One of the best K-Dramas on air right now is the Disney+ original "A Shop For Killers". Starring Lee DongWook, Kim HyeJun, Seo HyunWoo, Park JiBin, and many more talented actors, this novel-based K-Drama tells the story of a young woman who is suddenly thrown into a world of arms and assassins when her uncle mysteriously passes away.

With extraordinary writing and cinematography, brilliant characterization, and outstanding acting, this K-Drama is quickly rising to the top of our "best action K-Dramas" list, but what anchors the audience to the core of the story is the exploration of human relationships - found family, belonging, and the unbreakable bonds that keep them glued together like destiny's chosen crew and in this case, it's more than just the green code of "murthehelp".

One of the simplest, most immediate, and visceral reactions to "A Shop For Killers," right from the opening scene, is that this is some cool stuff. The larger-than-life scale, the high stakes, and the direness of the situation that the viewer and the protagonist, JiAn (Kim HyeJun), are plunged into sans warning leave no time to rationalize what may be happening. The show thus begins in medias res, posing an immediate obstacle to overcome, grabbing our attention at once. This also allows for a back-and-forth between timelines, which is exactly what "A Shop For Killers" does, cleverly oscillating between revealing and concealing information, keeping the audience guessing.

It is also revealed very early into the show that Jeong JinMan (played by Lee DongWook) is dead, but instead of repetitive flashbacks risking monotony, the non-linear narrative structure of "A Shop For Killers" allows for thrilling exposition while also evoking a sense of ambiguity, effortlessly posing the pivotal question - "Could Jeong JinMan be alive?". The more we know about the man, the cooler he gets, and the more likely this becomes.

So, what exactly is cool about Jeong JinMan and his secret society of "murthehelp" or his adversaries "Babylon?" Let's find out.

Spoiler Alert!

 

The Anatomy Of Cool

Everyone has different definitions of what is cool, but viewers of "A Shop For Killers", at least a majority of them, would agree that it is one of the coolest K-Dramas we have seen in a while. However, it is surprisingly difficult to pinpoint what exactly it is that makes "A Shop For Killers" so cool. To understand this, let's take a look at the famous MAYA principle, pioneered by the Father of Industrial Design - Raymond Loewy.

MAYA stands for “Most Advanced Yet Acceptable”, and this is the key to coolness. MAYA reflects Loewy's philosophy of design, emphasizing a balance between innovation and familiarity. He believed that successful designs should push the boundaries of innovation but also remain acceptable and accessible to the public. In other words, Loewy advocated for designs that are ahead of their time yet still conform to the expectations and comfort levels of the intended audience. Striking this balance helps create products that are not only technologically advanced but also readily embraced by users and, ultimately, perceived as cool.

So, it's not just the quality of being unconventional that makes something cool; it is being appropriately unconventional to shake up the existing scene yet familiar enough to make sure the audience connects with the content but also appropriately familiar so as to not be redundant.

An article by Caleb Warren and Margaret C. Campbell in the "Journal of Consumer Research" titled "What Makes Things Cool? How Autonomy Influences Perceived Coolness" takes this a step further, suggesting that coolness is directly related to the display of autonomy. The article defines "coolness" as follows: "coolness is a subjective and dynamic, socially constructed positive trait attributed to cultural objects (people, brands, products, trends, etc.) inferred to be appropriately autonomous".

In other words, what is cool to you and what is cool to me are different, but this feeling may or may not change with time. However, that "something" is cool only because one thinks it is cool. Coolness is not its inherent quality. It is definitely a compliment, though! Most importantly, what makes us think it is cool are qualities that represent autonomy like "unconventionality, rebellion, individuality, authenticity, and independence" but only when they are present in just the right amount. The key lies in striking the perfect balance.

 

How Does This Apply To "A Shop For Killers"? 

Before anything else, let's look at the very name of this K-Drama - "A Shop For Killers". Evoking curiosity and intrigue at once, we already know this is not going to be your usual K-Drama, and everything is not as it seems. On the one hand, it may be hard to believe that a "killer's shopping mall" exists, even more so when it is owned by someone's seemingly inconspicuous uncle with a hose business, but at the same time, it is not entirely impossible to the point of needing to suspend disbelief. Hence, balance.

What amplifies this aspect further is the genre because, in essence, we have an action drama, a family drama, a coming-of-age drama, and a military drama - all in one!

"A Shop For Killers" is an action drama with a heavy emphasis on arms and ammunition. From the very first episodes, we are presented with advanced technology, such as gun-mounted drones, killer robots, or lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS), but the show never crosses the line to sci-fi territory, which is what tethers the audience to the realism of the story. It is quite unlikely for the general public to be thoroughly educated about such warfare technology, which makes us inquisitive, but it's still relatively easy to understand and adapt to, which is reassuring.

