Netflix unveils star-packed 2026 lineup

Jan 22, 2026, 07:56 am

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From left, Jeon Do-yeon, Nam Joo-hyuk, Son Ye-jin, Park Eun-bin and chef Ahn Sung-jae pose during the “Next on Netflix 2026 Korea” event held in Seoul on Jan. 21. / Netflix

From Jeon Do-yeon and Son Ye-jin to Nam Joo-hyuk, a lineup of leading Korean stars is set to anchor Netflix’s Korean originals in 2026.

At the “Next on Netflix 2026 Korea” showcase held Tuesday at the Conrad Seoul in Yeouido, Netflix introduced its upcoming slate across film, series and variety genres. Attendees included actors Jeon Do-yeon, Nam Joo-hyuk, Son Ye-jin and Park Eun-bin, as well as chef Ahn Sung-jae and senior Netflix executives.

Actors took the stage to share stories behind their projects, energizing the event. Son, a self-professed fan of the cooking competition series Culinary Class Wars, said she had even visited participating restaurants. When she asked chef Ahn to compare Netflix’s 2026 lineup to a dish, he replied, “It feels like a full Korean table—so many choices, it’s almost overwhelming,” highlighting the breadth of the slate.

In the film category, Netflix spotlighted Possible Love, a new feature by acclaimed director Lee Chang-dong, slated for release in the fourth quarter of this year. The film explores how the relationship between two couples from different walks of life evolves as they become entangled with those around them. The cast includes Jeon Do-yeon, Seol Kyung-gu, Zo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong.

Jeon said she tried “a different kind of performance than before, including action,” adding that sharing the film with a global audience would be meaningful. She also described the set as unusually lighthearted, drawing laughter when she recalled Lee joking that he had “become kinder.”

Among series titles, Donggung stars Nam Joo-hyuk as a warrior who can slay ghosts and joins forces with a palace maid harboring secrets to uncover a royal curse. “It blends action and narrative, and I hope viewers enjoy it visually as well,” Nam said.

Son Ye-jin returns with the series Scandal, adapted from the 2003 film Untold Scandal. Set in the Joseon era, the story centers on love and desire. Son said she aimed to capture the restrained beauty of Joseon aesthetics rather than spectacle, adding that the series would convey Korean sensibilities naturally to global viewers.

Park Eun-bin makes her first Netflix lead appearance in The Wonderfuls, a superpower-themed comic action series set in 1999 about ordinary people who gain abilities by chance and become caught up in unexpected events. “I played a character very different from my previous roles,” she said.

In variety programming, Culinary Class Wars will return for a third season in the second half of the year, with Ahn Sung-jae again serving as a judge. He said witnessing the dishes created by 100 chefs up close was an unforgettable experience and expressed high expectations for the new season.

Netflix’s Korean originals for the year also include Can This Love Be Translated?, Monthly Boyfriend, Husbands, Possible Love, The Wonderfuls, Donggung, Yoo Jae-suk Camp, Scandal and Why Do People Even Go Hiking?. Global tentpoles such as One Piece Season 2, Bridgerton Season 4 and Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man were also highlighted.

Bae Jong-byung, senior director for series, said Netflix would deliver “relatable characters, tightly woven stories and genre craftsmanship that only Netflix can offer.”

#Netflix #Jeon Do-yeon #Son Ye-jin #Nam Joo-hyuk #Park Eun-bin