By Team EnVi
2021โs upcoming Korean dramas are getting slated for the air and their casts are not short of idol actors. Idols pursuing acting on the side has now become the norm. Although theyโve continuously faced criticism for the craft, idol actors over time have proven their worth and forged their own path in the film industry. This upcoming season for dramas will see the return of many idol turned actors and fresh ones just starting out. Check out the current confirmed list of 2021 K-dramas to look forward to featuring idols in their casts! Itโs important to note that the airing dates and casting for these dramas could still change in the future because of unforeseen circumstances.ย
First Half 2021
Imitationย ย
Imitation is an upcoming romantic comedy drama about idol life, adapted from the popular webtoon of the same name by Park Kyungran. The current cast is filled with idols both old and new with Yunho of ATEEZ, Jun of U-KISS and Jiyeon of T-ara making up most of the main cast. Other idols from groups like SF9, ATEEZ, Pristin, Boys Republic and g.o.d will also be making an appearance as the supporting cast.ย
- 12 Episodesย
- Genre: Music, Romantic Comedy, Dramaย
- Expected Release Date: May 7, 2021 airing every Fridayย
- Main Cast
- Jeong Ji So as Lee Ma Haย
- Lee Jun Young of U-KISS as Kwon Ryokย
- Park Ji Yeon of T-ara as La Ri Ma
- Jeong Yunho of ATEEZ as Lee Yu Jinย
- Supporting Castย
- Chani of SF9 as Lee Eunjoย
- Im Na Young as Shim Hyun Jiย
- Hwi Young of SF9 as Kang Lee Hyun
- Lee Soowong of Boys Republic as Hyun Ohย
- Choi Jong Ho of ATEEZ as Hyukย
- Choi San of ATEEZ as Min Suย
- Park Seong Hwa of ATEEZ as Se Youngย
- Ahn Danny of g.o.d as Ji Hak
Love #Hashtagย
On the smaller screen, fans can expect to see some of their favorites in the upcoming web series Love #Hashtag. Both AOAโs Hyejeong and VICTONโs Seungwoo star in this anticipated drama. It follows young adults through stories of dating in the digital age.ย
- 10 Episodes
- Genre: Romantic Comedy
- Expected Release Date: April 27, 2021 airing every Tuesdayย
- Main Cast:ย
- Oh Chang Seok as Kang Ji Hoon
- Hyejeong of AOA as Yoon So Raย
- Seungwoo of VICTON as Lee Shi Woo
- Chae Soo Ah as Kim Chae Ah
So I Married an Anti-fanย
So I Married an Anti-fan is the newest remake of the novel of the same name, having previously been remade into a Chinese movie starring EXOโs Chanyeol. This new drama adaptation will feature Girlsโ Generationโs Sooyoung as Lee Geunyoung, an anti-fan reporter of superstar Hoo Joon played by Choi Taejoon. Their hatred (or love?) for one another is only fueled further when they end up having to live together.
- 16 Episodesย
- Genre: Music, Romantic Comedyย
- Expected Release Date: April 30, 2021 airing every Friday, Saturday
- Main Castย
- Choi Sooyoung of Girlsโ Generation as Lee Geunyoungย
- Choi Taejoon as Hoo Joon
- Supporting Castย
- Hwang Chansung of 2PMย
My Roommate is a Gumiho
My Roommate is a Gumiho is tvNโs latest drama based on the fantasy webtoon, ๊ฐ ๋จ์ด์ง๋ ๋๊ฑฐ. It unfolds the story of Lee Dam (Hyeri of Girlโs Day), a university student who accidentally swallows the fox bead meticulously created by Shin Wooyeo (Jang Ki-young), a 999 year old nine-tailed fox. With both their lives now endangered, they resolve to live together until they can figure out how to remove the bead.ย ย
- 16 Episodesย
- Genre: Fantasy, Romantic Comedy
- Expected Release Date: May 26, 2021 airing every Wednesday, Thursdayย
- Main Castย
- Hyeri of Girlโs Day as Lee Dam
- Jang Ki-yong as Shin Wooyeo
- Kang Hana as Yang Hyesunย
- Kim Do Wan as Do Jae Jin
- Bae In Hyuk as Gye Sunwoo
- Supporting Castย
- Kim Doyeon of Weki Mekiย ย
[1์ฐจ ํฐ์ ] ๊ตฌ๋ฏธํธ ์ฅ๊ธฐ์ฉx์ธ๊ฐ ์ดํ๋ฆฌ์
์ผ๋จ๊ฒฐ์ ํ์ง ์ด๋ฆผ…?!#๊ฐ๋จ์ด์ง๋๋๊ฑฐ 5์ ์ฒซ ๋ฐฉ์ก#tvN #๋ฐฉ์์์ #์ฅ๊ธฐ์ฉ #์ดํ๋ฆฌ #๊ฐํ๋ #๊น๋์ #๋ฐฐ์ธํ #๋ฐ๊ฒฝํ pic.twitter.com/rvnmK9cKKc— tvN drama (@CJnDrama) March 24, 2021
Doom At Your Service
