This year has been a treat for K-drama fans, with the release of several highly anticipated series like A Shop for Killers and Queen of Tears. These dramas blend different genres, satisfying the diverse tastes of K-drama lovers.

As we move into May 2024, the excitement continues with a lineup of promising releases. From classic romance stories to interesting thrillers, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, both in South Korea and around the world.

So, as we eagerly await the arrival of May, K-drama fans can anticipate a wide array of fun stories and characters to grace their screens. Whether you’re a fan of heartwarming romances or pulse-pounding thrillers, there’s no shortage of quality content to enjoy, making May 2024 another exciting chapter in Korean drama.

1. Uncle Samsik

In 1960s South Korea, a new series begins, focusing on the bond between two men and the challenges they encounter during a chaotic period in their country’s past. The story revolves around Park Doo Chil, affectionately nicknamed Uncle Samsik, known for his unwavering resilience and ability to find comfort in the simple pleasures of life, like enjoying three meals a day even amidst wartime hardships.

On the other hand, we have Kim San, a distinguished figure hailing from the Korean Military Academy, driven by a noble vision of building a nation where every citizen can thrive and lead a prosperous life. As the narrative starts, viewers are immersed in the unique bromance between Park Doo Chil and Kim San, as they face the challenges of their personal lives and the larger socio-political landscape of 1960s South Korea.

Despite their differing backgrounds and aspirations, the two men find common ground in their shared desire for a better future for their country and its people. Together, they confront various obstacles and challenges, their friendship serving as a source of strength and support as they strive to overcome adversity and make a positive impact on the world around them.

• Release Date: May 15th, 2024
• Episodes: 16
• Where To Watch: Disney+

2. The 8 Show

Money Game or The 8 Show introduces a group of eight individuals facing financial hardships, all lured by the promise of a substantial cash prize on a reality-variety show. The catch? They must endure 100 days confined within a studio with nothing but concrete walls. If they manage to tough it out, they’ll split the grand prize of 44.8 billion won evenly among themselves.

However, every expense they incur, from basic necessities like food and water to utilities like electricity, is inflated to a thousand times its normal cost, eating into their potential winnings. As the contestants deal with the harsh reality of their situation, tensions run high as they face the challenges of survival within the confines of the studio.

With every purchase eating away at their potential prize money, they must carefully weigh their needs against the dwindling jackpot. The pressure mounts as they confront the harsh truth that even the most essential items come at a steep price, forcing them to strategize and cooperate to maximize their chances of success.

• Release Date: May 17th, 2024
• Episodes: 8
• Where To Watch: Netflix

3. Crash

Crash follows the Traffic Crime Investigation Team (TCI) as they focus on solving car-related crimes like insurance fraud and reckless driving. Cha Yeon Ho, a logical thinker from KAIST, joins forces with Min So Hee, a skilled investigator known for her calm approach and compassionate nature. Together, they tackle unusual cases within the realm of traffic crime, aiming to unravel the mysteries behind each incident.

With a keen eye for detail and a dedication to justice, Cha Yeon Ho and Min So Hee work alongside the traffic crime investigation team to crack down on various offenses, including self-harm blackmail and hit-and-runs. Despite facing challenges and obstacles along the way, their collaborative efforts bring them closer to finding the truth behind each case and ensuring that justice is served.

As they go through car-related crimes everyday, Cha Yeon Ho and Min So Hee rely on their expertise and teamwork to unravel the intricacies of each investigation. Their relentless pursuit of truth and commitment to making the roads safer for everyone drives them forward in their quest to uphold the law and protect the innocent.

• Release Date: May 13th, 2024
• Episodes: 12
• Where To Watch: ENA

4. Connection

Connection or Exposed Bonds is an intense thriller uncovering the twisted connections between a group of friends. Their investigation into the death of a high school mate, who left behind a hefty insurance payout of 5 billion won, reveals hidden truths. As they dig deeper, the once-solid friendship begins to crumble, bringing out secrets and betrayals.

Set against a backdrop of suspenseful detective work, Exposed Bonds is about the challenges of human relationships and the lengths people go to protect themselves. As tensions rise, the friends find themselves caught up in lies and manipulation, facing their own dark realities and questioning the very essence of their friendship.

• Release Date: May 24th, 2024
• Episodes: 16
• Where To Watch: SBS

5. Frankly speaking

First, there’s Song Ki Baek, a 33-year-old single man who works as an announcer at a broadcasting station. He’s highly regarded in his job, known for his polite and well-mannered demeanor. However, his life takes a sudden turn when he develops a disease that causes him to speak impulsively, without thinking first. This unexpected challenge becomes the biggest crisis he’s ever faced, threatening his career and reputation.

Meanwhile, we have On Woo Joo, an enthusiastic TV variety show writer. She’s always on the lookout for interesting characters and storylines. When she hears about Song Ki Baek’s sudden change in behavior, she sees an opportunity. Intrigued by his newfound bluntness, she decides to feature him on her show. This decision sets off a chain of events that will impact both Song Ki Baek and On Woo Joo in unexpected ways.

As Song Ki Baek reluctantly agrees to appear on On Woo Joo’s variety show, their worlds collide in a whirlwind of chaos and comedy. Despite their differences, they find themselves drawn to each other by the challenges they face together. It’s a story of unexpected connections and the power of facing life’s obstacles head-on.

• Release Date: May 1st, 2023
• Episodes: 12
• Where To Watch: JTBC, TVING, Netflix

6. The Atypical Family

Bok Gwi Joo and his family are special because they have superpowers. Bok Gwi Joo, for example, can travel back in time to happy moments in his life. But there’s a catch – he can’t change anything, so he often feels sad thinking about those moments. Over time, this sadness grows into depression, and he loses his ability.

