Kakao Entertainment (co-CEOs Kwon Gi Su and Chang Joseph) unveiled its exciting 2025 project lineup on Tuesday.
Dramas Based on Popular Story IPs
One of the most anticipated releases is MBC’s new Friday-Saturday drama Bunny and Her Brothers, which will premiere in April. Based on a Kakao Webtoon that has garnered over 170 million views, the series is directed by Kim Ji Hoon, written by Seong So Eun and Lee Seul, and produced by Kakao Entertainment.
Netflix’s Karma, scheduled for release in Q2, is another adaptation of a popular Kakao Webtoon starring Park Hae Soo, Shin Min A, and Lee Kwang Soo. Directed and written by Lee Il Hyeong, Karma promises to captivate audiences with its star-studded cast and gripping story.
Secret Relationship will debut exclusively on Watcha in Korea on February 27. Created by Jeong Su Yoon and directed by Yang Kyeong Hui, this drama is a joint production between Fuji TV, Playlist, and Kakao Entertainment.
Highly Anticipated Projects with A-List Talent
Several exciting projects featuring A-list talent have already started generating buzz among fans in Korea and abroad. Netflix’s When Life Gives You Tangerines, starring IU and Park Bo Gum, will premiere on March 7. New episodes will drop every Friday for four weeks.
Another highly anticipated release is the Disney+ original series Nine Puzzles, starring Kim Da Mi and Son Suk Gu. Director Yoon Jong Bin’s second venture into series production, Nine Puzzles, is set to premiere in the first half of the year.
In the third quarter of the year, Netflix will release You and Everything Else, starring Kim Go Eun and Park Ji Hyun. SBS’s The Mantis: Original Sin, starring Go Hyun Jung and Jang Dong Yoon as a mother-and-son duo, is also expected to air in 2025.
Additionally, production is set to begin on MBC’s The 21st Century Grand Princess (working title), starring IU and Byeon Woo Seok. Other notable upcoming projects include KBS 2TV’s Eun Soo Good Day, starring Lee Young Ae, Kim Young Kwang, and Park Yong Woo.
Film Industry Thriving with Star-Powered Releases
The Korean film industry is also experiencing a surge in excitement thanks to star-studded releases. Dark Nuns, which opened in January, has already surpassed 1.6 million viewers in Korea and is performing well in India and the Philippines.
The crime thriller Nocturnal, starring Ha Jung Woo and Kim Nam Gil, recently premiered in theaters. In addition, Lee Byung Hun’s much-anticipated film The Match will premiere on March 26.
Kakao Entertainment’s Variety Shows
Choo Sung Hoon, known for his bold and charismatic personality, will host his talk show Churrai Churrai (directed by Kwon Dae Hyun and produced by Kakao Entertainment). In this show, he engages with guests in his signature style. The show will be available on Netflix starting on February 26, with new episodes airing every Wednesday at 5 p.m. (KST).
Another exciting project from Kakao Entertainment is the reality makeover series I’ve Been Single Forever, But I Want to Date (directed by Cho Wook Hyung, Kim No Eun, and Won Seung Jae and produced by Kakao Entertainment), which will premiere in the first half of the year. This series will follow born singles—inexperienced individuals who have never dated—as they embark on their first romantic relationships with help from makeover experts.