SBS weekday drama revival… Go Hyun-jung‘s ‘Warts’ → Lee Je-hoon’s ‘Taxi Driver 3’ lineup

SBS has revealed its 2025 drama lineup. Starting with the popular ‘My Perfect Secretary’, as well as ‘Treasure Island’, ‘The Return of the Condor Heroes’, ‘Our Movie’, ‘Try’, ‘Marry Me in Space’, ‘Warts’, ‘Taxi Driver 3’, ‘Kiss Me for Nothing!’, ‘I‘m Human Starting Today’, and other all-time great works will be leading the 2025 SBS drama lineup.

The first SBS drama to start this year is ‘My Perfect Secretary’ (directed by Ham Joon-ho and Kim Jae-hong, written by Ji-eun, produced by Studio S and IO Contents Group). The sequel is ‘Treasure Island’ (written by Lee Myung-hee/directed by Jin Chang-gyu/produced by Studio S, A2Z Entertainment, and Purumir Factory). This work is a life-long revenge battle where Seo Dong-joo (played by Park Hyung-sik), who hacked 2 trillion won in political slush funds, fights with everything to bring down the absolute evil that killed him and its world. Park Hyung-sik and Heo Jun-ho, who will be transformed into dark, ambitious men who are 180 degrees different from their existing images, are expected to show powerful acting chemistry that transcends their ages.

‘Gwigung’ (written by Yoon Soo-jung, directed by Yoon Sung-sik) is a fantasy romantic comedy drama about a shaman named Yeo-ri who rejects her fate as a shaman and a snake named Kang Cheol-i who is trapped in the body of Yeo-ri’s first love, Yoon Gap, and their body and soul become tightly entangled as they face the evil Palchukgwi who holds a grudge against the royal family. Director Yoon Sung-sik, who directed ‘Mr. Queen’, ‘The Best Yi Sun-sin’, ‘Bridal Mask’, ‘Daejoyeong’, and Yook Sung-jae (as Yoon Gap/Kang Cheol-yi), Kim Ji-yeon (as Yeo-ri), Kim Ji-hoon (as Lee Seong), and special appearance Kim Young-kwang (as Kang Cheol-yi) have completed the attractive lineup of actors.

‘Our Movie’ (directed by Lee Jung-heum/ written by Han Ga-eun, Kang Kyung-min/ produced by Studio S, Beyond J) is a melodrama about a film director suffering from the sophomore jinx (a symptom where someone who is excellent at the beginning rapidly declines in skill) and a free-spirited aspiring actor who heal their wounds and fall in love while filming a movie together. Attention is focused on the new transformation of Nam Goong Min, who won the Grand Prize at the 2020 SBS Drama Awards for his role in the drama ‘Stove League’.

Also, ‘Try: We Become a Miracle’ (written by Im Jin-ah/directed by Jang Young-seok) is the first sports drama based on rugby in Korea, about young people who risk their lives for mere running and playing ball and become miracles themselves by colliding with the world with their whole bodies. Yoon Kye-sang, Im Se-mi, and Kim Yo-han are the leads, completing the cast line with solid acting skills and healthy energy, raising expectations.

‘Space Marry Me (produced by Samhwa Networks, Studio S)‘ is a sweet and chewy 90-day fake newlywed survival romantic comedy drama about a man and a woman who try to secure the prize of a luxurious newlywed home. Just the news of the casting alone makes Choi Woo-shik and Jung So-min, who are already exciting, will meet and show off the best romantic chemistry.

‘Witches’ (directed by Byun Young-joo/written by Lee Young-jong/planned by Studio S/produced by Mega Monster, Merry Christmas) starring Go Hyun-jung and Jang Dong-yoon is a work that depicts the story that unfolds when a woman is imprisoned as a serial killer a long time ago and someone begins to commit serial murders imitating her. Director Byun Young-joo of the film ‘Train’ and writer Lee Young-jong of the film ‘Spring in Seoul’ have joined forces, and expectations are high for the birth of a crime thriller that goes beyond imagination and that we have never seen before.

‘Kissed Me For Nothing!’ (written by Ha Yoon-ah and Tae Kyung-min/directed by Kim Jae-hyun/produced by Samhwa Networks, Studio S) starring Jang Ki-yong and Ahn Eun-jin is a heartbreaking romance between a single woman who works undercover as a mother to make a living and the team leader who falls in love with her. Expectations are high that it will bring a dopamine explosion and excitement to the living room theater.

In addition, ‘Model Taxi 3’ (written by Oh Sang-ho/directed by Kang Bo-seung/produced by Studio S, Group Eight) led by Lee Je-hoon is making a comeback in two years. The latest series, ‘Model Taxi 2’, recorded the highest viewership rating among mini-series aired in 2023 with a peak viewership rating of 25.6% (based on Nielsen Korea/metropolitan area), and stood tall as a ‘trustworthy mega hit IP’, ranking first in viewership ratings in 16 countries around the world within ten days of its release. Expectations are running high for Lee Je-hoon, who brought about the ‘Goddogi Syndrome’, and the members of ‘Rainbow Luck’ to team up once again to lead a three-peat hit.

‘I‘m Human Starting Today’ (written by Park Chan-young/directed by Kim Jung-kwon), starring Kim Hye-yoon and Roman, is a romantic comedy drama with an extremely human ‘disiac’ about a gumiho who refuses to become human and a soccer star whose wish is ripped off by him. Expectations are high for how Kim Hye-yoon, who left an unrivaled presence in ‘Run Away with Seon-jae’, will complete the character of Eun-ho, a gumiho that has never been seen before.

In particular, this year, SBS revealed its ambition to continue the vision of being the number one channel in drama viewership ratings by establishing a new lineup of weekday dramas. An SBS official said, “In 2025, SBS will revive its lineup of weekday dramas and meet viewers with more diverse works. “We will take charge of viewers’ home theaters with dramas of various materials and genres, including romance, historical dramas, genre dramas, and seasonal dramas,” he said.

Jeong Hee-yeon, Donga.com reporter shine2562@donga.com

This article is automatically translated using Google AI. If you notice any inaccuracies, please let us know at allkstar@donga.com.