Similarly, the human aspect of the drama is strongly constructed, placing a focus on the relationships between JiAn and JinMan, JinMan's allies MinHye (Geum Hannah), Brother (Lee TaeYoung), and Pasin (Kim Min), JinMan's enemies - Lee SeongJo (Seo HyunWoo), Bale (Jo HanSun) and Bae JongMin (Park JiBin), and the fateful past they share. So, it's not as much the intricacy and complexity of the action scenes that make this drama so cool (although they do play a crucial part); it is the "who, what, why, how, where" of it all that does the trick. From assassins in the living room to mercenaries in a foreign country - the contextual appropriateness makes it cool.

Then, we have the narrative structure of "A Shop For Killers". As mentioned earlier, the non-linear structure, constant back and forth between timelines, and the introduction of new characters in the past, making us wonder about their current state and alliances - all contribute to the stunning tension and novelty of the series. Lining up the events of the drama so far in their correct order would have left us with a singular conflict: Will JiAn make it out alive? Yet, by deconstructing the timeline, we are now left wondering about how many allies of murthehelp will come to "Green Code" JiAn's aid, why SeongJo and Bale fell out with JinMan, how Bale survived the explosion, how Bae JongMin tricked JinMan, and the biggest of all - if it's all just JinMan's grand plan to induct JiAn into murthehelp while getting rid of Babylon once and for all, which would perhaps imply that he faked his death after all.

By introducing the characters, allowing us to explore certain aspects of them, yet withholding enough information about them until an undetermined point of time to have us on edge, "A Shop For Killers" earns our empathy, reaffirms our familiarity with the characters when they appear again, while simultaneously divulging new information that challenges our understanding of them. Once again - the perfect balance to keep the audience engaged and intrigued. Cool, isn't it?

Finally, the biggest factor that makes "A Shop For Killers" so unbeatably cool is its characters. With some of the most well-written characters, "A Shop For Killers" has already placed itself in a league above the rest.

 

"A Shop For Killers" Characters - Everything Cool Is Here

Jeong JinMan's most predominant and defining feature is his air of omniscience. JinMan is always a step (or twenty) ahead of everyone else and everything seems to go perfectly according to his plan, most of the time at least. He seems to know exactly how the course of events will pan out following his "death" and has prepared well in advance for it. He had their home renovated to be a safe house, had cameras and speakers set up everywhere, and has a living, breathing surveillance system in his basement. He prepared a handover guide with uncanny precision for JiAn's situation and even arranged for JiAn to start over in her new life after escaping from the shopping mall. There's no way such a man would be tricked by a kid into suicide. However, the fact that it was his niece's voice that he heard over the phone and his unwillingness to take even the slightest chance becomes his tragic flaw, ultimately leading to his downfall...or so we are led to believe.

Lee DongWook's portrayal of this all-knowing, near-perfect being is gold-standard brilliance. The composure on his face at all times, born from the feeling of JinMan having everything under control as opposed to how flustered he can get with his Gen Z niece JiAn, is one of the most entertaining parts of the show and also the coolest! Jeong JinMan's web of connections, his level of preparation and foresight, and his fighting skills are pretty much superhuman. However, his bickering with JiAn, meddling in her love life, and being overprotective of his little girl endear him to us as an ordinary human being. When Jeong JinMan goes, "Listen Up, Jeong JiAn", we know it's going to be one of two things - he's about to drop the most life-changing survival tip on a random Thursday afternoon, or he's going to nag at JiAn again, and that duality of being unapproachable yet familiar is where his coolness lies.

Similarly, we have JiAn, who starts off with fear and doubt but grows to trust her own instincts and fights for murthehelp, thus developing high autonomy; Pasin and MinHye - fantastic fighters who wouldn't go against JinMan but have their own codes of conduct, hence displaying bounded but high autonomy; and Bae JongMin - a talented hacker with a gun to his head who acts on his moderate autonomy to strike a deal with Babylon to save his life. Even Brother, who seems to conform completely to JinMan's rules, has his own way of going about things, an example of moderate autonomy. All these characters are undoubtedly cool but in their own distinct ways.

On the other end of the autonomy spectrum, we have Bale - the primary antagonist of the show and a downright psychopath. Bale displays extreme autonomy. Not only is his behavior divergent from the norm, it is pure evil - not cool. Then, we have SeongJo, with low to no autonomy, working under Bale's command. Does this mean these characters are not cool? Well, not exactly. The show doesn't intend for these characters to be perceived as "cool" in the traditional sense of the word.

Bale elicits an intense, gut-wrenching fear in the audience. He is described as a soulless killing machine, and Jo HanSun does a tremendous job of bringing his character's darkness to light. SeongJo, on the other hand, evokes mild apprehension, irritation, and perhaps a bit of comic relief at best with his antics. However, he wouldn't dare move on his own, so there's not much cool about him, really. Nevertheless, the satoori does bring to mind a peculiar uniqueness of Bane's kind from "Batman", so he definitely knows how to make his presence known.

