The Must-Watch K-Dramas of January 2026

2026 is here, and so are the K-dramas. January’s lineup is packed with variety: we have time travel, soul swaps, gumiho transformations, and undercover missions all happening this month. Oh, and there’s a lot of heartwarming romance in the mix as well. Here’s a closer look at the stories set to define January 2026’s K-Drama slate.

The Judge Returns

A legal drama that’s as much fantasy as it is action, revenge is simply one of the key characters in this intriguing drama. Anchored by a stellar cast featuring Ji Sung, Park Hee-soon, and Won Jin-ah, the series bring to life the complex journey of Judge Lee Han-young (Ji Sung), a man mired in corruption until a simple incident flips the script completely. Sent back a decade in time and given a chance to make amends and rewrite his mistakes, he wakes up determined to serve justice — this time, on fair terms.

Release Date – Jan. 2, 2026

To My Beloved Thief

Set in Joseon, Hong Eun-jo (Nam Ji-hyun) is a caring, compassionate noblewoman skilled in the art of medicine. But secretly, she’s the enigmatic Hong Gil-dong, a thief with a heart of gold who steals from the rich to help the needy. On the other side, Prince Yi Yeol (Moon Sang-min) is hot on her trail to catch the thief. But just when he thinks he’s on the verge of doing so, the two characters mysteriously switch souls, forcing them to live each other’s lives, confront their own identities, desires, and the one thing they just can’t control — their growing feelings for each other.

Release Date – Jan. 3, 2026

Can This Love Be Translated?

When a famous and free-spirited actress, Cha Mu-hee (Go Youn-jung), clashes with her new and highly skilled interpreter, Ju Ho-jin (Kim Seon-ho), the sparks definitely fly. Their differing opinions create initial tension, but as they gradually grow closer, they discover a path to understanding, happiness, and most importantly, love. Can This Love Be Translated? is an intrigue-filled rom-com where love finds its own vocabulary and where two hearts learn to speak the same language.

Release Date – Jan. 16, 2026

No Tail to Tell

As a gumiho, Eun-ho (Kim Hye-yoon) has revelled in the pleasures of the human world while cleverly sidestepping good deeds without getting tangled in moral obligations so she could continue staying immortal. But things suddenly go south when, in a twist of fate, an accident involving the charismatic soccer star Kang Si-yeol (Lomon) turns her into a human, stripping her of her powers and forcing her into experiences she wasn’t prepared for — of self-discovery, emotional awakening, and perhaps even love.

Release Date – Jan. 16, 2026

Undercover Miss Hong

A by-the-book inspector, Hong Geum-bo (Park Shin-hye), goes undercover, trading her sharp suit for a disguise as a 20-year-old at a shady securities company. As Geum-bo juggles her secret mission with being a clumsy newbie at work, she digs into financial scams amid surprises, office politics, unexpected friendships, and CEO Shin Jeong-woo (Go Kyung-pyo), whose presence complicates her mission in unexpected ways.

Release Date – Jan. 17, 2026