K-drama: what to watch in July? Here are the most anticipated new titles.

Written by Simodreams, translated in English by Koreana of www.koreami.org

Summer has officially started. The days grow longer, the nights evoke a sense of freedom, and the desire to disconnect becomes increasingly palpable. However, as enthusiasts know, K-dramas never take a holiday.

Whether you find yourself by the sea, in the mountains, or simply relaxing on your couch with a fan, a compelling drama always proves to be excellent company. This article curates the most anticipated and buzzed-about titles of the month, featuring new storylines, major comebacks, and a wealth of emotions. With a diverse selection, there is truly something for every palate. Here are the new releases for July.

Bitch x Rich Season 2

The elite social order at Cheongdam International High School has been irrevocably altered. The former hierarchy is disintegrating, giving way to new alliances, undisclosed secrets, and powerful, emergent desires. Kim Hye-In (Lee Eun-Saem) returns to the forefront. As the sole member of the “Diamond 6” from an impoverished background, she has witnessed more than she ever should have. Now a witness to two homicides, she must confront an uncertain future.

Meanwhile, Baek Je-Na (Yeri), the reigning “Queen” of the school, watches her kingdom crumble. She suffers the loss of a valuable friendship and becomes entangled in a web of dark suspicions, implicated in a crime that threatens her very foundation. Also returning is Kim Hae-In, a modern Cinderella driven not by love, but by a burning vengeance. Seo Do-Eon, once confident in his feelings, now faces a harsh reality. Min Yul-Hui opts for suffering over the illusion of false happiness. Park U-Jin is motivated by ego and a profound complex, while the cold and calculating Lee So-Mang manipulates events from the shadows.

When a new player enters the game, the dynamics shift once more. Hye-In and Je-Na are again thrust into the spotlight. This time, will they succeed in making different choices, or are they bound to a predetermined fate?

Release Date: July 3
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Youth
Starring: Lee Eun-Saem, Yeri
Where to Watch: Viki (https://www.viki.com/tv/41092c-bitch-x-rich-2)

Law and the City

Navigating logic, cynicism, and unexpected events, daily life at a prestigious law firm becomes a delicate balance of ambition, ideals, and human connection. Five distinctly different lawyers find themselves evolving, clashing, and supporting one another, both inside and outside the courtroom.

An Joo-Hyeong (Lee Jong-Suk) is a senior associate in his ninth year at the Johwa law firm. Cold, direct, and pragmatic, his career choice was never driven by idealism or a quest for justice; for him, it is a matter of logic and case complexity. The thought of establishing his own practice has never occurred to him—too much hassle. His goal is simple: perform well, earn well, and maintain emotional distance. However, his perfectly structured routine is about to be disrupted.

Conversely, Kang Hui-Ji (Mun Ka-Young) is a bright and empathetic young attorney. She believes in the power of change and understands that assisting even a single individual can transform the world. While at times impulsive and overly passionate, she remains unfailingly authentic. Joining them are Bae Mun-Jeong (Ryu Hye Young), Cho Chang-Won (Kang You Seok), and Ha Sang-Gi (Im Sung Jae)—five unique personalities within one major firm. Through complex cases, shared meals, and difficult decisions, they forge bonds that transcend their professional lives.

Release Date: July 5
Genre: Legal, Romance
Starring: Lee Jong-Suk, Mun Ka-Young, Ryu Hye Young, Kang You Seok, Im Sung Jae
Where to Watch: Viki (https://www.viki.com/tv/40998c-law-and-the-city?locale=it)

S Line

What if one’s most intimate secrets became visible to all? In a world where mysterious red lines suddenly connect individuals who have been physically intimate, truth, taboos, and relationships are laid bare. Welcome to the world of the S Lines.

Abruptly, peculiar red lines begin appearing above people’s heads. While invisible to most, they are glaringly obvious to a select few. Dubbed “S Lines,” they link those who have had sexual relations, exposing secrets, awkward connections, and truths many would prefer to keep buried.

