July 2025 is shaping up to be a powerhouse month for K-drama fans, delivering a rich blend of genres—from heart-racing thrillers and gritty legal dramas to emotional sports journeys and eerie psychological mysteries. With beloved stars like Lee Dong-wook, Lee Jong-suk, and Kim Nam-gil making their return to the small screen, there’s something for every kind of viewer. Below is your ultimate guide to the K-dramas premiering this month.

Main Casts: Lee Eun Saem, Yeri, Kim Min Kyu, Lee Jong Hyuk

Director: Im Dae Woong, Park Hyung Won

Writer: Kwak Young-Im

Date of Release: July 3, 2025

Number of Episodes: 10

Network/Streamer: Wavve, Netflix, Viu, Viki

Genre: High school thriller, psychological drama

Synopsis: “Bitch X Rich 2” continues the cutthroat world of Cheongdam International High School. Following the dramatic events of Season 1, Kim Hye In, now a two-time murder witness and the first underprivileged member of the elite “Diamond 6,” finds herself accused of murder. Desperate, she seeks help from her former rival, Baek Jena, who is also battling to maintain her crumbling power and reputation. The season introduces new, charismatic transfer students, further shaking up the school’s fragile hierarchy. As power struggles intensify, alliances shift, and dark secrets surface, Hye In and Jena must navigate a web of betrayal, obsession, and even romance in their fight for survival and dominance.

Trivia: The first season was one of the most-streamed Wavve originals of 2023 and gained cult popularity internationally.

Main Casts: Lee Jong-suk, Moon Ga-young, Kang You-seok, Ryu Hye-young, Im Seong-jae

Director: Park Seung-woo

Writer: Lee Seung-hyun

Date of Release: July 5, 2025

Number of Episodes: 16

Network/Streamer: tvN, Disney+

Genre: Legal drama

Synopsis: “Law and the City” is a legal slice-of-life K-drama that delves into the everyday lives of five associate attorneys working in Seoul’s bustling Seocho-dong legal district. Unlike traditional legal thrillers that might focus heavily on dramatic courtroom battles, this series aims for a more grounded and emotionally driven portrayal of young lawyers navigating both their professional and personal challenges. The story revolves around a group of diverse lawyers, each with their own unique motivations and struggles within the demanding world of corporate law. They don’t all work in the same firm but gather together, often over lunch, to share their highs, lows, ambitions, and insecurities.

Trivia: “Law and the City” marks Lee Jong-suk’s much-awaited return to K-dramas after his last series, “Big Mouth” (2022). It also reunites Lee Jong-suk with director Park Seung-woo, whom he previously worked with on the popular drama “W: Two Worlds” (2016) after eight years. The script for “Law and the City” is penned by Lee Seung-hyun, who is a real-life lawyer herself. This promises a more nuanced and authentic portrayal of the legal world.

Main Casts: Lee Soo-Hyuk, Lee Da-Hee, Arin – Hyun-Hob

Director: Ahn Ju-Young

Writer: Ggomabi (webcomic), Ahn Ju-Young

Date of Release: July 11, 2025

Number of Episodes: 10

Network/Streamer: Wavve

Genre: Fantasy thriller

Synopsis: Suddenly, mysterious red lines, dubbed “S Lines,” appear above everyone’s heads, literally connecting them to every single person they’ve had sexual relations with, regardless of time or place. This shocking phenomenon exposes hidden secrets and creates widespread chaos. Han Ji-wook, a free-spirited detective, sets out to uncover the truth behind these S Lines. He’s joined by Kyu-jin, a high school teacher, and Hyun-hob, a high school student who has inexplicably been able to see these red lines since birth. As the world grapples with this new reality, they race to understand the “why” behind the lines and the person responsible for their sudden appearance, navigating a society thrown into upheaval.

Trivia: “S Line” is adapted from a popular webtoon by Ggomabi, who is also known for the webtoon “A Killer Paradox,” which was successfully adapted into a Netflix series. The drama gained significant international attention even before its release, winning the Best Music Award at the 8th Cannes International Series Festival in 2025. It’s set to premiere on Wavve in July 2025.

Main Casts: Ryu Seung-ryong, Yang Se-jong, Im Soo-jung

Director:  Kang Yun-seong

Writer:  Kang Yun-seong

Date of Release: July 16, 2025

Number of Episodes: 11

Network/Streamer: Disney+

Genre: Period heist, noir

Synopsis: Set in 1977 Korea, “Low Life” is a period drama centered around a thrilling treasure hunt. Oh Gwan-seok, a cunning man who’s dabbled in various schemes, and his nephew Oh Hee-dong, who works for him, receive a proposal: salvage a sunken treasure ship off the coast of Shinan. Driven by greed and the desire to escape their “low life” as sellers of counterfeits, they gather a motley crew of resourceful villagers. However, news of the sunken treasure spreads like wildfire, attracting dangerous criminals, powerful opportunists, and a complex web of deceit. The series explores human desire and the lengths people will go to for fortune in a high-stakes battle for wealth.

Trivia: “Low Life” is based on the webtoon “Fine” (파인) by Yoon Tae-ho, known for his critically acclaimed works like “Misaeng.” The webtoon itself was inspired by a real-life incident in 1975 when a 14th-century Chinese ship carrying valuable artifacts was discovered off the coast of Shinan, South Korea. The drama features a star-studded cast including Ryu Seung-ryong, Yang Se-jong, and Im Soo-jung.

