Is it just us, or do you also feel like January is taking forever to end? The first month of the year seems so long with everything happening around our work lives —we know everyone can relate, fr—but fortunately, we have K-dramas to take our minds off things. Watching episodes of Korean series is proven and tested to relieve stress, help you unwind, and boost happy hormones so you can look forward to better days ahead. That said, if you’re looking for new shows to binge-watch and fangirl over, here are our top recommendations this month from your favorite streaming platforms!
Below are the K-dramas that started airing this January 2025 which you can watch on Netflix, Disney+, and Viu:
K-dramas to watch on Netflix
Love Scout
The cast: Lee Jun Hyuk, Han Ji Min, Kim Do Hoon, Kim Yoon Hye
The plot: Office romance dramas are always a good watch, and Love Scout on Netflix is definitely on our list of must-watch series in this genre. The story revolves around Kang Ji Hyun (played by Han Ji Min), who’s a competent CEO at a recruitment company and is always on top of her game in the office. However, she’s different when it comes to her personal life. Through the equally capable secretary Yu Eun Ho (portrayed by Lee Jun Hyuk) who’s also an ace when it comes to household chores, Ji Hyun gets the help she needs—and the love she deserves.
When The Stars Gossip
The cast: Lee Min Ho, Gong Hyo Jin, Oh Jung Se, Kim Joo Hun, Lee El
The plot: A unique rom-com set in outer space, Where The Stars Gossip features top K-drama stars Lee Min Ho as Gong Ryong, a space tourist who has a secret mission, and Gong Hyo Jin as Commander Eve Kim, an astronaut at a zero-gravity space station who both fell in love with each other during their quest. This series reportedly has an out-of-this-world production budget of 50 billion won or (around P2 billion!) and is penned by writer Seo Sook Hyang who has worked with Hyo Jin in her previous drama, Don't Dare To Dream!
The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call
The cast: Ju Ji Hoon, Choo Young Woo, Ha Young
The plot: Here’s a medical K-drama to watch out for! The Trauma Code: Heroes On Call is based on the hit webtoon of the same name and is about feisty traumatologist Baek Kang Hyuk (Ju Ji Hoon) who’s a skilled surgeon with diverse experience in the battlefield. He’s so good at what he does that he’s known as a doctor with “God’s hands”! Together with his mentee Yang Jae Won (Choo Young Woo) and senior nurse Cheon Jang Mi (Ha Young), the trio is set to give life again to the forgotten Severe Trauma Care department.
K-dramas to watch on Disney+
Unmasked
The cast: Kim Hye Soo, Jung Sung Il, Joo Jong Hyuk
The plot: Journalists will totally love this series! Set in South Korea’s first Investigative Journalism Bureau, Unmasked highlights the truth about the crimes led by the rich and powerful. Starring Baeksang award-winning actress Kim Hye Soo, she takes the role of the strong-willed and confident Oh So Ryong who leads the investigative program team in a broadcasting company. Despite the serious backdrop of Unmasked, it’s actually an office comedy-drama and Oh So Ryong is a quirky character!
K-dramas to watch on Viu
Study Group
The cast: Hwang Min Hyub
The plot: Storytime: We first encountered Study Group through a meme on Facebook and a video on TikTok where a student effortlessly fought a bully without breaking a sweat! Ofc, we immediately got hooked, and are now waiting for the next episodes. Study Group is adapted from the webtoon of the same name which is set in Yusung Technical High School. Here, Youn Ga Min (Hwang Min Hyun) is driven to become a star student and get high grades. However, things don't go as planned and he places 219th out of 220 students in his batch. Good thing he has a unique talent that makes him stand out and it’s his fighting skills! He then forms a study group with other like-minded students to help each other pass their college entrance exams (which is known to be super tough, as seen in the K-drama Sky Castle).