K-Dramas To Watch In September 2016 — What Korean Dramas Should You Be Checking Out This Month?
When it comes to Korean dramas, better known simply as K-dramas among its fan base, the transition from August to September often signals the conclusion of many summer K-dramas and the beginning of the autumn K-dramas. Needless to say, the summer season of K-dramas did not disappoint.
Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS) K-drama Doctors (also known as Doctor Crush), starring Kim Rae Won and Park Shin Hye, dominated its days and time slot in which it was able to surpass the television company’s other popular medical drama that aired last year, Yong Pal. The Orion Cinema Network (OCN) are vested in Girls’ Generation actresses these days; Sooyoung’s K-drama 38 Task Force became the highest rated K-drama ever made by OCN.
Nevertheless, Hallyu continues with more K-dramas for K-drama fans to enjoy. So without delay, here are the K-dramas fans should look out for the month of September 2016.
Popular K-Dramas Ending In September 2016
https://youtu.be/BWpqX8RyyYc
Uncontrollably Fond (September 8)
The Korean Broadcasting System (KBS) was hoping Uncontrollably Fond (also known as Lightly, Ardently) would be as popular as Descendants of the Sun, but unfortunately for them, the K-drama starring Kim Woo Bin and Bae Suzy fell short. As of now, Uncontrollably Fond is teetering just above 5 percent in viewership which is bad for a K-drama airing on free television.
Anyways, Uncontrollably Fond is a love story about a high school couple, Shin Joon Young (Kim Woo Bin) and No Eul (Bae Suzy), who reunite again later in life when No Eul, who now works as a documentary producer, is tasked to film a documentary on the life of Joon Young, who is now a top actor-singer. As time spent together passes, Shin Joon Young and No Eul rekindle their love for one another.
Uncontrollably Fond will air its last two episodes on Wednesday and Thursday, September 7 and 8 respectively, at 10 p.m. KST on KBS. Those without access to KBS, it will be available to view for free, with ads, exclusively on DramaFever but only for select regions. Premium members will have viewership exclusivity up to one week for the latest two episodes.
W (September 14)
One of the major reasons why Uncontrollably Fond is not doing so well is because its competition is this K-drama. W (also known as W — Two Worlds), a K-drama created by the Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) starring Lee Jong Suk and Han Hyo Joo, has been steadily climbing in viewership.
W is about Oh Yeon Joo (Han Hyo Joo), a cardiothoracic surgeon, who searches for her father who goes missing on the night he was writing the last chapter of his famous webtoon titled W. While searching for her father in his office, she suddenly finds herself on top of a building roof with a bloodied Kang Cheol (Lee Jong Suk), the main character of the webtoon. Yeon Joo saves Cheol which starts a chain of events set between two different worlds.
W will air its last episode on Wednesday, September 14, at 10 p.m. KST on MBC. For those without access to MBC, it will be available for viewing for free, with ads, exclusively on Viki.
Monster (September 20)
After more than half a year, we are finally at the home run stretch of Monster. The K-drama created by MBC ran for a length of 50 episodes with a steady viewership around 10 percent. It stars Kan Ji Hwan, Sung Yu Ri, Park Ki Woong, and Claudia Kim.
Lee Guk Cheol (Kang Ji Hwan) lost his wealthy family and his inheritance to his greedy uncle and descended to the lowest echelon of society, becoming a beggar overnight. He is given an opportunity to gain a new identity which allows him to exact his revenge on those who ruined his life while rightfully taking back his inheritance. Guk Cheol, now going by the new name Kang Ki Tan, will face opposition in the form of Do Gun Woo (Park Ki Woong) as well as Oh Soo Yeon (Sung Yu ri), a woman who looks similar to someone he developed feelings for back in his youth.
Monster will air its penultimate and final episode on Tuesday, September 20, at 10 p.m. KST on MBC. For those without access to MBC, it will be available for viewing for free, with ads, on both DramaFever and Viki.
Popular K-Dramas Starting In September 2016
https://youtu.be/J0XLEkWOgTw
Fantastic (September 2)
Starring Kim Hyun Joo and Joo Sang Wook, the K-drama Fantastic — which aired earlier this week — is a romance between a television drama writer named Lee So Hye (Hyun Joo) and Ryoo Hae Sung (Sang Wook) a popular actor who technically isn’t a good actor. When they are forced to work together, they initially butt heads, always getting on each others’ nerves. Eventually, they grow to care for each other. Fate is bittersweet as So Hye learns she has only six months to live, forcing them to readjust their plans for each other.
Fantastic takes over the time slot previously occupied by Age of Youth. It airs on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 p.m. KST on JTBC. For those who do not have access to JTBC, it will be free to watch, with ads, on both DramaFever and Viki but only for select regions.
https://youtu.be/_ZY7rT67oks
Let’s Drink (September 5)
Starring Ha Suk Jin and Park Ha Sun, the K-drama Let’s Drink (also known as Drinking Solo) is set in a private institute in which people prepare for their civil service examinations in Noryangjin, Seoul, South Korea. The K-drama shows the many different reasons why people would drink alcohol alone all through the depiction of a love story. Jin Jung Suk (Suk Jin) is an arrogant but popular instructor while Park Ha Na (Ha Sun) is a rookie instructor struggling to survive in the private institute world. Through their drinking, they eventually find love.
