tvN cements its position as the No.1 K-content channel with its new lineup for 2025
As CJ ENM celebrates its 30th anniversary milestone, tvN has confirmed its main content lineup for 2025. With a separate lineup also released from TVING, tvN is set to expand across a diverse range of genres, bringing fresh narratives and innovative storytelling to audiences worldwide.
In the second half of the year, tvN is expanding its programming by introducing a Wednesday-Thursday drama block. This addition makes tvN the Korean channel with the highest number of drama content, with their time slots spanning every day of the week. With this expanded schedule, tvN is set to provide an even broader range of engaging and innovative stories, reaching audiences in Korea and beyond.
Park Sang-hyuk, Executive of CJ ENM’s Channel Business Division, stated during the CJ ENM Content Talk 2025, that the upcoming releases include an exciting mix of dramas and variety shows all focusing on the keywords “dopamine-filled storytelling” and “harmless entertainment.” For the “dopamine” theme, which highlights strong characters and cathartic storytelling, he highlighted dramas such as “Typhoon Company,” “Pro Bono” and “The Boss Shin Project” (tentative titles) and “My Dearest Nemesis.” He also confirmed “Earth Arcade Season 3” is in production, promising high-energy, dynamic characters. Additionally, he introduced dramas like “Seocho-dong” and “The Divorce Insurance,” along with variety shows like “Sixth Sense: City Tour” and “The Genius Paik Season 3,” which feature problem-solving challenges and engaging competition formats. Lastly, CJ ENM has teased a new lifestyle survival series, soon to be revealed, raising anticipation for a fresh take on the genre.
The “harmless entertainment” theme focused on the trending “demure” keyword, which highlights calm, thoughtful storytelling while promoting positive values. Programs included “Resident Playbook,” a drama following the journey of young doctors striving toward their dreams, as well as the soothing romantic comedy “The Potato Lab.” Furthermore, “Edward Lee’s Country Cook” and the return of “Fresh Off the Sea” with a new cast were in the spotlight, along with the renewal of the fitness-focused “Iron Girls,” a show inspiring Gen Z to enjoy exercising. These upcoming releases have already generated significant buzz.
New content that seamlessly blends the themes of both “dopamine-filled storytelling” and “harmless entertainment” was also unveiled. Among them, “The Tyrant’s Chef,” featuring Lim Yoona, and the chilling yet heartwarming youth romance drama “Gyeon U and Fairy” generated excitement, especially with the casting of the rising star Choo Young-woo. Another highlight was “Mean Love,” a romantic comedy starring global stars Lee Jung-jae and Lim Ji-yeon, showcasing their unexpected transformations in a fresh and engaging narrative. The biggest announcement, however, was the long-awaited return of the legendary drama “Signal” in celebration of tvN’s upcoming 20th anniversary in 2026.
Additionally, tvN’s lineup of top-tier variety shows continues to expand, with flagship variety shows such as “Naked History,” “You Quiz on the Block” and “Amazing Saturday” leading the way. Adding to the excitement, Dr. Oh Eun-young’s new talk show, “Billion Dollar Breakfast,” will introduce viewers to inspiring guests from diverse fields, offering insight into their morning routines and success strategies. Meanwhile, “Handsome Trot” brings together top trot singers Jang Min-ho and Lee Chan-won, as 12 iconic celebrities compete in the ultimate trot challenge.
The drama lineup officially kicks off with the titles below:
(Some English titles below are tentative/subject to change)
- My Dearest Nemesis: The series is based on the popular webtoon of the same name. Starring Moon Ga-young, Choi Hyun-wook, Lim Se-mi and Kwak Si-yang, the drama tells the story of a romance between a formidable team leader, tormented by her embarrassing past, and a third-generation chaebol who conceals his alter ego in a bid to prove himself as a worthy heir.
- The Potato Lab: This rom-com centers on Kim Mi-kyeong (played by Lee Sun-bin), whose life is shaken up by So Baek-ho (played by Kang Tae-oh), a cold, principled realist who disrupts her world like a whirlwind.
- The Divorce Insurance: The drama stars Lee Dong-wook, Lee Joo-bin, Lee Kwang-soo and Lee Da-hee. This office rom-com follows a team of brilliant minds in non-life insurance product development as they introduce an innovative “divorce insurance.”
- Resident Playbook: A spin-off of the “Hospital Playlist” series, the new show will explore the daily life and camaraderie of obstetrics and gynecology residents at Jongno Yulje Hospital. The cast features promising stars such as Go Yoon-jung, Shin Si-ah, Han Ye-ji and Kang You-seok. Creators of “Hospital Playlist,” “Reply 1988,” “The Stain” and “The Stranger” will join forces to bring a fresh and exciting dynamic to the show.
- Please Don’t Drink: In May, the romantic comedy drama is set to premiere. The story revolves around a woman who prides herself on being a “sensible drinker” but takes on the challenge of quitting drinking after reuniting with her first love, a man who despises alcohol. Starring Choi Soo-young and Gong Myoung, this is Korea’s first drama centered on alcohol abstinence, offering a fresh and humorous take on romance.
