2026 is kicking off with lots of new kdramas to check out! Hopefully, we start the year off right with some good ones. Let’s see what we have to look forward to in this January 2026 edition of “Korean Dramas You Need to Be Watching.”
This monthly series is meant to keep you updated on what’s happening in that amazing world of Korean dramas so that you don’t miss out on anything! Here are the kdramas you should keep an eye out for in January 2026:
My Pick:
1. To My Beloved Thief
To My Beloved Thief is a historical romantic comedy about a woman (Nam Ji Hyun) who unintentionally becomes a righteous thief that swaps souls with a prince (Moon Sang Min) who likes to help solve cases and has been pursuing her.
To My Beloved Thief is scheduled to premiere in January 3 on KBS.
PREMIERING IN JANUARY:
2. Undercover Miss Hong
Undercover Miss Hong is a romantic comedy set during the 1990’s IMF crisis where a financial supervisory officer (Park Shin Hye) goes undercover as a recently graduated 20 year old to investigate suspicious happenings at a security firm.
Undercover Miss Hong is scheduled to premiere January 17 on tvN.
3. The Judge Returns
The Judge Returns is about a judge (Ji Sung) who is falsely accused and tragically dies but is then transported back in time 20 years where he gets involved with a prosecutor (Won Jin Ah) trying to bring down the chairman responsible for her father’s death.
The Judge Returns is scheduled to premiere January 2 on MBC.
4. No Tail to Tell
No Tail to Tell is a fantasy romantic comedy about a carefree gumiho (Kim Hye Yoon) who has no desire to become human but accidentally becomes one after getting involved with a narcissistic star soccer player (Lomon).
No Tail to Tell is scheduled to premiere January 16 on SBS.
5. Spring Fever
Spring Fever is a romance about an exchange teacher (Lee Joo Bin) who moves to a small town after going through emotional difficulties in Seoul. She meets a man (Ahn Bo Hyun) in the village known for his crazy antics and begins to open up and heal.
Spring Fever is scheduled to premiere January 5 on tvN.
6. Positively Yours
Positively Yours follows the romance between a successful career woman (Oh Yeon Seo) with no desire to marry who unexpectedly becomes pregnant and the company president (Choi Jin Hyuk) who wants to marry her when he finds out he’s the father.
Positively Yours is scheduled to premiere January 17 on Channel A.
7. Can This Love Be Translated?
Can This Love Be Translated? follows the romance between an interpreter (Go Youn Jung) and a top actor (Kim Seon Ho) who express love in opposite ways and frequently misunderstand each other.
Can This Love Be Translated? is scheduled to premiere January 16 on Netflix.
CURRENTLY AIRING IN JANUARY:
8. Idol I
Idol I is a mystery romance about a star lawyer (Sooyoung ) who ends up defending her favorite idol (Kim Jae Young) who becomes a murder suspect.
Idol I airs Monday and Tuesday on ENA.
9. Surely Tomorrow
Surely Tomorrow is a romantic comedy about an entertainment reporter (Park Seo Joon) who reunites with his ex-girlfriend (Won Ji An) after her husband is involved in a cheating scandal.
Surely Tomorrow airs Saturday and Sunday on JTBC.
10. Pro Bono
Pro Bono is a comedy about a materialistic judge (Jung Kyung Ho) who is also a popular legal influencer that ends up stepping down to become a public interest lawyer. He then meets another public interest lawyer (So Ju Yeon) who is passionate about helping people.
Pro Bono airs Saturday and Sunday on tvN.
Other Premieres & Ongoing Dramas
(These dramas will be highlighted in the coming months)
Villains
AND SO YOU’RE UP TO DATE,
OTHER DRAMAS THAT WILL BE ENDING IN JANUARY:
Made in Korea
Made in Korea follows major events that happened during the turbulent 1970’s in Korea and tells the story of a man (Hyun Bin) driven by wealth and ambition and a prosecutor (Jung Woo Sung) who gives up everything to stop him.
Made in Korea airs Wednesday on Disney+.
Love Me
Love Me is the story of a successful but lonely Obstetrics and Gynecology doctor (Seo Hyun Jin) as she grows and matures.
Love Me airs Friday and Saturday on JTBC.
Taxi Driver 3
Taxi Driver 3 is about a taxi service where the drivers help their passengers get revenge on those who wronged them which includes a taxi driver (Lee Je Hoon) that was a special forces officer whose mother was murdered by a serial killer.
Taxi Driver 3 airs Friday and Saturday on SBS.
What dramas are you looking forward to or enjoying in January?
Make sure to get caught up because there are more dramas coming your way in February!
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