In conclusion, the above framework of coolness, just like coolness itself, is definitely subjective, but it certainly puts things into one perspective. It will be interesting to see how much cooler "A Shop For Killers" gets in its final week. We're definitely tuning in, are you?

Watch "A Shop For Killers" on Disney+.

K-Dramas based on webtoons are trending and Korean production companies are doing more and more of them. The trend of turning webtoons into awesome K-Dramas is rolling into 2024 with even more excitement! At Kpopmap, we got you covered on the dramas that are confirmed to hit your screens this year or later based on webtoon.

Remember all those dramas we loved from 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 dramas based on webtoon? Get ready for a new list filled with stories and unforgettable characters that are sure to keep us hooked with popular webtoon getting adapted into dramas.

We're splitting it into two parts: first, the dramas we know are coming in 2024 or soon, and second, the webtoons that waiting for cast announcement (no confirmation of broadcast).

Here are the dramas based on webtoon confirmed to air in 2024 or later.

We'll be updating this list all year long (like the previous years), so you won't miss a thing! Just bookmark us.

Note: Only dramas starting in 2024 and onward are covered.

Note: Some of these dramas were announced in 2023 but their broadcasting news is yet to be released.

 

1. "Love Song for Illusion" /  Schedule status: January 1, 2024

The webtoon "Fantasy Sonata" (in Korean "환상연가") by Vanziun is being adapted into a drama under the name "Love Song for Illusion". This story is about a King who has two sides to his personality, and a woman named Yeon Wol who wants revenge for her family. Yeon Wol comes from a noble family called Yeon clan. She pretends to be someone named KyeRa and tries to assassinate the King. However, something strange happens, and she loses her memory because of a mysterious scent. When she wakes up the next day, she finds herself as the King's concubine and can't remember her past.

Park JiHoon and Hong YeJi are confirmed to be leading the drama.

Check out the introduction to the webtoon here.

Webtoon links: Korean / English.

 

2. "Marry My Husband" / Schedule Status: January 1, 2024

The webtoon "Marry My Husband" (in Korean "내 남편과 결혼해줘) by Seong SoJak is being adapted into a drama. The story revolves around JiWon, a woman with a limited time ahead of her, goes back in time to a decade ago. She's haunted by thoughts of revenge because her husband, who had an affair with her closest friend, was the one who took her life.

Park MinYoung, Na InWoo, Lee YiKyung, Song HaYoon, Highlight's Lee GiKwang, and Gong MinJeung are casted into drama.

Check out the introduction to the webtoon here.

Webtoon links: Korean / English.

 

3. "Flowers That Bloom At Night" / Schedule Status: January 12, 2024

The webtoon "Flowers That Bloom At Night" (in Korean "밤에 피는 꽃") by Toli, Jeongro, Yuna, and Bess. It is a comedic historical drama that follows the a 15-year widow lives a double life, helping people at night while wearing a mask.

Lee Hanee and Lee JongWon are part of the casting of the drama.

Webtoon: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

4. "Spirit Fingers" / Schedule status: TBA

The webtoon "Spirit Fingers" (in Korean "스피릿 핑거스") by Han KyoungChal was announced to be adapted into a drama. It is a school romance story about a girl joining an art club and learning to love and stand out for herself.

Park JiHu, Cho JunYoung, and Golden Child's Choi BoMin are part of the cast. The drama was filmed between March and October 2023.

Check out an introduction to the webtoon here.

Webtoon links: Korean / English.

 

5. "Study Group"/ Schedule Status: Second half of 2024

The webtoon "Study Group" (in Korean "스터디그룹"), which is part of YLAB's Blue String Universe, written by Shin HyungUk and illustrated by Yoo SeungYeon, is being produced into a drama by TVING. It is a high school action drama which revolves around the strongest boy who dreams of being a top student. Yun GaMin, a high school student, longs to excel in his studies, but sadly, his talent lies solely in fighting. At the lackluster Yusung Technical High School, he decides to form a study group. This begins their (real) blood-splattering tale of their entrance exam journey.

Hwang MinHyun and Han JiEun are the lead actors of the drama.

Check out the introduction to the webtoon here.

Webtoon links: Korean / English.

 

6. "Shop Of The Lamp" / Schedule Status: TBA

The webtoon "Shop Of The Lamp" (in Korean "조명가게") by Kang Full was announced to be adapted into a drama. This webtoon is a horror and thriller genre, depicting strange things happening there against the backdrop of a dark, remote lighting shop away from the village. Strangers visit the lighting shop in a deserted place every day. Those who keep hovering around the store as if trying to say something eventually turn around without leaving any words.

