Edited by Hong Hyun Jung
Translated by Kim Y.U
Many tvN series have been successful in grabbing our eyeballs. Great shows such as Vincenzo received excellent ratings and massive popularity, not to mention Luca: The Beginning and Mouse, which got steady good reviews from fans who love the genre. Navillera was highly acclaimed for its quality. And Mine, which is currently airing, is starting to see an uptrend. For the rest of the year, tvN will present a more eclectic series. Here are the best 11 upcoming tvN series, ranging from star-studded k-dramas to popular franchise shows.
1. Hospital playlist 2 (June 17th)
Starring: Jo Jung Seok, Yoo Yeon Seok, Jung Kyung Ho, Kim Dae Myung, Jeon Mi Do
Synopsis: The stories of friendship and love of 20-year friends who understand each other just by looking at one another’s eyes in the setting of a hospital.
Checkpoint: 1) Unlike conventional medical dramas, it tells a warm story that depicts ordinary daily life, focusing on the friendship and humanity of the five. 2) The actors’ genuine friendship chemistry. 3) The second season will also be released worldwide on Netflix.
2. Voice 4: Time for Judgment (June 18th)
Starring: Lee Ha Na, Song Seung Heon
Synopsis: With a rise of a murderer committing a brutal crime with super hearing power, a voice profiler Kang Kwon Ju, cornered by a criminal with the same ability as the murderer, and Derek Who, an uncompromising detective, team up and solve cases together.
Checkpoint: 1) The series moved from OCN to tvN. 2) The chemistry between original member Lee Ha Na and new cast Song Seung Heon. 3) The strong presence of the villain after Kim Jae Wook, Kwon Yul, and Park Byung Eun.
3. The Devil Judge (July 3rd)
Starring: Ji Sung, Kim Min Jung, Jinyoung, Park Kyu Young
Synopsis: A show that delivers a message about justice through a live court show which involves the entire nation in the fictional setting of dystopian Korea.
Checkpoint: 1) Ji Sung will be undergoing a transformation into a judge who relentlessly punishes greedy people in power. 2) Ji Sung and Kim Min Jung reunited for the first time in 13 years since New Heart. 3) The second work of Moon Yoo Seok, who wrote Miss Hammurabi (2018) and used to be a judge before turning into a writer.
4. You Are My Spring (July 5th)
Starring: Seo Hyun Jin, Kim Dong Wook, Yoon Park, Nam Gyu Ri
Synopsis: A story of the people with the seven-year-old child inside their hearts, who happen to reside in a building where a murder case took place.
Checkpoint: 1) Rom-com queen Seo Hyun Jin’s return. 2) Having a unique setting of a murder case 3) Healing romance that delivers excitement and comfort.
5. The Road: 1 Tragedy (Undecided)
Starring: Ji Seok Jin, Yoon Se Ah, Kim Hye Eun
Synopsis: The story of the ugly desires, secrets, guilt, and redemption of the people who live in ‘Royal the Hill’, where only the top 1% upper class live.
Checkpoint: 1) Based on an original novel by famous Japanese mystery writer Rintaro Norikizu. 2) Tells the story of hypocritical upper classes such as Sky Castle, Mine, and Penthouse.
6. Gaetmaul Chachachacha (Undecided)
Starring: Shin Min Ah, Kim Sun Ho
Synopsis: The romance between Yoon Hye Jin, a realist dentist, and Hong Ban Jang, an unemployed man with versatile abilities.
Checkpoint: 1) A remake of Mr. Handy (2004) 2) Startup writer Kim Sun Ho’s most anticipating upcoming series. 3) Shin Min Ah returned to romantic comedy after starring in Tomorrow With You (2017).
7. High Class (Undecided)
Starring: Cho Yu Jung, Kim Ji Soo, Ha Jun, Park Se Jin, Gong Hyun Joo
Synopsis: A mystery takes place in a prestigious international school when a woman encounters her dead husband’s mistress as the mother of her son’s classmate.
Checkpoint: 1) A secret story behind the perfect lives of upper-class women. 2) An ensemble of four female actors.
8. Yumi’s cells (Undecided)
Starring: Kim Go Eun, Ahn Bo Hyun, Lee Yu Bi, Park Ji Hyun
Synopsis: A romance that delightfully shows the daily life of ordinary office worker Yumi and her romantic relationship from the perspective of the cells in her head.
Checkpoint: 1) Based on the popular original webtoon, which garnered 3.2 billion views. 2) The synchronization between the actors and the original characters. 3) The chemistry between Kim Go Eun, who plays an ordinary office worker Yumi, and Ahn Bo Hyun, who plays a game developer Gu Woong falling in love with Yumi at first sight. 4) Available both on tvN and TVING.
9. Cliffhanger (Undecided)
Starring: Jun Ji Hyun, Ju Ji Hoon, Sung Dong Il, Oh Jung Se
Synopsis: The story of people going into the woods with a setting of the vast Jiri mountain.
Checkpoint: 1) Jun Ji Hyun returns to the TV series as a lead role after starring in The Legend of the Blue Sea. 2) Combination between stars and famous production crew. 3) The most anticipated series in 2021.
10. Assa and Joy (Undecided)
Starring: Ok Taek Yeon, Kim Hye Yoon
Synopsis: A comical investigation series set in the Joseon Dynasty between a young man who became a royal officer and a widow seeking happiness.
Checkpoint: 1) A fictional historical series. 2) The encounter between Vincenzo‘s Ok Taek Yeon and Kim Hye Yoon from Sky Castle and Extraordinary You.
11. Bulgasal (Working title)
Starring: Lee Jin Wook, Kwon Na Ra, Lee Joon, Gong Seung Yeon
Synopsis: A story of a woman, who remembers her past life repeating death and reincarnation for 600 years, and an immortal man who has been a monster for 600 years.
Checkpoint: 1) A fantasy series with a 40 billion won budget. 2) Lee Jin Wook, who successfully returned to the small screen with Sweet Home 3) Will Kwon Na Ra continue to lead a successful series after Itaewon Class, Royal Secret Agent.
Editor Hong Hyun Jung: K-content guide who publishes various articles for people to enjoy Korean movies and dramas deeper and richer. I’ll introduce you to the works that you can laugh, cry and sympathize with.
Translator Kim Y.U: Welcome K-pop, K-drama, K-movie, K-culture fans. I hope you enjoy our news about K-entertainment.
