January 2026 K-drama release lineup: Can This Love Be Translated? No Tail To Tell, Undercover Miss Hong and more- When & where to watch

January 2026 is set to kick off the year on a strong note for K-drama viewers, with a lineup that blends familiar faces with fresh narratives across multiple genres. The month brings together legal thrillers, fantasy romances, historical tales, workplace comedies, slice-of-life stories and family melodrama, offering a varied viewing slate for audiences.

From Ji Sung and Park Shin-hye to Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung, Ahn Bo-hyun, and Kim Hye-yoon, several prominent actors are returning to the small screen in new roles. With stories ranging from time-traveling judges and soul-swapping thieves to undercover investigators and unexpected love stories, January’s K-drama releases promise a mix of suspense, emotion, and character-driven storytelling for every type of viewer.

Premiere dates, streaming details, cast and plots of January 2026 K-dramas

The January 2026 K-drama lineup brings together a strong mix of high-profile comebacks, genre-driven storytelling, and long-awaited returns of familiar faces. Park Shin-hye returns to television with Undercover Miss Hong following the massive success of her 2024 drama The Judge from Hell, one of the year’s most talked-about hits.

Kim Seon-ho steps back into a leading romantic role with Can This Love Be Translated?, featuring in his first full-fledged romantic comedy since Home Town Cha Cha Cha in 2021. While he recently appeared in a brief romantic arc through a cameo in When Life Gives You Tangerines, this series represents his first main romance in several years.

Additionally, Kim Hye-yoon also makes her comeback wirh No Tail To Tell after the global success of Lovely Runner, the drama that significantly expanded her international recognition. Below is a detailed look at the Korean dramas premiering this month, including their storylines, cast details, release dates, and where to watch them.

1) The Judge Returns

Premiere date: January 2, 2026

Airs on: Fridays and Saturdays at 9:40 pm KST on MBC

Streaming on: TVING, HBO Max, Viki, Wavve.

Cast: Ji Sung, Park Hee-soon, Won Jin-ah, Baek Jin-hee

The Judge Returns is a legal drama centered on Lee Han-young, a judge who come back to life after his death and finds himself transported back in time. Given a second chance at life, he decides to alter his fate and pursue justice on his own terms. The series explores corruption within the legal system and the consequences of power, accountability, and redemption.

2) To My Beloved Thief

Premiere date: January 3, 2026

Airs on: Saturdays and Sundays at 9:20 pm KST on KBS2

Streaming on: Viki, Wavve, Netflix

Cast: Nam Ji-hyun, Moon Sang-min, Hong Min-ki, Han So-eun

Set in the Joseon era, To My Beloved Thief follows Hong Eun-jo, a noblewoman who secretly lives a double life as a righteous thief, stealing from the wealthy to help the poor. Her actions draw the attention of Crown Prince Yi Yeol, who is tasked with capturing her. When the two come face to face, an unexpected soul swap occurs, forcing them to navigate each other’s lives while uncovering truths about justice, duty, and identity.

3) Spring Fever

Premiere date: January 5, 2026

Airs on: Mondays and Tuesdays at 8:50 p.m. KST on tvN

Streaming on: Viki, Prime Video

Cast: Ahn Bo-hyun, Lee Joo-bin, Cha Seo-won, Cho Jun-young, Lee Jae-in

Spring Fever tells the story of Yoon Bom, a high school teacher who leaves Seoul after a painful experience and relocates to a small town. Emotionally guarded and distant at first, she gradually begins to open up after meeting Seon Jae-gyu, a man who helps her reconnect with life and relationships. The drama focuses on healing, second chances, and quiet romance in a rural setting.

4) Can This Love Be Translated?

Premiere date: January 16, 2026

Airs on: All episodes released simultaneously at 5 pm KST on Netflix

Streaming: Netflix

Cast: Kim Seon-ho, Go Youn-jung, Sota Fukushi, Choi Woo-sung, Lee Yi-dam

This romantic drama follows Ju Ho-jin, a multilingual interpreter who becomes the personal translator for top actress Cha Mu-hee. Despite frequent clashes due to their contrasting views on love and relationships, the two grow closer through their professional partnership explaining emotional communication, cultural differences, and evolving intimacy.

5) No Tail To Tell

Premiere date: January 16, 2026

Airs on: Fridays and Saturdays at 9:50 pm KST on SBS

Streaming on: Netflix

Cast: Kim Hye-yoon, Lomon

No Tail To Tell is a fantasy romance centered on Eun-ho, a gumiho who enjoys immortality, eternal youth, and life among humans while avoiding good deeds to preserve her powers. Her life changes after an unexpected incident involving Kang Si-yeol, a world-famous soccer player, causes her to turn human. Stripped of her abilities, Eun-ho must confront human emotions, vulnerability, and responsibility for the first time.

6) Undercover Miss Hong

Premiere date: January 17, 2026

Airs on: Saturdays and Sundays at 9:10 p.m. KST on tvN

Streaming on: TVING

Cast: Park Shin-hye, Go Kyung-pyo, Ha Yoon-kyung, Cho Han-gyeol, Yuna (ITZY)

Set in the late 1990s, Undercover Miss Hong follows Hong Geum-bo, an elite Financial Supervisory Service inspector in her mid-30s. She goes undercover as a 20-year-old rookie employee at a securities firm suspected of illegal fund activities. While investigating financial irregularities from within, she must juggle her dual identity, navigate workplace politics, and blend in with younger colleagues.

7) Positively Yours

Premiere date: January 17, 2026

Airs on: Saturdays and Sundays at 10:30 p.m. KST on Channel A

Streaming on: Viki

Cast: Choi Jin-hyuk, Oh Yeon-seo, Hong Jong-hyun, Kim Da-som

Based on a popular Naver webtoon, Positively Yours revolves around Kang Du-jun, a second-generation chaebol, and Jang Hui-won, a working professional. Both have firmly decided against marriage, but their lives take an unexpected turn after a one-night stand leads to unforeseen consequences. The drama focuses on responsibility, changing priorities, and evolving relationships.

8) Recipe for Love

Premiere date: January 31, 2026

Airs on: KBS2

Cast: Jin Se-yeon, Park Ki-woong

Recipe for Love is a long-format family drama with approximately 50 episodes. The story follows a man and a woman from families locked in a decades-long feud. Framed as a modern Romeo-and-Juliet narrative, the series explores reconciliation, generational conflict, and emotional healing as both families attempt to resolve past wounds.

With some of the most popular names of the industry and narratives ranging widely, January 2026 sets the tone for the year with a diverse and star-driven K-drama lineup.