April 2024 has come with fewer Korean releases than usual, but each one packs a power punch. You’ll find dystopian worlds infected by aliens, fluffy rom-coms blended with time travel, and two period dramas set in different eras of the past. This month’s catalogue features names like Han Hyo-joo, Ju Ji-hoon, EXO’s Suho, Lee Je-hoon, Byeon Woo-seok, and more!
Without further ado, here are the K-dramas releasing in April 2024:
Parasyte: The Grey
Release Date: 5th April
Lead Cast: Jeon So-nee, Koo Kyo-hwan, Lee Jung-hyun
Network: Netflix
Plot: Yeon Sang-ho, the acclaimed director of Train to Busan and Hellbound, has come up with yet another thrilling drama. In this horror sci-fi series, unidentified creatures invade Earth and take over human bodies. The parasites aim to obliterate human civilization but there are still a few people determined to fight back. Including one young girl who has been infected but not completely succumbed — she’s half-human, half-parasite. This six-episode drama will air weekly until June.
Lovely Runner
Release Date: 8th April
Lead Cast: Byeon Woo-seok, Kim Hye-yoon, Lee Seung-hyub, Song Geon-hee
Network: tvN
Plot: Lovely Runner is a romantic comedy that has been adapted from a webtoon titled Tomorrow’s Best. It follows the life of Im Sol, whose dreams of becoming a film director come crashing down due to an injury. She finds solace in an idol named Sun-jae, but the top star loses his life in accident.
Suddenly, Sol finds herself 15 years in the past, when she and Sun-jae were both 19 years old. Follow this drama every Monday and Tuesday to find out if Sol uses this opportunity to save both, Sun-jae and herself.
Blood Free
Release Date: 10th April
Lead Cast: Ju Ji-hoon, Han Hyo-joo, Lee Hee-joon, Lee Moo-saeng, Park Ji-yeon
Network: Disney+
Plot: The talented Han Hyo-joo is leading another Disney+ K-drama and this time it revolves around the subject of artificial meat. She plays Yoon Ja-yu, the founder and CEO of BF, a company that makes genetically engineered meat and dominates the market.
But soon, doubts about the company and their product begin to surface. Also involved in Ja-yu’s bodyguard, Woo Chae-woon, a former soldier with secrets of his own. This thrilling drama has 10 episodes and will premiere on April 10th.
The Crown Prince Has Disappeared / Missing Crown Prince
Release Date: 13th April
Lead Cast: Suho, Hong Ye-ji, Kim Min-kyu, Myung Se-bin, Kim Joo-hun, Yoo Se-rye
Network: MBN
Plot: This 20-episode drama dives into a unique tale set during the Joseon era. It’s a romantic comedy that revolves around a crown prince who ends up getting kidnapped by the very woman who was supposed to marry him. They go on the run but not much later, sparks begin to fly. Episodes of this drama will release on Saturdays and Sundays.
Chief Detective 1958
Release Date: 19th April
Lead Cast: Lee Je-hoon, Seo Eun-soo, Lee Dong-hwi, Choi Woo-sung, Yoon Hyun-soo
Network: MBC, Disney+
Plot: This drama comes as a prequel to another popular K-drama named Chief Inspector, which aired from 1971 to 1989. Lee Je-hoon will take on a younger version of the show’s leading character — Detective Park Young-han.
In Chief Detective 1958, Young-han is transferred to Seoul and works to fight petty crime with three of his colleagues. Along the way, the righteous detective does his best to fight corruption and abuse of power as well. You’ll find episodes of this drama every Friday and Saturday at 9.50 pm KST.
Goodbye Earth
Release Date: 26th April
Lead Cast: Ahn Eun-jin, Yoo Ah-in, Kim Yoon-hye, Seo Ye-hwa
Network: Netflix
Plot: An adaptation of the novel The Fool At the End of the World by Kōtarō Isaka, this dystopian thriller turns the tables of the genre by taking place before the apocalypse has occurred. In this world, news arrives of an asteroid that is set to collide with the Earth and destroy it in exactly 200 days. The drama follows life on the planet as beliefs collide and a struggle for asylum ensues. In the midst of it all, a middle-school teacher works to protect children.
Which Korean drama are you most looking forward to in the month of April? Which do you think could become the best of 2024? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!