PICK: New Korean Dramas to Watch in September 2023

Edited by Hong Hyun Jung
Translated by Yu Jin Kim

A Time Called You (9/8)

A Time Called You, the remake of the Taiwanese movie Someday or One Day, is set for its release in September. This mystery romance drama follows Jun Hee (Jeon Yeo Been), who tragically loses her boyfriend in a sudden accident. The story transports us back to 1998, where she encounters Si Heon (Ahn Hyo Seop), a man who bears a striking resemblance to her late boyfriend, along with his friend In Gyu (Kang Hoon). Anticipation is running high as Ahn Hyo Seop, Jeon Yeo Been, and Kang Hoon take on the lead roles in the upcoming show. All eyes are on how the drama will differentiate itself from the original series and whether it will garner favorable reviews from viewers.

Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramoon (9/9)

Arthral Chronicles is making a comeback after four years with a new season with two fresh faces. Lee Joon Gi and Shin Se Kyung are taking over the roles previously played by Song Joong Ki and Kim Ji Won, and they’ll be sharing the screen with Jang Dong Gun and Kim Ok Bin. The show’s streaming platform has also shifted from Netflix to Disney Plus, following its TV broadcast on tvN. This season, which picks up eight years after Season 1, is expected to deliver a more intense clash between Arthdal and the Ago Union, all with a faster pace. The question on everyone’s mind is whether this new season will manage to capture the viewers’ hearts.

The Day (9/13)

While ENA’s series continue to achieve remarkable success, a new drama is poised to meet viewers. Titled The Day, this upcoming comical thriller stars Yoon Kye Sang, Park Sung Hoon, Yoona, and Kim Shin Rok. Based on a novel of the same name, the drama portrays a unique collaboration between a clumsy kidnapper and an 11-year-old genius girl. Curiosity is growing as to whether the show will successfully adapt the original work into a drama, preserving its delightful atmosphere while delivering the tension and excitement of a thriller.

Han River Police (9/13)

Building on the success of its latest Korean series Moving, Disney Plus is gearing up to maintain its momentum with the introduction of two new shows in September. One of the upcoming shows is Han River Police, a comical investigative series that revolves around the policemen stationed at the Han River who find themselves caught up in a dangerous incident that unfolds in the river area. The cast features skilled actors like Kwon Sang Woo, Kim Hee Won, Sung Dong Il, Le Sang Yi, Bae Da Bin, and Shin Hyun Seung. There’s a lot of excitement around this show due to the strong cast and the distinctive theme centered on the river police force.

7 Escape (9/15)

Writer Kim Soon Ok and director Joo Dong Min behind The Penthouse series are returning with 7 Escape, another intriguing tale revolving around captivating villains. The show features The Penthouse actors Um Ki Jun, Shin Eun Kyung, and Yoon Jong Hoon, along with a star-studded cast including Lee Joon, Hwang Jung Eum, Lee Yu Bi, Lee Deok Hwa, and Jo Yoon Hee. The series follows the struggles of those involved in the disappearance of a girl and the grim consequences they face. With its promising plot and intense induction, viewers are left wondering whether this new thriller can replicate the massive success of The Penthouse franchise.

Hyo-shim’s Independent Life (9/16)

Will Hyo-shim’s Independent Life help reverse KBS’ declining trend in weekend dramas? The series portrays a daughter who has consistently put her family’s needs before her own, but now decides to break free and seek an independent life. The drama seems to have integrated the evolving times into the familiar theme of “family,” a topic frequently explored in KBS Saturday-Sunday dramas. The 50-episode series will feature Uee, Ha Jun, Go Joo Won, and Nam Bo Ra in starring roles.

Song of the Bandits (9/22)

Kim Nam Gil will be stepping into the role of a lively action hero. Song of the Bandits tells the story of a group of people who come together in the lawless land of Gando, situated in the Chinese territory in 1920. In the land where Japanese money and Korean people converge, they unite to protect their loved ones and their livelihoods. Similar to the film The Good, the Bad, the Weird, this drama adopts the Spaghetti Western genre. Led by Kim Nam Gil, who takes on the role of the leader of the thieves, the upcoming shows’ cast includes Seohyun, Yoo Jae Myung, Lee Hyun Wook, and others.

Twinkling Watermelon (9/25)

A fresh and youthful drama is on its way. Starring Ryeoun, Choi Hyun Wook, Seol In Ah, and Choi Eun Soo, Twinkling Watermelon follows the story of Eun Gyeol,a musically talented boy born into a deaf family. Through a time slip to 1995, he partners with his father, Lee Chan, in his youth and forms a band to create a magical memory together. Interestingly, just like the recently concluded My Perfect Stranger, the drama takes a similar route of going back to parents’ teenage years. Twinkling Watermelon seems to focus on the theme of “first love” and promises to depict a vibrant tale of youth.

The Worst of Evil (9/27)

Disney Plus’s second new release for September is the crime drama The Worst of Evil, starring Ji Chang Wook and Wi Ha Jun. Set in the 1990s, the drama follows a policeman’s undercover operation to infiltrate a major drug ring operating in Gangnam, a hub for drug trade between Korea, China, and Japan. Ji Chang Wook takes on the role of the undercover cop, while Wi Ha Jun plays the drug syndicate’s leader operating in three countries. Scheduled for release before the Chuseok holiday and the extended holiday in early October on Disney Plus, viewers are curious to see whether it will achieve satisfactory results.

Edited Hong Hyun Jung: I am a 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.