Another new fantasy tvN drama, Doom At Your Service will premiere this May. It stars Park Boyoung as Tak Dongkyung, a web novel editor who signs a 100 day contract with Myul Mang played by singer-actor Seo Inguk, a mythical messenger of the gods. 5urpriseโs Kang Taeoh will be playing the roommate of Lee Soohyukโs character while SF9โs Dawon will be featured as the little brother of Dongkyung.ย
- 16 Episodesย
- Genre: Fantasy, Romance
- Expected Release Date: May 10, 2021 airing every Monday, Tuesdayย
- Main Castย
- Park Boyoung as Tak Dongkyungย
- Seo In Guk as Myul Mang/Kim Saramย
- Lee Soohyuk as Cha Joo Ik
- Kang Tae Oh of 5urprise as Lee Hyunkyu
- Shin Dohyun as Na Jinaย
- Supporting Castย
- Dawon of SF9 as Tak Sunkyungย
Second Half 2021ย
Affection
Affection is a historical drama set to be released in August of 2021. Based on the comic Yeonmo by Lee So Young, the television series follows Park Eun Bin as Lee Hwi, the abandoned daughter of the royal family. Returning to the palace, she disguises herself as a man to become the next king. As the crown prince, she is taught by Jung Ji Woon, played by SF9โs Rowoon, and protected by bodyguard Kim Ga On, portrayed by VICTONโs Byungchan.
- 16 Episodesย
- Genre: Historical Drama
- Expected Release Date: August 4, 2021 airing every Wednesday, Thursday
- Main Cast
- Park Eun Bin as Lee Hwiย
- Rowoon of SF9 as Jung Ji Woon
- Nam Yoon Su as Lee Hyun
- Supporting Castย
- Byungchan of VICTON as Kim Ga On
Devil Judge
Devil Judge is an upcoming law drama focused on head trial judge Kang Yohan played by actor Jisung, who punishes criminals ruthlessly and with so much flair that heโs been deemed the โDevil Judge.โ Heโs often at odds with his rival, Jung Sunah, an executive director of a corporate social responsibility foundation played by Kim Minjung. GOT7โs Jinyoung will be playing newbie associate trial judge, Kim Gaon who learns through Kang Yohan.ย
- 16 Episodesย
- Genre: Detective, Crime, Mystery
- Expected Release Date: July 3, 2021 airing every Saturday, Sundayย
- Main Castย
- Jisung as Kang Yohanย
- Kim Minjung as Jung Sunahย
- Park Jinyoung of GOT7 as Kim Gaonย
- Park Gyu Young as Yoon Soohyunย
- Supporting Castย
- Kim Jaekyung of Rainbow as Woo Baeseok
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Police Classes
Police Classes will center on college students at a police university. B1A4โs Jinyoung will be acting as main lead Kang Sunho, an ex-cyber criminal who finds himself as a first year student at the academy. Krystal of the former girl group f(x) will play Oh Kang Hee, a fellow first year who has a strong moral code. The supporting cast also features Yoo Youngjae of the previous boy group B.A.P.ย
- 16 Episodesย
- Genre: Youth, Romantic Comedy, Dramaย
- Expected Release Date: July 26, 2021 airing every Monday, Tuesdayย
- Main Castย
- Cha Taehyun as Yoo Dongmanย
- Jung Jinyoung of B1A4 as Kang Sunhoย
- Jung Krystal as Oh Kang Heeย
- Supporting Cast
- Yoo Youngjae as Jo Joonwokย
Now, We Are Breaking Up
Now, We Are Breaking Up is a romantic drama that revolves around Song Hyekyoโs character Ha Yeongeun, a team leader of the design department of trendy fashion company, The One. She meets Yoon Jaegook, a wealthy freelance photographer, played by Jang Kiyoung. EXOโs Sehun will act as a new employee who is actually the chaebol son of the CEO and Hwang Chisookโs little brother. Yura of Girlโs Day will be playing a top celebrity star with a large following online.ย
- 16 Episodesย
- Genre: Romanceย
- Expected Release Date: November 2021ย
- Main Cast
- Song Hyekyo as Ha Yeongeunย
- Jang Kiyong as Yoon Jaegookย
- Choi Heeseo as Hwang Chisook
- Kim Hoojun as Seok Dohoon
- Supporting Castย
- Oh Sehun of EXO as Hwang Chihyung
- Yura of Girlโs Day as Hyerinย
Blue Birthdayย