Main Casts: Lee Dong-wook, Lee Sung-kyung, and Ryu Hye-young

Director: Song Hae-sung, Park Hong-soo

Writer: Kim Woon-kyung, Kim Hyo-seok

Date of Release: July 18, 2025

Number of Episodes: 12

Network/Streamer: JTBC

Genre: Noir, romantic comedy

Synopsis: Park Seok-cheol, the eldest grandson of a third-generation crime family, yearns to escape his inherited criminal life, despite his lineage. Unlike his ruthless relatives, he possesses an inherent kindness and compassion, struggling between familial loyalty and his desire for a normal existence. The series chronicles his attempts to protect his eccentric family while simultaneously pursuing a different path. His journey is complicated by his enduring love for his childhood sweetheart, Kang Mi-young, an aspiring singer. “The Nice Guy” is a sentimental noir that delves into Seok-cheol’s internal conflict, navigating loyalty, ambition, and love against the backdrop of his family’s criminal enterprise.

Main Casts: Kang Ha-neul, Yeom Hye-ran, Seo Hyun-woo

Director: Kim Tae-joon

Writer: Kim Tae-joon

Date of Release: July 18, 2025

Number of Episodes: 1 (film)

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Psychological thriller, mystery

Synopsis: Woo-sung, an ordinary office worker, finally achieves his lifelong dream of buying his own apartment, pouring all his savings and taking out substantial loans to do so. His excitement quickly turns to dread as his new home becomes a nightmare. He’s relentlessly tormented by mysterious, persistent noises from neighboring floors, leading to escalating confrontations with his neighbors. Desperate for peace and to prove his innocence when accused of being the source of the noise, Woo-sung teams up with his suspicious upstairs neighbor, Jin-ho, to uncover the unsettling truth behind the disturbing sounds that are unraveling his peace of mind and financial stability.

Trivia: Filmed in a single building over 15 days, the production used minimal CGI for a raw, claustrophobic effect.

Main Casts: Yum Jung-Ah, Won Jin-A, Choi Young-Joon, Kim Jin-Young

Director: Oh Ki-Hwan

Writer: Eom Se-Yoon (webcomic), Ryu Ga-Myeong (webcomic), An So-Jung

Date of Release: July 21, 2025

Number of Episodes: 10

Network/Streamer: ENA, Genie TV

Genre: Thriller, mystery

Synopsis: “The Defects” plunges into the chilling world of an illegal adoption organization, run by the outwardly respectable hospital director Kim Se-hee (Yeom Jung-ah), who believes only “superior genes” should survive. Children adopted through her scheme can be “returned” if they don’t meet expectations, leading to their tragic elimination to hide evidence. However, Kim Ah-hyun (Won Jin-a), one such “returned” child who miraculously survived, becomes a beacon of hope and a leader for other abandoned children. She embarks on a desperate fight for survival and revenge against Se-hee, uncovering dark truths and forging an unconventional family with others who refuse to be discarded.

Trivia: The drama’s concept drew comparisons to Stranger Things and Mother, blending emotional depth with suspense.

Main Casts: Kim Nam-gil, Kim Young-kwang

Director: Kwon Oh-Seung

Writer: Kwon Oh-Seung

Date of Release: July 25, 2025

Number of Episodes: 8

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Action, crime thriller

Synopsis: South Korea boasts extremely strict gun laws, making gun-related crimes virtually non-existent. However, this peace shatters when illegal firearms from unknown sources suddenly flood the country, leading to an unprecedented surge in violent incidents. Lee Do, a righteous detective and former military sniper (played by Kim Nam-gil), races against time to halt the escalating violence and uncover the origins of these illicit weapons. His investigation intertwines with Moon Baek (Kim Young-kwang), a mysterious and meticulously calculating figure in the underground arms trade. Both men find themselves holding a gun for very different reasons, setting the stage for a thrilling clash.

Main Casts: Yoon Kye-Sang, Lim Se-Mi, Kim Yo-Han

Director: Jang Young-Seok

Writer: Im Jin-A

Date of Release: July 25, 2025

Number of Episodes: 12

Network/Streamer: SBS, Netflix

Genre: Sports drama, slice of life

Synopsis: Joo Ka-ram (Yoon Kye-sang), once the shining hope of Korean rugby, falls from grace after a devastating drug scandal. Three years later, disgraced and stigmatized, he returns to coach his alma mater’s high school rugby team – the league’s weakest. With unwavering charisma and uncompromising leadership, he endeavors to transform this struggling team into champions. His journey is complicated by his reunion with ex-girlfriend Bae Yi-ji (Lim Se-mi), a shooting coach at the same school, whom he abruptly left after his scandal. The drama follows their emotional rekindling and the team’s arduous path to find their own miracle.

Trivia: The cast underwent three months of rugby training with Korea’s national coaches to prepare for their roles.

Whether you’re in the mood for heart-stopping thrillers, quirky romances, or heartfelt sports dramas, July 2025’s lineup of K-dramas offers an exciting mix of storytelling. With streaming platforms like Netflix, Disney+, and Wavve rolling out high-quality productions, it’s a great month to be a K-drama fan. Bookmark your watchlist—this month is packed with must-see premieres.