- Unknown Seoul: The series follows identical twin sisters, who are opposite in every way except appearance, as they find true love and purpose through a life-altering lie. Starring Park Bo-young, taking on dual roles for the first time in her career, and Park Jin-young, the drama is expected to deliver empathy, healing and self-discovery.
- Gyeon U and Fairy: Based on the popular webtoon of the same name, the youth romance drama, starring Cho Yi-hyun and Choo Young-woo, will blend an eerie yet touching ghost story with an innocent first-love narrative.
- Seocho-dong: This courtroom TV show starring Lee Jong-suk, Moon Ga-young, Kang Yoo-seok, Ryu Hye-young and Im Sung-jae as five hero attorneys will be released in the second half of the year. The story follows associate lawyers in Seocho-dong, a legal hub in Seoul, as they navigate their careers and discover their true purpose in life.
- The Tyrant’s Chef: Also highly anticipated is the fantasy survival romance that follows a French chef who time-slips into the past, encountering a feared tyrant with a refined palate. Based on a popular web novel, the drama has drawn significant attention with its star-studded cast, including Lim Yoona and Lee Chae-min.
- First, For Love: Starring Yum Jung-ah and Park Hae-joon, this heartfelt drama explores the journey of a mother and daughter as they navigate love in the second act of their lives. The title promises to deliver warm humor and emotional depth, offering viewers a poignant exploration of life’s next chapter.
- Typhoon Company: The drama tells the story of a young CEO’s journey to revive his father’s small business amid the turbulent 1997 financial crisis while also confronting his family’s struggles. Lee Jun-ho and Kim Min-ha, beloved by drama fans worldwide, are expected to star in the series.
- The Boss Shin Project: The show explores an era of broken communication where a new CEO, nicknamed the “god of negotiation,” steps in to mediate disputes for those in crisis in the nationwide communication project. The series is set to premiere in the second half of the year.
- Pro Bono: The creator of “Miss Hammurabi” and “The Devil Judge” teams up with the director of “Itaewon Class” and “Love in the Moonlight.” This legal comedy will follow a self-serving judge obsessed with career advancement who unexpectedly becomes a public defender, delivering both humor and heartfelt moments.
- Spring Fever: Based on a popular web novel, the romantic comedy, is set in a quiet rural school as a lighthearted springtime romance starring Ahn Bo-hyun and Lee Joo-bin unfolds.
- Encyclopedia of Useless Facts Around the Earth Season 2: An intellectual journey through the world’s most unique cities will also be released. The series features expert storytellers navigating the Mediterranean trade routes, uncovering hidden histories, quirky facts and unexpected discoveries.
In a standout 2024, tvN cemented its position as the No.1 K-content channel, leading in both topical and viewership ratings. tvN dramas dominated the Top 5 most talked-about dramas of the year, securing every spot in the category. Additionally, in the British pop culture magazine NME’s “The 10 Best K-Dramas of 2024,” tvN dramas claimed the top three positions with “Queen of Tears,” “Lovely Runner” and “Marry My Husband.” Further proving tvN’s global influence, TIME magazine’s list ranked “Lovely Runner” and “Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born” at No.1 and No.2, showcasing the influence of K-content worldwide.
In addition to dramas, tvN’s variety shows also led the industry in 2024, securing the No.1 spot across all channels in the target (20-49) viewership ratings, a key metric for advertisers during prime-time broadcasts. On the digital front, tvN’s entertainment content amassed an impressive 5 billion cumulative views. The network also achieved the highest number of Top 10 entries among broadcasters and streaming platforms in the TV-streaming non-drama category, according to Good Data Corporation’s FUNdex rankings. Building on this strong momentum, tvN was ranked No.1 in the TV channel category for the second consecutive year in the Broadcast Channel Brand Competitiveness (Brand Power Index, BPI) survey, reaffirming its position as the leading entertainment brand among viewers.
A representative from tvN stated, “With continued investment in content, tvN has grown into a leading channel for K-content. In 2025, we aim to engage viewers with Korea’s most robust lineup of drama productions.” Through diverse stories, ranging from narratives about growth and discovering true happiness, heartwarming human dramas that resonate with audiences, and romantic comedies featuring captivating characters, CJ ENM is committed to delivering endless enjoyment to our viewers.”
Among the most acclaimed tvN dramas are “Reply 1994,” which pioneered a new genre; “Guardian: The Lonely and Great God,” a defining Korean romance fantasy that broke traditional cable channel drama stereotypes; “My Dear Friends” and “My Mister,” timeless masterpieces that have bridged generations and earned critical and audience acclaim; and “Queen of Tears,” which surpassed 600 million viewing hours globally, further cementing tvN’s position as a leader in K-storytelling. With tvN dramas captivating Korean and global fans, there is growing anticipation for what the network will achieve in 2025.
