New k-dramas in October

We only have few new k-dramas premiering this month, but this women-powered list is by no means lightweight. From another major Netflix original featuring Han So-hee in her most bad-ass role to date, to what is being called the Korean version of the hit British thriller Killing Eve, and the highly anticipated comeback of queen Jun Ji-hyun to the small screen, we’re certain you’re going to have a hard time choosing which ones to watch.

Oct 11: The King’s Affection

What if one of Joseon’s kings was actually a woman pretending to be a man? The premise of this gender-bending sageuk was so appealing to Park Eun-bin (Do You Like Brahms?, Hot Stove League) that she said she set aside everything to accept the role. After all, it’s not often that Korean actresses receive an offer to play a king.

Based on a manhwa, the k-drama will also star SF9’s Ro Woon (Extraordinary You) as a charming tutor who makes Park Eun-bin’s character have second thoughts about her decision to disguise herself as her dead twin brother. Premiering on Netflix on Oct. 11.

Oct 13: Reflection of You

Go Hyun-jung (Dear My Friends, The Great Queen Seondeok) and Shin Hyun-been (Hospital Playlist) lead this high drama about an affair, betrayal and revenge.

Go Hyun-jung’s character, Jung Hee-joo, feels empty despite being a successful painter and essayist. Briefly abandoning her roles as a wife and mother in order to pursue her desires, she meets Shin Hyun-been’s character Goo Hae-won, a young art teacher who reminds her of her youthful self. Their encounter leaves Hae-won deeply hurt, however, and triggers the dark turn of events that will play out over 16 episodes. New episodes on Netflix every Wednesday and Thursday starting Oct. 13.

Oct 15: My Name

Meet a completely different Han So-hee (Nevertheless, The World of Married) in the latest Netflix original from k-dramaland. She’s no longer looking for love from problematic men; this time, she’s out to kill them.

From the same director as Extracurricular, the show features Han So-hee as a bad-ass mobster's daughter who infiltrates the police to avenge her father's death. Ahn Bo-hyun (Itaewon Class) stars as the police detective assigned to work with her. The action starts on Netflix on Oct. 15, after screening at the 26th Busan International Film Festival.

Oct 23: Jirisan

Arguably the most highly anticipated title in this list, Jirisan marks the long awaited comeback of Jun Ji-hyun (Kingdom: Ashin of the North, Legend of the Blue Sea) to the world of k-dramas. She takes on the role of a seasoned ranger in Jiri Mountain National Park, working with a rookie ranger played by Ju Ji-hoon (Kingdom) to rescue climbers and solve a mountain mystery. Oh Jung-se (It's Okay to Not Be Okay) and Sung Dong-il (Prison Playbook, Reply 1988) also star here as rangers to complete the powerhouse cast.

Penned by Kim Eun-hee, the same writer behind the Kingdom series, and directed by Lee Eung-bok (Goblin, Mr Sunshine), this show has all the makings of another major hit. Premieres on Oct. 23, exclusively on iQiyi.

Oct 24: Would You Like a Cup of Coffee?

KakaoTV is bringing us a sentimental drama this month adapted from a comic, this time centered on coffee. Former Wanna One member Ong Seong-wu stars here as Kang Go-bi, a rookie barista looking to learn from coffee master Park Seok (Park Ho-san, Penthouse 2 and 3, My Mister). but learns about life and people along the way. The series is scheduled to premiere on Oct. 24. Oct 30: Inspector Koo

Veteran actress Lee Young-ae (Jewel in the Palace) star is making a small-screen comeback as well, this time in a mystery-comedy drama dubbed as the Asian version of the hit British series Killing Eve. She plays Koo Kyung-yi, an insurance investigator and former police officer who becomes a recluse following the death of her husband.

She enjoys solving cold cases, though, and finds herself up against K (Kim Hey-jun, Kingdom), a female college student and serial killer. Streaming on Netflix.

Oct. 30: Chimera

Fresh from his Squid Game success, Park Hae-soo comes back to the small screen to solve a 35-year-old serial murder case known as Chimera. Soo-hyun (also known as Claudia Kim, The Avengers: Age of Ultron) plays a criminal profiler who grew up in the US with adoptive parents, and Lee Hee-jun (Mouse) plays a surgeon who grew up with adoptive parents in England. All three are chasing the truth behind the Chimera case. Streaming on Viu.