October 2026 is bringing a heavy lineup of Korean dramas, and the month’s biggest titles are led by some of the industry’s most recognized names. Kim Ji Won, Ji Chang Wook, Kim You Jung, Park Jinyoung, Yoo Yeon Seok and Lee Jae Wook are each headlining different projects across Netflix, Disney+ and domestic Korean networks, covering genres from medical noir and period espionage to romantic comedy and horror fantasy. The slate also includes return projects for Cha Tae Hyun, Choo Young Woo and Kim So Hyun, making October one of the busiest months for K-drama releases this year.
Doctor X: Mafia in White — Kim Ji Won Returns After Two Years
Kim Ji Won is making her small-screen return after two years with “Doctor X: Mafia in White”, a medical noir drama based on the hit Japanese series Doctor-X: Surgeon Michiko Daimon. She plays Gye Soo Jung, a genius surgeon known as the “crazy dog of the operating room” who takes on corruption at Guseo University Hospital using nothing but her surgical skill.
The drama marks Kim Ji Won’s first role as a doctor. She prepared by learning surgical techniques from medical advisors on set. “I learned the surgical techniques needed for the operating room scenes from the medical advisor and spent enough time getting used to them,” she said. Director Lee Jung Rim praised her performance, saying, “Actress Kim Ji Won naturally portrayed the quirky and human side of Soo Jung. Every time I saw her convincingly move between such vastly different sides within a single character, I found myself wondering, ‘How would this have been portrayed if it weren’t Kim Ji Won?’”.
The series also stars Lee Jung Eun, Son Hyun Joo and Kim Woo Seok. “Doctor X” premieres on October 9 at 9:50 p.m. KST on SBS, with new episodes airing on Fridays and Saturdays. International viewers can stream it on Netflix globally, including in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and India.
Merry Berry Love — Ji Chang Wook Leads a Korea-Japan Rom-Com
Ji Chang Wook returns to romantic comedy after approximately three years with “Merry Berry Love”, a Korea-Japan co-production between CJ ENM and Nippon TV. He plays Lee Yu Bin, a Korean spatial planner who loses everything and travels to a Japanese island to start over. There, he meets Shirahama Karin (played by Japanese actress Imada Mio), a young strawberry farmer.
Ji Chang Wook shared that the character felt familiar to him from the first read. “When I received the script, I felt that the character is someone I could relate to and who could connect with audiences in a familiar way,” he said. “Merry Berry Love is a bright, upbeat, and lovely production, so there was never a shortage of laughter on set”.
“Merry Berry Love” premieres on October 7, 2026, and will be available on Disney+, Nippon TV and Hulu. It is unclear whether it will be available on JioHotstar in India.
100 Days of Deception — Kim You Jung and Park Jinyoung Team Up for a Period Spy Romance
Kim You Jung and GOT7‘s Park Jinyoung lead “100 Days of Deception”, a tvN period spy romance set over 100 days during the Japanese occupation of Korea. The drama is directed by Yoo In Shik, known for Extraordinary Attorney Woo and the Dr. Romantic series, and written by the writer of Do You Like Brahms?.
Kim You Jung plays Lee Ga Kyeong, the top pickpocket in Gyeongseong (present-day Seoul), who becomes an undercover spy for the independence movement. Park Jinyoung plays Kim Tae Woong (also known as Sato Hideo), an elite interpreter who returns to Joseon after 10 years and is the adopted son of the Inspector-General of Korea.
Kim You Jung spoke about the responsibility of taking on a project about the Japanese occupation period. “My heart felt heavy as I approached the work, thinking of the sacrificed independence fighters,” she said. “When I read the script, I felt that simply participating in this work would be an honor in my acting career”.
The drama premieres on October 10 at 9:10 p.m. KST on tvN and will be available on Netflix worldwide, including the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and India.
The Perfect Lie — Yoo Yeon Seok and Seo Hyun Jin Reunite After 10 Years
Yoo Yeon Seok and Seo Hyun Jin are reuniting for the first time in 10 years since Dr. Romantic with “The Perfect Lie”, an MBC psychological thriller. The drama follows a man and a woman who offer completely opposite accounts of the same memory, clashing fiercely in their search for the truth.
Yoo Yeon Seok plays Min Joon Ho, a cardiac surgeon and single father known for telling the truth. His ordinary life begins to unravel after he meets Kang Ji Sun (Seo Hyun Jin) by chance. The production team said, “Min Joon Ho is a doctor and father trusted by everyone, but he is thrown into an unexpected situation and undergoes significant emotional changes. Actor Yoo Yeon Seok perfectly brought his own interpretation of Min Joon Ho to life”.
The teaser shows the couple’s perfect first date taking a sudden turn, with both characters sitting in what appears to be a police interrogation room, offering conflicting accounts of the same incident.
“The Perfect Lie” premieres on October 30 at 9:50 p.m. KST on MBC. It will also be available on Disney+.
Dead-End Job — Lee Jae Wook Faces a Nightmare Job in Netflix Horror Fantasy
Lee Jae Wook leads “Dead-End Job”, a mystery-horror-fantasy drama on Netflix. He plays Hyeok Jun, a man drowning in debt who comes across a flyer for a high-paying part-time job that pays 50 times the minimum hourly wage.
The job turns out to be at a convenience store where every shift puts his life at risk. The teaser shows Hyeok Jun facing moths swarming inside the store and encountering a bizarre clown. The series is directed by Kim Da-min, who wrote A Killer Paradox, with Han Jun-hee (D.P., Weak Hero Class 2) overseeing creative development.
Lee Jae Wook previously described the project as unconventional. “Dead-End Job will likely be the most unconventional domestic release of the year,” he said. The cast also includes Ko Min-si, Kim Min-ha and Lee Hee-jun.
“Dead-End Job” premieres on October 30 on Netflix globally.
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Other K-Dramas Arriving in October 2026
“Your Personal Taxi” kicks off the month on October 1 with Cha Tae Hyun as a mysterious taxi driver whose passengers make reservations in advance rather than hailing his cab. All eight episodes release simultaneously on Netflix and FOD.
“Between Steps” premieres on October 5 on ENA and Disney+. Choo Young Woo plays a former competitive swimmer who loses his right leg to illness, while Kim So Hyun plays a woman who gave up her dream of medical school. The 12-episode drama is directed by Ahn Pan Seok and marks his final project before his passing earlier this year.
“Kidnap Game” arrives on October 6, followed by “Take Charge of My Heart” on October 9 on Netflix. “Make Me Tingle” premieres on October 15, and “Final Table” arrives on October 24 on Disney+.
“The Scandal”, a Netflix period romance starring Son Ye Jin, Ji Chang Wook and NANA, was released on September 18. The eight-part series is a remake of the 2003 Korean film Untold Scandal.
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Stay with VvipTimes for more K-drama release updates and streaming guides throughout October 2026.
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