10 Korean Dramas You Need to Be Watching in May 2019

Published by

Kay

May 1, 2019

Absolute Boyfriend Korean Drama - Yeo Jin Goo

May is a big drama month with new premieres coming at us left and right! We have a lot of romance this time around, but there are also a couple of dark thrillers to liven things up. Let’s see what we have to look forward to in this May 2019 edition of “Korean Dramas You Need to Be Watching.” This monthly series is meant to keep you updated on what’s happening in that amazing world of Korean dramas so that you don’t miss out on anything!

Here are the kdramas you should keep an eye out for in May 2019:

My Pick:

1. Absolute Boyfriend

Absolute Boyfriend Korean Drama - Yeo Jin Goo and Minah

I was starting to wonder if this drama was ever going to make it to air since it has long been completed, but we finally get to see it in May! Yeo Jin Goo is a must watch for me, and I can’t wait to see his portrayal of a robot. I’m quite fond of the other leads of Minah and Hong Jong Hyun too, so I’m hoping for lots of fun with this one!

Absolute Boyfriend tells the story of a make-up artist (Minah) struggling with her love life who ends up with the perfect robot boyfriend (Yeo Jin Goo).

Absolute Boyfriend is scheduled to premiere May 15 on SBS.

PREMIERING IN MAY:

2. Abyss

Abyss Korean Drama - Ahn Hyo Seop and Park Bo Young

Abyss tells the story of a beautiful prosecutor (Park Bo Young) and an ugly but wealthy heir (Ahn Hyo Seop) who are reincarnated into an average looking woman and a handsome man working at a law firm. While trying to figure out what happened, the two find love.

Abyss is scheduled to premiere May 6 on tvN.

3. Angel’s Last Mission: Love (One and Only Love)

One and Only Love Korean Drama - L and Shin Hye Sun

Angel’s Last Mission: Love is a fantasy romance about a trouble-making angel (L) that helps a blind heiress (Shin Hye Sun) who lost her dream of being a ballerina to find love in order to return to heaven. The problem is he soon falls for her himself.

Angel’s Last Mission: Love is scheduled to premiere May 22 on KBS.

4. Different Dreams

Different Dreams Korean Drama - Lee Yo Won

Different Dreams is a spy melodrama set during the Japanese occupation and tells the story of a surgeon (Lee Yo Won) who becomes a spy for the Korean government during the Pacific War and gets involved with a resistance fighter (Yoo Ji Tae).

Different Dreams is scheduled to premiere May 4 on MBC.

5. The Secret Life of My Secretary (Love at First Sight)

The Secret Life of My Secretary Korean Drama - Kim Young Kwang and Jin Ki Joo

The Secret Life of My Secretary is about the romance between a cold boss (Kim Young Kwang) at a media company and his hot-tempered secretary (Jin Ki Joo).

The Secret Life of My Secretary is scheduled to premiere May 6 on SBS.

6. One Spring Night

Spring Night Korean Drama - Jung Hae In and Han Jin Min

One Spring Night is about a couple (Jung Hae In and Han Ji Min) who begin to think about marriage which allows them to look back on their relationship and see it in a new light.

One Spring Night is scheduled to premiere May 22 on MBC.

7. Voice 3

Voice 3 Korean Drama - Lee Jin Wook and Lee Ha Na

Voice 3 will follow the story of workers at a 112 emergency call center where a “Golden Time” team works to rescue crime victims in the golden window of time before they are likely to be killed. Starring Lee Jin Wook and Lee Ha Na.

Voice 3 is scheduled to premiere May 11 on OCN.

8. Save Me 2

Save Me 2 Korean Drama - Chun Ho Jin

Save Me 2 is a psychological thriller about a community caught up in a pseudo-religious cult. Starring Esom, Uhm Tae Goo, and Chun Ho Jin.

Save Me 2 is scheduled to premiere May 8 on OCN.