SeolHyun and Ju JiHoon are part of the casting.

Check out an introduction to the webtoon here.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

7. "Pyramid Game" / Schedule Status: Februuary 29, 2024.

The webtoon "Pyramid Game" (in Korean "피라미드 게임") by Dalgonyak was announced to be adapted into a drama. The webtoon deals with subtle bullying in school life. Students cast their votes once a month in a popularity poll that creates a ranking system determining the school's social hierarchy. SuJi, a new transfer student, aims to climb the pyramid and rise to the top from the bottom, potentially changing the game's outcome.

WJSN's BoNa, Jang Daa, Ryu DaIn, Kang NaEon, Jeong HaDam, Shin SeulKi and Ha Yullia are casted for the drama.

Check out an introduction to the webtoon here.

Webtoon links: Korean / English.

 

8. "Cashero"/ Schedule Status: TBA

The webtoon "Cashero" (캐셔로) by team befar was announced to be turned to a webdrama. The drama is said to be produced by Netflix. Its story revolves around the story of ordinary superheroes who protect the daily lives of other ordinary people.

2PM's JunHo and Kim HyangGi are said to be reviewing their offer to appear in the drama.

Check out an introduction to the webtoon here.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

9. "Perfect Family" / Schedule Status: TBA

The webtoon "Perfect Family" (in Korean "완벽한 가족") by N.B & JUNE will be adapted into a drama. It is a psychological thriller about a young schoolgirl who shocks everyone by admitting she murdered a classmate named Park KyungHo. What's even more unsettling is how her mother reacts. Instead of being horrified, her main concern is upholding the façade of a flawless family. She'll go to great lengths to preserve that image.

Park JuHyun, Yoon SeAh, and Kim ByongChul are confirmed to be casted into the drama.

Check out the introduction to the webtoon here.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

10. "Treat Me Carelessly" / Schedule Status: TBA

The webtoon "Treat Me Carelessly" (in Korean "함부로 대해줘) by SunWoo will be adapted in to a drama. The drama revolves around Shin YunBok, a student from Seongsan village, whose beliefs are firmly grounded in Confucianism and his interactions with Kim HongDo, his art mentor, known for a brash and candid disposition.

INFINITE's L (Kim MyungSoo) and Lee YouYoung are in talks for the drama casting.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

11. "One: High School Heroes" / Schedule Status: TBA

The webtoon "ONE" (in Korean "원") by Lee EunJin is adapted into the drama "One: High School Heroes." It tells the story of the transformation of EuiGyeom (the protagonist) who is being excessively pressured by his father to excel in academics for some reason.

Lee JungHa, Lim HyunTae, Kim SangHo, and Kim JooRyeong are confirmed to be casted into the drama.

Webtoon: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

12. "Cinderella at 2AM" / Schedule status: TBA

The webtoon "Cinderella at 2AM" (in Korean "새벽 두 시의 신데렐라") by Aigome will be produced into a drama. The story revolves around Ha YoonSeo, who, for the past three years, has been in a relationship with Seo JooWon. However, it's been two months since she found out that JooWon is the youngest son of a conglomerate. Hearing from JooWon's mother that she should break up with her son, Ha YoonSeo accepts money as compensation. Despite her deliberate attempts to create distance and end the relationship, JooWon remains persistent and continues his efforts to change YoonSeo's heart.

Shin HyunBeen and Moon SangMin are in talks for the drama casting.

Webtoon: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

13. "S Line"/  Schedule status: TBA

The webtoon "S-Line" (in Korean "S라인") by NOMABI is confirmed to be produced into a drama. The drama is a fantasy thriller that portrays various social scenarios that unfold when one day a visible "red line" appears above a person's head, connecting them to someone they had a physical relationship with, revealing something so private to everyone. This affects the course of the society, especially with the revelations come with consequences.

Lee SooHyuk, OH MY GIRL's Arin, and Lee DaHee are confirmed to be casted into the drama.

Check out the introduction to the webtoon here.

Webtoon: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

14. "Wedding Impossible"/ Schedule status: February 26, 2024

The romance webtoon "Wedding Impossible" (in Korean "웨딩 임파서블") by Lee Chung and Song JungWon is announced to be adapted into a drama. It is a romance with conflicted desires between a gay chaebol heir who asks an unknown actress to marry and the chaebol's ambitious brother.

Jun JongSeo, Kim DoWan and Moon SangMin are cast in this drama. The first episode will air on February 26 at 8:50PM KST.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

15. "History of Losers" / Schedule status: TBA

The webtoon "History of Losers" (in Korean "찌질의 역사") by Kim Poong and Sim YoonSoo is announced to be adapted into a drama. It tells the story of 20 years old boys who evolve into men. It tells the pathetic stories of them never getting mature.

