Next on Omona's to-watch list: upcoming Kdramas in May 2023
It's gonna be May and we'll see the return of a for some long awaited sequel of Tale of the Nine Tailed with Kim Dong Wook, Kim Bum and Park So Yeon. The rest of the month is filled with a few interesting plots, from the environmental dystopian thriller Black Night with Kim Woo Bin to the perhaps already underrated healing One Day Off with Lee Na Young. The dramas airing this month are generally shorter, with more 6-12 episode dramas than the standard 16 episodes, and a lot of them are OTT dramas starring idols, like Sehun, Lee Dong Hae, Yeri and Yunho.
Opinions are mine and should be taken lightly as they are just my first impressions. Other thoughts are welcomed!
Previous post: Kdramas in April
I marked trailers with English subtitles with an asterisk (*)
Click to viewMy Perfect Stranger*
Release date: 1 May on KBS2, Viu
Runtime: Monday & Tuesday
Cast: Kim Dong Wook, Jin Ki JooPlot: Yoon Hae Joon is the youngest anchor to ever work at his broadcasting station. He is calm and straightforward as a journalist and kind in his personal life. Baek Yoon Young dreamed of becoming a writer, but wound up working at a publishing company.
The two somehow travel back in time to the year 1987. There, Yoon Hae Joon tries to find the truth behind a serial murder case while Baek Yoon Young attempts to prevent her parents from marrying. They soon realize that their objectives are connected.Add to watch-list or skip? The vibe.mp3 of this trailer is so different from what I expected reading the plot! What's with kdramas and their serial killer plots lately?
All That We Loved*
Release date: 5 May on TVING
Runtime: Friday & Saturday (?)
Cast: Oh Se Hun, Jang Yeo Bin, Jo Joon YoungPlot: Depicts the solid friendship and sincere love story of 18-year-old youths who cannot give up love or friendship. The drama deals with the unique subject of cellular memory, which hypothesizes that memory is transferred to organ transplant recipients.
Go Yoo is an 18-year-old student in his second year of Hara High School. Go Yoo grows taller everyday, and he is often praised as a genius at basketball, which he originally started in order to grow taller. He’s also a charming student who manages to at least do averagely in school despite not studying. Go Yoo is too busy to date, and he’s preoccupied with protecting Joon Hee, but after he donates his kidney to Joon Hee, he becomes rivals in love with Joon Hee for the school’s No. 1 student and his first love So Yeon due to cellular memory syndrome.Add to watch-list or skip? You know the only acceptable outcome for this kdrama is that they end up in a poly relationship, right? But if you're in the mood for eight 35 minute episodes, high teen romance and shawty imma party til the sun down Sehun acting, go for it!
Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938*
Release date: 6 May on TVN
Runtime: Saturday & Sunday
Cast: Lee Dong Wook, Kim So Yeon, Kim Bum, Ryu Kyung SooPlot: An unexepcted case lead Lee Yeon back in time to the year 1938 where he reencounters Ryu Hong Joo. Once a guardiang spirit of the mountain in the west, she's now the owner of a high-end restaurant in the capital city of Gyeongseong.
He also meets his younger brother Lee Rang. Meenwhile, another former guardian spirit and ex-friend Cheon Moo Young has become hostile. Lee Yeon struggles to return to the present, to his loved one.Add to watch-list or skip? Ugh, I didn't want to start this drama because I turned out very mixed on the first season... But I loved Kim Bum and the addition of Kim So Yeon, the historical setting and only 12 episodes makes it a very tempting watch.
Race*
Release date: 10 May on Hulu/Disney+
Runtime: Wednesday & Thursday (?)
Cast: Lee Yun Lee, Hong Jong Hyun, Moon So Ri, YunhoPlot: Office politics take center stage for marketer Park Yoon Jo, whose lack of an academic background won’t deter his dedication to his work, and the smart and just Ryu Jae Min, who lacks any expectations towards their company.
Add to watch-list or skip? I love a good office drama! I'm not particularly drawn to this one though. Hong Jong Hyun has come a long way from starring in 2NE1's falling in love though!!
Black Knight*
Release date: 12 May on Netflix
Runtime: Friday
Cast: Kim Woo Bin, Song Seung Heon, Kang Yoo Seok, EsomPlot: In 2071, toxic air pollution had devastated the world, leaving only 1% of the population alive. People rarely leave their homes without gas masks, and delivery drivers known as knights protect and deliver packages. One legendary knight, Knight 5-8, meets a young refugee named Sa Wol who dreams of becoming a knight. With the help of Seol A, an officer in the Defense Intelligence Command, Knight 5-8 trains and mentors Sa Wol, helping him achieve his dream in a dangerous and harsh world.
