GwenchaNoona Says: Our 2022 Second-Half K-drama Watchlist

The GwenchaNoonas share the k-dramas they are excited for in the remainder of the year!

lousycapitalistheart

I've been looking forward to KBS2's melodrama Curtain Call ever since it was still known as A Tree Dies Standing, with Youn Yuh-jung, Son Ye-jin, and Kang Ha-neul in talks for the lead roles. Although casting negotiations fell through for unknown reasons, I'm equally excited to see Go Doo-shim, Ha Ji-won, and Sung Dong-il join Kang Ha-neul in the cast. I'm also really looking forward to the workplace drama Agency, starring Lee Bo-young as the first female head of an advertising agency. And the description of Namgoong Min's upcoming comedy One Thousand Won Lawyer is giving me serious Good Manager/Chief Kim vibes, so even though I'm starting to get legal drama fatigue, this one is a yes for me!

"Curtain Call" still cuts with Kang Ha-neul, Ha Ji-won, and Sung Dong-il (from @KoreanUpdates)

Seoul-lo

Park Min-young in a fake relationship rom-com? Where do I sign up? I wasn’t into Forecasting Love and Weather much because of the male lead, but I’m hoping sparks will fly with Go Kyung-pyo in MonWedFriTueThursSat. (Oh Korea, don’t ever change with your strange titles!) And as a long-time fan of the novel and all its adaptations, I’m excited to see how k-drama will put its own spin on the much-loved classic Little Women with Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun, and Park Ji-hu. Finally, although it’s slated to be released on the last week of December, I’m already marking my calendar for Taxi Driver season 2. Lee Je-hoon and most of the remaining cast have already confirmed their return.

The main cast of "Little Women" — Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun, and Park Ji-hu

Liam Yeon Kimin

When is Netflix releasing Suriname? Or The Accidental Narco, as it’s now apparently called. The six-episode big budget crime thriller — based on a real businessman who finds himself caught up in a secret government mission to capture a Korean drug lord in Suriname — is still on top of my to-watch list. The fact that it has a top-notch cast is almost just a secondary reason.

In late August, I’m looking forward to seeing the k-drama take on the classic American novel Little Women — starring Kim Go-eun, Nam Ji-hyun, Park Ji-hu, and Wi Ha-joon. I’m not sure what to expect, but I’m definitely curious!

And after Song Joong-ki’s stellar performance in Vincenzo, his comeback drama The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate is also a title I’m adding to my calendar. Rumor is that it’s slated for October (hopefully, with a shorter title).

"The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate" still cut (from OtakuKart)

UzumaKushina

I still look forward to Curtain Call and Bad Prosecutor (previously named True Sword Battle, with Do Kyung-soo) and wish I had more release date info on Work Later, Drink Now 2 and Money Game 2022 (with Ryu Jun-yeol).

Meanwhile, I’m adding Taxi Driver 2, Little Women, The Forbidden Marriage, The Youngest Son of a Conglomerate, Blind, Umbrella, and The Golden Spoon to my 2022 watchlist.

Directed by Kim Hee-won (Vincenzo) and written by Jung Seo-kyung (Decision to Leave), Little Women includes Kang Hoon and Uhm Ki-joon in its power cast. While The Forbidden Marriage has rookies for its directors and screenwriter, the sageuk (historical show) romance drama has an intriguing plot and an interesting cast: a swindler (Park Ju-hyun) tries to deceive an inspector (Kim Woo-seok) and the widowed crown prince (Kim Young-dae). With Director Shin Hyong-wi (Voice 4) at the helm, OCN thriller Blind casts Ok Taec-yeon, Jung Eun-ji, and Ha Seok-jin.

Finally, I am cautiously optimistic for Umbrella, Kim Hye-soo's first sageuk series in 20 years, and The Golden Spoon, which stars Yook Sung-jae.

"Bad Prosecutor" still cuts with Do Kyung-soo and Lee Se-hee (from @KoreanUpdates)

Barrio Chaebol

Looking forward to two sequels of shows I enjoyed in the past: The Good Detective 2 , Work Now Drink Later 2, and Taxi Driver 2. Good to see k-drama embracing the multiple-season format, but I hope the new seasons are as entertaining as the first ones.

Which k-dramas are on your watchlist?