MBC's 2025 dramas are set to be even more abundant.
Having showcased a variety of well-made dramas across different genres last year, including "Flowers Blooming at Night," "Wonderful World," "Our Home," "Investigation Team Leader 1958," "Death to Snow White, Blackout," "Such an Intimate Betrayer," and "The Call You Just Made," MBC has unveiled a lineup of premium dramas that will fill 2025.
The lineup features charming male actors like Kang Tae-oh, Kim Young-dae, Na In-woo, Seo Kang-joon, Lee Min-ki, and Jung Kyung-ho (in alphabetical order), as well as a diverse array of talented female actors such as Kim Se-jeong, Noh Jung-ui, Ra Mi-ran, Seol In-ah, Lee Bo-young, Lee Se-young, Lee Sun-bin, and Jin Ki-joo (in alphabetical order). The genres have also become more varied, promising comedies, youth melodramas, fantasy, spy thrillers, medical dramas, and historical dramas, already exciting potential viewers.
The first MBC drama to kick off 2025 is "Motel California," starring Lee Se-young and Na In-woo (written by Lee Seo-yoon, directed by Kim Hyung-min and Lee Jae-jin). The story follows the female protagonist "Ji Kang-hee" (played by Lee Se-young), who was born and raised in a rural motel, as she reunites with her first love "Cheon Yeon-soo" (played by Na In-woo) from her hometown, where she ran away 12 years ago, leading to a tumultuous first love remodeling romance. It is set to premiere on January 10.
Based on the popular novel "Home, Bitter Home" by writer Shim Yoon-seo, "Motel California" features a solid cast including the box office hit Lee Se-young and the "My Name" syndrome star Na In-woo, along with the "irreplaceable acting powerhouse" Choi Min-soo (playing Ji Chun-pil). The drama will depict the story of the two protagonists from their innocent childhood to their grown-up selves, capturing the essence of "first love" in 2023, promising to bring a warm first love wave to viewers in the winter of 2025.
The excitement brought by "Motel California" will be continued by "Undercover High School," starring Seo Kang-joon and Jin Ki-joo. "Undercover High School" (written by Lim Young-bin, directed by Choi Jung-in) is a comedic action drama that follows a National Intelligence Service agent who goes undercover as a high school student to track down the whereabouts of Emperor Gojong's missing gold bars.
Seo Kang-joon plays the unfortunate character "Jung Hae-sung," an ace field agent of the National Intelligence Service who, after causing a massive accident during a mission, disguises himself as a high school student to clean up the mess. Having received enthusiastic support from viewers for his perfect character portrayals in every project he has participated in, including "Cheese in the Trap," "Entourage," "Are You Human Too?" and "Grid," expectations are high for his return to the screen with "Undercover High School," showcasing his deepened acting skills.
Jin Ki-joo has been confirmed to play "Oh Soo-ah," the other protagonist, hinting at a strong synergy with Seo Kang-joon. Soo-ah is a temporary English teacher who had a connection with Hae-sung during her childhood and experiences confusion when she reunites with him while undercover as a high school student. Additionally, Kim Shin-rok, a seasoned actor, will play the role of "Seo Myung-joo," a desire-filled private school chairman who heightens the tension in the drama, while Yoon Ga-i, known for her unique characters showcased in "SNL Korea," will portray "Park Mi-jung," a National Intelligence Service agent who admires Seo Kang-joon, further raising expectations for the drama.
Meanwhile, this spring, a sweet romance filled with youthful campus chemistry will color the home theater in pink. The protagonist "Bani," who is on a quest to find a boyfriend after a disastrous first love, will be featured in "Bani and the Oppas" (written by Seong So-eun and Lee Seul, directed by Kim Ji-hoon).
Based on the Kakao webtoon of the same name, which has garnered 170 million views, the title role of "Bani" will be played by the rising star and "K-teen icon" Noh Jung-ui. Known more by her nickname "Bani" than her real name "Ban Hee-jin," she is a top student in the sculpture department at Yein University, excelling in both personality and grades, but after a major failure in her first love, she is labeled a love fool on campus. As various charming "oppa" characters appear before her, Bani's romantic journey begins. The attractive art major "Hwang Jae-yeol," who will shake Bani's heart, will be played by actor Lee Chae-min, who is expected to deliver a 1000% synchronization rate with the original character, receiving strong support from fans.
Directed by Im Soon-rye, who has received much love for films like "Our Greatest Moments," "Little Forest," and "Negotiation," and written by Kim Bo-tong, known for the OTT drama series "D.P." and "The Wilderness," along with writer Yoo Seung-hee, who has penned films like "My Love, My Bride," "I Can Speak," and "Happy New Year," the highly anticipated drama "Labor Attorney Noh Mu-jin" (written by Kim Bo-tong and Yoo Seung-hee, directed by Im Soon-rye) will also be coming to the home theater this spring.
"Labor Attorney Noh Mu-jin" is a delightful and thrilling comic fantasy action drama that follows the misadventures of a labor attorney who can see ghosts as he tackles labor issues. The protagonist "Noh Mu-jin" will be played by Jung Kyung-ho, who has consistently received enthusiastic support from viewers for his perfect character portrayals in every project, including "Prison Playbook," "Life on Mars," "Hospital Playlist," and "Crash Course in Romance." Noh Mu-jin is a survival-type labor attorney who lacks historical and social awareness, and after stumbling into the world of labor issues while trying to make rent, he grows as a character by reluctantly solving the labor problems requested by ghosts. After an 8-year hiatus from MBC dramas, Jung Kyung-ho is expected to perfectly embody "Noh Mu-jin" with his unique charm and relatable acting skills.
