MBC has officially revealed its 2026 drama slate, and the list is stacked with some of Korea’s most globally loved actors — including IU, Byeon Woo-seok, Ji Sung, Gong Hyo-jin, and Han Hyo-joo.
Known as Korea’s “Drama Kingdom,” MBC is preparing a diverse mix of legal thrillers, romance, comedy, and action for the upcoming year.
1. Judge Lee Han-young
(판사 이한영 / Official English: Judge Lee Han-young)
Starring: Ji Sung, Park Hae-soon, Won Jin-ah
Genre: Time-slip legal thriller
MBC opens 2026 with Judge Lee Han-young, a series about a corrupt judge who is suddenly transported 10 years into the past — giving him one final chance to rewrite his life and challenge deep-rooted corruption.
The drama marks Ji Sung’s return to MBC after 11 years, promising an intense performance opposite Park Hae-soon.
2. In Your Brilliant Season
(찬란한 너의 계절에 / Official English: In Your Brilliant Season)
Starring: Chae Jong-hyeop, Lee Sung-kyung
Genre: Romance
A warmhearted winter-to-spring romance about a man who lives every day like summer break and a woman trapped in her own emotional winter. Their unexpected meeting melts frozen time and brings healing to both.
3. Perfect Crown
(21세기 대군부인 / Official English: Perfect Crown)
Starring: IU, Byeon Woo-seok
Genre: Modern monarchy romance
Set in an alternate modern Korea where constitutional monarchy still exists, this highly anticipated drama tells the story of:
- IU as Seong Hee-ju — a wealthy heiress who hates being treated as a “commoner,”
- Byeon Woo-seok as Prince Ian — a royal with status but no personal freedom.
Their battle against social hierarchy and fate has already positioned the drama as one of 2026’s most-hyped releases.
4. Fifties Professionals
(오십프로 / Official English: Fifties Professionals)
Starring: Shin Ha-kyun, Oh Jung-se, Heo Sung-tae
Genre: Action-comedy
Three men who once ruled their worlds reunite after life has left them bruised. With loyalty, chaos, and humor, they dive back into action in this gritty but comedic series.
5. Married Woman Killer
(유부녀 킬러 / Official English: Married Woman Killer)
Starring: Gong Hyo-jin, Jung Joon-won
Genre: Action / Dark comedy / Family
One of the year’s most unique scripts: Gong Hyo-jin returns to drama as Yoo Bona, a working mom who is also an elite assassin. After three years of parental leave, she tries to balance family life with deadly missions — while her husband becomes suspicious of her double life.
Based on a massively successful webtoon, the series is expected to attract global attention.
6. Liar
(라이어 / Official English: Liar)
Starring: Yoo Yeon-seok, Seo Hyun-jin
Genre: Psychological thriller
Two people claim to remember the same event completely differently. Their conflicting truths ignite a psychological war as they chase the real story.
This drama reunites Yoo Yeon-seok and Seo Hyun-jin after Dr. Romantic, and is directed by the filmmaker behind Netflix’s Eun-joong and Sang-yeon.
7. Your Ground
(너의 그라운드 / Official English: Your Ground)
Starring: Gong Myung, Han Hyo-joo
Genre: Sports romance
A fallen baseball star crosses paths with a former lawyer turned sports agent. Together, they take on the journey of rebuilding his career and restoring his confidence. With themes reminiscent of Jerry Maguire, the drama blends youth, ambition, and heartfelt romance.
A Massive Year for MBC
An MBC representative stated that the network curated the 2026 lineup to deliver high-quality dramas across many genres, further strengthening its reputation as the “Drama Kingdom.”
The year officially kicks off on January 2 with the premiere of Judge Lee Han-young.