From star-studded series to popular novel adaptations, myriad of anticipated series to air in April
From left, posters for series set to air in April, “Our Blues,” “Again My Life,” and “The Killer's Shopping List” / Courtesy of tvN, SBS
By Lee Gyu-lee
This year has kicked off with a huge lineup of Korean series from the start, from A-lister actor Kim Hye-soo's powerful series on social issues, “Juvenile Justice,” to heart-fluttering romantic comedies “Twenty Five Twenty One” and “Business Proposal.”
This April, viewers can expect new series releases in various genres, from star-studded, feel-good “Our Blues” to fantasy action “Again My Life,” as well as star filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho's new supernatural thriller, “Monstrous.”
Star writer Noh Hee-kyung, who wrote the 2014 romance series, “It's Okay, That's Love,” and the 2016 series, “Dear My Friends,” will offer her latest work, “Our Blues,” on April 9.
The tvN series, starring Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-a, Han Ji-min, Kim Woo-bin, Kim Hye-ja and Cha Seung-won, will follow a group of people living in a seaside town, going through ups and downs in their lives. It is directed by Kim Kyu-tae, who led the hit 2016 fantasy period series, “Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo.”
Two novel-based series ― “Again My Life,” starring Lee Joon-gi and “The Killer's Shopping List,” starring Lee Kwang-soo ― are also set to air.
SBS' fantasy series, “Again My Life,” based on the fictional novel of the same name by Lee Hae-nal, revolves around prosecutor Kim Hee-woo (Lee Joon-gi), who gets a second chance in life.
The dedicated prosecutor, who is determined to seek justice, is killed while trying to catch a powerful crime syndicate boss. But instead of dying, he is sent back to live and uses this chance to take down his murderer and the corrupt crime cartel.
The series, scheduled to premiere on April 8, is directed by Han Chul-soo, who led the 2019 mystery series, "Graceful Family,” and the 2016 romantic comedy series, “My Little Baby,” and is co-written by Yoo Jeong-soo, whose previous work includes, “5th Republic” (2005), as well as writer Kim Yul.
An English-language poster for Yeon Sang-ho's new series, “Monstrous” / Courtesy of Tving
TvN's new comedy detective series, “The Killer's Shopping List,” set to go on the air on April 27, is adapted from novelist Kang Ji-young's mystery novel of the same name. It follows a mysterious murder case that occurs in a peaceful neighborhood.
Ahn Dae-sung (Lee Kwang-soo), who has a good memory, works as a part-time cashier at a supermarket that his mother Jung Myung-sook (Jin Hee-kyung) runs. When a murder is committed in an apartment building near the market, he teams up with his mom and his girlfriend, Do A-hee (Seol Hyun), who is a police officer, to solve the crime with the only clue left in the crime scene ― a receipt from the market.
The series will be the first TV work for filmmaker Lee Eon-hee, who directed the 2018 comedy detective film, “The Accidental Detective 2: In Action,” and the 2016 mystery thriller film, “Missing.” Writer Han Ji-wan, whose previous work includes the 2018 mystery series, “The Ghost Detective,” scripted the series.
Filmmaker and screenwriter Yeon Sang-ho, who led Netflix's dark fantasy series, “Hellbound,” last year, will be presenting a new series, “Monstrous,” as a writer.
The Tving original series, scheduled to hit the streaming site on April 29, revolves around an archaeologist, Jung Ki-hoon (Koo Gyo-hwan), who follows and researches supernatural phenomena. He goes to a small town named Jinyang, where his ex-wife, archaeologist Lee Soo-jin (Shin Hyun-bin), moves after losing their child.
In the small town, the two encounter a bizarre phenomenon, caused by a cursed statue that puts townspeople into chaos and fear. They come together to search for answers.
The series is directed by Jang Kun-jae, who led the 2014 film, “A Midsummer's Fantasia,” and is co-written by Yeon and Ryu Yong-jae, whose previous work includes the 2020 romance series, “My Holo Love,” and the 2019 comedy series, “Psychopath Diary.”