Cho ByeongKyu, Song HaYoon and RyeoUn are cast.

Check out the introduction of the webtoon here.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

16. "The Borrowed Body" / Schedule status: TBA

The teen romance webtoon named "Borrowed Body" (in Korean "빌린 몸") by Park SeKye is announced to be adapted into a drama. The story is set in during the first year of high school. Students Sang Yoo, DaRim, and HoYoung are all the three lead characters. We start off with Sang Yoo who is gloomy due to a scandalous rumor and DaRim is a top student, not to mention, also an athlete. Our last lead HoYoung is DaRim's crush.

Studio 329 is in charge of the adaptation. Nam YoonSu, RyeoUn, and Park HaeEun are cast.

Check out our introduction to the webtoon here. You can vote for the actress you want to see here in our dream cast.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

17. "Money Game" / Schedule status: TBA

The webtoon "Money Game" and "Pie Game" (the sequel to "Money Game") (in Korean "파이게임") by Bae JinSoo was announced to be adapted into an OTT drama. It tells the story of 8 people, who participate in a TV reality show where eight participants are isolated and left to survive with a shared amount of 44.8 billion KRW. They will win the money they manage to save together.

Chun WooHee, Ryu JunYeol, Park JeongMin, Park HaeJoon, Bae SungWoo, and more are cast.

Get to know more about the webtoon and its characters here.

Webtoon links: Korean / English.

 

18. "Chicken Nugget" / Schedule status: March 15, 2024

The science fiction thriller webtoon "Dak Gang Jeong" (in Korean "닭강정") by Park JiDok was announced to be adapted into a drama "Chicken Nugget". The webtoon tells the strange story of how a beautiful young girl, Choi MinAh, is turned into fried chicken because she happens to enter a mysterious machine.

Director Lee ByungHun ("Melo Is My Nature", "Extreme Job" and more) is in charge of the said production. Ahn JaeHong, Ryu SeungRyong, and Kim YouJung are cast for the drama.

Find out about the characters and the webtoon here.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

19. "Aquaman" / Schedule status: TBA

The webtoon "Aquaman" (in Korean "아쿠아맨") by Mcqueenstudio will be adapted into a drama. It depicts the love and friendship of young people beyond gender.

It is planned by Kakao Entertainment. Jung WooJin, PENTAGON's HongSeok, Lee SoHee, and Shin SoHyun are the lead actors.

Check out the cast and summary of the drama here.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

20. "Vampire Chef" / Schedule status: TBA

The webtoon "Vampire Chef" (in Korean "뱀파이어 셰프") by SeoYun and Kim MinHye will be adapted into a drama. It tells the blood purification project of the chef and owner of a restaurant named Hong KiJoon.

Cho YiHyun is in talks to be the childhood friend of Hong KiJoon.

Check out more information about the drama, its characters and our dream cast here.

Webtoon links: Korean / English.

 

21. "Things Have Fallen Off" / Schedule status: TBA

The short webtoon "Things Have Fallen Off" (in Korean "떨어져 나간 것") by TaRi will be adapted in a drama. It tells the story of a woman who looks back on her memories with her ex-boyfriend. It would be the Korean version of the movie "About Time".

Moon ChaeWon is in talks.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

22. "The Year We Turned 29" / Schedule status: TBA

The youth romance comedy webtoon 'The Year We Turned 29" (in Korean "아홉수 우리들") written by Soo BakYang is announced to be adapted into a drama. It tells the story of three friends who are 29 years old and who are going through this harsh year ending with a "9".

El-rise who has produced the drama "When the Devil Calls Your Name" is in charge. Kim HyeYoon is in talks.

Have a look at the webtoon and its characters here.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

23. "The Witch" / Schedule status: TBA

The webtoon "The Witch" (in Korean "마녀") by Kang Full was announced to be adapted into a drama. It tells the story of a man who loves a woman he calls a "witch".

GOT7's JinYoung and Roh JeongEui are cast.

You can find out more about the webtoon, the adaptation's cast, characters, and more here.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

24. "i-Shopping" / Schedule Status: TBA

The webtoon "Child Shopping" (in Korean "아이쇼핑") written by Eum SeYun and illustrated by Ryu GaMyung, will be turned into a drama. It is gripping action thriller that portrays the tale of an abandoned adopted child's fight for survival and vengeance. The plot centers on the revelation of an underground "adoption broker organization" that provides kids for discreet adoptions and even goes so far as to take them back if there's a "refund" request. The narrative unfolds as Tae Shik, who was once involved with this organization, endeavors to rescue these "refunded" children.

Yum JungAh and Won JinA, Dex, and Lee NaEun are confirmed for the cast.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

25. "A Killer Paradox" / Schedule Status: February 9, 2024.

