2024 is proving to be an amazing year for K-Dramas and we love to see it. With the screen comebacks of top stars, rising actors making their mark on the industry, and the increasing versatility of genres, 2024 will undoubtedly give renewed impetus to Hallyu. As we step into April 2024, a number of exciting K-Dramas await.

From thrillers and fantasy to historical and crime, there's something for everyone this month. So, we compiled some of the most highly anticipated April 2024 K-Dramas in a watchlist for you!

Here are 5 April 2024 K-Dramas that you absolutely do not want to miss!

Note: This watchlist is not a ranking. It includes select K-Dramas airing on Korean national television as well as Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+ original series.

 

Top 5 April 2024 K-Dramas

1. "Parasyte: The Grey"

When & Where: April 5, Netflix

Cast: Jeon SoNee, Koo KyoHwan, Lee JungHyun, Kwon HaeHyo

Summary: Based on the popular manga "Parasyte" by Hitoshi Iwaaki, "Parasyte: The Grey" will tell the story of how humans fight back against strange parasitic creatures trying to feed off of human hosts and steal their consciousness. While these worms try to expand their power and take over the control of society, can co-existence be possible?

Reasons To Watch: If you're a fan of the anime "Parasyte: The Maxim" or the manga "Parasyte", you have to tune into the April 2024 K-Drama "Parasyte: The Grey". The fact that the show is created by Yeon SangHo, and stars outstanding actors like Koo KyoHwan, Jeon SoNee and Lee JungHyun is reason enough to be hyped and we cannot wait to see what they have in store for us.

 

2. "Lovely Runner"

When & Where: April 8, Viki

Cast: Kim HyeYoon, Byeon WooSeok

Summary: "Lovely Runner" follows the story of Ryu SunJae (Byeon WooSeok), a popular star who passes away unexpectedly. However, a twist of fate gives him a second chance at life when his devoted fan, Im Sol (Kim HyeYoon), travels back in time to prevent the tragedy.

Reasons To Watch: "Lovely Runner" is arguably the most highly awaited romance drama among April 2024 K-Dramas. Kim HyeYoon and Byeon WooSeok are an absolute dream pair, and their heart-fluttering chemistry (especially the height difference) is giving us all the butterflies already! We cannot wait for this show to start airing.

 

3. "Blood Free"

When & Where: April 10, Disney Plus

Cast: Han HyoJoo, Ju JiHoon, Lee HeeJun, Lee MuSaeng

Summary: BF (Blood Free) is a company dominating the genetically engineered cultured meat market but when CEO Yoon JaYoo's (Han HyoJoo) vision starts being questioned, she realizes that her life is on the line. JaYoo meets the mysterious Woo ChaeWoon (Ju JiHoon), who starts working as her bodyguard.

Reasons To Watch: Much like other Disney Plus originals recently, "Blood Free" is a star-studded K-Drama with a novel premise. Viewers' expectations are sky high for this April 2024 K-Drama, and why wouldn't they be when some of the best actors have come together for this project? Besides, Disney Plus has established a reputation for its high-quality originals and we're hoping that this one is going to be no exception.

 

4. "Chief Detective 1958"

When & Where: April 19, Disney Plus

Cast: Lee JeHoon, Seo EunSoo, Lee DongHwi, Choi WooSung, Yoon HyunSoo

Summary: The story of a passionate young detective, Park YoungHan (Lee JeHoon), who cannot stand injustice. He teams up with his colleagues at Jongnam Police Station in Seoul to fight crime in an age where technology wasn't as advanced as it is today.

Reasons To Watch: Lee JeHoon fighting crime again? Sign us up! This April 2024 K-Drama is one of the most highly anticipated K-Dramas of the year, and for good reason! With a retro setting, this K-Drama is going to evoke nostalgia for an age many of us have never experienced and make us fall in love with it. Besides, the cast - which combines experienced stars and rising young actors, is sure to draw your attention.

 

5. "Missing Crown Prince"

When & Where: April 13, Viki

Cast: EXO's SuHo, Hong YeJi, Kim MinKyu

Summary: The crown prince of the nation has been kidnapped by a woman fated to be the princess! As they flee, a gentle romance blooms between the two.

Reasons To Watch: SuHo of EXO captivated global K-Drama audiences with his performance in "Behind Your Touch," heightening anticipation for his upcoming lead role in "Missing Crown Prince." Joining him is super rookie Hong YeJi, celebrated for her role in "Love Song For Illusion," garnering a devoted following, and rising star Kim MinKyu, making fans curious about the characters' relationships. You don't want to miss this one!

With all the amazing webtoons-based dramas that have been released in the past couple of years, we have only become more excited about upcoming K-Dramas linked with webtoons.

The webtoon "The Mermaid I Loved" is a special case because the story was first written as a script for a drama production. The drama production is on its way and the webtoon was pre-released. The drama's production company, Group Eight, thought that in releasing it first as a webtoon they could showcase some of the various deep sea adventures of the story and also help garner attention for the drama.

