K-Dramas To Check Out This December 2020

2020 may be ending, but the stream of potentially good K-Dramas just doesn’t seem to end. Brace yourself—it’s a long read ahead.

The Uncanny Counter

Demon hunters called Counters come to Earth disguised as employees at a noodle restaurant in order to capture evil spirits in pursuit of eternal life.

So Moon (Jo Byeonggyu) is the youngest member of the Counters, possessing quick wit and adaptability. He experienced a mysterious car accident in the past as a child and at present, he is a central figure among the Counters.

Do Hana (Kim Sejeong) is the demon detector of the team—she is able to track the locations of demons and has the ability to read the memories of another being through touch. She works alongside So Moon to subdue the demons. 

Ga Motak (Yu Junsang) is So Moon’s mentor and a Counter with incredible strength. He was a former police officer who lost his memory seven years ago after an accident.

Chu Maeok (Yum Hyeran) is the chef at their noodle restaurant. She possesses healing abilities and acts as the emotional pillar of the group.

There are tons of jumping, parkour, and other dynamic action stunts being teased in the promotional materials that are sure to get any action lovers excited for The Uncanny Counter. Sure, there are body stunt doubles involved, but the actors themselves have also prepared for this series in their own ways by getting various martial arts lessons and physical training. Their hard work really translated onscreen—seeing how effortless they seem to be pulling off the tough maneuvers. 

Additionally, the cast seems pretty tight with one another and this is usually a positive indication of their onscreen chemistry. The Uncanny Counter is definitely one of the stronger contenders this coming month. 

Premieres: November 28, Saturdays and Sundays 

Streaming source(s): Netflix

Sweet Home

Adapted from a popular webtoon of the same name, Sweet Home is a 10-episode VFX/SFX filled thriller based on the unique world in which people turn into monsters that reflect their internal desires. Cha Hyeonsu, a reclusive high school student who moves into a new apartment called Green Home after a personal tragedy, faces a series of life-changing situations that bring him out to the world to save others. 

The series presents a strong ensemble cast including Song Kang (Love Alarm), Lee Jinuk (Voice), Lee Siyoung (No Mercy), Lee Dohyun (18 Again), Kim Namhee (Mr. Sunshine), Go Minsi (Love Alarm), Park Kyuyoung (Romance is a Bonus Book), and Go Younjung (He Is Psychometric). A teaser trailer was also released, giving viewers a first look at Green Home, the main environment of Sweet Home.

Director Lee Eungbok’s new Netflix original series Sweet Home is produced by Studio Dragon, co-produced by Studio N, and written by Hong Sori, Kim Hyungmin, and Park Sojeong.

Viewers can have high expectations going into this K-Drama. With its source material completed some time back, the live adaptation is unlikely to pull off any drama original concepts or plots that might dilute the original story. The teaser seems a tad darker than the stills, but overall this K-Drama looks thoughtfully and well-produced. 

This is Song Kang’s first comeback since Love Alarm and the character Cha Hyeonsu is definitely a step away from his breakout role in Love Alarm. Hopefully, he will be able to pleasantly surprise us with his versatility and give us some content worth watching before Love Alarm season two arrives. Since Sweet Home is a Netflix original series, all ten episodes will be released on the premiere date, great for those who hate cliffhangers and have no willpower to wait for the following week’s episodes. Just remember to stock up on some snacks for you to munch on as you binge-watch Sweet Home in one sitting.

Premieres: December 18

Streaming source(s): Netflix

True Beauty

If you are remotely interested in K-Drama at all, then it is impossible for you to have not heard any news of this webtoon adaptation. Easily one of the most talked-about K-Dramas ever since its cast reveal—we are definitely taking a look into True Beauty.

After binge-watching beauty videos online, Im Joogyung (Moon Gayoung), a shy comic book fan, masters the art of makeup. Utilizing her new makeup skills, she sees her social standing skyrocket as she becomes known as her school’s prettiest pretty girl overnight. Despite so, she struggles to keep her bare face a secret due to her own complex over her appearance. As she worries about maintaining her newly achieved social status, she begins to get involved with two handsome men—Lee Suho (Cha Eunwoo) and Han Seojun (Hwang Inyeop).

The webtoon continuously charts high on its host site and taking a quick read will tell you why. Essentially a young adult genre packed with cliches such as “The Ugly Duckling” trope, True Beauty’s strength lies in its easy-to-follow narrative. The art style is also extremely bright, pleasing, and appealing, with the artist often painstakingly illustrating multiple panels to document Joogyung’s makeup transformation. If someone were to ask for a good shoujo (female teen) genre webtoon, True Beauty is definitely going to be on the list of recommendations.  

