South Korean cable powerhouse tvN today lifted the curtain on an ambitious slate of dramas scheduled for 2026, featuring a blend of returning hits, high-profile collaborations, and genre-bending new series that promise to dominate the global streaming landscape. The network’s presentation, which included exclusive preview clips, confirmed the extensive lineup while notably addressing the indefinite postponement of a highly anticipated crime thriller.
Star-Studded Lineup Promises Genre Diversity
The announced 2026 roster kicks off next month with the immediate premieres of two major projects. Leading the charge is Siren, a much-anticipated drama starring Park Min-young and Wi Ha-joon, followed shortly by How to Become a Landlord in the Republic of Korea, featuring veteran actors Ha Jung-woo and Im Soo-jung.
The subsequent releases showcase some of South Korea’s most sought-after talent reuniting with top-tier writers and directors across various genres:
- Shin Hye-sun (Mr. Queen) partners with Gong Myung (No Mercy) in The Secret Auditor.
- Park Eun-bin (Extraordinary Attorney Woo) and Yang Se-jong (Doona!) join forces for the romantic thriller Thriller Love.
- Seo In-guk (Death’s Game) and Park Ji-hyun (Reborn Rich) star in the workplace comedy, Must Go to Work Tomorrow.
- The beloved animated-live-action hybrid series, Yumi’s Cells, is set for a third season, starring Kim Go-eun (Exhuma).
- Park Ji-hoon (Weak Hero Class 1) transitions to military comedy with Rookie Mess Hall Soldier.
Anticipated Hits Define the Near Future
The network also highlighted several cornerstone dramas slated for late 2025 or early 2026, emphasizing star power and unique premises.
The dramatic series Four Hands brings together action star Song Kang (Sweet Home) and Lee Jun-young (Mask Girl). Centered on the highly competitive world of music high schools, the drama explores the intense friendship and burgeoning romance between young prodigies, particularly highlighting the complex “more than friends” dynamic between the two male leads, hinting at subtle Boys’ Love (BL) undertones.
Historical intrigue takes center stage in 100-Day Lie, a period espionage thriller set during the Joseon Dynasty. The series is directed by Yoo In-sik, known for his work on the critically acclaimed Extraordinary Attorney Woo, and stars Kim Yoo-jung and Park Jin-young. Meanwhile, My Guilty Person will pair Squid Game 3‘s Im Si-wan with Seol In-ah (Business Proposal).
Crime Thriller Postponed Indefinitely
A notable omission from the publicized schedule was Signal 2 (Korean title: Decode and Pursue 2), the long-awaited sequel starring Kim Hye-soo, Jo Jin-woong, and Lee Je-hoon. The title was originally expected to move forward with a 2025 broadcast.
However, the drama’s future remains uncertain following recent revelations in the Korean press regarding actor Jo Jin-woong’s past public controversies. The studio confirmed by omission that Signal 2 would not be hitting screens this year, mirroring recent reports by local media outlets suggesting the series has been indefinitely shelved.
This development underscores the increasing scrutiny on celebrity personal histories within the South Korean entertainment industry, where the public backlash against actors can significantly impact production schedules and financial viability, even for high-budget, highly anticipated sequels. Despite this hiccup, tvN’s expansive drama investment for 2026 signals continued confidence in exporting premium Korean content to global audiences.