This K-drama will definitely appeal to alcoholics as well as those who enjoyed Let’s Eat and Let’s Eat 2, two K-dramas considered “food porn.” Let’s Drink will most likely come off as “alcohol porn.”
Anyways, Let’s Drink takes over the time slot previously occupied by Let’s Fight Ghost. It airs on Mondays and Tuesdays at 11 p.m. KST on Total Variety Network (tvN). For those who do not have access to tvN, it can be viewed for free, with ads, exclusively on DramaFever.
https://youtu.be/WLprD16zIX4
Shopping King Louie (September 21)
Starring Seo In Guk and Nam Ji Hyun, the K-drama Shopping King Louie follows the common romance angle used by most K-dramas. Kang Ji Sung (In Guk), also known as Louie, is from a rich family but suffers from amnesia. Ko Bok Sil (Ji Hyun) is woman with a heart of an angel from whom Louie learns about true love upon meeting her. The K-drama is their story as they grow in their relationship.
Shopping King Louie will take over the time slot previously occupied by W. It airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 11 p.m. KST on MBC. Right now, there are no official drama pages or channels up on either DramaFever or Viki.
https://youtu.be/lJ5D_KhFTHM
On The Way to the Airport (September 21)
Starring Kim Ha Neul and Lee Sang Yoon, On The Way to the Airport is a K-drama set in, well, an airport. Choi Soo Ah (Ha Neul) has been an assistant purser at an airport for 12 years. Her husband is a pilot and they have a 12-year-old daughter together. Soo Ah is content with her life until she meets Seo Do Woo (Sang Yoon), a part-time instructor and architect. He is bright with a warm heart. He is married and has a daughter too, but a shocking incident occurs which is the reason that brought Soo Ah into his life.
On The Way to the Airport will take over the time slot previously occupied by Uncontrollably Fond. It airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays at 10 p.m. KST on KBS. Right now, there are no official drama pages or channels up on either DramaFever or Viki, but there is a fan channel (also known as an unofficial channel) up on the latter.
https://youtu.be/Z86-kivGESE
The K2 (September 23)
Starring Ji Chang Wook, Song Yoon Ah, Cho Seong Ha, and Yoona, The K2 (also known simply as K2) is a K-drama about Kim Je Ha (Chang Wook), a former soldier for hire known as “K2.” He is hired to be the bodyguard of Choi Yoo Jin (Yoon Ah), the wife of presidential candidate Jang Se Joon (Seong Ha) and the daughter from a rich family. Also, Se Joon has a secret daughter, Ko An Na (Yoona), who is also a recluse.
The K2 will take over the time slot previously occupied by The Good Wife. It airs on Fridays and Saturdays at 9 p.m. KST on tvN. Right now, there are no official drama pages or channels up on either DramaFever or Viki, but Raven Tait of DramaFever has stated it as an upcoming K-drama on their streaming site.
The aforementioned K-dramas are listed because they are either concluding or debuting. Still, there are plenty of other K-dramas currently airing worth a gander. These include Second to Last Love, Jealousy Incarnate, Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, and The Flower in Prison. Also, the C-drama Ice Fantasy is worth checking out.
However, there are two K-dramas currently airing getting a lot of attention from K-drama fans, and they have a lot of hype surrounding them at the moment.
Cinderella and Four Knights
Starring Park So Dam, Jung Il Woo, Ahn Jae Hyun, Lee Jung Shin, and Choi Min Sung, Cinderella and Four Knights is getting a lot of attention for being called the Boys Over Flowers for a new generation of K-drama fans.
Eun Ha Won (So Dam), also known as “Cinderella,” is a high school student who is trying to save up enough money to attend college. By happenstance, she accepts a position by Chairman Kang (Kim Yong Gun), the CEO of Sky Group, to move into the Sky House and complete missions to turn his grandsons, Kang Ji Woon (Il Woo), Kang Hyun Min (Jae Hyun), and Kang Seo Woo (Jung Shin), into the heirs Chairman Kang wants them to be. She will be assisted by Sky Group’s general secretary Lee Yoon Sung (Min Sung). Also, the Kang grandsons and Yoon Sung collectively make up the “Four Knights.”
Cinderella and Four Knights airs on Fridays and Saturdays at 11 p.m. KST on tvN. For those who do not have access to tvN, it can be viewed for free, with ads, exclusively on DramaFever. Take note the latest two episodes starting with the third episode are exclusive to premium members up to one week.
Scarlet Heart: Ryeo
Starring Lee Joon Ki and IU, Scarlet Heart: Ryeo is getting a lot of attention for being the K-drama adaptation of a popular C-drama titled Scarlet Heart which originally aired back in 2011.
Also known as Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo, the K-drama is about Hae Soo, a 21st century woman who ends up back in the Goryeo Dynasty. There she tries to simply survive while also getting to know her new surroundings as well as the new people around her, including the princes. One prince, Wang So (Joon Ki), is feared among the people for his aggressiveness and killing intent, but he is mostly misunderstood. As time goes by, Hae Soo shows no fear to Wang So, which surprises him, to the point they fall in love with each other.
Scarlet Heart: Ryeo airs on Mondays and Tuesdays at 10 p.m. KST on the Seoul Broadcasting System (SBS). For those who do not have access to SBS, it can be viewed for free, with ads, exclusively on DramaFever. Take note that the latest two episodes starting with the third episode are exclusive to premium members up to one week.
[Image via tvN]