The romance fantasy adventure webtoon “The Mermaid I Loved” ("내가 사랑한 물고기," literal translation, “The Fish I Loved”), written by Cosmic Bom Bom and Bubal (우주봄봄 and 부발), tells the story of a man whose intermittent transformations into a mermaid become increasingly uncontrollable as he experiences the emotion of love and spends time with a woman who he finds himself more and more attracted to. The season 1 of the webtoon ended on March 13th with 31 episodes.

Given the webtoon’s popularity, Group Eight is looking forward the positive effect the webtoon will have on the upcoming drama’s viewership. They have built a solid portfolio with dramas based on webtoons like "Taxi Driver", "My ID is Gangnam Beauty" and "A Good Day To Be A Dog". Among their awaited projects is the reboot of the popular drama "Princess Hours" (2006).

Currently, there are no actors cast for “The Mermaid I Loved”. Fans of the webtoon are waiting for the announcement of the cast. We can already think of actors and actresses who would be perfect for the roles!

We at Kpopmap have thought up a cast of actors who would suit this drama amazingly.

 

1. Sim Kai (심카이), a mermaid and 3rd generation chaebol

Sim Kai is the lead male character. He discovered he was a mermaid 12 years ago and he pretends to be a human.

When he shares physical touch with a woman, his fish scales begin to appear and he transforms back into his mermaid form. Because of this, he avoids all contact with women and has been single his whole life.

But due to his handsome looks, he has a lot of girls chasing after him, so he hired YaNa to pretend to be his girlfriend. However, he can’t help himself from having physical contact with YaNa even if it means he won’t be able breathe.

Kai is the son of the jewelry brand Inoroo, or 3rd generation chaebol, but he is not interested in the family business and instead prefers performing as a mermaid at the aquarium.

The actor must possess features suitable for long hair and a muscular physique to be able to portray a mermaid. He should exude charm and look dazzling in a suit, while also being capable of conveying a mix of cynicism, cuteness, and panic in his expressions. Comfort with underwater filming is also mandatory.

Moon SangMin, WEi's Kim YoHan, Baek SungChul, Kim MyungSoo (INFINITE's L), and Chae JongHyeop could be a good match.

Not only would they look stunning with long hair and looks amazing in suits, but their facial features would perfectly match the character's. Beyond their physical attributes, all five actors possess the talent and ability to convey Kai through the right facial expressions. The genre of fantasy romance suits them impeccably. Each actor would bring their unique colors and charms to the character, making him stand out on screen. Additionally, we can anticipate excellent chemistry with the lead actress.

Vote for your pick in the poll below!

 

2. Jung YaNa (정야나), an easy-going part-time student

Jung YaNa (24 years old) is the lead female character. She is a student who works a part-time job and has an easy-going personality.

She accidentally kisses Kai when she meets him for the first time, and shocked to see him suddenly fall very sick, she calls the ambulance. She ends up more shocked when she sees him put his face into a dirty bucket of water used for cleaning.

The actress should possess a mix of cuteness and strength, capable of expressing a wide range of emotions, and especially comedy. The character experiences rapid and extreme changes in emotions, so the actress should be able to show these transitions convincingly. Additionally, she should look just like a regular student, but be able to become a stunning lady with expensive clothes.

Kang MinAh, WJSN's Bona (Kim JiYeon), Chae SooBin, Girl's Day's HyeRi, and Seor InA could be a good match.

All five actresses have demonstrated their talented acting and are well-suited for a character like YaNa. Each of them possesses the ability to portray the youthful, cute, and fiery vibes of the female lead character. Comedy and expressive acting would not be an issue for any of them, so it would be a smooth portrayal of the character without overdoing it and making viewers laugh. No need to mention that they would all bring great chemistry with the lead actor! Being a romance, it is crucial.

Vote for your pick in the poll below!

 

The webtoon is not available in English officially yet, but you can read it in Korean here.

Let us know who you want to see cast!

Note: The aim of the vote is for Kpopmap readers to share their opinion about their preference for the cast. It is not affecting the cast of the production team.

Are you a fan of historical dramas? Then, you don't want to miss out on the historical K-Dramas announced for 2024.

A few historical dramas were announced for 2024. We will keep updating throughout the year, so stay tuned. 

Web dramas are not included in this list and this is not a ranking.

This is not a ranking. Dramas starting in 2024 are included in this list.

 

1. "Love Song For Illusion"

When: January 2024

Cast: Park JiHoon, Hong YeJi, Ji Woo, Kim DongWon

Summary: It tells the story of a King with two opposite personalities and an assassin girl who wants to kill him but ends up falling in love with him.

Why Watch: The drama portrays a story of passionate romance and nail-biting suspense. It treads this line masterfully with an incredible performance from Park JiHoon and Hong YeJi.