Add to watch-list or skip? The Michael Bay explosion at the end lol! This is not a type of drama I usually go for, but I really like the cast and the environmental premise of the show, so I might check it out. Only 6 episodes too!
Oh! Youngsimi
Release date: 15 March on ENA
Runtime: Monday & Tuesday
Cast: Song Ha Joon, Lee Dong Hae, Lee Min Jae, Jung Woo YeonPlot: Oh Young Sim is single and in her 30’s. She has worked as a TV variety show PD for 8 years. She wants to make people laugh with her TV shows, but they were always cancelled due to low popularity ratings. Her career is now in a crisis. She has a chance to produce a love entertainment show as a pilot program. For the show, Oh Young Sim casts famous start-up founder Mark Wang as a guest. She is surprised that Mark Wang is Wang Kyung Tae. When they were little, Wang Kyung Tae had a crush on Oh Young Sim and he always let her know how he felt about her. Oh Young Sim did not feel the same way towards Wang Kyung Tae at the time. He then suddenly moved to the United States with his family. They lost contact with each other afterwards.
Now, 20 years after they were last together, Wang Kyung Tae appears in front of her as CEO Mark Wang. Meanwhile, PD Lee Chae Dong works with PD Oh Young Sim in the same variety show department. He is always on her side. Also around Oh Young Sim is her friend Goo Wol Sook. She runs popular YouTube video channel “Ku’s Date.”Add to watch-list or skip? I think I'll rather stick to the funny and lovable Bo! Ra! Deborah! for my workplace romcom needs, especially since it doesn't include a Suju member as far as I know. 10 eps though!
One Day Off
Release date: 24 May on Wavve
Runtime: Wednesday
Cast: Lee Na YoungPlot: Set in the 1990's, Park Ha Kyung teaches Korean literature at a high school. To escape her ordinary days, Park Ha Kyung decides to take one day trips on Saturdays. During her one day trip, she walks around, eats different foods, and meets various people. She realizes she receives comfort and empathy through her travels.
Add to watch-list or skip? This eight episode drama looks absolutely lovely! I'm very excited for the guest stars too.
Delightfully Deceitful*
Release date: 29 May on TVN
Runtime: Monday & Tuesday
Cast: Chun Woo Hee, Kim Dong Wook, Yoon Park, Park So JinPlot: A revenge drama about a con artist who lacks empathy and an attorney who is excessively empathetic by nature. In order to battle evil, these two polar opposites team up to form an unlikely alliance.
Add to watch-list or skip? I'm not the biggest fan of this particular genre but hey, Sojin's in another drama and I'll always celebrate her employment!
Bitch X Rich
Release date: 31 May on Wavve/Netflix (expected)
Runtime: Wednesday & Thusday (?)
Cast: Lee Eun Saem, Yeri, Lee Jong Hyuk, Yoo Jung HooPlot: Baek Je Na is a third-generation conglomerate and a gold spoon of the highest class at Cheongdam International High School. Kim Hye In grew up in poverty and is offered a chance to study at the Cheongdam International High School in exchange for her silence on a murder she witnessed. Cheongdam International High School is a homicide mystery that follows Je Na’s rivalry with Kim Hye In as they are pitted against each other in mental warfare.
Add to watch-list or skip? Again a murder plot, this time set in a high school. I thinkt his could be an interesting role for Yeri, though!
Happiness Battle
Release date: 31 May on ENA
Runtime: Wednesday & Thursday
Cast: Lee El, Jin Seo Yun, Cha Ye Ryun, Park Hyo Joo, Woo Jeong WonPlot: A suspense drama depicting mothers engaged in a fierce social media battle to destroy each others' happiness for their own, to free themselves from oppression, hurt, and secrets, and regain their true selves.
Add to watch-list or skip? I'll have to see trailers for this and see if I'm in a mood for a mom scheme drama.
Source: Drama information via MyDramalist & AsianWiki | Trailers via ViuSingapore, TVING, Prime Video Philippines, DisneyPlus Hotstar Malaysia, Netflix, StudioGenie, Wavve, Drama Zone | gif via mangodelorean on Tumblr
What are you watching Omona? I'm enjoying Bo! Ra! Deborah (True to Love) and Stealer: the Treasure Keeper at the moment.