Blue Birthday is a fantasy web drama by Playlist Live featuring Red Velvetโs Yeri as Oh Harin and PENTAGONโs Hongseok as the complex Ji Seojun. 10 years ago Harin finally built up the courage to confess to her first love, Seojun on her birthday. Unfortunately he took his own life before she got a chance. It will follow Harin who discovers the ability to time travel because of a strange picture left behind by Seojun.ย
- 12 Episodesย
- Genre: Fantasy, School, Drama, Romance
- Expected Release Date: 2nd Half of 2021ย ย
- Main Cast
- Yeri of Red Velvet as Oh Harinย
- Yang Hongseok of PENTAGON as Ji Seojunย
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Yumiโs Cellsย
Yumiโs Cells is an upcoming drama adapted from the webtoon sharing the same name. Yumi is an ordinary office worker who takes pleasure in the normalities of everyday life, and her story is told from the perspective of the many cells occupying her brain that control her every thought and action. SHINeeโs Minho and GOT7โs Jinyoung are two cast members that will play a role in Yumiโs story.ย
- 16 Episodesย
- Genre: Romantic Comedyย
- Expected Release Date: August 25, 2021ย
- Main Cast
- Kim Goeun as Kim Yumiย
- Ahn Bohyun as Ku Woongย
- Supporting Castย
- Choi Minho of SHINee as Wook
- Park Jinyoung of GOT7 as Yoo Babiย
Snowdrop
Snowdrop is a romantic satirical drama that follows the story of BLACKPINKโs Jisooโs character and graduate student Im Sooho played by Jung Haein. Set during the 1987 June Democratic Uprising – which established South Koreaโs modern day government system – Jisooโs character will hide Im Sooho from danger in her womenโs only dorm. Although there has been controversy over the dramaโs plot JTBC, the broadcasting company behind production has assured the public it will not misrepresent historical events or figures.ย
- 20 Episodesย
- Genre: Satirical, Romantic Comedy, Political
- Expected Release Date: 2nd Half of 2021ย
- Main Castย
- Jung Haein as Im Sooho
- Kim Jisoo as N/A
- Yoo In Na as Kang Chungyaย
- Jang Seungjo as Lee Kang Moo
- Yoon Se Ah as Pi Seungheeย
So Not Worth It
The upcoming Netflix sitcom So Not Worth It will focus on international multicultural students and their daily lives residing in a college dorm. Park Sewan plays Sewan, the teaching assistant in charge of said dormitory. GOT7โs Youngjae will be acting as one of the students living at the dorms Sam, a Korean-Australian student. Fellow resident Minnie, (G)I-DLEโs Minnieโs character, is a Thai student who enjoys watching K-dramas.ย
- Episodes N/A
- Genre: Sitcom, Youth, Friendship, Comedyย
- Expected Release Date: 2nd Half of 2021
- Main Cast
- Park Sewan as Sewan
- Choi Youngjae of GOT7 as Samย
- Minnie of (G)I-DLE as Minnie
- Han Hyun Min as Hyun Min
- Shin Hyunseung as Jamieย
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School 2021
School 2021 is the most recent telling of the School series following School 2017 and follows the story of specialized high school students and their life. Kim Yohan of WEi and former K-pop group X1 plays the lead role. The drama will follow the lives of these high school students, exploring themes such as love, friendship, and growing up, and is set to air in August 2021.ย
- 32 Episodesย
- Genre: Youth, School, Romantic Comedyย
- Expected Release Date: August 2021ย
- Main Castย
- Yohan of WEi and X1 as Joo Dobinย
I Will Be Your Night
I Will Be Your Night is another upcoming romantic comedy centered on idols. Tae In is an idol from the fictional band LUNA, who suffers from sleepwalking at night and through a series of events a fake physician moves into his bandโs dormitory to treat him. The main leads are still unconfirmed but NUโESTโs JR, Yoon Jisung from the former boy group Wanna One and AB6IXโs Kim Donghyun are confirmed to make up the supporting cast as LUNA members.ย
- Episodes N/A
- Genre: Music, Romantic Comedyย
- Expected Release Date: 2nd Half of 2021
- Main Cast
- N/A
- Supporting Castย
- JR of NUโEST as Lee Shinย
- Yoon Jisung as Kim Yoo Chanย
- Kim Donghyun of AB6IX as Gaonย
Want more K-drama related content? Check out the women working behind your favorite K-dramas here!ย
