This May, Korean dramas are embracing delightfully unconventional narratives. From Cha Eun-woo portraying a socially awkward superhero to Park Ji-hoon discovering culinary enlightenment in an army kitchen, the lineup offers a balanced mix of action, comedy, adventure, and romance. Here is a complete guide to everything premiering this month.
My Royal Nemesis
Set in the Joseon era, a cunning royal concubine named Kang Dan-sim is poisoned and awakens in modern-day Seoul inside the body of a struggling actress. She soon becomes entangled with a ruthless chaebol heir who cannot decide whether to destroy her or fall for her. Lim Ji-yeon plays both the Joseon concubine and the modern actress in a dual role that has already generated considerable buzz. Heo Nam-jun portrays the chaebol heir, whose power struggle with Dan-sim blurs the line between hatred and something more complicated. Mark your calendar for May 8 because this one is not to be missed.
The Legend of Kitchen Soldier
Based on a popular webtoon, the series follows Kang Sung-jae, a down-on-his-luck man who stumbles into his true calling inside an army kitchen after a bizarre series of events. He begins seeing cooking instructions as a video game overlay on reality. Park Ji-hoon plays Sung-jae with an irresistible combination of comic timing and genuine heart, as his character rises from rookie to culinary legend, using his unique skills to resolve conflicts within his unit. Fans of the webtoon and newcomers alike have a date with this one on May 11.
The Wonderfools
Set in 1999, the show follows a group of quirky neighbours in Haeseong who suddenly and inexplicably gain superpowers. It pairs the chaotic and irrepressible Eun Chae-ni with the rigid and socially awkward civil servant Lee Woon-jeong as they attempt to stop a string of disappearances and uncover a mysterious villain with a dark secret. Park Eun-bin and Cha Eun-woo lead the cast. The combination of a period setting, a superhero premise, and the anticipated chemistry between the two leads makes this the most buzzed-about K-drama of the month. Mark May 15 on your calendar and prepare to be thoroughly entertained.
Fifties Professionals
Three men who once operated at the highest and most dangerous levels of their respective worlds—a former elite NIS agent, an amnesiac North Korean special operative, and a once-feared mob boss—have each quietly retired to Yeongseon Island and settled into unremarkable lives. Shin Ha-kyun, Oh Jung-se, and Heo Sung-tae lead the cast. When a mysterious incident pulls the trio back into action, the show becomes a gloriously entertaining exploration of what happens when formidable men decide they have at least fifty percent of their lives left and far too many rusty instincts to waste. This one drops on May 22, and the cast alone makes it unmissable.
Reborn Rookie
A top businessman named Kang Yong-ho gets into an accident and wakes up in the body of a rookie athlete, Hwang Jun-hyeon. Rather than panicking, he decides to treat it as the ultimate second chance at life by joining his own company as a new hire. Son Hyun-joo and Lee Jun-young lead the show, with the premise delivering endless comedic potential as a man with decades of corporate experience navigates office politics from the very bottom of the ladder he once stood at the top of. This one arrives on May 30 and is already shaping up to be one of the most entertaining workplace comedies of the year.
