8 New Korean Dramas You Must Catch In September 2021, Including The Long-Awaited Yumi’s Cells

Korean dramas in September 2021

Many of us are exhausted from work or school, but there is always something to look forward to at the start of every month – new Korean dramas. September is looking to be a good month, at least in K-dramaland, with so many new dramas hitting the screens. Here is a list of K-dramas in September 2021 you can reward yourself with after a long day.

1. D.P. 

Image credit: Netflix Korea 

Main Cast: 

• Jung Hae-in as Ahn Joon-ho
• Koo Kyo-hwan as Han Ho-yeol
• Kim Sung-kyun as Park Bum-goo
• Son Seok-koo as Im Ji-sup

Adapted from the Korean webtoon titled D.P Dog Day, D.P. is a military drama that is centred on Ahn Joon-ho, a soldier serving in the military.

Joon-ho is an ordinary soldier, but Sergeant Park Bum-goo sees his potential to do greater things. As a result, Sergeant Park transfers Joon-ho to the D.P. team, which stands for “Deserter Pursuit”. 

Now that Joon-ho is part of the D.P. team, he is tasked with catching deserters. These deserters are soldiers who abandon their duty with no official claim of leave or absence. Joon-ho begins to engage in more challenging missions along with Sergeant Park and Corporal Han Ho-yeol. 

Catch the teaser of D.P. here: 

D.P. l 디피 티저 예고편 l 넷플릭스

Video credit: Netflix Korea 넷플릭스 코리아

Korean title: 디피
Genre: Military, action
Airs on: 27th August

2. Lost 

Image credit: CJ Entertainment 

Main Cast:

• Jeon Do-yeon as Lee Boo-jung
• Ryu Joon-yeol as Lee Kang-jae

Lost revolves around two protagonists, Lee Boo-jung and Lee Kang-jae. Boo-jung, played by Jeon Do-yeon, is a 40-year-old ghost writer. Kang-jae, played by Ryu Joon-yeol, is 27 years old and runs a business. 

Despite their age gap, the two share something in common – they are afraid of having accomplished nothing in life.

Catch the sombre teaser of Lost here: 

[감성 티저] 얼굴 한 번만 만져봐도 돼요…? 《인간실격 lost》│9월 4일(토) 밤 10시 30분 첫 방송

Video credit: JTBC Drama

Korean title: 인간실격
Genre: Melodrama
Airs on: 4th September

3. High Class

Image credit: tvN

Main Cast:

• Cho Yeo-jung as Song Yeo-wool
• Kim Jee-soo as Nam Ji-sun
• Park Se-jin as Hwang Na-yoon
• Ha Joon as Danny Oh
• Gong Hyun-joo as Cha Do-young

High Class is a suspenseful drama that focuses on the women at the top of the social ladder. On the surface, they appear to lead the perfect, ideal life.

Nam Ji-sun is that mum who is admired and followed by other mothers of students at a prestigious international school. On the other hand, Song Yeo-wool’s life completely changes following her husband’s murder.

Danny Oh used to be an ice hockey player, but he had to quit due to an injury. Since he could no longer continue his career as an athlete, he became a teacher at the prestigious international school. 

Watch the first teaser of High Class here: 

[1차 티저] 조여정의 치정 미스터리 "난 이미 남편 죽인 여자" #하이클래스 EP.1

Video credit: tvN DRAMA

Korean title: 하이클래스
Genre: Suspense, mystery
Airs on: 6th September

4. Yumi’s Cells

Image credit: TVING 

Main Cast: 

• Kim Go-eun as Kim Yu-mi
• Ahn Bo-hyun as Gu Woong
• Lee Yoo-bi as Ruby 
• Park Ji-hyun as Seo Sae-yi
• Park Jin-young as Yoo Ba-bi

Yumi’s Cells is based on the beloved Korean webtoon of the same name. The story follows Yu-mi, the main character played by Kim Go-eun.

On the surface, Yu-mi seems like an ordinary adult. However, she’s not good at expressing her feelings. Yu-mi’s brain cells represent various emotions, and one of them is love. After going through an unsuccessful relationship, Yu-mi’s love cell falls into a coma. 

Yumi’s Cells highlights Yumi’s character development with the guidance of her cells and Gu Woong, a game developer who plays a key role in reawakening Yu-mi’s love cell. 

[유미의 세포들] 김고은 응원하는 그녀의 세포들?! 웹툰 찢은 세포들의 등장💕ㅣ1차 티저

Video credit: TVING

Korean title: 유미의 세포들
Genre: Romance, comedy
Airs on: 17th September

5. Squid Game 

Image credit: Netflix Korea

Main Cast:

• Lee Jung-jae as Ki-hun
• Park Hae-soo as Sang-woo
• Heo Sung-tae as Duk-su
• Wi Ha-joon as Joon-ho

Squid Game revolves around a group of people who join a survival game. This mysterious game rewards the winner with an unbelievable amount of prize money. 

