Lee Min-ho and Gong Hyo-jin in a still from ‘When the Stars Gossip’ (left), and Na In-woo and Lee Se-young in a still from ‘Motel California’ (right). Photo: courtesy of tvN and MBC.
The new year is here with fresh K-dramas featuring distinct and engaging themes and storytelling, setting the tone for the kind of K-content we are likely to see in 2025. Certainly, there won’t be a dearth of variety in narratives to keep us engaged throughout the year. First off is a list of six brand-new K-drama titles spread through January.
Love Scout
Office romance Love Scout, a weekly romantic drama stars Han Ji-min and Lee Joon-hyuk. Han’s Kang Ji-yoon is the CEO of a prestigious headhunting agency, but her expertise is limited to office work; for anything else, she seeks help. Fortunately, she has the perfect secretary, Yoo Eun-ho (Lee), a single father.
As Ji-yoon navigates the complexities of her professional and personal lives, she finds a friend in Eun-ho and warmth in his presence. He’s making life easier for her, while she begins to fill the voids in his life. As the story advances, they heal each other, blossoming into something more.
When the Stars Gossip
Science fiction meets romance and comedy in this K-drama centered on a Korean American astronaut, Eve Kim (Gong Hyo-jin), and an obstetrician-gynecologist, Gong Ryong (Lee Min-ho), who embark on a journey to a space station, each with a mission of their own. Arriving at the orbiting lab, they work through their assignments onboard while gradually falling in love with each other.
Motel California
More than a decade ago, Ji Kang-hee (Lee Se-young) sneaked out of her hometown, pursuing happiness and fulfillment. However, as fate would have it, she’s back home years later, only to run into her childhood friend and first love, Cheon Yeon-soo (Na In-woo), a beloved doctor still waiting for her—a cathartic K-drama that deals with the mending of broken hearts and recuperation—releasing on Jan. 10.
Unmasked
Unmasked is an action-packed story going over the high-stakes world of investigative journalism. Starring Kim Hye-soo, Jung Sung-il, and Joo Jong-hyuk, it follows a team of journalists in a precarious situation after a heated report goes out. With careers hanging by a thread, their hope lies in an old missing case of a renowned actor. As the group probes what happened two decades ago, they uncover a web of closely guarded facts and schemes, sensing something in tandem that threatens to derail their careers.
Unmasked releases Jan. 15.
Study Group
The same-named webtoon-based coming-of-age drama centers on high schooler Yoon Ga-Min (Hwang Min-hyun), who wants to do well in studies within a highly volatile campus. The trouble is his intellectual prowess pales next to his physical strength.
Ga-min forms a study group in a bid to improve his academic performance and low scores. As easy as it may seem, he encounters hurdles to keep the group together and continue working toward his goal. Nonetheless, he’s resolute and doesn’t back down from anything that could break the study group. The series is a high-octane teen drama, premiering on Jan. 23.
The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call
A brilliant seasoned surgeon, Baek Gang-hyeok (Ju Ji-hoon) joins a university hospital with a dysfunctional trauma unit and upends the status quo with his unique skills and techniques.While his presence causes tension since his bold, unconventional approach conflicts with the existing team’s usual routines, the drama follows Gang-hyeok’s road to earning the respect and trust of his colleagues as he leads the team. And together, he transforms the trauma unit, which had been sinking, into a cohesive, efficient team.The medical drama, based on Hansanleega’s webtoon Trauma Center: Golden Hour, will air this month with the release date yet to be announced.
Ju Ji-hoon in a still from The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call. Photo courtesy of Netflix.
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