taken lightly as they are just my first impressions. Other thoughts are welcomed!
Previous post: Kdramas in December
I marked trailers with English subtitles with an asterisk (*)
Click to viewThe Interest of Love*
Release date: 21 December 2022 on JTBC, Netflix
Runtime: Wednesday, Thursday
Cast: Yoo Yeon Seok, Moon Ga Young, Geum Sae Rok, Jung Ga RamPlot: Takes place at Nara Bank’s Yeongpo branch, which is celebrating the 99th anniversary of its foundation. The story focuses on the scandalous office romance between the characters Ha Sang Soo, Ahn Soo Young, Park Mi Kyung, and Jung Jong Hyun.
Ha Sang Soo, the senior head of the comprehensive consultation team at Nara Bank’s Yeongpo branch. Ha Sang Soo has had this position for three years already, and he is a handsome, intelligent, and sturdy person who will not waver in the face of life’s difficulties. Although he is an upright character, Ha Sang Soo is not cold or too formal but rather warmhearted with a humorous side. Not to mention, he has an athletic form fit for a national athlete rather than a bank employee. He entered his job as the top employee from Nara Bank’s training center, so he is very popular but also the source of envy for many others.
Ahn Soo Young is a fourth-year chief bank teller at Nara Bank’s Yeongpo branch. Known as the goddess of Yeongpo branch, she possesses gorgeous looks and a sweet voice. She started off as a part-time teller and is now a fourth-year chief, but she seems to be forever stuck at that level.
Park Mi Kyung comes from a rich family. She is self-assertive and quite open about her feelings. When she has someone that she likes, she makes that person join her side no matter what. She enters a relationship that doesn't go as she wishes.
Jung Jong Hyun is studying for an exam to become a police officer. He has a personality that drives him do his best in everything. He lives in a harsh situation.Add to watch-list or skip? Missed this drama in my previous post so that why you're seeing a 2022 drama on this list! For some reason I thought this would be a romcom, but it seems to be a steamy melodrama instead. This could be an interesting role for Moon Gayoung and I like Geum Sae Rok as well after seeing her in Youth of May and The Fiery Priest. Still, I'm not sure if I'll watch because the plot is still quite unclear to me and that makes me wonder whether this drama will be able to keep my attention for 16 episodes. And is it just my Shownu brainrot or do he and Yoo Yeonseok look alike?
Brain Corporation*
Release date: 2 January 2023 on KBS2
Runtime: Monday, Tuesday
Cast: Jung Yong Hwa, Cha Tae Hyun, Kwak Sun Young, Ye Ji WonPlot: Shin Ha Ru works as a neuroscientist. He comes from a family that has had doctors for 3 generations and he is wealthy from inherited property. Shin Ha Ru is a confident person who acts and speaks according to his convictions, but he has no mercy for people he views as scum.
Geum Myung Se works as a detective. He acts and speaks surly around people, which causes people unfamiliar with him to assume he might be a corrupt cop. In reality, Geum Myung Se is a kind and righteous detective. He was also once married to Kim Mo Ran. She has a particularly strong libido.
Shin Ha Ru and Geum Myung Se solve criminal cases together with help of Hypnotic Investigator Seol So Jung.Add to watch-list or skip? "She has a particularly strong libido"?? I hope this is a mistranslation. This detective drama sounds kind of wild in general. It could be kind of fun if the drama would focus on medical mispractices or something but I don't think I'll pick it up.
Payback
Release date: 6 January on SBS
Runtime: Friday, Saturday
Cast: Lee Sun Kyun, Moon Chae Won, Kang Yoo Seok, Park HoonPlot: “Payback” follows the revenge story of a group of people-including Eun Yong, a money trader-who refuse to remain silent in the face of unjust authorities and fight against a cartel conspiring with the law.
Add to watch-list or skip? This is Lee Sun Kyun's drama return since 2021, when he starred in the mini-series Dr. Brain. This looks like an action-packed revenge drama - I'm not in the mood for it, but I'm sure a lot of watchers will love this. And 12 episodes promises good pacing!
