When it comes to creating a rhythm of emotions that linger in the mind, Korean dramas set the benchmark for intensity and depth. The September 2025 lineup presents fresh releases spanning romance, comedy, thriller, action, and fantasy. Each title carries an unparalleled plot, weaving suspense that keeps viewers both captivated and perplexed. Here’s a list of the 10 best K-dramas set to release in September 2025 with deep and long-lasting impact.
10 Must-watch Korean Dramas Premiering This September
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My Youth | Romantic Drama | September 5, 2025
Starring Chun Woo-hee, Song Joong-ki, Seo Ji-hoon, and Lee Joo-myung, ‘My Youth’ showcases the writing prowess of Park Si-hyeon. Produced by SLL and High-Zium Studio, this romantic series thrives under the direction of Lee Sang-yeop and Go Hye-jin.
The narrative follows Sun Woo-hae, once a child shaped by the hardships of the entertainment world. He later finds solace in literature and floristry. Life shifts when he encounters his first love, Sung Je-yeon, now a determined team leader at a company. Their reunion awakens unresolved emotions. Past wounds resurface as they balance careers and personal dilemmas.
Queen Mantis | Crime Thriller | September 5, 2025
Adapted from the 2017 TF1 drama ‘La Mante’, ‘Queen Mantis’ flourishes with Lee Young-jong as its writer.
Byun Young-joo takes the director’s seat, while Go Hyun-jung and Jang Dong-yoon headline the cast.
The thriller series begins with a woman who once terrorized society as a serial killer and has long been behind bars. Suddenly, a new string of murders emerges, mirroring her methods. Authorities must turn to her for insight.
The project is developed by Studio S with production by Mega Monster, Merry Christmas, and Docu-Factory Vista.
Confidence Queen | Crime Comedy | September 6, 2025
Featuring Park Hee-soon, Park Min-young, and Joo Jong-hyuk, ‘Confidence Queen’ boasts Nam Ki-hoon as the director. Penned by Hong Seung-hyun, this crime series revisits the acclaimed Japanese series Confidence Man JP.
At its core are three con artists who craft intricate deceptions targeting the greedy. They weave their schemes into the volatile worlds of finance and real estate.
The production is spearheaded by TME Group, GHOST4 Production, and The Fifth Wall Studio.
Tempest | Spy Romance | September 10, 2025
Helmed by Kim Hee-won, ‘Tempest’ comes from Imaginus, Showrunners, Studio AA, and Skydance.
The spy series features an ensemble cast that includes Gang Dong-won, Jun Ji-hyun, Lee Mi-sook, John Cho, Kim Hae-sook, Park Hae-joon, Yoo Jae-myung, and Joo Jong-hyuk.
Written by Jeong Seo-kyeong, the plot of the series centres on Mun-ju, a seasoned diplomat and former UN ambassador. Alongside him is San-ho, an enigmatic international agent. Together, they pursue the truth behind a catastrophic attack that endangers the Korean Peninsula.
You and Everything Else | Romantic Drama | September 12, 2025
Backed by Kakoa Entertainment, ‘You and Everything Else’ excels with Song Hye Jin as its director and writer.
The romantic series follows two women bound by an enduring yet fragile friendship. Ryu Eun-jung is openhearted and sincere. Cheon Sang-yeon is both a confidant and a rival. Their bond carries affection but also envy. From school corridors to adulthood, their paths remain intertwined. Joys, betrayals, and ambitions test the foundation of their relationship. What begins as childhood companionship matures into a complex tie that shapes their twenties and thirties.
Kim Go Eun and Park Ji Hyun portray the central figures, with Kim Gun Woo in the supporting cast.
A Hundred Memories | Romantic Melodrama | September 13, 2025
Bankrolled by SLL, ‘A Hundred Memories’ stars Shin Ye-eun, Kim Da-mi, and Heo Nam-jun.
Scripted by Yang Hee-seung and Kim Bo-ram, the melodrama series unfolds in the 1980s. Go Young-rye, a bright young woman, works as a model bus hostess while striving to enter university. Her world changes when she meets Seo Jong-hee, a bold newcomer with magnetic charm. Their friendship blossoms against the backdrop of youthful dreams. Both, however, are drawn into the orbit of Han Jae-pil, the heir of a department store empire. He is their first love, and his presence stirs both tenderness and conflict.
Kim Saang-ho leads the direction, shaping the vision and romantic background.
Shin’s Project | Black Comedy | September 15, 2025
Developed by Studio Dragon, ‘Shin’s Project’ is shaped by the direction of Shin Kyung-soo.
The drama stars Bae Hyun-sung, Lee Re, and Han Suk-kyu, with Kim Sung-oh, Woo Mi-hwa, and Kim Sang-ho in supporting roles.
Behind the counter of a small-town fried chicken shop stands CEO Sin, a man with hidden depths. Yet beneath his everyday life lies a guarded secret. His sharp wit and unyielding presence draw him into confrontation with lurking adversaries. He battles not with weapons but with words and sheer force of will.
Production comes through Dooprame Co., Ltd., with Ban Ki-ri crafting the script.
To the Moon | Workplace Romance | September 19, 2025
Written by Na Yoon-chae, ‘To the Moon’ is the adaptation of Jang Ryu-jin’s novel.
Ra Mi-ran, Lee Sun-bin, Kim Young-dae, and Jo Aram take the lead roles.
The narrative follows three women working in ordinary offices, each from a struggling household. Though their lives are defined by financial limitations, their dreams reach higher.
Hoping for fortune, they plunge into the volatile world of coin investment. Together, they chase wealth while confronting the costs of ambition and survival in an uncertain world.
Jeong-hoon and Oh Da-young steer the direction, and Bon Factory helms the production.
Walking on Thin Ice | Crime Thriller | September 20, 2025
Kang Eun-soo, an ordinary housewife, is burdened with her husband’s terminal illness. Struggling to cover his treatment, she stumbles upon a fortune in drugs. What begins as desperation pulls her into a dangerous world of crime worth hundreds of billions of won.
With this plot as the backdrop, ‘Walking on Thin Ice’ is brought to fruition by the director Song Hyun-wook.
Lee Young-ae, Park Yong-woo, and Kim Young-kwang embody the main characters.
Written credit goes to Jeon Young-shin, while Baram Pictures and Slingshot Studio oversee the production.
First Lady | Political Drama | September 24, 2025
Created by MBN Studio and Artist Group, ‘First Lady’ is marked by scandal and secrecy. A newly elected president demands a divorce before his inauguration, igniting chaos within his family. With only 67 days left, the tension between husband and wife grows fierce, weaving a tale of power, betrayal, and hidden truths.
Kim Hyeong-wan steers the screenwriting while Lee Ho-hyeon takes the reins as the director. Eugene, Lee Min-young, and Ji Hyun-woo assume the lead roles.
Studio Jidam, Artist Studio, and Roadshow Plus Co. Ltd drive the production.
Wrapping Up
The upcoming K-drama lineup for September 2025 arrives as a server of diverse-genre content, offering audiences a layered viewing experience.
‘My Youth’, ‘You and Everything Else’, ‘A Hundred Memories’, ‘To the Moon’, and ‘Tempest’ unite as a collection of romantic tales. ‘Queen Mantis’, ‘Confidence Queen’, and ‘Walking on Thin Ice’ define crime-driven storytelling. ‘Shin’s Project’ stands as a darkly comedic take, while ‘First Lady’ unfolds as a sharp-edged political drama.
On the whole, Korean dramas set to release this September announce the romantic dominance, reaffirming the genre’s central place in the cultural spotlight.