Han Ji-Wook (Lee Soo-Hyuk), a detective of magnetic charm and free spirit, is captivated by the phenomenon. Intrigued, he resolves to investigate, following the red lines as if they were clues. Alongside him is Kyu-Jin (Lee Da-Hee), a brilliant and unconventional high school teacher who finds herself reluctantly drawn into this tangle of uncomfortable truths. Also involved is Hyun-Hob (Arin), a high school student who has possessed a unique gift—or perhaps a curse—since childhood: the ability to see the S Lines. In a world where privacy seems illusory and desire intertwines with truth, three lives intersect, and nothing will ever be the same.

Release Date: July 11
Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Fantasy
Starring: Lee Soo-Hyuk, Lee Da-Hee, Arin
Where to Watch: To be announced

Low Life

When greed emerges from the depths, no one is safe. An ancient shipwreck, a hidden treasure, and a desperate race for power and survival ensue. In a world where law holds no sway, who will manage to stay afloat?

Oh Hee-Dong (Yang Se-Jong) was raised under the protective yet perilous wing of his uncle, Oh Gwan-Seok (Ryu Seung-Ryong), a ruthless man willing to do anything for wealth, legal or otherwise. Hee-Dong quickly learned the rules of this world and now works for him, drawn ever deeper into a reality where the boundary between right and wrong blurs daily.

A new assignment changes everything. Gwan-Seok is hired to recover an ancient treasure from a sunken ship off the coast of Shinan. As news of the submerged fortune spreads, the area attracts a motley crew of strangers, con artists, criminals, and desperate individuals, all vying for a share of the treasure and unwilling to back down. Inspired by Yoon Tae-Ho’s webcomic Pain and based on the real-life 1975 discovery of a 14th-century Chinese vessel, this series is a breathless plunge into the depths of the human soul, where greed dictates the pace and survival is the only objective.

Release Date: July 16
Genre: Adventure, Mystery, Crime, Drama
Starring: Yang Se-Jong, Ryu Seung-Ryong
Where to Watch: Disney+ (https://www.disneyplus.com/)

The Nice Guy

This noir romance interweaves mafia family dynamics with the poignant sweetness of first love, set against a backdrop of shattered lives and deferred dreams. “I met you when I had neither dreams nor hopes.”

Park Seok-Cheol (Lee Dong-Wook) is the eldest son of a third-generation crime family. Yet, he lacks any trace of coldness or thirst for power. He is a kind, quiet, and sincere man who has lived life following his heart, not the clan’s rules. Deep within, he has cherished a pure, enduring love for his first and only flame, Kang Mi-Young (Lee Sung-Kyung).

She dreamed of a singing career; he dreamed of protecting her. Their story unfolded amidst the grit of a violent world, punctuated by stolen moments of tenderness. Life eventually pulled them apart, but fate orchestrates an unexpected reunion years later. They are older, wearier, yet they share the same look, burdened by memories that are both painful and potentially healing. Seok-Cheol’s smile conceals a past he has never dared to share—a shelved pain, a secret that slowly consumes him. For both, love has always been a dream too fragile to pursue. Until now.

Release Date: July 18
Genre: Romance
Starring: Lee Dong-Wook, Lee Sung-Kyung
Where to Watch: To be announced

The Defects

A dark and unsettling thriller where pain transforms into strength, and vengeance assumes the guise of justice. This is a powerful story about those who have endured hell and returned to burn it to the ground.

Kim Se-Hee (Yum Jung-Ah) is an impeccable hospital director—a respected and admired figure. An esteemed professional and philanthropist, she is the founder of a prominent humanitarian organization. However, behind this perfect facade lies a sinister reality. Se-Hee heads a clandestine adoption network, a ruthless system that selects infants based on their genetic makeup, operating under the twisted conviction that only those with “superior genes” deserve to live. The rest are deemed disposable.

The operation is managed by Jung Hyeon (Kim Jin-Young), her right-hand and the system’s practical mind. The network functions as a black market for custom-ordered babies, complete with a “satisfaction or your money back” guarantee: if a child fails to meet expectations, they are returned and subsequently vanish. Forever. Erased.

But some escaped. Kim A-Hyeon (Won Jin-A) is a survivor. Rescued by a miracle, she grew up carrying the trauma, anger, and pain, but also immense strength. She is now the voice, refuge, and guide for others who, like her, escaped that hell. Her sole mission: to expose Kim Se-Hee and dismantle her perverse vision of perfection once and for all.