Agency
Release date: 7 January on JTBC
Runtime: Saturday, Sunday
Cast: Lee Bo Young, Jo Sung Ha, Son Na Eun, Han Joon Woo, Jeon Hye JinPlot: An office drama depicting a woman who became the first female executive in her group to make her career beyond her first to the highest position. In the background of an advertising agency, it contains realistic stories of the daily lives of those who live a life like war and behind the scenes in the industry.
Add to watch-list or skip? If you're in the mood for a girlboss drama, look no further! Also former Apink's Naeun seems to be playing a spoiled brat in this show.
Joong, the Joseon Psychiatrist season 2*
Release date: 11 January on TVN
Runtime: Wednesday, Thursday
Cast: Kim Min Jae, Kim Hyang Gi, Kim Sang Kyun, Kang Young Seok, Woo Da ViPlot: Couldn't find a plot summary for this drama, only that the drama is 10 episodes and will continue where it left off in season 1.
Add to watch-list or skip? I didn't realize this drama was popular enough for a second season? Or did they split the show up? Anyway, this was a Kdrama that aired in August (see this post) and I remember vaguely some positive reviews for the drama, that it treated the small stories of hurt and mental illness in the Joseon era quite well. Maybe I should check out the first season.
Crash Course in Romance
Release date: 14 January on TVN
Runtime: Saturday, Sunday
Cast: Jeon Do Yeon, Jung Kyung HoPlot: Nam Haeng Sun used to be a national athlete. She now runs a side dish store. She has a super positive personality and unlimited like stamina. She takes another turn and enters the private education field, which is for students preparing for their university entrance exam. Unexpectedly, Nam Haeng Sun gets involved with Choi Chi Yeol.
Choi Chi Yeol is a popular instructor in the private education field and is known as Ilta Instructor (most popular instructor). He works hard at his job. As an instructor to his students, he speaks without reserve and implements showmanship in his lessons. He has accumulated wealth and fame as a popular instructor, but, with increasing success, he has become more sensitive, prickly, and indifferent to people. He then meets Nam Haeng Sun with her super positive personality and never ending stamina. The relationship between Nam Haeng Sun and Choi Chi Yeol develops romantically.Add to watch-list or skip? Honestly, this looks kind of fun? We know Jeon Doyeon and Jung Kyungho can handle comedic roles well too!
Can we be strangers?
Release date: 18 January on ENA
Runtime: Wednesday, Thursday (12 episodes)
Cast: Kang So Ra, Jang Seung JoPlot: It follows an ex-married couple who are both lawyers that specialize in divorce. They find themselves working together as colleagues dealing with cases related to divorce and relationships.
Add to watch-list or skip? Kang Sora is back! It's been 84 years! This looks like a cute romcom of two exes who probably will get together by working together again.
Kkokdu: Season of Deity
Release date: 27 January on MBC
Runtime: Friday, Saturday
Cast: Kim Jung Hyun, Im Soo Hyang, Kim Da Som, Ahn Woo Yeon,Plot: A fantasy medical drama about a high-ranking grim reaper named Kkok Du, who is the only being to exist in the underworld. Every 99 years, the cold and cruel Kkok Du must take a break from his job in the underworld and spend 49 days in the mortal realm-and this time, he winds up inhabiting the body of the human Do Jin Woo. While living as Do Jin Woo, he meets Han Gye Jeol, a female doctor who has the mysterious ability to order Kkok Du around.
Add to watch-list or skip? This is Kim Junghyun's return to drama after the dispute with his former company and news about his mental health, odd behavior to the female staff in his former drama Time and relationship with Son Yea Ji came out (see Omona Post). Honestly, I am still not sure what to think of that whole situation and I wonder how this drama will do for him, Im Soohyang and SISTAR's Dasom - it looks like a fantasy romcom. Will you watch and let me know if it's good, Omona?
Source: Drama information via MyDramalist & Asianwiki | Drama trailers via The Swoon, Viu Singapore, SBS Now, JTBC Drama, soldado, TVN drama, Studio Genie, MBC Drama | gif via dusiks on tumblr
Which drama will you start the new year with? And what are your drama resolutions/intentions for the year?