K-Drama

The K-drama race in August: The grand comeback of a star-studded lineup 

Just in August, Korean drama fans are having the chance of a lifetime to reunite with many beloved actors and actresses, from Lee Seung Gi to Kim Go Eun, simultaneously.

Poong, The Joseon Psychiatrist

Broadcasted from August 1st, period drama “Poong, The Joseon Psychiatrist” is based on Lee Eun So’s novel of the same name, which won the Excellence Award in the 2016 Korea Story Contest. In the drama, actor Kim Min-jae plays Yoo Se-poong, a talented physician who was wrongfully framed and had to take his departure from the royal palace. 

Moving to the estranged village Gyesu, Yoo Se-poong has to rediscover his life purpose as he starts providing diagnosis and treatment for the villagers’ mental conditions. Accompanying Yoo Se-poong was the absurd teacher Gye Ji-han (played by Kim Sang-kyung) and the young widow Seo Eun-woo (played by Kim Hyang-gi), while “Hospital Playlist” star Ahn Chang-hwan and “Squid Game” star Yu Seong-ju also joined the cast ensemble. 

Hunted 

The everyday life in a countryside region takes a mysterious turn after a crop season was unexpectedly ruined. A boar was claimed culprit; leading to Young-soo (played by Park Ho-san) and his fellowship’s decision to hunt down the boar. Along the way, Young-soo meets Ok-soon, a grown woman with Alzheimer’s. Contradictorily, she remembers one thing: her family was killed in a tragic fire, which she firmly believed was an arson. 

The story takes a drastic turn when Young-soo’s son goes missing, leading to his wife Chae-jung (played by Kim Soo-jin) suffering from mental distress. The ensuing investigation reveals the village’s hidden dark secrets. “Hunted” started airing on the first of August. 

If You Wish Upon Me

Expected to air on August 10th, “If You Wish Upon Me” is a feel-good drama about a peculiar job of granting people their last wishes. Directed by Kim Young-wan, the series follows Yoon Gyeo-rae (played by Ji Chang-wook), an orphan and prisoner. 

Upon his release from prison, Yoon Gyeo-rae works with nurse Seo Yeon-joo (played by Sooyoung) and Kang Tae-Shik (played by Sung Dong-il) in a charity organization who go great lengths to grant patients their last wishes and help them rediscover meanings in life. At the same time, Yoon Gyeo-rae also looks for his own happiness. 

A Model Family 

Horror series “A Model Family” is Netflix’s next project in Korea. Here, actor Jung Woo plays Dong-ha, a financially strapped homeroom teacher and soon-to-be divorcee. In his desperate times, Dong-ha stumbles across Gwang-cheol (played by Park Hee-soo), a drug lord with a cash-loaded car. From this point on, there is only danger looming around Dong-ha and his family. 

“Stranger 2” actress Park Ji-yeon is playing the lead detective against drug trafficking, who is also pursuing Dong-ha and Gwang-cheol. The series will be airing on Netflix on August 12th. 

The Law Coffee 

Lee Seung-gi is returning to the small screen with “The Law Coffee” as Kim Jung-ho, a genius prosecutor who left his job and lives by renting out his building. Expected to air on August 12th, “The Law Coffee” is an on-screen reunion of Lee Seung-gi and Lee Se-young, following their collaboration in the 2017 series “A Korean Odyssey”. 

The story unfolds when Jung-ho’s childhood friend, stunning lawyer Kim Yoo-ri (played by Lee Se-young) comes to rent his place and open “a law coffee”. The coffee shop soon gains a reputation and brain-wracking cases bring the two together to find the ultimate answer. 

Little Women 

The Korean drama adaptation of famous novel “Little Women” witnesses a star-studded lineup of Kim Go Eun, Nam Ji Hyun, Park Ji Hoo, Wi Ha Joon, and Uhm Ji Won. Compared to the original settings in the 1800s, the Korean version “Little Women” is set in the modern time. 

The series revolves around the lives of three sisters Oh In Joo (played by Kim Go Eun), Oh In Kyung (played by Nam Ji Hyun), and Oh In Hye (played by Park Ji Hoo). Living in poverty has forged an intimate bond between the three sisters, who have their own distinct ambitions and goals, while suffering from constant hardships. In such a situation, the trio have to stand together and fight against a prestigious and powerful family. 

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