With all that said, we can see the stylistic choices of the webtoon translating well into the K-Drama itself: the leads’ makeup is more vibrant than usual dramas (those red lips and blush though), and Joogyung’s bare face depicted in the drama does look off-putting as it was in the webtoon. Needless to say, viewers can expect many heart-fluttering moments that will get you squealing into your pillows. Although there have been some disgruntled opinions on the casting choices, they are pretty much the vocal minority and we viewers should trust the creators to have made these cast choices after thorough deliberation. Just an observation—with all this hype around it, True Beauty may end up disappointing some only because the webtoon is just too high of a wall and it will do one well to temper their expectations (also because the webtoon is still ongoing).

Premieres: December 9, Wednesdays and Thursdays

Streaming source(s): Viki, Viu

Awaken

Also known as Day and Night, Awaken is a romantic crime drama revolving around a series of mysterious happenings that are connected to an incident that took place in a village 28 years ago.

Do Jungwoo (Nam Goongmin) is the responsible team leader of a special task force at the National Police Agency. Despite his relaxed and child-like demeanor, he holds a mysterious secret. Alongside him is Gong Hyewon (Seolhyun), a passionate and resolute police officer. She possesses extraordinary fighting capabilities and has a surprisingly clumsy side to her. Jamie (Lee Chungah) is a detective on loan from the FBI. She was adopted as a child with almost no memories previously, and now she is back in Korea to unravel the present mysteries of this small village. This odd team of three put together by circumstances soon realizes that the current happenings seem to be related to those of the past. 

tvN is back with another dark and grim crime series and we are all down for it. With Nam Goongmin acting as the main lead, it is likely that Awaken will be an intriguing and adrenaline-packed series. Not only does he have a good eye for dramas, but he also has the acting skills to nail a variety of characters. It so happens that Awaken is the only crime and mystery K-Drama debuting in December, so fans of these genres should check it out.

Additionally, this is Seolhyun’s first broadcast activity following the controversy surrounding her group earlier this year. Many eyes are on her, and hopefully, she will be able to show her growth as an actress in Awaken.

Premieres: November 30, Mondays and Tuesdays 

Streaming source(s): Viki, Viu

Mr. Queen

Don’t be fooled by this K-Drama’s unassuming poster—there is a reason why we decided that Mr. Queen must be discussed in this issue. Continue to read on and watch its wacky teaser. 

Jang Bonghwan is a chef at the President's Blue House. One day, his soul becomes trapped in the body of Queen Kim Soyong (Shin Hyesun) in the Joseon dynasty.

King Cheoljong (Kim Junghyun) is gentle and laidback and acts as a figurehead in the day during court proceedings. However, his demeanor changes during the night, and is not all that he seems to be.

Queen Sunwon (Bae Jongok) is the late King Sunjo’s wife and the one who wields the true power in the country. Kim Jwageun (Kim Taewoo) is Queen Sunwon’s younger brother. He is described as extremely ambitious.

Described as a “historical fusion” drama, Mr. Queen has great potential to be the dark horse in December. Its setup is already packed full of possible comedic scenarios with the main character literally being a modern man trapped in a historical queen’s body. In addition, this is a great opportunity for viewers to acquaint themselves with Shin Hyesun as she will be technically playing two roles in this series. Whether this K-Drama will be able to nail serious and emotional plotlines is a topic for another time, but at least we viewers can be sure to get a laugh or two out of this series’s premiere.  

Premieres: December 12, Saturdays and Sundays

Streaming source(s): Viki, Viu

Cheat on Me If You Can

Cheat on Me If You Can is a comedy-mystery thriller about a murder-mystery novelist, Kang Yeojoo (Jo Yeojeong), who constantly thinks about how to kill people. Her husband, Han Woosung (Go Joon) is a divorce lawyer who wrote a memorandum titled "If You Cheat, You Die." The plot will revolve around an unconventional and intense story about adults who do bad things with guilt.

Cha Suho (Kim Youngdae) is a handsome part-time worker at a convenience store who looks out for Kang Yeojoo after they cross paths by chance. Meanwhile, Go Mirae (Yeonwoo) is a beautiful art college student with refreshing charms. These two will be adding much-needed tension and comedy to the K-Drama.

At first glance, it seems to be another The World of The Married-inspired K-Drama, but the teasers reveal the overall tone to be more mischievous and cheeky. One of the key anticipation points of this drama has definitely got to be Jo Yeojeong of Parasite fame. She executed her role in the Academy Award winning film wonderfully and we are absolutely thrilled to know that she is back to the small screen so we get to watch more of her acting. Regardless of how the plot of Cheat on Me If You Can plays out, viewers can be sure to enjoy Jo Yeojeong’s acting.

Premieres: December 3, Thursdays and Fridays 

Streaming source(s): Viu

Run On

Run On is a romance drama about a former track and field athlete named Ki Sunkyum (Im Siwan) who retires after a life-changing event and becomes a sports agent. Oh Mijoo (Shin Sekyung), an adventurous foreign film translator, meets Sunkyum, marking the start of a lovely romance.  

Alongside them is Seo Danah (Girls’ Generation’s Sooyoung), the CEO of a sports agency. She has a chip on her shoulder, having been dismissed by the people around her just because of her gender. Enter Lee Younghwa (Kang Taeoh), a university student art major. His persistent and sunny personality gets to Danah and they eventually get closer.

