New Releases: Top K-Dramas to Watch in August 2025

August brings you an interesting mix of K-dramas, of which our eyes are set on the following five. The month kicks off with the gripping medical thriller Mary Kills People, where a doctor’s mercy killing questions what’s right and wrong, followed by the legal drama Beyond the Bar, exploring the complex dynamics between a mentor and protégé. For those seeking a heartwarming family drama, Love, Take Two may be the emotionally rewarding tale of love, family, and new beginnings you’re looking for. Meanwhile, Park Hyung-sik takes on a villainous role in the highly anticipated superhero action fantasy Twelve, where the fate of world peace hangs in the balance. Rounding out the list is the fantasy rom-com Bon Appétit, Your Majesty, which takes you to the Joseon era to follow a Michelin-star chef caught in a royal romance after a bizarre time slip. Read on to learn more about these upcoming K-dramas.

Mary Kills People

Director Park Joon-woo’s medical thriller is a Korean remake of the Canadian series Mary Kills People (2017), starring Lee Bo-young as Dr. Woo So-jung, a respected emergency physician. However, there’s a darker side to her job—So-jung is secretly involved in euthanasia alongside her partner in crime, Dr. Choi Dae-hyun (Kang Ki-young). However, with each life they end, the shadows close in around them, and the situation worsens when Detective Jo Hyun-woo (Lee Min-ki), who’s dying from a brain tumor—or so it seems—begins an investigation that threatens to expose them.

Release Date – August 1

Beyond the Bar

Beyond the Bar follows Yoon Seok-hun (Lee Jin-uk), a powerhouse in the courtroom, reputed for winning cases with his innovative approach and out-of-the-box thinking. When rookie lawyer Kang Hyo-min (Jung Chae-Yeon) joins his team, their differences spark disagreements. Hyo-Min is an awkward charm, slightly rough around the edges. Still, she’s as determined as intelligent, allowing her to hold her own alongside her genius mentor as she gradually hones her legal expertise. Helmed by director Kim Jae-hong, the show explores their complex relationship in an even more complex workplace—the world of law.

Release Date – August 2

Love, Take Two

Lee Ji-an’s (Yum Jung-ah) routine takes an unexpected turn when her first love, Ryu Jeong-seok (Park Hae-joon), springs back into her life. Ji-an is a single mother who’s all about her daughter, Lee Hyo-ri (Choi Yoon-ji). On the other side, Jeong-seok is also a single father with a son, Ryu Bo-hyeon (Kim Min-kyu), who finds himself drawn to Hyo-ri. The characters’ lives intertwine as the plot unfolds in a journey of self-discovery and growth, navigating the intricacies of love, family, and new beginnings, directed by Yoo Je-won.

Release Date – August 4

Twelve

In this fantasy action superhero series, directed by Kang Dae-gyu, twelve divine heroes, each representing a zodiac animal from the Chinese calendar, join forces to protect humanity from evil. Led by Ma Dong-seok’s powerful Tae San (Tiger), the team includes Son In-guk’s agile Won Seung (Monkey), Lee Joo-bin’s majestic Mi Reu (Dragon), and others, such as Go Kyu-pil’s Don Yi (Pig), Kang Mi-na’s Gang Ji (Dog), Sung Yoo-bin’s Jwi Dol (Rat), Ahn Ji-hye’s Mal Sook (Horse), and Regina Lei’s Bang Wool (Snake), who, under the guidance of Sung Dong-il’s wise Ma Rok, must confront the dark forces unleashed by Ogui (Park Hyung-sik), the vengeful crow who threatens world peace.

Release Date – August 23

Bon Appétit, Your Majesty

In director Jang Tae-yoo’s fantasy romance, Yeon Ji-young (Im Yoon-ah of Girls’ Generation), a talented French chef, wins a cooking competition only to find herself transported to the Joseon era through a bizarre time slip, facing the tyrannical King Lee Heon (Lee Chae-min). Her culinary skills catch the king’s attention, however, leading her into the palace to cook for him, where her modern twists on royal cuisine soon win him over, as she finds her way to his heart through his stomach, blending flavors and romance in this unimaginable life-changing encounter.

Release Date – August 23