MBC is gearing up for a major year in 2026!
On December 4, the network unveiled a drama lineup packed with big-name actors and a mix of gripping genres.
IU, Byeon Woo Seok, Lee Sung Kyung, Yoo Yeon Seok, Won Jin Ah and more are making their acting comebacks with MBC. The 2026 MBC lineup includes dramas such as Perfect Crown, The Judge Returns, In Your Brilliant Season, Fifties Professionals, and more.
Viewers can look forward to time-slip revenge thrillers, healing romances, and high-concept comedies. Here’s a closer look at the seven dramas leading MBC’s 2026 offerings.
The Judge Returns
MBC kicks off the year with “The Judge Returns,” a fantasy legal thriller premiering on January 2, 2026. Based on a hit web novel and webtoon, the story follows Lee Han Young (played by Ji Sung), a corrupt judge who is betrayed after being used by a powerful law firm.
After an unexplained twist of fate, he wakes up 10 years in the past, back when he was a lone judge at the Chungnam District Court. Determined to fix the wrong choices of his former life, he sets out to punish the powerful figures who once controlled him.
Opposing him is Kang Shin Jin (portrayed by Park Hee Soon), an ambitious chief judge hungry for power. Won Jin Ah appears as prosecutor Kim Jin Ah, who is driven by revenge over her father’s death. Her relationship with Lee Han Young shifts from hostile to unexpectedly cooperative as they pursue the same goal: justice.
In Your Brilliant Season
Lee Sung Kyung and Chae Jong Hyeop will lead the new MBC romance drama “In Your Brilliant Season.” The story follows two people carrying quiet wounds who slowly find comfort and healing in each other.
Song Ha Ran (Lee Sung Kyung) is a top fashion house’s chief designer. On the outside, she seems successful and untouchable, but a past loss has left her stuck in an emotional, permanent “winter.”
Her life changes when she crosses paths with Sun Woo Chan (Chae Jong Hyeop), a warm and lively character designer at a major animation studio. He feels like “summer” to those around him. Sun hides the pain of an accident that caused hearing loss, memory gaps, and a secret he has never faced.
Produced by Studio Dragon and Chorokbaem Media, the drama is set to air on MBC in the first half of 2026.
Perfect Crown
“Perfect Crown” brings a fresh twist to romantic comedy by imagining Korea as a modern constitutional monarchy. The series pairs Byeon Woo Seok as a prince with IU (Lee Ji Eun) as a chaebol heiress.
IU plays Sung Hee-joo, a smart and driven chaebol heiress. She has wealth, beauty, and talent, but her status as a commoner keeps her from reaching the power she wants. Tired of being overlooked, she decides to change her life by entering a marriage of convenience.
Her partner is Grand Prince Yi Ahn, played by Byeon Woo Seok. He’s the king’s second son, who lives in the shadow of the heir and is forced to stay quiet and obedient. Even with a royal title, he has little real freedom.
The drama is led by director Park Joon Hwa, known for “What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim” and “Alchemy of Souls.” The script comes from Yoo Ah In, who won an Excellence Award in an MBC drama contest. Noh Sang Hyun and Gong Seung Yeon join the cast in key supporting roles.
“Perfect Crown” is set to premiere in the first half of 2026 as one of MBC’s big Friday–Saturday dramas. It will also be available worldwide on Disney+.
Fifties Professionals
Three middle-aged legends return from hiding for one last mission in MBC’s upcoming action-comedy “Fifties Professionals.” Set for release in 2026, the drama brings together a powerhouse cast: Shin Ha Kyun, Oh Jung Se, and Heo Sung Tae.
The story follows Jung Ho Myung, Bong Je Soon, and Kang Beom Ryong—three men who were once unmatched in their fields. Ho Myung was a top NIS black-ops agent. Je Soon was North Korea’s most feared operative, known by the codename “Fire Dog.” Beom Ryong was the ruthless second-in-command of the Hwasan gang.
Ten years ago, a mysterious incident destroyed their careers and forced them to disappear. Now, they live quietly on remote Yeongseon Island as a chef, a day laborer with no memory, and a convenience-store owner quietly plotting revenge.
Their uneventful lives shatter when the truth behind the conspiracy that ruined them begins to surface. This drags the trio back into action. Directed by Han Dong Hwa of Bad Guys and Navillera, the drama combines action with character-driven comedy.
“Fifties Professionals” will begin airing on MBC in the first half of 2026.
A Bonafide Killer
MBC is bringing the hit webtoon “A Bona Fide Killer” to life for its 2026 lineup. Gong Hyo Jin and Jung Jun Won play lead roles in this darkly comedic thriller about a mother hiding a very dangerous secret.
The drama follows Yoo Bo Na (Gong Hyo Jin), a legendary assassin known as “Kingfisher. She works for a secret organization disguised as an electronics company. After taking three years off for maternity leave, she dives back into her deadly job while trying to appear like a perfectly ordinary wife and working mom.
Her husband, Kwon Tae Seong, is a sincere and dedicated newspaper reporter. He is told to investigate the sudden reappearance of the very assassin he’s actually married to.
Bo Na fights to protect the quiet, happy family life she built, all while her own husband edges closer to discovering the truth she has been hiding.
Although MBC hasn’t finalized the exact premiere date, it will air sometime in 2026.
Liar
A familiar and much-loved pairing is on its way back to the screen. Yoo Yeon Seok and Seo Hyun Jin, who won over viewers in Dr. Romantic, are preparing for a long-awaited reunion as the leads of MBC’s 2026 drama “Liar.”
The story begins with what looks like a perfect first date, but everything unravels the next morning when the man and woman tell completely different versions of what happened.
Seo Hyun Jin is set to play the role of Kang Ji Seon, an essay instructor at an arts middle school. She grew up with financial struggles and believes that catching other people’s lies is more important than trusting them.
Yoo Yeon Seok plays Min Jun Ho, a calm, successful cardiac surgeon who has been raising his middle-school-aged son alone after losing his wife. When he meets his son’s teacher, Kang Ji Seon, he finds himself slowly opening up again.
“Liar” is officially part of MBC’s 2026 lineup.
Your Ground
MBC’s upcoming 2026 sports drama “Your Ground” centers on a baseball pitcher and the agent who decides to take a chance on him. Kang Hae Hwan (Gong Myung) is a once-promising left-handed ace whose future fell apart after a single major setback.
Even with his natural talent and a fastball that tops 150 km/h, he has spent the past two years in rehabilitation, unsure if he will ever stand on the mound again.
His life changes when he meets Seo Hui Seung (Han Hyo Joo), a former lawyer who now works as an agent at a major law firm. She is sharp, confident, and competitive, yet easygoing enough to put people at ease. Where he sees a dead end, she sees potential, and the two begin a difficult but hopeful journey to revive his career.
“Your Ground” is part of MBC’s 2026 lineup, and the project takes inspiration from the classic film Jerry Maguire. The film focuses on the emotional and complicated bond between an athlete and their representative. The drama will be directed by Lee Sang Yeop, known for the creative and heartfelt series Yumi’s Cells.