If you’ve been paying attention to Korean drama casting over the past two months, you know something special is brewing. October and November delivered announcement after announcement. From Jun Ji Hyun reuniting with Ji Chang Wook, Kim Ji Won working with legendary scriptwriter Chung Seo Kyung, to Jeon Jong Seo confirming to conquer Hollywood alongside Henry Cavill. These aren’t just casting news—they’re promises of stories that will keep us glued to our screens.
Latest in Casting: Jun Ji Hyun, Kim Ji Won, Jo Jeong Seo, and More
Jun Ji Hyun & Ji Chang Wook’s Fantasy Romance
Actors Jun Ji Hyun and Ji Chang Wook are in talks for “Human X Gumiho.” It is a fantasy romance written by Im Meari, the creative genius behind “Beauty Inside” and “Doom at Your Service.”
Production is expected to begin in March 2026. The drama will be available on JTBC, Coupang Play, and Amazon Prime, reaching audiences across multiple platforms.
What makes this pairing extra special? The two stars are already building chemistry on the set of their film “Colony.” Both agencies have confirmed they’re “reviewing positively,” which in K-drama speak usually means the contracts are practically signed. Jun Ji Hyun’s selective approach to projects makes this news even more exciting.
Just recently, she turned down “Koreans,” the spy thriller remake of “The Americans” that would have reunited her with Lee Byung Hun. But “Human X Gumiho” clearly spoke to her in ways that espionage couldn’t. When Jun Ji Hyun says yes, you know something magical is brewing.
Kim So Hyun & Choo Young Woo Team with Director Ahn Pan Seok
Actors Kim So Hyun and Choo Young Woo are both in talks for ENA’s “Romance Expert.” Acclaimed director Ahn Pan Seok is at the helm. He’s known for “Secret Love Affair,” “Something in the Rain,” and “The Midnight Romance in Hagwon.”
Kim So Hyun would play Im Yu Jin, a clothing design major. She discovers robotics through love. She pursues a master’s degree in mechanical engineering with bold determination.
Choo Young Woo is considering Park Min Jae. He’s a former swimmer who lost his leg to cancer. He found purpose in robotics. He has “dating” on his bucket list, but fears the emotional pain that comes with it.
Writer Min Hyo Jung penned this heartfelt human romance. Both actors are “positively reviewing” the project.
Lee Se Young & Choo Young Woo’s Vacation Romance
Netflix’s “Long Vacation” pairs Lee Se Young and Choo Young Woo in a fantasy romance that sounds like a cozy escape from reality.
Directed by Lee Jung Hyo, who gave us “Lovestruck in the City” and “Our Blooming Youth,” the story follows a devil, No. 3375, who is taking a seaside vacation and falls for a human hotel attendant.
Jeon Jong Seo Returns to Hollywood
“Money Heist: Korea” star Jeon Jong Seo will join Henry Cavill in “Highlander.” It’s her second Hollywood role. She appeared in Ana Lily Amirpour’s 2023 film “Mona Lisa and the Blood Moon.”
The movie remakes the 1986 fantasy classic about immortal warriors fighting across different time periods. Jeon will play a member of the secret group called the “Watchers.”
Filming was initially scheduled to begin this fall but was postponed to early next year due to lead actor Henry Cavill’s injury.
Young Talents Tackle Psychological Thriller
The film industry introduces young talents with “Six Lying College Students,” a Korean adaptation of Akinari Asakura’s novel. The story was previously adapted into a successful Japanese film. Director Kim Jung Hoon is helming this psychological thriller. The project has received 10 billion won in production support from the Korean Film Council.
The story follows six job applicants competing in a final team interview for a global IT company. Only one will get the job. This setup becomes a pressure cooker that exposes human nature, trust, and the ethics of competition in brutally honest ways.
A lineup of rising stars like Kwak Dong Yeon, Shin Seung Ho, Kang Yoo Seok, and Jo Yi Hyun take the lead roles in this psychological thriller. It tells the story of what happens when desperation meets ambition in a pressure cooker.