The thriller webtoon "The Murder and the Toy" also called "Murder DIEary" (in Korean "살인자난감") by Kkomabi and Nomabi is announced to be adapted into a Netflix drama. It tells the story of a man who became a murderer after an accident and a detective chasing him.

Choi WooShik and Son SukKu are cast for this Netflix original drama.

You can read more about the webtoon, its characters, and more here.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

26. "Homeland and Nationality" / Schedule Status: TBA

The webtoon "Homeland and Nationality" (in Korean "조국과 민족") by Kang TaeJin was announced to be produced into a Netflix drama. The story revolves around DoHoon Park, an intelligence agent who is not afraid to resort to violence and torture for the way of his country, and how he was recruited by a South Korean agent with who he makes a secret deal, which he shouldn't have done.

Yoo JaeMyung is in talks for casting. The script was reported to be written by "Narco-Saints" scriptwriter Kwon SungHwi, and it will be directed by Baek SeungHwan.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

27. "HeeSu In Class 2" / Schedule Status: TBA

The webtoon "HeeSu In Class 2" (in Korean "2반 이희수") by Lily was announced to be produced into a web drama. The story is about the youthful romance of HeeSu, an ordinary 18-year old boy, and his neighbor who has a secret.

Lee SangJun and Cho JunYoung are cast for the web drama.

Webtoon links: Korean / English.

 

28. "Jung Nyeon" / Schedule status: TBA

The webtoon "Jung Nyeon" (in Korean: "정년이"), written by Seo Ire and illustrated by NaMon, was announced to be produced into a drama. The story revolves around JungNyeon, a girl from Mokpo, who dreams of becoming part of the Gukgeuk Troupe (a play with women as actresses).

Kim TaeRi, Shin YeEun, Ra MiRan, Moon SoRi, and Jung EunChae are confirmed to be cast into the drama.

Check out an introduction to the webtoon here.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

29. "Bastard" / Schedule status: TBA

The webtoon "Bastard" (in Korean "후레자식") by Kim KanBi and Hwang YeongChan was announced to be adapted into a drama. It is a thriller story about a high school student named SeonWoo Jin who lives alone with his father, who is a murderer.

Park JiHoon is part of the cast.

Check out an introduction to the webtoon here.

Check out our dream casting for the two other main characters of the show - SeonWoo DongSu (Jin's father) and Yoon Kyun (Jin's girlfriend) here.

Webtoon links: Korean / English.

 

30. "Delightful Outcast" / Schedule status: TBA

The webtoon "Delightful Outcast" (in Korean: "유쾌한 왕따"), written by Kim SoongRyong, was announced to be produced into a drama. It tells the story of the outcast DongHyeon. On the day of his 15th birthday, he meets SooHyeon, a transferred student and something starts shaking in him.

Sung YuBin, Cho HyunChul, and Won JiAn are part of the casting.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

31. "Haesi's Shinru" / Schedule status: TBA

The webtoon "Haesi's Shinru" (in Korean: "해시의 신루"), written by MyeongRan and Yoon LeeSu and illustrated by INUS, was announced to be produced into a drama. 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.

32. "Boys Be Brave" / Schedule Status: TBA

The BL drama "Boys Be Brave" is based on the BL webtoon of the named "Roommates" ("고백을 못하고" in Korean). The story revolves around three close friends who catch feelings for each other but are unable to confess them to one other.

This drama is set to be directed by Lim HyunHee, who was also in charge of the successful 2023 BL drama "Our Dating Sim".

The cast is composed of Kim SungHyen, Nam SiAn, Jung YeoJun, and Ahn SeMin.

Webtoon links: Korean / English.

 

33. "Blueming" remake / Schedule Status : TBA

Two years ago, the BL drama "Blueming", based on the webtoon "Who Can Define Popularity" by Tak Bon, was released and this year, a remake should be done. Recently, the company Idol Romance shared on their social medias a casting announcement related to this new project, in hope to do a remake of this first drama.

The new drama is set to have 8 episode of 30 minutes run each, the audition for the casting is open, and the filming should be done in the first half of 2024.

Webtoon links: Korean / English

 

34. "Friendly Competition" / Schedule Status: TBA

The webtoon "Friendly Rivalry" (in Korean "선의의 경쟁") is a thriller mystery GL story by Chae YunSong and Jae YeongSim. The story follows SeulGi, who was no.1 in her old suburban school. Now, having transferred to the prestigious Chaehwa Girls' High in Seoul, she must engage in fierce, friendly competition with her rich and talented rival Jay.

This thriller GL webtoon will get a drama adaptation this year, Girls' Day HyeRi is reportedly part of the cast.

Webtoon links: Korean / Not officially available in English.

