6 best new K-dramas to watch in September 2026, from 'Made in Korea' to Netflix's 'The Scandal'

South Korea's drama slate for September 2026 is shaping up to be one of the busiest of the year, with six new and returning series spread across Netflix, Disney+ and other major platforms. The lineup was highlighted in a roundup by the South China Morning Post, which singled out a mix of political intrigue, workplace comedy and a much-discussed period romance as the titles worth clearing your schedule for.

Topping the list is the second season of "Made in Korea," the big-budget period political thriller returning to Disney+ on September 9. Hyun Bin reprises his role as power-hungry operator Baek Ki-tae, who has risen to become head of the Korean Central Intelligence Agency amid escalating national turmoil. Jung Woo-sung returns as the relentless prosecutor Jang Geon-young, still determined to bring him down, while "Bloodhounds" actor Woo Do-hwan and Won Ji-an join the cast for the new season. Director Woo Min-ho, known for the acclaimed film "Inside Men," is back behind the camera.

Also generating early buzz is "The Scandal," a lavish period drama arriving on Netflix on September 18. Son Ye-jin stars as the aristocratic Lady Cho in what has been described as a steamy literary adaptation, marking one of her most talked-about roles in recent years and giving the September slate its scandal-driven centerpiece.

Rounding out the lighter side of the calendar is "The Ordinary Jackpot," an office comedy that offers a change of pace from the heavier political and period dramas dominating the month. It joins three other new titles in the roundup — "A Love Other Than Yours," "Dive into You" and "Mission Mompossible" — which span additional genres and are distributed across platforms including Prime Video and tvN.

Together, the six series underscore how far Korean television has expanded its reach, with local broadcasters and global streamers now routinely competing to premiere Korean-language originals in the same month. SCMP entertainment writer Pierce Conran framed the September crop as proof the industry keeps bringing "the heat" even as summer winds down, reflecting the steady pace of high-profile K-drama releases feeding audiences worldwide.

With "Made in Korea" and "The Scandal" leading the charge, September 2026 looks set to give both returning fans and newcomers plenty of reasons to keep streaming.