News bites: June 26, 2025 » Dramabeans Korean drama recaps

News bites: June 26, 2025

by tccolb

• The Hong sisters (writers Hong Jung-eun and Hong Mi-ran of Alchemy of Souls fame, among other hits) have announced Grand Galaxy Hotel as their next series, in what seems to be a follow-up to Hotel Del Luna (and maybe Master’s Sun before it) with PD Oh Choong-hwan (Melo Movie) returning to direct. A supernatural hotel is our main setting once more, recruiting Lee Do-hyun (Sweet Home 3) – another Del Luna alum – to be the ~mysterious~ new owner when IU the previous one goes missing, much to the chagrin of hotelier Shin Shi-ah (Resident Playbook). Filming is expected to begin later this year. [MBC]

• tvN confirmed casting for How to Become a Building Owner in South Korea (literal translation), lining up Ha Jung-woo (Narco-Saints) and Im Soo-jung (Melancholia, as well as Kim Joon-han (Newtopia), Krystal (Way Back Love), and Shim Eun-kyung (Way Back Love). Slated to broadcast in the early half of 2026, the crime-thriller and black comedy will starting filming this July, with production led by filmmaker Im Pil-sung (Persona, Scarlet Innocence) and novelist Oh Han-ki (Baguette Child Soldier) making their drama debut. [MBC]
• TV Chosun is working on a new drama called There Is No Next Life (roughly translated), with Kim Hee-sun (Bittersweet Hell), Han Hye-jin (Divorce Attorney Shin), and Jin Seo-yeon (Family Matters) as our main trio of friends who are feeling life’s slump and craving change. Reportedly joined by Yoon Park (For Eagle Brothers) playing Kim’s husband, the uplifting tale will be airing in November with PD Sung Do-joon (Uncle) directing and scripts by Shin Yi-won (Green Mothers’ Club). [MBC, News1]

• Over on KBS, the fantasy rom-com My Girlfriend Is a Tough Guy (roughly translated) is reported to be on the upcoming summer schedule with a July 23 premiere. The webtoon adaptation is said to be following The First Night with the Duke in the Wednesday-Thursday slot, preparing plenty of love square triangle shenanigans with Chuu (Dating Class) crushing on Yoon San-ha (Romance in the House), who is already dating girlfriend Arin (S Line). Except, she has suddenly transformed into the physical form of Yoo Jung-hoo (Who Is She). [Newsen]
• KBS has also made the curious decision to re-re-launch Dear M. Production was initially stalled in 2021 and the campus romance was released internationally (but not domestically) in 2022. Starring Park Hye-soo (Introverted Boss), NCT’s Jae-hyun (You Will Die in 6 Hours), Noh Jung-eui (The Witch), and Bae Hyun-sung (Family by Choice) among others, the series was finally broadcast in South Korea earlier this year on the subsidiary KBS Joy. And now, it’s coming to KBS’s main drama channel on July 9, airing in a late night Wednesday-Thursday slot. [MBC]
• tvN’s Law and the City came out with a new poster, offering a hazy peek at the romance to come with our main opposites-attract pair: Lee Jong-seok (Big Mouth) and Moon Ga-young (My Dearest Nemesis). But perhaps more importantly (because food), the two will soon be heading to the lawyer lunchrooms, along with their meal buddies Kang Yoo-seok (Resident Playbook), Ryu Hye-young (Gangnam B-Side), and Im Sung-jae (Newtopia) when the office series premieres on July 5, next week. [10 Asia]

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