9. The Wind Blows

The Wind Blows Korean Drama - Kam Woo Sung and Kim Ha Neul

The Wind Blows is a melodrama about a man (Kam Woo Sung) who divorced his wife (Kim Ha Neul) because of his Alzheimer’s Disease and she wanted to have children, but they reunite six year later.

The Wind Blows is scheduled to premiere May 27 on JTBC.

CURRENTLY AIRING IN MAY:

10. Nokdu Flower (Mung Bean Flower)

Mung Bean Flower Korean Drama - Jo Jung Suk and Yoon Shi Yoon

Nokdu Flower is set in 1894 during the Battle of Ugeumchi which was a peasant uprising and follows the story of two brothers who end up on opposite sides: one is the legitimate son (Yoon Shi Yoon) born of the father and his wife and the other (Jo Jung Suk) is born of the father and a slave. They also get involved with a peddler (Han Ye Ri) who runs a shop.

Nokdu Flower airs Friday and Saturday on SBS.

AND SO YOU’RE UP TO DATE,
OTHER DRAMAS THAT WILL BE ENDING IN MAY:

Her Private Life

Her Private Life Korean Drama - Kim Jae Wook and Park Min Young

Her Private Life is a romantic comedy about an idol fangirl (Park Min Young) who has been passionate about her idols for many years. She works as a curator at an art museum and tries to hide her fangirl side, but her secret becomes in jeopardy of being exposed after a new director (Kim Jae Wook) arrives.

Her Private Life airs Wednesday and Thursday on tvN.

Eulachacha Waikiki 2 (Welcome to Waikiki 2)

Eulachacha Waikiki 2 Korean Drama - Lee Yi Kyung, Kim Sun Ho, Shin Hyun Soo, Ahn So Hee, Kim Ye Won, Moon Ga Young

Eulachacha Waikiki 2 follows the story of a group of friends who run a guesthouse and all the quirky adventures they have. It stars Lee Yi Kyung, Kim Sun Ho, Shin Hyun Soo, Ahn So Hee, Kim Ye Won, and Moon Ga Young.

Eulachacha Waikiki 2 airs Monday and Tuesday on JTBC.

Dear Citizens

Dear Citizens Korean Drama - Choi Siwon and Lee Yoo Young

Dear Citizens is a comedy crime drama about a con man (Choi Siwon) who unknowingly marries a police officer (Lee Yoo Young) and ends up running for the National Assembly. The drama comes from the writer of Police Unit 38 and Bad Guys.

Dear Citizens airs Monday and Tuesday on KBS.

Beautiful World

Beautiful World Korean Drama - Nam Da Reum

Beautiful World is about a boy (Nam Da Reum) who experiences terrible school violence and his family who fights for justice. Also starring Park Hee Soon, Choo Ja Hyun, and Kim Hwan Hee.

Beautiful World airs Friday and Saturday on JTBC.

Confession

Confession Korean Drama - Junho

Confession deals with the concept that a person cannot be tried twice for the same crime and follows the story of a man (Junho) who becomes a lawyer to prove his father’s innocence after he was convicted of murder and sentenced to death.

Confession airs Saturday and Sunday on tvN.

Doctor Prisoner

Doctor Prisoner Korean Drama - Nam Goong Min

Doctor Prisoner is about a top doctor (Nam Goong Min) who has to wrongly leave his position so he gets a job at a prison hospital where he can make some big connections and get some revenge. Also starring Nara as a prison psychiatrist.

Doctor Prisoner airs Wednesday and Thursday on KBS.

The Banker

The Banker Korean Drama - Kim Sang Joong

The Banker is about a bank auditor (Kim Sang Joong) who fights for policy change and justice during the collapse of an economic bubble.

The Banker airs Wednesday and Thursday on MBC.

