Photo Credit: MBC
Leading the year's premieres is Judge Lee Han-young, featuring Ji Sung and Park Hee-soon in pivotal roles. Scheduled to air on January 2, this time-travel drama depicts Lee Han-young, portrayed by Ji Sung, who revisits his past after serving a legal giant. He returns a decade earlier to make pivotal choices and battle the formidable antagonist, Kang Shin-jin, played by Park Hee-soon. The anticipated confrontation between the two actors is set to deliver a compelling narrative.
Next, The Brilliant Season of You aims to bring warmth to the winter months. This romantic drama centers on Chan, played by Chae Jong-hyeop, who embraces life like a perpetual summer holiday, and Ran, played by Lee Sung-kyung, who isolates herself in a figurative winter. Fate unites them in a transformative meeting that thaws time itself. The ensemble cast includes Lee Mi-sook, Kang Seok-woo, Han Ji-hyun, and Oh Ye-ju.
IU and Byun Woo-seok headline 21st Century Grand Duchess, set within a modern-day constitutional monarchy in Korea. This romantic narrative follows Seong Hee-joo, portrayed by IU, who wrestles with her non-royal roots despite affluence, and Prince Ian, played by Byun Woo-seok, who is discontented by his esteemed yet unfulfilling status. Having garnered accolades in the MBC drama script competition, this series is highly anticipated for 2026.
Fifties Professionals portrays an action comedy involving three men, once thriving, who are thrust back into action by destiny. Despite the erosion of time, their camaraderie and instincts endure as they navigate the latter part of their lives as seasoned professionals. This series stars Shin Ha-kyun, Oh Jung-se, and Heo Sung-tae, promising both action and humor.
Married Woman Killer is set to broadcast in the latter half of the year. It chronicles the life of Yoo Bo-na, played by Gong Hyo-jin, who juggles a perilous career and family life. Returning to her role as a criminal eliminator after a three-year hiatus for maternity, she faces challenges balancing work and home. Her husband, eager to uncover her lethal secret, is portrayed by Jung Joon-won.
Liar explores themes of memory and truth through a psychological thriller lens, where two characters with conflicting recollections engage in a battle for veracity. This series reunites Yoo Yeon-seok and Seo Hyun-jin following their previous collaboration in Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim.
Your Ground delves into a youthful romance narrative involving a baseball player, played by Gong Myung, who, after a downturn in his career, encounters a lawyer-turned-agent, played by Han Hyo-joo, as he strives to reclaim his place in the sport.
An MBC spokesperson remarked, “Our 2026 selection has been meticulously curated to deliver top-tier dramas while appealing to a broad viewer demographic through a variety of genres,” underscoring the lineup’s genre diversity.