Ki-hun, played by Lee Jung-jae, decides to be a part of the survival game because he needs the cash. Ki-hun is discouraged and demoralised after losing his job, and winning this mysterious game could be his only chance to survive.

Sang-woo, played by Park Hae-soo, also participates in the survival game. Similar to Ki-hun, his childhood friend, Sang-woo’s life couldn’t be worse.

The drama is titled Squid Game because it refers to a game that Ki-hun and Sang-woo used to play together during their childhood. Their childhood game parallels the survival game they participate in as adults – the game only ends when there’s a winner. 

Catch the thrilling teaser of Squid Game here: 

오징어 게임 | 티저 예고편 | 넷플릭스

Video credit: Netflix Korea 넷플릭스 코리아

Korean title: 오징어 게임
Genre: Thriller, mystery, action
Airs on: 17th September 

6. The Veil 

Image credit: MBC

Main Cast:

• Nam Goong-min as Han Ji-hyuk
• Park Ha-sun as Seo Soo-yeon
• Kim Ji-eun as Yoo Je-yi

Crime, spy, suspense – The Veil has it all. This drama follows Han Ji-hyuk, who works as a National Intelligence Service (NIS) agent.

Ji-hyuk, played by Nam Goong-min, is recognised for his expertise in the NIS, but his glory ceases as an internal traitor brings him down. To recover from his downfall, Ji-hyuk sets out to reveal the identity of the traitor. However, he encounters more hurdles and opposition along his journey.  

Seo Soo-yeon, played by Park Ha-sun, works at the Crime Information Centre. She is not only competent in investigating and solving cases, but also good-natured and devoted.

Watch the teaser of The Veil here: 

[검은태양 선공개] '검은 태양' 90초 트레일러 영상 전격 공개! 역대급 블록버스터 탄생 예고!, MBC 2021 방송

Video credit: MBCdrama

Korean title: 검은태양
Genre: Crime, mystery, action
Airs on: 17th September

7. Dali and the Cocky Prince

Image credit: @kbsdrama

Main Cast:

• Park Gyu-young as Kim Dal-ri
• Kim Min-jae as Jin Moo-hak

Dali and the Cocky Prince follows the journey of two people who develop feelings for each other unexpectedly.

Jin Moo-hak may not be the most educated individual, but he sure has a knack for earning money. This is because Moo-hak’s family runs a global franchise that was initially a gam-ja-tang (pork bone stew) restaurant. 

Dal-ri works as a researcher for an art gallery. She is highly educated and comes from an affluent family. Although Dal-ri has it all, she is neither cocky nor snobbish. In fact, she has a great personality.

Moo-hak and Dal-ri begin to fall for each other with no knowledge of each other’s backgrounds. 

Catch the teaser of Dali and the Cocky Prince here: 

[티저] 내 돈 다 갚기 전까진 털끝 하나라도 다치지 마요! 9월 22일 밤 9시 30분 첫 방송🌻🥔 [달리와 감자탕] | KBS 방송

Video credit: KBS 한국방송

Korean title: 달리와 감자탕
Genre: Romance, comedy
Airs on: 22nd September

8. Hometown

Image credit: tvN

Main Cast:

• Yoo Jae-myung as Choi Hyung-in 
• Han Ye-ri as Jo Jung-hyun 
• Uhm Tae-goo as Jo Kyung-ho 

Hometown starts in 1989. Jo Kyung-ho, played by Uhm Tae-goo, is a terrorist who killed passengers at a train station in Japan. He returns to Korea and turns himself in for the grave crime he had committed. As a result, he is sentenced to life imprisonment. 

The drama then skips 10 years ahead, to a small town where a murder is committed. Detective Choi, played by Yoo Jae-myung, is in charge of the murder case. As Detective Choi begins to investigate, he finds that the case is connected to the murders committed by terrorist Jo Kyung-ho in 1989. 

One day, Jung-hyun’s niece goes missing. This drives Detective Choi to place the puzzle pieces of the murder case together, and to find Jung-hyun’s missing niece.

Catch the hair-raising teaser of Hometown here:

[최면 티저] 가스 테러범 엄태구의 섬뜩한 광기 #홈타운 #홈타운 EP.0

Video credit: tvN DRAMA

Korean title: 홈타운
Genre: Horror, thriller, mystery
Airs on: 22nd September

Korean dramas to watch in September 2021

The beginning of every month is an exciting moment for K-drama fans. From spine-chilling thrillers to melodramas that will make you weep, September 2021 is ready to greet you with many intriguing Korean dramas.

Also check out: 

• 8 best makjang dramas
• 20 Thriller Korean dramas
• 21 Korean dramas about mental health
• 10 Korean medical dramas to binge-watch
• 11 Workplace Korean dramas similar to Start-Up

Cover image adapted from: Netflix Korea, TVING and @kbsdrama