Special Labor Inspector Jo

Special Labor Inspector Jo Korean Drama - Kim Dong Wook

Special Labor Inspector Jo is a social satire about a former Judo athlete (Kim Dong Wook) looking to turn his life around by becoming a public servant. But things take a surprising turn after he becomes a supervisor to the Ministry of Employment and Labor as he goes up against people using their power unjustly.

Special Labor Inspector Jo airs Monday and Tuesday on MBC.

What dramas are you looking forward to or enjoying in May?

Make sure to get caught up because there are more dramas coming your way in June!

If you enjoy Kdrama Kisses, would you consider supporting the work I do over on Patreon? You can do so for as little as $1 a month right here:

22 responses to “10 Korean Dramas You Need to Be Watching in May 2019”

Timescout
May 1, 2019
Hmmmm…. nothing that truly jumps out in that selection. I’ll probably have a go with Abyss and maybe try Angel’s Last Mission as well but like always, no guarantees I’ll finish either if I do start watching them. I’m actually kinda hoping nothing sticks as I have so many dramas queued up already. 😀 I just don’t have time for them atm. Her Private Life has so far been a nice counterpoint to all the crime dramas I’ve been watching recently (as per usual, ha).
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1. Kay
  May 1, 2019
  I plan to check out both of those too 🙂 I know how you feel about having too many dramas on The List though. It’s pretty much impossible that I will ever get caught up. Ooh, nice to hear a rom-com has caught your interest. That would certainly balance out all of those crime dramas a bit, hehe
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D
May 2, 2019
OMG!!!I I think I want to watch all the new ones this month. That’s a problem. My drama watch list just increased significantly plus all the ones I’m behind on from the previous months. My pick is also the same as yours this month. Since I loved Yeo Jin Gu in The Crowned Clown so much, I definitely have to watch this one and the trailer looked pretty good.
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1. Kay
  May 2, 2019
  There was a lot this month! My list grew too, and it really is impossible to keep up with all of the drama they are churning out these days. There are so many than there were just a few years ago. It’s hard to have to be choosy! I absolutely love Yeo Jin Goo, so my pick was easy this month. I’ve liked everything I have seen him in, and Absolute Boyfriend looks right up my alley anyways 🙂
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  1. D
    May 2, 2019
    I know. It really is getting hard to keep up. And I’m not even watching everything. But I must say I’m happy with the ones I have been watching lately. It makes it even harder.
    You are right. I have loved Yeo Jin Gu in every drama I have seen in it. He was amazing in Circle too.
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    1. Kay
      May 2, 2019
      That’t what matters. Finding dramas you enjoy to watch in the midst of all of those options 🙂 Ah, Circle! He was phenomenal in that role. My heart breaks just thinking about all Woo Jin went though in that drama. Such a fantastic series!
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      1. D
        May 4, 2019
        Yep – exactly right!!! Circle was really wonderful. I wish it would show up in Netflix so I can watch it again. LOL!! Talking of good dramas lately, I just finished watching “Dazzling/Radiant/Light in Your Eyes”. Whatever you want to call it. But what a wonderful drama. Really really good. I loved it so so much that I actually want to watch it again so I can enjoy every moment again. I was going to watch Sky Castle but I watched this one instead because it was a smaller number of episodes. Every drama I have watched these days had been really good. I’m watching He is Psychometric at the moment and will watch Sky Castle next.
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      2. Kay
        May 4, 2019
        It’s great that you enjoyed The Light in Your Eyes so much 🙂 I have it on my list. It sounded like it might be pretty heavy with some the subjects it deals with (not usually a fan of death and dying type issues) so I’ve kind of had it on the back burner as I would really have to be in the right mood to watch it. Did you find it sad? I’ve heard so many good things about it though, so I’m really curious to check it out.
        I would definitely be interested to see what you think of SKY Castle. I just finished it and had mixed feelings about it. As a whole, it’s really well done though and fairly unique. I can’t wait to watch He is Psychometric. Hopefully, soon!
