Netflix has set out a year-long roadmap for its 2026 Korean slate, outlining more than 30 series and films across drama, unscripted and cinema. The line-up mixes high-profile star vehicles, returning reality franchises and auteur-driven features. Confirmed titles include Boyfriend on Demand, a romantic comedy led by Blackpink’s Jisoo; The Wonderfools, a superhero drama headlined by Park Eun-bin and Cha Eun-woo; new instalments of the dating format Singles Inferno; and Possible Love, the latest feature from acclaimed filmmaker Lee Chang-dong. All the projects had been announced previously. The update sets out when they will reach viewers in 2026, underscoring the streamer’s continued focus on Korea, where it has already committed billions of dollars to original content.
A diverse 2026 schedule spanning genres and formats
Netflix’s 2026 Korean slate spans scripted series, stand-alone films and unscripted entertainment, reflecting the broad reach of K-content on the platform. The announced line-up includes star-led fare such as Boyfriend on Demand, fronted by Jisoo, and the genre title The Wonderfools, featuring Park Eun-bin and Cha Eun-woo. The projects sit alongside a prestige film entry from director Lee Chang-dong, whose Possible Love adds a recognised auteur to the schedule.
The streamer has positioned Korean programming as a key pillar of its global mix. According to industry reporting, Korean content ranks among the most-watched on Netflix after English-language film and TV. The 2026 plan continues that emphasis with a slate that aims to cater to different audiences: romance and fantasy for drama viewers, celebrity-led titles for mainstream appeal, and feature cinema for festival and awards-minded audiences.
Returning unscripted hits anchor the calendar
The 2026 roadmap confirms the return of reality brand Singles Inferno, one of Netflix’s most visible Korean unscripted series. Continuing the franchise signals a strategy of pairing fresh scripted titles with formats that already have a built-in audience. Returning unscripted series typically offer predictable production cycles and steady viewing across regions, complementing the more variable timelines of scripted dramas and films.
Structuring the year around recognisable franchises also supports Netflix’s week-to-week engagement. With release windows now mapped, the platform can stage its unscripted roll-outs alongside larger drama debuts to maintain momentum across the calendar, while localisation teams can plan dubbing and subtitling workflows in advance for simultaneous global releases.
Prestige cinema headlines with Lee Chang-dong’s Possible Love
The inclusion of Possible Love from Lee Chang-dong adds a notable filmmaker to Netflix’s 2026 Korea offering. Lee, whose past work has screened at major festivals and drawn international acclaim, strengthens the slate’s film component. Positioning an auteur feature alongside commercial dramas reflects the streamer’s approach to blend prestige projects with wide-appeal programming within a single national slate.
For Korea’s film sector, a Netflix-backed release in a defined global window can increase the reach of director-driven titles. By locking in a 2026 schedule for Possible Love, Netflix gives partners a clearer runway for marketing and festival planning, while viewers gain a visible target for one of the year’s most anticipated Korean cinema entries within the streaming ecosystem.
Casting spotlights: Jisoo, Park Eun-bin and Cha Eun-woo lead high-profile series
Casting headlines shape the top end of the slate. Jisoo, a member of Blackpink, leads Boyfriend on Demand, a romantic comedy positioned to draw crossover attention from both K-pop and K-drama audiences. The Wonderfools pairs Park Eun-bin, known for her lead roles in recent hit dramas, with Cha Eun-woo, a prominent actor and singer. Their involvement signals the mainstream positioning of the series and the continued mixing of music and screen talent in Korean projects.
Star-led vehicles often anchor international marketing pushes. With the 2026 windows outlined, Netflix can build promotional campaigns across Asia, the Americas and Europe around talent availability, timed interviews and regional premieres. That staging helps maximise awareness when episodes or films land on the service, while also supporting local partners involved in production and distribution.
Investment and strategy: Korean content remains a Netflix priority
Netflix has invested billions of dollars in Korean originals in recent years as part of a wider strategy to grow non-English viewing. Industry reporting indicates Korean content remains the most-watched genre on the platform after English-language film and TV. The 2026 slate reinforces that focus, providing a continuous pipeline of Korean stories to sustain engagement in Korea and abroad.
The company’s Korea strategy has benefited from the global breakout of series and films made in the market in recent years. A steady supply of new titles, combined with returning unscripted brands, gives the platform a mix that regularly drives viewing in multiple regions. By setting a clear 2026 schedule now, Netflix signals to producers, talent and agencies that Korea remains central to its international programming plans.
A roadmap that clarifies timing for partners and viewers
While all the projects highlighted were previously announced, the 2026 slate update offers new clarity on when each title is set to arrive. This kind of roadmap helps align production, post-production and localisation across multiple vendors and territories. It allows marketing teams to plan roll-outs, trailer drops and talent tours, and it gives audiences a better sense of the year’s viewing calendar.
For Korean studios and creators, a defined launch path can guide festival submissions, press materials and promotional tie-ins. It also helps coordinate release strategies with broadcasters or distribution partners when projects have mixed funding or multi-window arrangements. Setting expectations well ahead of release can reduce scheduling conflicts and provide more time for global outreach.
Industry context: Korea’s global draw and the streaming competition
Korean series and films have become central to streaming catalogues as platforms compete to attract and retain international subscribers. High recognition of K-drama and K-pop artists helps titles travel beyond their home market. Netflix’s 2026 plan leans into that trend with projects anchored by widely known talent, a returning reality hit, and a new feature from a noted director.
A mapped slate also serves as a counter to the crowded release cycles of rival streamers, local broadcasters and theatrical distributors. By sketching out a year’s worth of Korean releases, Netflix positions its service as a consistent destination for viewers seeking new K-content, while signalling to the industry that it will maintain volume and variety through 2026.
What this means
The 2026 roadmap provides a structured view of Netflix’s Korean pipeline, pairing star-driven dramas and auteur cinema with steady unscripted franchises. It confirms that Korean content remains a core element of the platform’s global offer and gives partners and talent clearer timelines for delivery and promotion. For viewers, it brings visibility to a slate that spans romance, fantasy, reality and prestige film, with titles headlined by Jisoo, Park Eun-bin and Cha Eun-woo and a new feature from Lee Chang-dong. As streaming competition intensifies, such forward planning can help align production schedules, localisation and marketing across markets, keeping Korean stories prominent on the service throughout 2026.
When and where: Netflix outlined its 2026 Korean slate on 21 January 2026 in a content showcase reported by Deadline and The Hollywood Reporter. The company presented a year-long plan covering more than 30 previously announced series and films, including Boyfriend on Demand, The Wonderfools, Singles Infer
