June brings us a range of k-drama staples: crime and high-school drama, romantic comedies and fantasies, and scandals and political intrigues. No big-budget releases on this list, but some may have the potential to be the next surprise hit like Lovely Runner.
June 3: The Player 2: Master of Swindlers
Song Seung-heon (Black) is back as Kang Ha-ri, our favorite mastermind con artist who — along with a team of skilled hackers, scammers, and fighters — targets the corrupt elite amassing fortunes through illicit means. The second season of the popular Player kdrama from 2018 also stars Oh Yeon-seo (A Korean Odyssey) and brings in new set of actors to support Kang Ha-ri’’s exploits: Lee Si-un, Tae Won-seok and kpop girl group fromis_9’s Jang Gyu-ri (Cheer Up). Where to watch: Viu
June 7: Hierarchy
Within the halls of the most prestigious high school in South Korea, Jooshin High School, a small group of elite students control law and order with their own set of unwritten rules. That is until transfer student Kang-ha (Lee Chae-min, Crash Course in Romance) challenges the existing social order by inadvertently causing upheaval after an encounter with the school tycoon’s heir, Ri-An (Kim Jae-won, King the Land). The resulting chaos exposes the dark underbelly of the school's power dynamics.
Where to watch: Netflix June 12: My Sweet Mobster
What happens when Seo Ji-hwan (Um Tae-goo, Dr Brain), a former gangster striving to lead a normal life, reconnects with Go Eun-ha (Han Sun-hwa, Work Later, Drink Now), his childhood friend who is now a popular children’s content creator? Together, they navigate the challenges of leaving past lives behind while rediscovering friendship and, of course, potential love.
June 15: Miss Night and Day
In this unique comedic drama, Lee Mi-jin, a single young woman desperate for a job, experiences a bizarre phenomenon: She ages rapidly by day and returns to her youthful self at night.
Lee Jung-eun (Parasite) plays the dual role of the older and younger versions, using her predicament to gain a foothold in her career while dealing with the comedic and challenging scenarios that arise from her secret. Jung Eun-ji (Work Later, Drink Now) of kpop group Apink stars as the original younger version. Where to watch: Netflix
June 17: Scandal
Scandal follows the story of Moon Jung-in (Han Chae-young, Sponsor), a highly ambitious woman who marries for money and becomes a successful entertainment company CEO. Her life intertwines with Seo Jin-ho (Choi Woong, Hit the Spot), an aspiring actor engaged to her stepdaughter, Baek Seol-ah (Han Bo-reum, The Escape of the Seven: War for Survival).
Left at the altar and plotting her revenge, Seol-ah later meets Jin-ho as the star of the drama of which she is the scriptwriter. The drama unfolds with themes of betrayal, conspiracy, love, and revenge.
June 21: My Name Is Gabriel
The latest variety show from Kim Tae-ho (Infinite Challenge), JTBC's My Name Is Gabriel charts the journey of Ji Chang-wook (The Sound of Magic) and Park Bo-gum (Love in the Moonlight) as they immerse themselves in the lives of individuals from diverse cultures. With fellow participants Yeom Hye-ran (The Uncanny Counter), Gabee (Family: The Unbreakable Bond), and Park Myung-soo (Infinite Challenge), they engage in a series of endearing and often amusing tasks that test their boundaries.
An artificial intelligence program named Gabriel analyzed the cast's initial interviews to come up with unique identities that simulate real people's lives from different parts of the world.
Where to watch: Disney+
June 22 (moved to August 17): DNA Lover
This romantic comedy with a tinge of sci-fi follows the life of Han So-jin, a genetic researcher (portrayed by Jung In-sun, How to Be Thirty), who decides to break up with her carefree boyfriend in search of a genetically compatible partner. Her journey leads her to meet two potential matches: Shin Yeon-woo (Choi Si-won, Love Is for Suckers), a thoughtful obstetrician-gynecologist, and Kang Hoon (Lee Tae-hwan, Thirty-Nine), a brave firefighter. The series explores the interplay of love, genetics, and the quest for compatibility.
June 28: The Whirlwind
Two Baeksang Daesang (Grand Prize) winners will reunite to bring to life the intense political rivalry between the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister of South Korea. The Whirlwind unfolds as Prime Minister Park Dong-ho (played by Sol Kyung-gu, Public Enemy, in his first k-drama role) decides to assassinate the President to reform the corrupt political system.
However, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Jung Soo-jin (portrayed by two-time Daesang awardee Kim Hee-ae, Queenmaker) aims to thwart his plans and seize power. Set against a backdrop of political intrigue and power struggles, the drama showcases the dark side of ambition and the high stakes of political warfare.
Where to watch: Netflix