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      3. D
        May 4, 2019
        To be honest, i didn’t know what Radiant was about before going in other than the fact there was something about two people growing old/young, etc. So, I know what you mean as to why you would be reluctant. I would have been as well had I known what it was about. But I am really glad I didn’t know anything about it. It really was a very good drama. Don’t get me wrong, it was really sad and I cried in a few scenes but it wasn’t depressing. There are so many funny moments in there as well. So, yes it was sad but it wasn’t a depressing drama in my opinion. I’m not sure if that helped at all. 🙂
        Really? I was waiting to see what your thoughts are on Sky Castle as it was so famous. I will definitely give it a go and let you know. I have seen first three episodes though and your response pretty much matched my thoughts based on the first 3 episodes alone.
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      4. Kay
        May 4, 2019
        Thank you for sharing about Radiant. I had a surprise a couple years ago going into the drama Andante. I knew it was a coming of age story and that this town had a weird preoccupation with death going in, but I had no idea a huge part of the drama was set at a hospice! I definitely wouldn’t have watched if I had known that, lol. It had a quite a few sad stories, but it mostly felt like a hopeful drama, so it ended up being really good. But it’s still not a type of drama I would typically willingly choose. So I wondered if Radiant would have that same sort of feel with the death issues that are sad but still hopeful. I’d definitely have to brace myself for more of that though, hehe
        Ah, so you have watched some of SKY Castle. I won’t have my review up until next week probably, but in short, I thought the first third was fairly boring, middle third decent, and the last third the was crazy good! It was a really slow bur,n and I only stuck with it because I heard how dramatic it was supposed to get. Otherwise I would not have hung in there. I wouldn’t do it again, but I am glad I stuck around since I did think the second half was markedly better than the first half in terms of not being so slow and there being lots of really dramatic stuff. Definitely let me know how it goes for you when you do get around to it 🙂
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MyKDramaticLife
May 9, 2019
Hi. So May is the new RomCom month. <3
For this month, I have two picks: ABYSS (for my very own unni Park Bo Young because I just couldn't her. I am not a fan of Hyo Seop but I am a die-hard fan of Bo Young) and I LOVE YOU FROM THE BEGINNING. Also planning to watch Absolute Boyfriend and One and Only Love, though I am not sure if I'll be able to at least try to watch all of them haha
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1. Kay
  May 9, 2019
  Yep, the rom-coms are out in full force! I knew Abyss would have to be at the top of your list for Park Bo Young 😉 I’m super excited for that one too. I’ll definitely be checking out Absolute Boyfriend and One and Only Love also. There will be lots of love this month! hehe 🙂
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noonaphyl
May 13, 2019
Romcom, way to go!Abyss and the secret life of my secretary had great premiers at least according to me, any recommendation of romcoms to binge watch?
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1. Kay
  May 13, 2019
  Good to hear they were both off to a good start 🙂 Have you watched most of the newer rom-coms that have come out in the last couple months (like Touch Your Heart and My Strange Hero – both were pretty good) or would you like something older?
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k
May 23, 2019
Oh Gosh. Excited with your Waikiki 2 review.
And I super dooper enjoy watching it. Laughing asses out experience once again.
I only have four episodes left though.
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1. Kay
  May 23, 2019
  Oh I’m loving it too! I’m on episode 12 and have just had a wonderful time with lots of fun and laughter. I’m going to miss it when it ends!
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Sahara
May 25, 2019