This drama is based on the webtoon, "Love Song For Illusion".

 

2. "Flower That Blooms At Night"

When: January 12

Cast: Honey Lee, Lee JongWon

Summary: It is a comedy investigative historical drama that follows the story of a 15-year-long widow who is the daughter of a noble family and does not see anything of the outside world during the day, but crosses the fence at night to live a secret life.

Why watch: A mix of lightheartedness and mystery, "Flower That Blooms At Night" is a drama that will have you invested while smiling from ear to ear.

 

3. "Sejak: Charmed Deceit"

When: January 21

Cast: Cho JungSeok, Shin SaeKyeong

Summary: Depicts the cruel love story between King YiIn, who must face multiple dangers of power struggles, and Kang HeeSoo, who attempts to seduce the King in the name of revenge, but ends up falling for his charms instead.

Why Watch: A tale of romance and deceit, this drama is filled with various twists and turns that will keep audiences glued to their seats with every passing week.

 

4. "Tale Of Mrs. Ok"

When: TBA

Cast: Lim JiYeon and Choo YoungWoo (in talks)

Summary: Depicts the life of a female slave in the Joseon Dynasty and her passionate survival story.

Why Watch: -To be updated with the relase of the first teaser-

 

5. "Hong Rang"

When: TBA

Cast: Lee JaeWook, Cho BoAh, Jung GaRam, Park ByungEun

Summary: A drama that follows a long-lost son of Joseon's elite whom resurfaces carrying a load of hidden secrets. Alongside him is his persistent step-sister who looks to discover the truth.

Why Watch: -To be updated with the release of the first teaser-

Based on the novel, "Tangeum".

 

6. "Queen Woo"

When: TBA

Cast: Jun JongSeo, Kim MuYeol, Ji ChangWook, Jung YuMi, Lee SooHyuk, Park JiHwan

Summary: Set in the Goryeo era, the drama revolves around Lady Woo, the first ever woman in history to become a queen twice. She will be on the hunt for her new King within 24 hours after her previous husband, the King died.

Why Watch: -To be updated with the release of the first teaser-

 

7. "The Love Story Of Chunhwa"

When: TBA

Cast: Go Ara, Chang Ryul

Summary: The romance historical drama follows HwaRi, the youngest princess of the royal family who decides to find her husband by herself. Among her potential husbands is Choi Hwan, the wealthiest merchant with handsome good looks. He seems to hide a secret.

Why Watch: -To be updated with the release of the first teaser-

 

8. "Handwritten"

When: TBA

Cast: Seo InGuk (in talks)

Summary: The drama is set in the Joseon Dynasty and the story revolves around Kwon SooYoung, his journey to find his identity after losing his memory, and how he gets caught in a power struggle.

Why watch?: -To be updated with the release of the first teaser-

Adapted from the novel, "Jikpil".

 

9. "Haesi's Sinru"

When: TBA

Cast: Ahn BoHyun

Summary: In an extra space of the Joseon Palace, a burning triangle romance takes place between a mysterious woman and the monarchs of Korea and China.

Why Watch?: -To be updated with the release of the first teaser-

Adapted from the webtoon "Haesi's Sinru".

 

10. "Missing Crown Prince"

When: March 9, 2024 premiere

Cast: EXO's SuHo, Hong YeJi, Myung SeBin, Kim JooHeon, Kim MinKyu

Summary: A romantic comedy set in the Joseon era. Revolves around a crown prince who is kidnapped by the woman who is meant to become his wife.

Why Watch?: Enjoy the great chemistry between EXO's SuHo and Hong YeJi in this historical romance drama. Gte a chance to see more breathtaking Korean landscape, and dive into the beauty of Korean traditions.

 

11. "Won Kyung"

When: TBA

Cast: Cha JooYoung, Lee HyunWook

Summary: A story about Queen WonKyung and King TaeJeong. They work together to create a brand new regime, but eventually experience a downfall in their relationship.

Why Watch?: -To be updated with the release of the first teaser-

 

12. "Serenade"

When: TBA

Cast: Yeo JinGoo (in talk)

Summary: Follow the love story between the prince of the JoSeon dynasty, who wants to escape from the nation and find happiness, and a maiden from a poor family who wish to find happiness by becoming a successful woman in the nation.

Why watch?: - To be updated with the release of the first teaser-

 

-to be updated-

 

BONUS

36. "Dae JangGeum" 20 years later

When: 2025

Cast: Lee YoungAe (Dae JangGeum)

Summary: In the continuity of the 2003 MBC drama "Dae JangGeum" (also known as "Jewel In The Palace"), this sequel will dive into the life of Dae JangGeum as she becomes a female physician.

Why watch?: - To be updated with the release of the first teaser-

 

 

Which historical K-Drama are you looking forward to? Let us know in the comments.