K-dramas are gaining more and more ground, with new releases on Netflix and Disney+ that have managed to conquer Western fans. But although 2026 is full of new releases for K-drama lovers, among the huge catalog of titles coming this year, webtoon and manhwa adaptations are so promising that fans would regret missing them.
Webtoons have become the go-to choice for successful K-dramas thanks to hits like All of Us Are Dead and Business Proposal. That’s why the productions confirmed for 2026 are expected to expand the global impact of K-dramas even further than in previous years. From dark thrillers to emotional romances, here are all the webtoons that will be adapted into K-dramas in 2026.
Back to Work!
- Release Date: To Be Confirmed
- Streaming Platform: To Be Confirmed
Based on the webtoon by McQueen Studio, Back to Work has been praised for its realistic and comforting romance. The series revolves around Jiyoon Cha, who at 30 years old is tired of her work and love life. However, her relationship with one of her colleagues will change in a way she didn’t expect it to.
While Park Ji Hyun will play Jiyoon Cha, the male lead, Kang Si Woo, Cha’s cold boss with whom she originally had disagreements, will be Seo In-guk. Back to Work! promises a lighthearted story without great pretensions, depicting a modern romance that naturally flourishes in an office.
The Legend of Kitchen Soldier
- Release Date: To Be Confirmed
- Streaming Platform: To Be Confirmed
A military K-drama based on a web novel-turned-webtoon, The Legend of Kitchen Soldier, follows a financially disadvantaged young man, Kang Seong-jae (Park Ji-hoon), who chooses to enlist in the military and proves to be quite a capable soldier. Yet, after being demoted, Seong-jae agrees to become a cook.
The story thus follows his journey to improve his skills after being transferred to a new craft outside the battlefield. Although The Legend of Kitchen Soldier has yet to announce a release on Western streaming platforms, the K-drama will debut in Series Mania 2026, taking place in France in March 2026.
Married Woman Killer
- Release Date: To Be Confirmed
- Streaming Platform: To Be Confirmed
Married Woman Killer is an adaptation of the manhwa written by Yoon and illustrated by Geomdung that depicts a killer turned mother and wife who tries to protect her new life by keeping her past hidden from her family. Yoo Bo-Na is known as “Kingfisher” and is a sniper for a secret organization.
After years away from her dangerous line of work, she must return one day while her journalist husband unknowingly begins to follow in her footsteps. Starring Kong Hyo Jin and Jung Joon Won as the leads, this K-drama is full of tension and dangerous situations, exploring the limit to where Yoo Bo-Na would go to protect the peaceful life she managed to build.
My Guilty Human
- Release Date: To Be Confirmed
- Streaming Platform: To Be Confirmed
Starring Squid Game‘s Yim Si-wan, My Guilty Person revolves around the unlikely relationship between a former special agent and an heir to a large corporation who is a suspect in a murder investigation.
This former official, Seol In Ah, will have to go undercover as a secretary, hiding her identity and posing as a man, which guarantees exciting action, many misunderstandings, and hilarious situations. While its release date hasn’t been confirmed, My Guilty Human is expected to premiere in the second half of 2026.
Spring Fever
- Release Date: January 5, 2026
- Streaming Platform: Prime Video
Based on the webtoon of the same name, Spring Fever, the K-drama follows Yoon Bom (Lee Joo-bin), a high school teacher who, after an incident, leaves her previous school to start working in a rural area. There she meets one of her students’ uncle, Ahn Bo-hyun (Seon Jae-gyu), who seems to be a little too daring for a small town.
Despite its simple premise, Spring Fever is a truly feel-good series about second chances and understanding others that leans more toward comedy than romance. Without unnecessary drama and betting on the charisma and chemistry of the characters, Spring Fever is a rounded love story perfect for binge-watching, bringing plenty of swagger and the heartthrob of the season.
Positively Yours
- Release Date: January 17, 2026
- Streaming Platform: Viki
The K-drama Positively Yours has been controversial. The story follows the chaotic changes in a woman’s life after a passionate night with a stranger results in an unexpected pregnancy. However, the adaptation made many changes to the webtoon’s story, starting with the change of profession for Jang Hui Won (Oh Yeon Seo), who was originally a teacher.
In the K-drama, Hui Won works in the same company as Kang Du Jun (Choi Jin Hyuk). Although this gives the series that secret office romance appeal, having to hide the pregnancy from co-workers, many fans believe it takes away much of the nuance from the original story. Still, Positively Yours has earned fans worldwide, topping international rankings in many countries.
Yumi’s Cells Season 3
- Release Date: April 13, 2026
- Streaming Platform: To Be Confirmed
Four years after its last installment, Yumi’s Cells returns with a third season in April. Fans’ expectations are higher than ever, as Yumi’s Cells Season 3 will finally introduce one of the webtoon’s most beloved characters. After much anticipation, it was revealed that Kim Jae-won would play Shin Soon-rok, Yumi’s (Kim Go-eun) new romantic interest.
While there is no information yet on the international streaming release for Yumi’s Cells Season 3, given that the first two seasons are available on the Rakuten Viki platform, it is possible that this new installment will follow suit.
Teach You a Lesson
- Release Window: Q2 2026 (April–June)
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
An adaptation of the manhwa Get Schooled, Teach You a Lesson, could become Netflix’s most controversial K-drama. Set in a future where teachers have no authority over students, resulting in chaotic and violence-filled schools, Hwajin Na is an official from the Education Rights Protection Bureau who secretly works under the Ministry of Education and resolves conflicts with sheer blows.
Not only did the K-drama face protests from Korea’s educational sector for allegedly promoting a distorted view of the school system and glorifying violence, but even the English version of the manhwa was canceled on Naver’s WEBTOON.
Get Schooled sparked backlash after a chapter’s content was considered racist and that promoted harmful stereotypes. However, given the massive impact of ultraviolet content on Netflix, like Squid Game, it’s possible that Teach You a Lesson will also succeed on the streaming platform.
Bloodhounds Season 2
- Release Window: Q2 2026 (April–June)
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Bloodhounds‘s live-action adaptation debuted on Netflix in June 2023, following two young boxers who join forces to defeat a ruthless loan shark who defrauds the most vulnerable people. Bloodhounds became one of Netflix’s best thrillers, reaching the top 10 in several countries. That’s why it’s not surprising the series is returning with a new season, even beyond the webtoon’s story.
Bloodhounds Season 2 will premiere in the second quarter of 2026, with the K-pop singer Jung Ji-hoon (known as Rain) as the new main villain, Baek Jeong. It was also revealed that in this season the characters will be getting involved in an international operation, trying to stop an underground boxing league across several Asian countries.
Mousetrap
- Release Window: Q3 2026 (July-September)
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
Another of Netflix’s confirmed K-dramas for 2026 is Mousetrap, based on the webtoon Field Mouse, which is a reimagination of a Korean folk tale about a rat that can transform into a human after consuming that person’s clipped fingernails. The story follows a novelist, Moon Jae, who hasn’t left his house for 10 years as he finds out there’s someone impersonating him.
Having lost his name and money and with no way to prove his identity, Moon Jae decides to partner with a loan shark to get his life back. This dark twist on folklore gives Mousetrap a psychological edge, making it better than the typical cat-and-mouse game, meaning viewers should prepare for a thrilling series.