Looking for your next Korean drama fix in October 2023? Look no further! We’ve rounded up the “8 New Korean Dramas to Watch” this month, spanning various genres to cater to your entertainment needs. Let’s dive right into what’s on offer this October.
1. Castaway Diva (2023)
In this story, Mok Ha is a young girl with aspirations of becoming a singer. During middle school, she mysteriously disappears and finds herself stranded on a deserted island, where she survives in isolation for an astonishing 15 years. When she is eventually rescued, her challenges are twofold: readjusting to society after her solitary existence proves to be as formidable as surviving on the island.
Genres: Music, Comedy, Romance, Life
Starring: Park Eun Bin, Kim Hyo Jin, Chae Jong Hyeop
Release date: Oct 28, 2023 – Dec 3, 2023
2. High Cookie (2023)
A teenage fantasy thriller drama revolves around the perilous effects of a malevolent cookie that grants wishes upon consumption.
Choi Soo Young, an 18-year-old burdened with the responsibility of caring for her younger sister after losing their parents, forgoes high school to work multiple odd jobs. A turn of events unfolds when her sister faces a dangerous situation involving a wish-granting cookie, compelling Soo Young to risk everything to protect her.
Seo Ho Su, a 3rd-year student at Junghan High School, grapples with personal challenges, including his mother’s battle with cancer and an absent father. Despite focusing on his studies, he becomes a target of wealthy classmates who perceive him as a pushover at their disposal.
Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Youth, Fantasy
Starring: Nam Ji Hyun, Choi Hyun Wook, Kim Mu Yeol
Release date: Oct 23, 2023
3. Doona! (2023)
On his first day of college, Joon moves into a new apartment and discovers that Duna, a former celebrity, lives downstairs. Initially attempting to avoid her, Joon becomes increasingly intrigued by Duna’s enigmatic life.
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Youth, Drama
Starring: Bae Suzy, Yang Se Jong, Park Se Wan
Release date: Oct 20, 2023
4. The Matchmakers (2023)
In this historical drama, Sim Jung Woo, a highly intelligent and handsome young man, achieves a remarkable feat by securing the top position in the state examination at a very young age. However, his life takes a drastic turn when he is chosen to be the husband of a princess. Tragically, on their wedding day, the princess unexpectedly passes away, leaving Sim Jung Woo in a state of misfortune.
According to the customs of the Joseon period, Sim Jung Woo is faced with limitations – he cannot take up government positions and is forbidden from remarriage due to the untimely demise of the princess. This sets the stage for a series of events that lead him to become involved with Jung Soon Deok, a widow who lives a dual life under the alias of Yeo Joo Daek.
Jung Soon Deok, whose late husband was the second son of the first vice-premier, operates covertly as a matchmaker and seller of women’s items using the pseudonym Yeo Joo Daek. Renowned as the best matchmaker in Hanyang, the capital city, she collaborates with Sim Jung Woo to unite older single men and women in matrimony, navigating the intricacies of their society.
Genres: Historical, Comedy, Romance
Starring: Rowoon, Cho Yi Hyun, Jo Han Chul
Release date: Oct 30, 2023 – Dec 19, 2023
5. Evilive (2023)
Han Dong Soo, a lawyer focused on livelihood issues, selects a prisoner at random to visit and takes up a case, usually maintaining a rational and reasonable demeanor. However, he harbors a dark side within. Something triggers him to abandon his usual stance and immerse himself in a world of evil. His younger half-brother, Han Beom Jae, works at a second-hand computer shop and acts as a case intermediary for Dong Soo, connecting him with clients. Beom Jae becomes aware of a change in Dong Soo’s behavior following the introduction of a particular case involving Seo Do Young, the second-ranking member of a crime organization. Despite Do Young’s former career as a baseball player and charming appearance, he conceals a savage and unpredictable cruelty beneath the surface.
Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Crime, Drama
Starring: Shin Ha Kyun, Kim Young Kwang, Shin Jae Ha
Release date: Oct 14, 2023 – Nov 12, 2023
6. Strong Girl Namsoon (2023)
Kang Nam Soon, possessing extraordinary strength, embarks on a quest to reunite with her parents, having gone missing as a child in Mongolia. She locates her mother, Hwang Geum Joo, a wealthy resident of Gangnam, Seoul. Hwang Geum Joo, after losing her daughter, dedicated her life to virtuous deeds. Notably, three generations in the family, including Kang Nam Soon, her mother, and grandmother Gil Joong Gan, possess superhuman strength.
Unexpectedly, the trio finds themselves entangled in a drug-related case unfolding in Gangnam. Detective Kang Hee Sik collaborates with the three women to investigate the drug case, gradually forming a romantic interest in Kang Nam Soon.
Genres: Action, Comedy, Romance, Supernatural
Starring: Lee You Mi, Kim Jung Eun, Kim Hae Sook
Release date: Oct 7, 2023 – Nov 26, 2023
7. My Dearest Part 2 (2023)
Jang Hyun, a seemingly emotionless man, finds love for the first time when he meets the captivating Gil Chae. However, Gil Chae’s heart belongs to Yeon Jun, who is engaged to her best friend, Eun Ae. Yeon Jun grapples with his affection for Gil Chae while adhering to tradition, unable to break off the engagement. Despite the complex love dynamics, Eun Ae remains understanding and compassionate. As Jang Hyun becomes part of this intricate love triangle, Gil Chae, torn between her feelings for Yeon Jun and newfound affection for Jang Hyun, faces inner confusion. The outbreak of war adds another layer of complexity to their relationships. The story unfolds, testing their love and resilience amidst the chaos of war.
Genres: Historical, Romance, Drama, Melodrama
Starring: Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun Jin, Lee Hak Joo
Release date: Oct 13, 2023 – Nov 11, 2023
8. A Good Day to Be a Dog (2023)
Han Hae Na, a single high school teacher harboring a family curse, grapples with a peculiar secret passed down through generations. Due to an ancestral misfortune, anyone from her family who kisses another person undergoes a nightly transformation into a dog for six hours. The only way to break the curse is for the person, in their dog form, to receive a kiss from the same individual. Han Hae Na cautiously navigates potential romantic relationships, pleading her suitors not to kiss her to avoid the ensuing canine transformation, which often leads them to depart.
In an inebriated state, Han Hae Na accidentally kisses Jin Seo Won, a fellow teacher at her school, despite their distant colleague relationship. Panic-stricken, Han Hae Na relentlessly pursues Seo Won, seeking another kiss to reverse the unexpected transformation. However, complications arise as Jin Seo Won grapples with a fear of dogs, adding an unexpected twist to their unfolding tale.
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy, Supernatural
Starring: Cha Eun Woo, Park Gyu Young, Lee Hyun Woo
Release date: Oct 11, 2023 – Jan 3, 2024
9. The Perfect Deal (2023)
Three childhood friends, Lee Joon Sung, Song Jae Hyo, and Park Min Woo, reconnect in their twenties. Joon Sung, once a promising soccer player, grapples with shattered dreams but strives to rebuild his life. Jae Hyo, now in medical school, seeks assistance from Joon Sung and Min Woo due to a personal crisis. In a misguided attempt to alleviate his own troubles, Jae Hyo orchestrates a fake kidnapping of Min Woo, the wealthy son. However, this plan takes an unforeseen turn, triggering a series of complications and plunging them all into a dark and tumultuous ordeal.
Genres: Thriller, Crime, Drama
Starring: Yoo Seung Ho, Kim Dong Hwi, Yoo Soo Bin
Release date: Oct 6, 2023