New k-dramas to watch in May 2023

The May k-drama line-up is as hot as the weather these days, led by Kim Woo-bin's highly anticipated sci-fi series Black Knight, and Lee Dong-wook's reprisal of his gumiho (nine-tailed fox) role in the prequel to The Tale of the Nine-Tailed.

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May 1: My Perfect Stranger

Embark on a thrilling time-travel adventure with this 16-episode fantasy melodrama, also known as Run into You. Kim Dong-wook (You are My Spring) and Jin Ki-joo (Homemade Love Story) star as two strangers whose lives intertwine when they unexpectedly travel back to 1987. He is a news anchor, determined to uncover the truth behind a series of murders, while she is an ordinary office worker, seeking to prevent her parents' ill-fated wedding.

As they navigate this unfamiliar world, they must work together to unravel the mysteries of their pasts and find a way back to the present. Will they succeed or remain trapped in time?

Where to watch: Viu

May 5: All That We Loved

Tune in to a heartwarming tale of love and friendship in this 16-episode romance drama about a love triangle that forms when two best friends fall for the same enchanting transfer student.

EXO's Sehun (Now, We Are Breaking Up) stars as the charming basketball star Go Yoo, who has donated a kidney to his best friend and top student, Go Joon-hee (Jo Joon-young, Idol: The Coup). Relative newcomer Jang Yeo-bin (Our Blooming Youth) captivates as Han So-yeon, the transferee who captures both their hearts. As emotions run high and friendships are tested, will true love prevail in this touching high school drama?

Where to watch: Viu

May 6: Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938

Delve into the fantastical realm of gumihos (nine-tailed foxes) with the 12-episode fantasy-action prequel to the 2020 hit series.

The story follows Lee Yeon (Lee Dong-wook, Bad and Crazy), a gumiho who finds himself inadvertently thrust back to the tumultuous year of 1938. There, he reunites with Ryu Hong-Joo (Kim So-Yeon, Penthouse), a former mountain guardian spirit who now owns Myoyeongak, the capital's finest high-end restaurant. As old emotions resurface, Lee Yeon also encounters his estranged younger brother, Lee Rang (Kim Beom, Ghost Doctor).

Meanwhile, Cheon Mu-Young (Ryoo Kyung-soo, Glitch), once a guardian spirit and friend to Lee Yeon and Ryu Hong-Joo, harbors hostility towards them due to a mysterious past incident.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

May 10: Race

This new workplace drama delves into the trials and tribulations of an ordinary female worker turned public relations officer at a large company.

Park Yoon-jo, played by Lee Yeon-hee (Welcome to Wedding Hell), is a passionate and hardworking PR professional who finds herself caught in a recruitment scandal. Despite being labeled a "diversity hire," she is determined to overcome the challenges and prove her worth.

The series also stars Moon So-ri (Queenmaker), Hong Jong-hyun (Moon Lovers), and Jung Yun-ho (Dating on Earth). Race is penned by acclaimed screenwriter Kim Roo-ri (Hyena) and helmed by director Lee Dong-yoon (20th Century Boy and Girl).

Where to watch: Disney+

May 12: Black Knight

It’s 2071, and pollution has reached catastrophic levels, forcing people to rely on respirators to survive. This six-episode sci-fi series follows the adventures of legendary deliveryman 5-8 (Kim Woo-bin, Our Blues) as he encounters Sa Wol (Kang You-seok, Start-Up), a refugee who dreams of becoming a deliveryman — the last beacon of hope for those struggling to make it, and defense officer Soel-A (Esom, Taxi Driver). Together, they face the sinister Cheonmyeong Group, a ruthless organization hell-bent on global domination.

This adaptation of Lee Yoon-gyun's webtoon, Delivery Driver, captures a stark vision of Earth post-comet collision. As desertification accelerates and resources dwindle, social stratification intensifies, creating a desperate struggle for survival. Will our heroes manage to withstand the challenges and bring hope to a crumbling world?

Where to watch: Netflix

May 15: Oh! Young-shim

Our first rom-com this month is a 10-episode series from Genie TV about Young-shim (Song Ha-yoon, Fight for My Way), a struggling TV variety show PD whose shows are continuously canceled due to low ratings. Desperate to save her career, she produces a love entertainment pilot program and casts CEO Mark Wang (Super Junior’s Lee Dong-hae) — only to realize he's her childhood friend Wang Kyung-tae, who used to like her.

May 24: Park Ha-kyung's Journey

This 8-episode series from Wavve features Lee Na-young (Romance Is a Bonus Book) as a high school Korean literature teacher seeking to escape her mundane routine. To add excitement to her life, she embarks on one-day trips every Saturday.

During these journeys, the cheerful wanderer indulges in various cuisines and encounters different people, discovering comfort and empathy, and transforming her life one trip at a time.

May 29: Delightfully Deceitful

Chun Woo-hee (Unlocked) stars as a genius con artist, Lee Ro-um, who teams up with an empathetic attorney, Han Moo-young (Kim Dong-wook, The King of Pigs), in this thrilling revenge drama from tvN.

Once a celebrated child prodigy, Lee Ro-um’s incredible intellect earned her the title of "memorization genius girl." However, her life takes a dark turn, and she becomes known as a "psychopath" and "evil killer" instead. Meanwhile, Han Moo-young is an observant lawyer with an extraordinary level of empathy. He is so deeply attuned to others' emotions that he experiences physical abnormalities when confronted with their pain.