October 2026 brings one of the strongest K-drama slates of the year, with major comebacks from Kim Ji-won, Kim Yoo-jung, Ji Chang-wook, and Seo Hyun-jin across Netflix, Disney+, tvN, SBS, and MBC. From a robotics lab romance to a Gyeongseong-era spy thriller, here is the full list of new Korean dramas premiering this month, with verified release dates, platforms, cast details, and story overviews for global viewers.
Between Steps
Release date: October 5, 2026
Platform: ENA (South Korea), Disney+ (global)
Cast: Choo Young-woo, Kim So-hyun, Kim Min-seok, Shim Hye-jin, Seo Jung-yeon, Park Hyuk-kwon
Story: Park Min-jae (Choo Young-woo) is a former swimmer who lost one leg to osteosarcoma, ending his athletic career. He rebuilds his life through robotics and enters a doctoral program in mechanical engineering. Im Yu-jin (Kim So-hyun) is a clothing and textiles major whose graduate school plans fell apart. She discovers a passion for robotics through Min-jae and joins the same research lab. As lab partners, they bond over shared setbacks, and their academic partnership slowly turns into a quiet romance.
The series is the final work of director Ahn Pan-seok, known for Something in the Rain and One Spring Night. It airs Mondays and Tuesdays on ENA and streams on Disney+ for international audiences.
Merry Berry Love
Release date: October 7, 2026
Platform: Disney+, Hulu (global), Nippon TV (Japan)
Cast: Ji Chang-wook, Imada Mio
Story: Lee Yu-bin (Ji Chang-wook) is a Korean space designer who loses everything and moves to a remote Japanese island. There he meets Karin Shirahama (Imada Mio), a strawberry farmer continuing her grandfather’s work. The two develop a cross-border romance set against the island’s scenery. The series is a co-production between Korea’s CJ ENM and Japan’s Nippon TV, and it marks Ji Chang-wook’s return to romantic comedy after three years.
Episodes air weekly on Wednesdays on Nippon TV in Japan and arrive simultaneously on Disney+ and Hulu worldwide.
Doctor X: Mafia in White
Release date: October 9, 2026
Platform: SBS (South Korea), Netflix (global)
Cast: Kim Ji-won, Lee Jung-eun, Son Hyun-joo, Kim Woo-seok
Story: Gye Su-jeong (Kim Ji-won) is a genius surgeon known as the “madwoman of the operating room.” She joins Guseo University Hospital and uncovers widespread corruption within its medical network. Rather than play political games, she uses her surgical skill to fight the system from the inside, turning the operating room into a battleground for justice. The series is a Korean adaptation of the Japanese medical drama Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon, reimagined as a darker medical noir.
The drama runs for 12 episodes and airs Fridays and Saturdays at 9:50 PM KST on SBS. Netflix streams new episodes simultaneously for viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other regions.
Take Charge of My Heart
Release date: October 9, 2026
Platform: Netflix (global original)
Cast: Kim Young-kwang, Chae Soo-bin, Cha Woo-min, Jung Jae-kwang, Shin Do-hyun
Story: Baek Ho-rang (Kim Young-kwang) is a third-generation chaebol heir and resort executive whose artificial heart is losing battery power. Na Bo-bae (Chae Soo-bin) is a struggling screenwriter who survived a childhood lightning strike that left her with electrical powers. She shocks anyone she touches, so she wears gloves and avoids people. When the two meet and accidentally kiss, Bo-bae realizes her electricity does not affect Ho-rang. His artificial heart recharges only when she is near him. Ho-rang proposes a deal: she charges his heart through touch for three months until his next surgery, and in return he helps her complete a “romance bucket list” for her writing career.
The series is based on the Naver web novel Charge Me Up by Haebeon. All episodes arrive on Netflix worldwide on October 9.
Dead-End Job
Release date: October 9, 2026 (scheduled)
Platform: Netflix (global original)
Cast: Lee Jae-wook, Go Min-si, Kim Min-ha, Lee Hee-jun, Yoom Kyung-ho
Story: Byeon Hyeok-jun (Lee Jae-wook) is a young man drowning in debt. He finds an advertisement for a job agency called Spyder Human Resource Center that offers 50 times the usual hourly wage. The fantasy-horror series follows what happens when he takes the offer. The drama is directed by Kim Da-min and Han Jun-hee. Netflix has confirmed a Q4 2026 release, with October 9 eyed as the premiere date. The series also premiered at the 31st Busan International Film Festival.
100 Days of Deception
Release date: October 10, 2026
Platform: tvN (South Korea), Netflix (global)
Cast: Kim Yoo-jung, Park Jin-young, Kim Hyun-joo, Jin Seon-kyu, Lee Moo-saeng
Story: Set in Gyeongseong during the Japanese occupation, the series follows Ga Gyeong (Kim Yoo-jung), a top pickpocket who is sent undercover as an interpreter for the Japanese Government-General. Her mission is to infiltrate the heart of the colonial administration. She meets Sato Hideo (Park Jin-young), an elite interpreter fluent in three languages, and the two engage in a tense spy romance over 100 days. The drama blends historical drama, disguise, action, and romance.
The series airs Saturdays and Sundays at 9:10 PM KST on tvN and streams weekly on Netflix for global viewers.
Love in Disguise
Release date: October 19, 2026
Platform: tvN (South Korea), TVING (South Korea), Amazon Prime Video (global)
Cast: Yim Si-wan, Seol In-ah
Story: Yoon Yi-jun (Yim Si-wan) is an arrogant third-generation chaebol who becomes a murder suspect. Kang Jae-hee (Seol In-ah) is a former special forces officer who goes undercover as his personal secretary to investigate him. Their relationship develops into a romance thriller. The series is based on the web novel and webtoon Why Don’t You Know She’s a Woman? and is directed by Park Dan-hee.
The drama airs Mondays and Tuesdays at 8:50 PM KST on tvN. International viewers can watch on Amazon Prime Video, including in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India.
Liar (The Perfect Lie)
Release date: October 30, 2026
Platform: MBC (South Korea), Wavve (South Korea), Disney+ (global)
Cast: Yoo Yeon-seok, Seo Hyun-jin, Ok Ja-yeon, Lee Chun-hee
Story: Min Joon-ho (Yoo Yeon-seok) is a thoracic surgeon and single father. Kang Ji-sun (Seo Hyun-jin) is an elementary school librarian who becomes involved with him. The two share the same memory but have completely different versions of what happened, leading to a psychological conflict as they confront each other to uncover the truth. The drama reunites Yoo Yeon-seok and Seo Hyun-jin after 10 years since Dr. Romantic. It is directed by Jo Young-min and written by Baek Jae-young.
The series runs for 12 episodes and airs Fridays and Saturdays at 9:50 PM KST on MBC. Disney+ streams the series for international audiences.
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Global Release Summary
Viewers outside South Korea can access most of these dramas through major streaming platforms. Netflix carries Take Charge of My Heart, Doctor X, 100 Days of Deception, and Dead-End Job. Disney+ and Hulu host Between Steps, Merry Berry Love, and Liar. Amazon Prime Video streams Love in Disguise for global audiences. Release dates are simultaneous or near-simultaneous with South Korean broadcasts for most titles.
October 2026 stands out for its mix of genres, from the medical noir of Doctor X to the fantasy romance of Take Charge of My Heart and the period spy thriller 100 Days of Deception. The month also features the final work of director Ahn Pan-seok and the return of several major Hallyu stars to the small screen.
Stay with VvipTimes for more K-drama release schedules, cast updates, and streaming guides throughout the year.
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