Korean dramas, Q2 2026: the quarter in review

This SBS Friday–Saturday drama aired from June 26 to July 25. Kim (So Ji-sub), an ordinary accounting manager at a savings bank, brings his hidden past back to the surface to rescue his only daughter in this action-comedy noir based on the Naver webtoon Manager Kim.

It opened at 9.5%, passed 20% with episode 4 and peaked at 23.1% with episode 8. Released on Netflix the same day, it spent three consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the global Top 10 for non-English TV. Choi Dae-hoon, Yoon Kyung-ho, Joo Sang-wook and Son Na-eun co-star; Nam Dae-jung wrote the script, and Lee Seung-young and Lee So-eun directed.

This MBC Friday–Saturday drama aired from April 10 to May 16. Set in a 21st-century Korea that still has a constitutional monarchy, it follows the contract marriage between Seong Hee-ju (IU), a chaebol daughter who has everything but is a commoner by status, and Grand Prince Ian (Byeon Woo-seok), a king's son who can have nothing of his own.

It peaked at 13.8% with its 12th and final episode. The script, which won MBC's 2022 screenplay contest, is writer Yoo Ji-won's debut; Park Joon-hwa and Bae Hee-young directed. It streamed internationally on Disney+.

This JTBC weekend drama aired from May 30 to July 5. After an accident, the chairman of a major conglomerate (Son Hyun-joo), known as a business genius, is forced to live an unwanted second life in the body of a young football player (Lee Jun-young). It is based on a web novel by Sankyung, author of Reborn Rich.

It opened at 3.7% and peaked at 13.6% with its 12th and final episode. Lee Joo-myung, Jeon Hye-jin and Jin Goo co-star; Kim Soon-ok served as creator and Hyun Ji-min wrote the script.

This SBS Friday–Saturday drama aired from May 8 to June 20. In this romantic fantasy, Shin Seo-ri (Lim Ji-yeon), an unknown actress possessed by the spirit of the notorious Joseon villainess Kang Dan-sim, clashes with third-generation chaebol heir Cha Se-gye (Heo Nam-jun). It peaked at 11.8% with its 14th and final episode.

Released on Netflix the same day, it topped the global chart for non-English TV in its first week, the first time an SBS Friday–Saturday drama reached No. 1 in its premiere week. Kang Hyun-joo wrote the script; Han Tae-seop, co-director of Hot Stove League, directed with Kim Hyun-woo.

This tvN weekend drama aired from April 25 to May 31. It is an office romance between Joo In-ah (Shin Hye-sun), a charismatic audit chief with a secret, and No Gi-jun (Gong Myung), the star auditor suddenly demoted to investigating improper relationships at work. Kim Jae-wook plays the group's executive vice chairman. The script is by Yeo Eun-ho, a co-writer of Crash Course in Romance.

This JTBC weekend drama aired from April 18 to May 24. It follows a man tormented by envy and jealousy, the only one among his successful friends whose life has not worked out, as he searches for peace. Park Hae-young, writer of My Mister and My Liberation Notes, wrote the script, and Cha Young-hoon directed.

Koo Kyo-hwan plays Hwang Dong-man, who has spent 20 years preparing for his debut as a film director, and Go Youn-jung plays Byeon Eun-a, a development producer at a film company, with Oh Jung-se, Kang Mal-geum and Park Hae-joon co-starring.

This tvN Monday–Tuesday drama aired from May 11 to June 16. Private Kang Seong-jae (Park Ji-hoon) trades his rifle for a kitchen knife and his ammunition belt for an apron, and becomes a legendary army cook. Lee Hong-nae, Yoon Kyung-ho and Lee Sang-yi co-star; Jo Nam-hyung directed.