Each of these actors has proven their range across various genres, and watching them navigate corporate psychological warfare promises the kind of mind games that keep you guessing until the final frame.
Park Eun Bin, Yang Se Jong, and Ong Seong Wu
Park Eun Bin is talks to lead in JTBC’s “Spellbound.” This series is a remake of the popular 2011 film of the same name.
The original film, starring Son Ye Jin and Lee Min Ki, captured hearts with its blend of humor, heart, and the supernatural. A drama about a hotel heiress who sees ghosts. She plays a hotel heiress who sees ghosts.
Yang Se Jong and Ong Seong Wu are also in talks to complete the romantic triangle.
Kim Hye Yoon May Join “Good Partner 2”
Kim Hye Yoon (“Lovely Runner”) is in talks to join Jang Nara in “Good Partner 2.” She may fill the role after Nam Ji Hyun declined due to scheduling conflicts. The original legal drama achieved its highest ratings of 17.7%. So, expectations are high for the sequel.
The second season of “Good Partner” is expected to air in the second half of 2026. Kim Hye Yoon is currently filming “Human from Today.” She’s also working on the horror film “A Place to Kill.”
Kim Ji Won to Play Korea’s First Female Detective
“Queen of Tears” star Kim Ji Won is considering “Detective Park Mi Ok.” This series is written by Chung Seo Kyung, who is known for a long list of popular dramas and films. Her popular works include “Believer,” “The Handmaiden,” “Mother,” “Decision to Leave,” and “Little Women.” The real-life story is getting the high-quality, prestigious production it deserves.
More Powerhouse Pairings and Sequels
The thriller and action genres are getting serious upgrades. Ryu Da In and Lee Jun Hyuk are circling SBS’s “Awakening,” an occult drama about a high school student who hears voices of the dead after taking study drugs—a chilling commentary on academic pressure wrapped in supernatural horror.
Meanwhile, Im Se Mi and Japanese actress Ayaka Miyoshi join Byun Yo Han and Roh Jae Won in “Tazza 4: The Song of Beelzebub”. Set in the early 2000s, the story follows two best friends from KAIST. After one betrays the other, they engage in a high-stakes gambling battle for revenge. Im Se Mi plays the sister who triggers the conflict, while Miyoshi assists in the revenge.
Ma Dong Seok is bringing his signature intensity to the “Extraction” spin-off, directed by Lee Sang Yong, who helmed the “The Roundup” series. Lee Jin Wook is reportedly joining as a rival, setting up what could be the year’s most explosive action showdown.
On the sequel front, Hwang Minhyun is in talks to return for “Study Group” Season 2 on TVING after his military discharge. At the same time, Jung Eun Chae might step into “Flex X Cop” Season 2 as the new female lead, replacing Park Ji Hyun, who couldn’t return due to scheduling conflicts. Her character, Joo Hye Ra, is a former counter-terrorism ace nicknamed the “devil instructor.
tvN’s hit drama “Shin’s Project” may return for a second season. The show proved its popularity through strong ratings. It started with 5.9 percent for its premiere. By Episode 11, it had peaked at 9.1 percent and reached No. 1cross all cable channels that day. The finale maintained momentum with an 8.6 percent rating, keeping its top spot among cable programs. On October 29, the production team confirmed that “discussions regarding Season 2 are currently underway.”
The “Inside Men” drama adaptation hit a few bumps. Koo Kyo Hwan declined his role, and Song Kang Ho departed due to scheduling conflicts—but Lee Sung Min and Ju Ji Hoon are now circling the project, potentially breathing new life into this adaptation of Korea’s highest-grossing R-rated film.
Are You Ready for 2026 Korean Dramas?
Next year’s Korean dramas are more than just entertainment. They’re experiences you won’t want to miss. Whether it’s Jun Ji Hyun and Ji Chang Wook’s fantasy romance or Kim Ji Won taking on her first detective role in Chung Seo Kyung’s gripping story, there’s something here for everyone.
So, which project are you most excited about for 2026? Please share your best pick below.
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