January is shaping up to be a busy month for K-drama fans, with a fresh lineup of shows. From time-travelling judges and soul-swapping thieves to undercover inspectors and unexpected love stories, the new releases promise a mix of everything. Here’s a look at the upcoming Korean shows set to premiere in January 2026.
The Judge Returns
The Judge Returns is a legal drama that follows judge Lee Han-young, who regains consciousness after his death and returns to the past to deliver justice on his own terms and alter his destiny. It stars Ji Sung, Park Hee-soon, Won Jin-ah, and Baek Jin-hee among others. It will premiere on MBC TV on January 2, 2026.
To My Beloved Thief is an upcoming historical series set in the Joseon era. The story centres on Hong Eun-jo, a noblewoman who secretly lives as the righteous thief Hong Gil-dong. She steals from the wealthy to support the poor. Her actions draw the attention of Yi Yeol, a royal prince assigned to track her down. As his pursuit intensifies, a soul exchange upends both their lives, forcing them to step into each other’s worlds. It stars Nam Ji-hyun, Moon Sang-min, Han So-eun and Hong Min-gi, and is scheduled to premiere on January 3, 2026.
Spring Fever follows a woman who returns to a small town after a painful heartbreak in Seoul and slowly finds her life shifting in unexpected ways. Guarded and emotionally distant at first, she gradually begins to soften after crossing paths with Seon Jae-gyu, a man who encourages her to open her heart once again. The drama stars Ahn Bo-hyun, Lee Joo-bin, Cha Seo-won, Cho Jun-young, and Lee Jae-in and will premiere on January 5.
No Tail to Tell is an upcoming South Korean series starring Park Chan-young and Jo Ah-young. It centres on Eun-ho, an unconventional gumiho who enjoys blending into the human world while carefully avoiding good deeds in order to preserve her immortality.
Content with eternal youth, she indulges in life’s pleasures without concern for consequences. However, a twist of fate involving Kang Si-yeol, a globally celebrated footballer, turns Eun-ho into a regular human. Stripped of her powers, she is forced to confront human emotions, vulnerabilities, and responsibilities.
The drama is set to premiere on SBS TV on January 16, 2026 and will be streaming on Netflix as well.
Can This Love Be Translated?
Can This Love Be Translated? stars Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung, Sota Fukushi, Choi Woo-sung, and Lee Yi-dam.
The drama follows Ju Ho-jin, a multilingual interpreter who starts working as a personal interpreter for top actress Cha Mu-hee. Despite having contrasting perspectives on love, they grow closer. It will be released on Netflix on January 16.
Undercover Miss Hong is a workplace comedy drama starring Park Shin-hye, Go Kyung-pyo, Ha Yoon-kyung, and Cho Han-gyeol. The narrative revolves around Hong Geum-bo, an inspector at the Financial Supervisory Service, who is assigned an unusual mission. The 35-year-old has to go undercover as a 20-year-old junior employee at a securities firm flagged for suspicious financial activity.
Thrown into the chaos of entry-level office life, Geum-bo struggles to pass as an inexperienced rookie while secretly tracking financial irregularities from within. Her double life leads to a series of awkward situations and workplace drama. It will be released on January 17.
Positively Yours is based on Lee Jung’s popular Naver Webtoon of the same name and stars Choi Jin-hyuk, Oh Yeon-seo, Hong Jong-hyun, and Kim Da-som. The story revolves around two people who were firmly against the idea of marriage. Their carefully planned lives take an unexpected turn after a one-night encounter changes everything, forcing them to confront responsibilities, emotions, and choices they never anticipated.
