5 Refreshing New K-Dramas You Should Watch This October

The spin-off of the beloved series Strong Woman Do Bong-soon released back in 2017, starring Park Bo-young and Park Hyung-sik, Strong Girl Nam-soon is similarly about the story of a woman born with extreme physical strength. The eponymous character is played by Lee Yoo-mi, whom you might recognise from the 2021 thriller Squid Game. If the spin-off is anything like the first instalment in this series, expect a quirky plot that will both tug at your heartstrings and have you in tears from laughter. The first episode of Strong Girl Nam-soon will be available on Netflix from October 7 onwards.

For all you crime and action lovers, Han River Police might be the show of the season for you to catch. Hosted on Disney+, this intense 6-episode drama follows a group of policemen from the Han River Police Station, and the emergencies they deal with as first responders. The main leads of the drama are Do Na-hee (Bae Da-bin) and Kim Ji-soo (Shin Hyun-seung), whose chemistry is palpable on screen. Along with their fellow officers, the series presents a thoughtful demonstration of the lesser-known aspects of the demanding occupation. 

Set in 1995, The Worst of Evil is a drama that sees authorities from two neighbouring countries work together to take down an illegal drug ring that runs from Japan to South Korea. The ongoing series sees an ambitious detective from the countryside Park Jun-mo (Ji Chang-wook) taking on a massive undercover mission to dismantle the drug cartel from the inside. But things get messy when he finds out his wife shares a complex history with the leader of the cartel. And with seven episodes released so far, you still have time to catch up with the plot and follow along with the show all the way till it concludes with the twelfth episode.

If romantic K-dramas are more your vibe, don’t miss Doona!, that’s coming to Netflix on October 20. This drama series stars Yang Se-Jong playing Lee Won-Ju, a regular guy who finds himself living in a share house with Lee Doona, a former K-pop idol, as portrayed by Bae Suzy who incidentally shares a similar fate. The actress was previously from the idol group Miss A, under the big-league entertainment agency JYP. Based on a webcomic of a similar title and directed by Lee Jung-hyo (the man behind the hit series 'Crash Landing on You'), this intimate drama will take you on an emotional rollercoaster as the duo navigate their unique relationship.

For those who seek more atypical storylines, Castaway Diva is the show for you. The drama focuses on Seo Mok-ha, as played by Park Eun-bin who captivated us in Extraordinary Attorney Woo, as a woman pursuing a not-so-rare dream of becoming an idol. There’s only one difference: she has spent the last 15 years of her life stranded on a deserted island. While attempting to acclimate herself back to the outside world, the drama follows Mok-ha’s determination to achieve her dreams as an adult. You can follow her story once the drama hits Netflix on October 28.