Release Date: July 21
Genre: Action, Thriller, Drama
Starring: Yum Jung-Ah, Won Jin-A, Kim Jin-Young
Where to Watch: To be announced

My Girlfriend Is the Man!

An unconventional love story that blends romance, comedy, and a touch of magic. My Girlfriend Is the Man! takes us into a university where true love is tested by an unexpected transformation: what would you do if your girlfriend woke up in the body of a man?

Park Yoon-Jae (Yoon San-Ha) is a university student with a passion for astronomy. His life revolves around lectures, books, and the starry sky until a blind date changes everything. He meets Kim Ji-Eun (Arin), a sweet and beautiful girl with whom he shares an instant, special connection. They fall in love, but their idyllic beginning is abruptly shattered.

One day, a strange young man appears before Yoon-Jae, claiming to be Ji-Eun. It’s unbelievable, but true: she has inexplicably awakened in a man’s body. Confused and frightened, but determined not to lose the love of her life, she confides in Yoon-Jae. Adopting the new name Kim Ji-Hoon (Yoo Jung-Hoo), she, with her boyfriend’s support, attempts to navigate this new reality. It is a difficult adjustment, but their love remains steadfast. They decide to stay together, searching for a way to reverse the inexplicable transformation. Complicating matters is Kang Min-Joo (Chuu), a popular and brilliant student with an unabashed crush on Yoon-Jae. Amidst issues of identity, love, and emotional chaos, the story navigates a fine line where nothing is as it seems.

Release Date: July 23
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy
Starring: Yoon San-Ha, Arin, Yoo Jung-Hoo, Chuu
Where to Watch: To be announced

Try: A Miracle in Us

A disgraced talent. A forgotten team. A final chance to rewrite destiny. Try: A Miracle in Us is an intense and moving sports drama about rebirth, resilience, and the miracles that can occur when one refuses to surrender.

Joo Ga-Ram (Yoon Kye-Sang) was once a rising star in South Korean rugby. Strong, talented, and charismatic, he was hailed as the future of the national team. Then, a drug-related scandal erased everything in an instant: his career, his dreams, his reputation. The media vilified him, and he became a name to be forgotten.

Three years later, Ga-Ram returns, not as a player, but as a contract coach for his old high school team. The team is a mess, languishing at the bottom of the league, seemingly without hope. Yet, he is undeterred. He possesses a unique energy and an ability to inspire the young players. Gradually, a change begins to take hold. At the school, he also reconnects with his former girlfriend, Bae Yi-Ji (Lim Se-Mi), now a shooting coach. Their decade-long relationship ended abruptly due to the scandal. Fate brings them together again, right where it all began. Among the players is Yoon Seong-Joon (Kim Yo-Han), the team captain and twin of a successful youth national soccer player. He once played soccer himself but quit, believing he lacked talent. Behind a cynical facade and an envious heart, Seong-Joon harbors a desire for redemption, and this may be his opportunity to prove his worth.

Release Date: July 25
Genre: Comedy, Youth, Sports
Starring: Joo Ga-Ram, Bae Yi-Ji, Yoon Seong-Joon
Where to Watch: To be announced

Trigger

In a nation where firearms are prohibited and related crime is nearly non-existent, something suddenly changes. Trigger is a high-stakes thriller depicting a perilous hunt between law and crime, where two opposing men find themselves armed for vastly different reasons.

In South Korea, firearm possession is almost unthinkable due to rigid laws and strict enforcement. Gun-related crimes are exceedingly rare. Yet, an unexplained influx of illegal weapons into the country unleashes a wave of violent incidents. Yi-Do (Kim Nam-Gil) is a detective with an impeccable reputation. A former army sharpshooter, he now applies his precision to a single objective: stopping this spiral of violence before it escalates out of control. He is calm, determined, and driven by a profound sense of duty.

On the other side is Moon-Baek (Kim Young-Kwang). Charming, sociable, and even likable—but it is merely a facade. Behind his smile operates a cold, sharp mind. He is a major player in the arms trafficking circuit, and his every move is meticulously planned. Two men on opposite paths. One fights to protect; the other strives for power. Both are armed and ready to pull the trigger.