Five Upcoming K-Dramas To Add to Your Watchlist This Month
Park Ji-hoon reprises his role of Yeon Si-eun in ‘Weak Hero Class 2.’ Photo: courtesy of Netflix
It’s only the beginning of April, and we’ve already seen some standout K-dramas hit our screens, notably Way Back Love and Karma. But even more intriguing, riveting narratives from the genre are in the works, promising to pack in all the romance, action, heartbreak, and slow-burn tension that keeps us hooked on K-dramas. From second chances in heaven to sinister palace hauntings and brutal high school brawls, here are five that I’m looking forward to this month.
Resident Playbook
A spin-off of the popular medical rom-com slice-of-life drama Hospital Playlist (2020–2021), Resident Playbook dives into the tangled, heartwarming, and sometimes hilarious lives of doctors from the obstetrics and gynecology departments at the Jongno branch of Yulje Medical Center. Starring Go Youn-jung, Shin Si-ah, Han Ye-ji, Kang You-seok, and Jung Joon-won, the series follows five medical residents striving to become the best doctors they can be while navigating complex relationships, demanding mentors, and the chaos of life on-call.
Release Date: April 12
The Haunted Palace
This period piece—blending fantasy, romance, comedy, and horror—transports you to the Joseon era, where the royal residence has become both a target and a hotbed of eerie occurrences, with dark forces lurking in the shadows. To make matters worse, official Yoon Gab (Yook Sung-jae of BTOB) becomes possessed by an Imoogi, a dragon-like entity from Korean legend, prompting shaman Yeo Ri (Bona of WJSN) to step in and help him confront the darkness.
Amid the grisly events unfolding in the palace, King Lee Sung (Kim Ji-hoon) begins to question the future of his nation, eventually pushing him to join forces with Yeo Ri and Yoon Gab to uncover the truth.
Release Date: April 18
Heavenly Ever After
An eternal love story, Heavenly Ever After follows 80-year-old Lee Hae-sook (Kim Hye-ja) as she comes to terms with the death of her husband Ko Nak-joon (Son Suk-ku).
When Hae-sook eventually dies, she goes to heaven and chooses to appear as her 80-year-old older self since Nak-joon once told her she looked her most beautiful at that age. Interestingly, she finds him there, but as a young man, looking exactly like he did in his 30s. Now a postman in heaven, Nak-joon lives in a charming home where he’s been patiently awaiting her arrival. When they reunite, the two get a second chance at happily ever after—this time, in the afterlife.
Release Date: April 19
Weak Hero Class 2
Park Ji-hoon’s Yeon Si-eun enters a new school after the harrowing experiences of his past. Weak Hero Class 2, the much-awaited sequel to the coming-of-age action high school drama, reintroduces the sharp yet reclusive Si-eun as he settles into a campus not too different from the one he left behind. As he tries to adjust to his environment and take on unexpected challenges, Si-eun forges new friendships—and, inevitably, crosses paths with new adversaries like Na Baek-jin (Bae Na-ra) and Geum Sung-je (Lee Jun-young). Only this time, the bullies are more brutal, and the stakes are even higher.
Release Date: April 25
Pump Up the Healthy Love
Do Hyun-joong (Lee Jun-young) is a passionate and determined gym manager who believes in solving problems through sweat, strength, and workouts. When Lee Mi-ran (Jeong Eun-ji) joins his fitness center after hitting a rough patch, she’s just looking to rebuild her life—in the ensuing episodes, their encounters soon lead to a deeper, more meaningful connection.
Release Date: April 30