I’ve been keeping up with Confession since it started airing and I thought it was so good! Lee Junho’s acting never disappoints me. Currently keeping up with Her Private Life, Special Labor Inspector Jo, and The Secret Life of My Secretary. They are all in my opinion amazing so far. The amount of kdramas that have been coming out have been hard to keep up with lately. Thinking of starting Absolute Boyfriend, Abyss, and Angel’s Last Mission: Love. Glad to see Park Bo Young, Kim Myung Soo, and Shin Hye Sun again love their acting. I watched one ep of My Fellow Citizens, it hasn’t quite grabbed my interest yet and it’s going through time pretty fast, but I love the leads so I think I will continue. I was wondering if Waikiki 2 was worth watching. I was disappointed to see that most of the original cast was gone. I love Lee Yi Kyung though so thinking of watching it. There is so much to watch but luckily I have a 4-month summer break from uni to watch everything lol. Have you seen Kill It and Possessed? Was wondering if those are worth watching to.
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1. Kay
  May 26, 2019
  Sounds like you’re keeping busy 🙂 I’ve heard good things about Confession but haven’t checked it out so far. I agree, Junho is always good! I just started Her Private Life and so far so good. Like you, I’m also planning to check out Absolute Boyfriend, Abyss, Angel’s Last Mission: Love, and Dear Citizens. It really is hard to keep up with everything though. My watch list is ridiculous! lol
  I finished up Eulachacha Waikiki 2 yesterday and loved it! I think the first season was better, and I missed the old cast, but the new cast is really great too and the drama is very funny. I love Lee Yi Kyung too! And he’s just as hilarious as ever in it. You’ll probably know if you’ll like it within a couple eps if you try it.
  Haven’t tried Kill It or Possessed yet though. Will probably give Kill It a go at some point, but not so sure about Possessed. How great that you have a big summer break coming up! You’ll definitely need it to get caught up on all of these dramas 🙂
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  1. Sahara
    May 28, 2019
    Yes, definitely! I have been binging hardcore since break started. You should definitely try Confession! I really really liked it. I’m a sucker for crime dramas. I watched all the eps that are out for Abyss since I made that comment and so far so good so I recommend. I haven’t checked out the others that I listed though, there is just so much haha. I have a word doc on my laptop with a watch list and she is LONG too lmao.
    Ohhh okay then, I’ll give Waikiki 2 a try! I have so much time so might as well. If I come to like it that will definitely be worth my time then. And I know Lee Yi Kyung is so funny! Love him so much. I’m also hoping there’s another season of It’s Dangerous Beyond the Blankers and he makes another appearance!
    I haven’t tried them but I might if I can get through my watch list lol. I am so happy that I have a break! There’s so much to do and watch so I needed it! 🙂
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    1. Kay
      May 29, 2019
      That’s definitely the time to do it 🙂 I’m definitely planning on checking out Abyss as it looks really promising. I’m pretty picky with my legal and crime dramas as I prefer them to be strongly serialized. Abyss looks like it will fit that.
      Haha, I do the same thing as I also keep a doc with all of the dramas I’ve watched/planned to watch. It’s ridiculously long!
      I hope you like Waikiki 2. One thing you can count on is that Lee Yi Kyung is hilarious! Hopefully, you warm up to everyone else too 🙂
      Yes, make that break count and just start checking off all of those wonderful dramas! hehe 🙂
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MyKDramaticLife
May 26, 2019
I am just done with Eulachacha Waikiki 2 (9.5/10). :)))
And I so love it. <3 <3
I love the season 1 a little bit more though.
It is as heartwarming and as funny as season 1 (but there were less real comedy though). I could think a lot of true comedy in the first season, where in here, though I always laughed my ass out too, there were only very few I could thought real comedies. 🙂
And the fact that I could easily rank which characters I like from best to least, is one reason I couldn't give it a perfect 10.
However, I had so so much fun, and I'll be missing the second Waikiki batch. Hoping and hoping to see the third batch so soon. :)))
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1. Kay
  May 26, 2019
  Oooh, I also just finished Eulachacha Waikiki 2! And I loved it too! I completely agree with you. So funny and heartwarming, but there was less comedy (still a lot though), and the first season was a bit better. But the new cast was great and very lovable. I’m going to really miss them and the show too. And I’m with you, I’ll also be crossing my fingers for a third season even if we get yet another new batch of characters (although Lee Yi Kyung really should be there, hehe) 🙂
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Hi, I’m Kay

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