If you’re craving new Korean dramas with exciting stories, January 2026 kicks off the year strong! This month’s K-dramas span time-travel justice, body-swap chaos, retro undercover, and romance that feels like a warm coat. Check out these new Korean dramas premiering in January 2026!
Exciting New Korean Dramas to Watch in January 2026
1. “The Judge Returns” (“판사 이한영”) | January 2
Cast: Ji Sung, Park Hee-soon, Won Jin-ah
Where to watch: MBC (Korea), Viki, TVING, Wavve, HBO Max
Episodes: 14
Airs on: Friday, Saturday
Have you ever thought, “I’d do everything differently if I had one more shot”? If yes, then this drama is for you. “The Judge Returns” is a legal thriller that explores the fantasy of a second chance.
A judge who gets sent back in time after an unjust death with one goal. He wants to punish the people who ruined his life and fix the corrupt system. It’s intense, sharp, and built for cliffhangers.
2. “To My Beloved Thief” (“은애하는 도적님아”) | January 3
Cast: Nam Ji-hyun, Moon Sang-min, Hong Min-gi, Han So-eun
Where to watch: KBS2, Viki, Wavve, Netflix
Episodes: 16
Airs on: Saturday, Sunday
KBS2’s new Korean drama “To My Beloved Thief” is a historical romantic comedy with a fantasy twist that explores body-swap chaos and secret identities/
A noblewoman with a secret life as a righteous thief. A Joseon prince who is obsessed with solving crimes. Then, an unexpected incident causes their souls to switch.
Expect witty misunderstandings, chase scenes, and romance that escalates fast between Nam Ji-hyun and Moon Sang-min.
3.“Spring Fever” (“스프링 피버”) | January 5
Cast: Ahn Bo-hyun, Lee Joo-bin
Where to watch: tvN (Korea), TVING, Prime Video
Episodes: 12
Airs on: Monday, Tuesday
Korean drama “Spring Fever” offers a small-town warmth, emotional healing, and heart-first storytelling.
An emotionally closed-off high school teacher moves to a small town to start fresh. In this new place, she meets someone who helps her open up and feel alive again.
If you love romances that feel like a soft and slow exhale, put this on your watchlist.
4. “Can This Love Be Translated?” (“이 사랑 통역 되나요?”) | January 16
Cast: Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung
Where to watch: Netflix
Episodes: 12
Airs on: Friday
Netflix will finally release the highly anticipated series “Can This Love Be Translated?” this January.
A multilingual interpreter gets assigned to a top star, and suddenly “professional boundaries” become negotiable. The premise is cute, but the emotional hook is stronger: Can you translate feelings without messing them up?
This celebrity romance with workplace tension and a “wait, I’m falling” vibe will give you a fresh mood to start your year.
5. “No Tail To Tell” (“오늘부터 인간입니다만”) | January 16
Cast: Kim Hye-yoon, Lomon
Where to watch: SBS (Korea); Netflix
Episodes: 12
Airs on: Friday, Saturday
“No Tail To Tell” is another exciting K-drama series that explores the gumiho myth through modern chaos and romance with bite.
A nine-tailed fox woman’s life flips upside down after an accident with a famous soccer star turns her human. If you love fantasy rom-coms that don’t take themselves too seriously (but still deliver feelings), then this one is for you!
6. “Undercover Miss Hong” (“언더커버 미쓰홍”)| January 17
Cast: Park Shin-hye, Go Kyung-pyo, Ha Yoon-kyung, Cho Han-gyeol
Where to watch: tvN (Korea); Netflix release reported in many regions
Episodes: 16
Airs on: Saturday, Sunday
After the successful “Typhoon Family,” tvN will give you another retro series, set in late-’90s Seoul, featuring workplace chaos and an exciting undercover mission.
Set in late-1990s Seoul, an elite securities inspector. She goes undercover as a young rookie employee at a suspicious firm.
Save the date and watch “Undercover Miss Hong” with retro suits, corporate mess, and comedic missteps, with a mystery beneath.
7. “Positively Yours” (“아기가 생겼어요”) | January 17
Cast: Choi Jin-hyuk, Oh Yeon-seo, Hong Jong-hyun, Dasom
Where to watch: Channel A; Viki
Episodes: 12
Airs On: Saturday, Sunday
“Positively Yours” is a rom-com with consequences that creates a messy feeling and forced honesty.
Two people who swore off marriage have a one-night mistake… and then it gets real. It’s based on a popular webtoonand leans into the rom-com tension of “I didn’t plan for this meeting, maybe I needed this.”
8. “Recipe for Love” (“사랑을 처방해 드립니다”)| January 31
Cast: Jin Se-yeon, Park Ki-woong
Where to watch: KBS2
Episodes: 50
Airs On: Saturday, Sunday
“Recipe for Love” delves into past wounds, evokes strong emotions, and showcases families forced to evolve.
The story follows two families who have been stuck in a cycle of bad blood for 30 years. A romance pulls them back into each other’s lives and into hard truths. If you want a drama that aims for comfort and catharsis, this is your end-of-month pick.
Your January Watchlist
This month’s lineup is full of love stories—but each one has a “hook” that makes it feel fresh, with time travel, body swaps, fantasy transformations, or undercover comedy.
Which one is your best pick for your watchlist? Please share with us in the comments below.
Join us on Kpoppost’s Instagram, Threads, Facebook, X, Telegram channel, WhatsApp Channel and Discord server for discussions. And follow Kpoppost’s Google News for more Korean entertainment news and updates.