Additionally, Seol In-ah will join the cast as Noh Mu-jin's sister-in-law, Na Hee-joo, who revives the struggling law office. Hee-joo is a character without a clear job but has a sharp mind for money-making opportunities, possessing excellent judgment and combat skills. Having established herself as a leading actress through dramas like "Mr. Queen," "Business Proposal," "Oasis," and "Shining Watermelon," Seol In-ah is expected to captivate viewers with her dynamic performance as the law office's go-getter, Na Hee-joo. "Labor Attorney Noh Mu-jin" is anticipated to deliver a meaningful message to viewers by addressing the somewhat heavy topic of labor issues through a comedic and fantastical lens.
The social message conveyed by "Labor Attorney Noh Mu-jin" will be followed by "Mary Kills People." "Mary Kills People" (written by Lee Soo-ah, directed by Park Jun-woo) is a Korean remake of the popular Canadian drama series of the same name, depicting the story of a doctor who illegally assists terminally ill patients in euthanasia while being pursued by a detective investigating these illegal acts in a black comedy format. The role of "Woo So-jung," a veteran emergency medicine doctor who saves lives while secretly helping with euthanasia, will be played by the undisputed "drama queen" Lee Bo-young. Lee Bo-young is expected to perfectly portray the protagonist's secretive and complex inner world, balancing the line between life and death with her unique delicate acting.
Actor Lee Min-ki has been cast as "Jo Hyun-woo," a brain tumor patient living on borrowed time. Lee Min-ki, who has built a distinct acting style and charm while transitioning between the screen and television, will portray "Jo Hyun-woo," a character with secrets who undergoes a transformation after meeting the doctor "Woo So-jung." The drama is directed by Park Jun-woo, known for "Taxi Driver" and "Crash," while the script is penned by Lee Soo-ah, a talented writer known for her work on films like "Fifty First Dates," "The Witch," and "The Law of Attraction," raising expectations for the project.
"Let's Go to the Moon," starring Lee Sun-bin, Ra Mi-ran, Jo Ah-ram, and Kim Young-dae, is set to captivate home viewers with its unique and realistic story. The comedy drama "Let's Go to the Moon" (planned by Jang Jae-hoon, directed by Oh Da-young, written by Na Yoon-chae, produced by Bon Factory) follows three women from humble backgrounds who board a coin train, dreaming of a life-changing opportunity, depicting the ordinary desires of young people in a prosperous world.
Lee Sun-bin, who has successfully garnered acclaim for both her box office hits and acting skills through the "Drunk City Women" series and "Boys' Generation," has been confirmed to play "Jung Da-hae," a non-regular employee in the marketing team of Maron Bakery. Da-hae chooses a special journey amidst her mundane and unstable life, exclaiming, "Let's go to the moon." Ra Mi-ran, a versatile actress with a diverse charm, will portray "Kang Eun-sang," Da-hae's colleague who is always preoccupied with making money, further raising expectations for the chemistry between the two actresses. Additionally, Jo Ah-ram, an attractive rookie actress who has showcased her visuals, acting skills, and popularity through dramas like "Dr. Cha Jeong-sook" and "Thank You," will play "Kim Ji-song," a non-regular employee in the accounting team who is dedicated to living each day to the fullest, promising a unique "Womance" among the three women.
Actor Kim Young-dae will take on the role of "Ham Ji-woo," the director of the big data TF team, known as "Dr. Ham." He is a self-proclaimed "perfect man" with a warm appearance and excellent work ethic, who meets Da-hae and seeks to rediscover his lost dreams and hidden hopes. Expectations are high for the romantic chemistry he will share with Lee Sun-bin.
MBC, known for its historical dramas, will present a unique romantic fantasy historical drama titled "The Moon Flows in the River" in 2025. "The Moon Flows in the River" (written by Jo Seung-hee, directed by Lee Dong-hyun) is a romantic historical drama that explores the soul-switching romance between a crown prince who has lost his laughter and a woman of low status who has lost her memory.
Actor Kang Tae-oh has been confirmed to play the role of "Lee Gang," the crown prince of Joseon, who dreams of revenge while sacrificing his own happiness after losing his royal concubine. As he finally approaches his long-planned revenge, he unexpectedly meets "Park Dal-i," a woman with the same face as his deceased concubine, leading to a series of chaotic events. Having achieved peak popularity with "Extraordinary Attorney Woo," Kang Tae-oh's return to MBC after eight years with "The Moon Flows in the River" is expected to captivate viewers with his deepened acting skills.
The role of "Park Dal-i," a low-status woman who switches bodies with the stern crown prince, will be played by the versatile entertainer and "Roco Queen" Kim Se-jeong. Known for her diverse performances in various genres, including "Romance is a Bonus Book," "Amazing Rumor" series, "Today's Webtoon," and "Business Proposal," Kim Se-jeong is set to challenge herself with her first historical drama in "The Moon Flows in the River," raising high expectations for the birth of a new "historical drama goddess."
An MBC representative stated, "We would like to express our gratitude to the viewers who have loved MBC dramas such as 'Such an Intimate Betrayer,' 'The Call You Just Made,' and 'Investigation Team Leader 1958' this year," adding, "With viewer expectations for MBC dramas higher than ever, in 2025, we will present a variety of genres, including comedy, youth melodrama, fantasy, spy thrillers, medical dramas, and MBC-style historical dramas, featuring renowned actors who will deliver outstanding performances. We ask for your continued support and anticipation for MBC dramas in 2025."
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
