The Midnight Romance in Hagwon, Uncle Samsik, The 8 Show and more: K-dramas making their debut in May 2024

April 2024 no doubt brought us some hotly anticipated releases like ‘Parasyte: The Grey’, ‘Lovely Runner’, ‘Blood Free’, and 'Missing Crown Prince’. But fear not, because May 2024 is gearing up to be just as epic! Brace yourselves for a lineup of dramas that cater to every taste bud, from swoon-worthy romances to edge-of-your-seat thrillers that'll keep you hooked. Without keeping you in suspense any longer, here's your ultimate guide to Korean dramas hitting the screens in May 2024!

Lee Min-ki portrays Cha Yeon-ho, a talented mathematician and analyst, who finds himself reassigned to the Traffic Crime Investigation Team. Despite his exceptional reasoning skills and expertise in reconstructing accident scenes, he faces hurdles due to his inability to drive and his social awkwardness, hampering his career advancement. Upon joining the team, he collaborates with the determined Min So-hee (Kwak Sun-young), the experienced Jung Chae-man (Heo Sung-tae), founder of the TCI team, known for tackling violent crimes, and the car specialist Woo Dong-ki (Lee Ho-cheol). Together, they probe into the sudden surge of traffic crimes. ‘Crash’ is set to debut on May 13.

Adapted from the 2021 webtoon ‘Treat Me Carelessly’, ‘Dare to Love Me’ is a romantic-comedy series that explores the relationship between a Confucian scholar and his art teacher. Shin Yun-bok (Kim Myung-soo), a devoted follower of Confucian values such as benevolence, righteousness, courtesy, wisdom, and faith, finds himself intertwined with the carefree Kim Hong-do (Lee Yoo-young). In stark contrast to her student, Hong-do possesses a straightforward personality devoid of connections or influence. Despite facing repeated disrespect, she remains determined to carve her path in the design industry. ‘Dare to Love Me’ is scheduled to premiere on May 13.

In the upcoming romantic-comedy ‘Frankly Speaking’, Ko Kyung-pyo takes on the role of Song Ki-baek, a highly regarded television announcer known for his courteous manners. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he is afflicted by a condition that compels him to vocalize his unfiltered thoughts, leading to chaos in his professional life. On the other hand, Kang Han-na plays On Woo-joo, a TV show writer intrigued by Ki-baek's abrupt transformation and blunt speech. She invites him to collaborate on her program, leading to an unexpected partnership. ‘Frankly Speaking’ is set to debut on May 1.

Adapted from Bae Jin-soo's webcomic "Money Game," "The 8 Show" depicts the struggles of eight individuals facing dire financial circumstances. They enter a reality TV program where they must reside in a stark studio environment, enclosed by concrete walls, in pursuit of much-needed cash. Contestants in the survival challenge must endure a hundred days to share the grand prize of 44.8 billion Won equally. However, they must meticulously budget their daily expenses, including electricity, food, and water, as costs are magnified a thousandfold compared to the outside world and are subtracted directly from the prize fund. This drama is set to premiere on May 17.

Jang Ki-yong headlines ‘The Atypical Family’ as Bok Gwi-joo, a young man hailing from a lineage endowed with supernatural abilities. Gwi-joo possesses the unique gift of time travel, allowing him to revisit cherished moments in his past without altering them. However, this inability to enact change leads to his spiraling into depression, resulting in the loss of his powers. Similarly, his family members also experience a decline in their abilities due to various contemporary challenges such as mental health issues like eating disorders, smartphone addiction, and insomnia. Later on, the family gets entangled with the mysterious Do Dae-hae (Chun Woo-hee), who possesses her own set of extraordinary abilities. ‘The Atypical Family’ is set to premiere on May 4.

Age-gap romances are typically skirted in K-dramas due to potential controversy, yet they can still provide audiences with a perspective on pure love that may surprise many. ‘The Midnight Romance in Hagwon’, starring Wi Ha Joon and Jung Ryeo Won, tells the story of Lee Joon Ho's return to the academy where he once studied, after abandoning a high-flying corporate career. For the past decade, he has harbored feelings for his Korean language instructor, Seo Hye Jin, ever since she assisted him in gaining admission to a prestigious university. Now, he has taken up a teaching position at the same academy with the aspiration of finally confessing his love. This series is set to premiere on May 11.

Set against the backdrop of the 1960s, ‘Uncle Samsik’ introduces Song Kang-ho, celebrated for his performance in ‘Parasite’, in his first television role as the eponymous character. Samsik embodies a shrewd and resourceful ‘fixer’, adept at achieving his objectives through any means necessary. In the series, his path converges with that of Kim San (byun Yo-han), an idealistic and ambitious graduate of the Korean Military Academy harboring dreams of revolutionizing the nation's future. Despite their contrasting personalities and motivations, the duo forges an uncertain alliance, driven by the imperative to navigate the turbulent seas of political upheaval and ensure their survival amidst the chaos of the era. It is scheduled to premiere on May 15.