 

35. "Just Like Jazz" / SChedule STatus : March 2024

Based on the BL webtoon "Jazz For Two" ("재즈처럼" in Korean) by Clarju, the drama "Just Like Jazz" will tell the story of TaeYi who meets SeHeon, the new transfer student, in the music room. How dare SeHeon play TaeYi's brother’s song? “If I ever catch you playing the piano again...that’ll be the end of you.” And with that begins TaeYi and SeHeon's story, as unpredictable and visceral as jazz.

The drama is set to premiere in March, and the cast is composed of Ji HoGeun, Newkidd's JinKwon, OMEGA X's HanGyeom, and Kim JungHa.

Webtoon links: Korean / English.

 

36. "Delusion" / Schedule status: TBA

The mystery horror historical webtoon "Delusion" (in Korean "현혹") by HongJakGa was announced to be adapted into a drama. It tells the story of vampires set in Gyeongseong in 1935 and Shanghai in the 1800s.

Director Han JaeRim ("The Face Reader", "The King") is in charge. Ryu JunYeol, and Han SoHee will be part of the cast for this upcoming drama.

Check out more about the webtoon and its dream cast here.

Webtoon links: Korean / English.

 

Season 2

37. "Weak Hero Class 2" / Schedule status: TBA

The webtoon "Weak Hero" (in Korean "약한영웅") by Seopass and Razen was adapted into a drama last 2022, and it was officially announced that a season 2 is in store for fans of the webtoon and the drama. Season 2 of "Weak Hero Class 1" is expected to continue naturally from where the previous season left off, which is with Yeon ShiEun transferring to Eunjang High School in Yeongdeungpo, after he couldn't get into any schools in Seoul because of BumSeok’s father. It will then explore the story of how Yeon ShiEun got the title of "Eunjang's White Mamba".

Note: The photo will be updated with the new poster upon its release.

The drama will be produced by Wavve. Park JiHoon is said to be returning for the show, while RyeoUn and Bae NaRa are part of the new cast for the 2nd season.

Find out the cast and summary of the 1st season here.

Read more about the 2nd season here.

Check out more about the characters and vote for your dream cast here.

Webtoon links: Korean / English.

 

February was an excellent month for K-Dramas, with ongoing titles reaching new heights for ratings, highly-anticipated K-Dramas premiering, and much more. We enjoyed some amazing performances from talented actors, and indulged in beautiful stories by writers and directors. To wrap-up the month, we prepared a brief report of February K-Dramas for you to look back on and share your own opinions!

So, let's get into it!

 

K-Dramas With The Highest Ratings In February

Excluding daily dramas, a number of K-Dramas reached high ratings this month.

"Live Your Own Life" - 22.1% in the first week of February.

"Knight Flower" - 18.4% in the third week of February.

"Korea–Khitan War" - 12.7% in the fourth week of February.

"Marry My Husband" - 12% in the third week of February.

"Flex X Cop" - 11%  in the fourth week of February.

 

Internationally Trending K-Dramas In February*

"Doctor Slump" on Netflix - "Doctor Slump" is the 6th most-watched TV show on Netflix in February.

"Marry My Husband" on Amazon Prime Video - "Marry My Husband" is the 3rd most-watched TV show on Amazon Prime Video in February.

There were other K-Dramas like "A Killer Paradox", "Captivating The King", "My Demon", "A Shop For Killers", "Flex X Cop" and more that were trending on OTT platforms throughout the month in different weeks. However, they did not make it to the top 10 trending TV shows ranking for the month of February as a whole.

*based on data from FlixPatrol.

 

Underrated K-Dramas In February

"Love Song For Illusion"

"Love Song For Illusion", starring the outstanding idol actor Park JiHoon in a dual role alongside rookie actress Hong YeJi and fan-favorite actor Hwang Hee, remained criminally underrated throughout its run.

Viewers and critics, both in South Korea and abroad, lauded Park JiHoon's powerful and moving acting as Sajo Hyun and Akhee.

However, it seems like the pacing of the drama and the ambitious setting did not match the expectations of the general public.

As a result, the ratings suffered.

Now that the K-Drama has ended, it might be a good idea to revisit it and binge-watch to unlock the myriad charms of the drama that you might have missed while you were watching it every week.

 

"Branding In Seongsu"

The web drama "Brading In Seongsu" definitely deserves more hype and attention. However, unfortunately, it has not reached the popularity we expected it to enjoy prior to its premiere.

Starring Kim JiEun and Lomon, "Branding In Seongsu" has all the makings of a viral K-Drama. It's a soul-swapping romance, after all!

However, anyone who doesn't keep up with the summaries of every upcoming K-Drama would never know what it's about just from the name.

It is natural, therefore, that not many viewers are tuning into "Branding In Seongsu", which they might think is just a K-Drama about, well, branding!

Either way, "Branding In Seongsu" is equal parts romance and comedy with a sprinkle of fun fantasy and a dash of whodunnit.

It is a light-hearted and enjoyable watch.

