Many K-dramas are arriving in April on several platforms including streaming giant Netflix. On the menu, adaptation of a manga, fiction, romance and more. Here are 5 K-dramas that we can’t wait to discover in April 2024!
1. Parasyte: The Gray with Jeon So-nee, Koo Kyo-hwan, Lee Jung-hyun
“Last Train to Busan” director Yeon Sang-ho has once again teamed up with the global streaming giant to bring us a reimagining of the classic Japanese manga Parasyte, which has already been adapted in Japan into popular anime and in films.
Set in the same world but with different characters, Parasyte: The Gray takes place in Korea, just as parasitic aliens are invading the human hosts. Jeon So-nee is a cashier who is only partially infected and teams up with Koo Kyo-hwan, played by Koo Kyo-hwan (DP), to escape both the aliens and the government’s Team Gray who have mission to eliminate them.
Director Yeon’s previous collaborations with Netflix include Hellbound and Jung-E. The episodes will be broadcast regularly until June 2024! (Netflix April 5)
- 2. Lovely Runner with Kim Hye-yoon, Byeon Woo-seok, Song Geon-hee, Lee Seung-hyub
Kim Hye-yoon (Snowdrop) stars in Lovely Runner as Im Sol, a woman whose dreams of becoming a filmmaker were dashed after an incident that left her paralyzed. Now her only comfort is the music of idol Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon Woo-seok, Strong Girl Nam-soon). However, his beloved musician’s life was ended accidentally
Then, one morning, Sol wakes up in a classroom, 15 years in the past. Magically returning to her high school years, she sees another chance to change both of their destinies. This bright and spirited high school fantasy romance stars Song Geon-hee (Joseon Attorney: A Morality) and Lee Seung-hyub. (tvN and Netflix, April 8)
3. Blood Free with Ju Ji-hoon, Han Hyo-joo
In Disney+’s upcoming dystopian sci-fi series Blood Free, a biotech company has ushered in a new era with its BF product, a form of artificially grown meat that is quickly coming to dominate the market. This suspense thriller, which stars Ju Ji-hoon (Kingdom) and Han Hyo-joo (Happiness) in the lead roles, unfolds a storyline combining mystery, high technology and ethical dilemmas.
Blood Free is the latest project from writer Lee So-yeon, the mastermind behind both seasons of the hit K-drama Stranger. (Disney+, April 10)
- 4. Under the Gun with Zuho, Jo Soo-min
K-pop group SF9’s Zuho and Jo Soo-min, known for her role in the series The Penthouse, are teaming up for the new series Under the Gun. Zuho plays Go Gun, the son of a professional poker player who faces a difficult choice when his family’s honor is in tatters. The only way for him to get out of this difficult situation is to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the Korean Poker League.
With the help of transfer student Cha Se-young (Jo), Gun learns to overcome his fears in his quest to save his family. (Viu and Viki, April 12)
- 5. Missing Crown Prince with Suho, and Hong Ye-ji
MBN takes us back to the Joseon era (1392-1894) in Korea with the story of Yi Geon, who becomes the country’s crown prince after his father takes control of the kingdom through a rebellion. However, Geon is then kidnapped by none other than Choi Myung-yoon, the woman destined to become his wife. As the two flee for their lives, a romance is born. Suho, a member of the K-pop group EXO, plays the role of the crown prince.
The bold Myung-hoon will be played by Hong Ye-ji, who recently starred in the series Love Song for Illusion. (MBN, April 13)
- 6. Chief Detective 1958 with Lee Je-hoon, Lee Dong-hwi
Taxi Driver star Lee Je-hoon is back as the main character in the 1958 series Chief Detective.
The series is a prequel to the original Kdrama Chief Detective, one of South Korea’s most popular classic series, which had nearly 900 episodes in the 1970s and 1980s; the series features in Bong Joon-ho’s classic, Memories of Mu.rder. Lee plays detective Park Young-han, who takes care of catching small-time criminals with the help of three colleagues. During this time, he fights against corruption to become the “people’s detective”. (MBC, April 19)
- 7. Goodbye Earth with Yoo Ah-in, Ahn Eun-jin
Based on the novel The Fool at the End of the World by author Kotaro Isaka, Goodbye Earth is described as a pre-apocalyptic Kdrama. Its characters grapple with the fact that an asteroid is on a collision course with Earth in 200 days and nothing can stop it.
The series was originally scheduled to air last year, but was delayed following Yoo Ah-in’s issues. (Netflix, April 26)
Which Kdrama are you looking forward to?