The rest of Bok Gwi Joo’s family also have powers, but they start to lose them because of modern problems like trouble sleeping, eating issues, and being too attached to smartphones. Their powers weaken as these problems take over their lives. Then, something changes when Do Da He enters their world. She moves in with them and brings a new kind of energy, which starts to shake things up.

As Do Da He becomes a part of their lives, she brings hope and positivity. Her presence encourages the family to face their problems and make positive changes. It’s a journey of rediscovering themselves and finding strength in each other, despite the challenges they face.

• Release Date: May 4th, 2024
• Episodes: 12
• Where To Watch: JTBC, TVING, Netflix

7. The Midnight Romance In Hagwon

Lee Joon Ho quits his job at a big company and goes back to his old school as a teacher. He’s got a crush on Seo Hye Jin, who’s been teaching Korean there for a long time.

Seo Hye Jin’s been a teacher for fourteen years and got famous for something called the “Miracle of Daechi.” Just when she’s feeling settled, Lee Joon Ho, her old student, shows up again. He’s a bit of a troublemaker, but she helped him get into a good university before.

Now, with Lee Joon Ho back, things get chaotic at the school. He stirs up trouble, and Seo Hye Jin has to deal with it all while trying to keep her life on track.

• Release Date: May 11th, 2024
• Episodes: 16
• Where To Watch: TVING, TvN, Viki

8. Dreaming Of Cinde Fxxxing Rella

Meet Moon Cha Min, a wealthy CEO from a powerful family. He runs a social club and isn’t interested in fairy tale romances or Cinderella dreams. He’s pretty full of himself, too. But things change when Shim Jae Rim joins his club as a manager. She’s hoping to find her own Prince Charming and escape her tough life.

As Jae Rim works at the club, she starts to grow and accept herself more. She becomes independent and stops searching for someone to save her. Despite their differences, Cha Min and Jae Rim start to fall in love. It’s a story of opposites attracting and finding love in unexpected places.

• Release Date: May 2024
• Episodes: 10
• Where To Watch: TVING

9. Bittersweet Hell

Bittersweet Hell is an intriguing black comedy following Noh Young Won, a respected family counselor whose life takes a dark turn when an unknown blackmailer threatens her career and family. In a bid to protect her loved ones, she teams up with her mother-in-law, a writer of mystery novels, to find out the mystery behind the blackmail.

This K-drama is under the direction of Doctor Lawyer director, with the screenplay crafted by Nam Ji Yeon. With such creative minds at the helm, viewers can expect an engaging and suspenseful storyline filled with unexpected twists and turns.

The cast is stacked with talented actors, including Kim Hee Sun, Lee Hye Young, Kim Nam Hee, Yeonwoo, Hwang Chan Sung, Kwon Hae Hyo, Ahn Kil Kang, Park Jae Chan, Jung Gun Joo, Shin So Yool, Jung Heon, Yang Jae Hyun, and Kim Seon Kyung. Their performances are sure to bring depth and authenticity to the characters, making Bittersweet Hell a must-watch for K-drama enthusiasts.

• Expected Release Date: May 24th, 2024

10. Dare To Love Me

Meet Shin Yoon Bok, a diligent scholar hailing from Seongsan Village in South Korea. He’s been given the important responsibility of safeguarding the legacy of the Joseon Dynasty and recovering precious cultural treasures for his family.

Despite his traditional upbringing and deep respect for his elders, Yoon Bok also harbors a modern outlook on life, occasionally rebelling against societal norms. While he may seem polite and reserved on the surface, he struggles with forging meaningful connections with others and often keeps his emotions at arm’s length.

Yoon Bok’s life takes an unexpected turn when he decides to pursue his passion for webtoon writing, leaving his home in Seoul. Along the way, he crosses paths with Kim Hong Do, a woman weighed down by life’s challenges. As Yoon Bok, who tends to be guarded with his feelings, embarks on this new chapter of his journey, he must navigate a rollercoaster of emotions.

• Release Date: May 13th, 2024
• Episodes: 16
• Where To Watch: KBS2, Netflix, Wavve, Viki

11. Begins Youth

The drama tells the story of seven boys as they go through school and grow up. They all have tough things happening in their lives, like family stuff, losing people they love, being poor, and feeling left out or hurt.

Kim Hwan, one of the boys, comes back to Songju-si, where he meets six other boys. At first, they don’t trust him because he’s new and his dad, Kim Chang Jun, isn’t well-liked. But as they spend time together, they become close friends, sharing their problems and supporting each other. Hwan starts to feel like he belongs there and wishes these good times could last forever.

However, Hwan’s dad doesn’t like his new friends and tells him to stay away from them. For the first time, Hwan speaks up for himself and stands by his feelings, showing that he’s ready to make his own choices and stick up for what he believes in.

• Episodes: 12
• Release Date: May 1st, 2024

12.  Not Very Powerful But Attractive

In this comedy crime investigation drama, we see an interesting mix: the country’s least successful homicide team and its most successful leader teaming up. It’s a quirky and entertaining combination that promises lots of laughs and suspenseful moments.

At the heart of the story is Dongbang Yoo Bin, a tall, smart, and athletic guy who becomes the head of the homicide squad at Songwon Police Station. Despite having a prestigious teaching offer from a university abroad, he decides to return to Korea and take charge of Unit 2, which has the lowest arrest rates in the country.

As the leader of Unit 2, Dongbang Yoo Bin brings his unique skills and determination to turn things around. With his leadership, the team faces challenges head-on, blending humor with crime-solving as they strive to become the best homicide squad in the nation.

• Release Date: May 22nd, 2024
• Episodes: 12
• Where To Watch: SBS