 

"LTNS"

In a world of K-Dramas with fairytale romances, "LTNS" is definitely a breath of fresh reality.

Contrary to what the title suggests, "LTNS" is not a K-Drama about adult fun time. At least, not entirely.

It does include mature content, but the core of "LTNS" lies in the delicate nature of human relationships and marriages in particular.

It delves into the factors that can make or break a relationship or, even worse, suspend it in a sort of limbo.

What do you do when love is not the only thing that can keep your marriage alive? What if life gets in the way?

If you find yourself pondering such questions too, "LTNS" is for you!

Esom and Ahn JaeHong are masters of their craft and truly elevate the quality of the drama to a higher level.

If you haven't checked out "LTNS" yet, we highly recommend it!

 

K-Dramas Starting In February - First Impressions

"Wedding Impossible"

"Wedding Impossible", starring Jun JongSeo, Moon SangMin, Kim DoWan, and Bae YoonKyung, premiered to solid ratings.

It is a mass-appealing rom-com with a contract marriage trope and stars talented young actors. What's not to like?

We have the illegitimate grandsons of a chaebol family, where one is trying to make his own way in life, and the other wants to climb up the corporate ladder.

Both have their own traumas hidden deep in their heart.

In comes our manic pixie dream girl - the only person who can save both sons - one from his family and one from himself.

It's a classic!

The first two episodes were definitely fun and served well in terms of exposition, but it still feels quite superficial in character setting.

It's a little hard to root for our leading characters, mainly because their motives seem muddled, but we're sure this will change with future episodes.

 

"The Impossible Heir"

If there's anything we know about Disney+ originals, it is that if it airs on Wednesdays, you know the platform has faith in the title.

"The Impossible Heir", starring Lee JaeWook, Lee JunYoung, and Hong SuZu, had a fantastic premiere.

The beginning was reminiscent of the "Itaewon Class" breed of rebellion and vengeance, standing up for what's right and retaliating where need be.

Lee JaeWook's magnetic screen presence is undeniable, as always, and he melts into his character flawlessly.

Lee JunYoung comes in like a scene-stealer, employing the duality of his K-Pop idol days, and we're obsessed!

The two actors establish their chemistry effortlessly, and we just can't get enough of it.

In particular, Lee JunYoung is going all out in this K-Drama, showcasing his outstanding mettle in acting, as well as his impressive versatility.

The way he is toggling between the cold and prickly InHa and the aegyo master 3000 InHa is out of this world.

However, the mystery surrounding Na HyeWon, played by rookie actress Hong SuZu, leaves much to be desired.

Things seem to be happening too fast, and the writing maintains a deliberate air of ambiguity, but it's too soon to tell if this will be a strength or not.

 

Our Fave K-Dramas In February

"A Shop For Killers"

"A Shop For Killers" is arguably the best non-fantasy action-thriller we've seen in a while.

With brilliant production, a legendary cast (Lee DongWook, Kim HyeJun, Park JiBin, Seo HyunWoo, Jo HanSun & more), a grand soundtrack, and much more iconic goodness, "A Shop For Killers" is simply a class apart.

The drama doesn't just overwhelm you with spectacle but also tugs at your heartstrings, making every moment count.

The exceptional direction and cinematography are also points to look out for and amplify the viewing experience manifold.

Especially, the non-linear storytelling, going back and forth between then and now, presenting our characters' actions and their consequences, is an undeniable strength of the drama.

Moreover, the ending just takes the cake for being one of the finest and most satisfying K-Drama endings of all time.

It was a pain to wait a week for new episodes while "A Shop For Killers" was airing, but now that it's complete, binge-watching is going to be more fun than you can imagine.

So, we highly recommend tuning in!

 

"Flex X Cop"

"Flex X Cop" reached an impressive 11% with its latest episode. This is the highest rating of the K-Drama so far.

"Flex X Cop", starring Ahn BoHyun and Park JiHyun, is easily one of the most fun K-Dramas on air right now.

With an episodic nature, a colorful cast of diverse characters, and fresh faces, the perfect enemies-to-lovers scenario balanced with a buddy cop comedy, "Flex X Cop" hits the bullseye when it comes to entertainment.

Ahn BoHyun is shining in this K-Drama as Jin Isoo, making us wish for several more seasons and spin-offs.

On the other hand, Park JiHyun is the epitome of "girl crush" in this drama, with her competent, no-nonsense attitude as Lee GangHyun.

Perhaps the reason why the drama reached its highest rating in the latest episode is that Jin Isoo and Lee GangHyun, who seemed to be completely at odds, are slowly growing fond of each other.

Lee GangHyun is discovering more about Isoo's past while Isoo tries to respect GangHyun's code of conduct.

With the right blend of restraint and vulnerability, these two are well on their way to falling in love, and we're living for it!