Romance lovers need to check out Run On as the romance element seems to be heavily emphasized throughout the promotional materials. The cinematography and color story looks absolutely lovely—bright pastels, overly-exposed, and airy. The leads are all extremely attractive and it wouldn’t be exaggerating to call Run On a visual feast. A plus is that the two love lines seem quite distinct from each other, with one looking to be more on the pure side, whereas the supporting one seems to have some power play going on. The leads are going to be the focal point of this series. Thankfully, both Im Siwan and Sooyoung have received consistent positive responses for their acting thus far, and Shin Sekyung fits the refreshing concept of the series down to its core.

Overall, the plot does sound a little flat—but when a K-Drama is promising you views as seen above, it is probably worth spending some time to check it out (haha…)

Premieres: December 16, Wednesdays and Thursdays

Streaming source(s): To Be Confirmed

Hush

Hush is an office drama on the daily lives of reporters and their struggles (read: ethical dilemmas) that come with their occupation. 

Han Junhyeok (Hwang Jungmin) is a veteran reporter for a newspaper. Initially driven to pursue justice through his work, he is now conflicted between idealism and pragmatism. Besides his work commitments, Junhyeok has his responsibilities as a husband and a father. 

Lee Jisoo (Girls’ Generation’s Im Yoona) is a bold intern reporter who isn’t afraid to say what needs to be said, even during a job interview. When Junhyeok is assigned to be her mentor, she begins to dream of becoming a true journalist, not knowing Junhyeok’s career crisis.

While Start-Up did not turn out to be remotely similar to Misaeng, Hush is giving us some serious throwbacks to the cult classic. There is a considerable amount of attention on this K-Drama that may be lost on international fans, given that the only familiar face might be Yoona of Girls’ Generation for some. Hwang Jungmin is a renowned big-screen actor who rarely picks up television projects. There is absolutely no room for doubt regarding his acting capabilities and expect Hwang Jungmin to bring his character’s complexities to life. 

Hush is also actually based on an awarding-winning novel called Silence Warning, which means that we can expect some serious journalism issues to be brought to the fore. A must check-out if you are a fan of Misaeng or office-politics drama. 

Premieres: December 11, Fridays and Saturdays

Streaming source: iQiyi 

Secret Royal Inspector

Set during the end of the Joseon era, Sung Yigyeom (Kim Myungsoo) topped the state examination and he now works at the Hongmungwan (the administrative and research department). Despite his achievements, he is largely apathetic to happenings and has no goals in life. One day, Yigyeom is caught gambling and is re-designated to work as a secret royal inspector—to catch corrupt acts by other public officers—as punishment. Joining him is Hong Dain (Kwon Nara), a fellow inspector, and Park Chunsam (Lee Yikyung), Yigyeom’s servant.

Meanwhile, Sung Yibeom (Lee Taehwan) is Yigyeom’s younger step-brother. Due to his mother's low social status, his father is not accepting of him. He opposes Yigyeom out of resentment.

Despite the lack of promotional materials at the moment, this saeguk (historical) drama is a good opportunity to rediscover these up and coming actors such as Kim Myungsoo and Kwon Nara. Furthermore, Kim Myungsoo usually has a good rapport with his male co-stars, so we can look forward to some bromance between him and Lee Yikyung (perhaps even Lee Taehwan?).

Premieres: December 21, Mondays and Tuesdays

Streaming source(s): To Be Confirmed

City Couple’s Way of Love

Park Jaewon (Ji Changwook) is an honest and enthusiastic architect who loves the city streets. Lee Eunoh (Kim Jiwon) is a freelance marketer who spontaneously decides to adopt a false identity in an unfamiliar place. One day, their paths cross and they develop feelings for each other, all while Eunoh pretends to be a fictional “Yoon Sunah.” Eunoh disappears, causing Jaewon to pick up the pieces after himself.

More promotional materials have been released since last month, and it seems Kim Minseok will be joining the two as one of the two couples featured in the vertical promotional video. Besides the two prolific leads, the web series will explore the relationships of the two other couples. Similar to Run On, the three different couples all seem to have distinct styles, which is sure to lead to more interesting scenes and content for viewers. The stills of Ji Changwook and Kim Jiwon released so far look gorgeous and we can expect the web series to have a quality consistent with these picturesque stills. While it has been some months since KakaoTV’s inception, City Couple’s Way of Love seems to be KakaoTV’s real big move to capture more attention from the general public. The broadcasting schedule of a 30-minute episode a week remains a bummer for binge-watchers, but great for those looking for quick and low-commitment entertainment. Hopefully, streaming sites pick up on City Couple’s Way of Love so fans have a legal way of supporting the cast and its creators. 

Premieres: December 8, Every Tuesdays

Streaming source(s): To Be Confirmed 

Conclusion

Props to you for getting this far! With so many interesting K-Dramas debuting this December,  remember to save them on your watchlist so you won’t miss their premiere dates.