Most K-drama lists tell you what is coming. That is useful in January and useless in September, when what you actually want is something to start tonight.
This is the other list. What has already released in 2026 and is available to watch now, sorted by what kind of evening you are looking for.
The second half of 2026 has already delivered four notable Korean titles.
They range from a 70-minute music romance to a webtoon crime thriller.
The next new premiere is The Scandal on 18 September.
Available now
| Title | Released | Genre | Lead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spooky in Love | 18 July | Fantasy romance | Park Eun-bin |
| Agent Kim Reactivated | July | SBS drama | — |
| Our Sticky Love | August | Romance | Jung Hae-in |
| Four Hands Two Sonatas | 29 August | Music romance | Song Kang |
| Mousetrap | August (expected) | Crime thriller | — |
Two of these released weekly, which means the full run may still be completing. Spooky in Love started 18 July on a weekly schedule, so it should be finished or close to it.
Pick by what you want tonight
If you have one evening
Spooky in Love. Park Eun-bin leads with Yang Se-jong, Ong Seong-wu, Jo Hye-joo and Kim Do-wan. Fantasy romance with a recognisable cast — the kind of show that establishes its premise quickly rather than making you wait.
If you want something to sit inside for weeks
Four Hands Two Sonatas. Twelve episodes at 70 minutes is roughly fourteen hours. Song Kang leads a music romance where the long runtime exists to give performance scenes room.
This is the opposite of a quick watch. It asks for the kind of attention a series of films would.
If you want tension rather than romance
Mousetrap. A crime thriller adapted from a popular webtoon. Note that coverage flagged it for August as a likelihood rather than a confirmation, so check availability before planning around it.
If you want warmth
Our Sticky Love. Jung Hae-in and Ha Young. His romance work tends toward gradual development rather than high-conflict melodrama.
What is next
The Scandal premieres 18 September on Netflix — eight episodes, historical romance, Son Ye-jin and Ji Chang-wook. That is the next dated release.
After that the calendar goes soft. An untitled Son Suk-ku thriller sits between 30 October and 20 November, and Disney+ has Portraits of Delusion confirmed for the second half of the year without a date.
A note on release patterns
Whether something is fully available matters more than whether it has premiered.
- Weekly releases mean the finale may be weeks away from the premiere date
- Full drops put everything up at once
- Netflix uses both for Korean titles and often announces close to release
- Broadcast titles may reach international platforms later than the Korean airdate
If you dislike waiting between episodes, checking the pattern before starting saves frustration.
In short
Five Korean titles have landed in the second half of 2026, from Spooky in Love in July through Four Hands Two Sonatas on 29 August.
Spooky in Love is the easiest start, Four Hands Two Sonatas the biggest commitment. The next new premiere is The Scandal on 18 September.
Frequently asked questions
What Korean dramas can I watch right now?
Spooky in Love, Agent Kim Reactivated, Our Sticky Love, Four Hands Two Sonatas and Mousetrap have all released in the second half of 2026. Availability of Mousetrap should be checked, as its August date was reported as a likelihood rather than confirmed.
Which one is the quickest to get into?
Spooky in Love. Park Eun-bin leads a fantasy romance with a recognisable supporting cast, and it establishes its premise early rather than building slowly.
Which is the longest?
Four Hands Two Sonatas, at twelve episodes of 70 minutes. That is roughly fourteen hours of total viewing, closer to a series of films than a typical drama.
When is the next new premiere?
The Scandal on 18 September 2026, an eight-episode historical romance with Son Ye-jin and Ji Chang-wook.
Is everything fully released?
Not necessarily. Some titles release weekly, meaning the finale can be weeks after the premiere date. Netflix uses both weekly and full-drop patterns and often announces which close to release.
Why do some titles have no lead actor listed?
Cast details were not specified in the coverage available for those titles at announcement. Rather than fill the gap with unverified names, they are left blank here.
