2024 Manga Adaptations (January - June)
Hi dear MDL'ers, I'm back with articles (to those who noticed)! The summer is almost at our doorsteps so it is time to see which dramas we will be getting this season. As far as I can tell, there are some really exciting and interesting titles and many romance dramas that will hopefully make this summer of 2019 unforgettable. So let's check them out!
NOTE: This article does not guarantee accuracy since information regarding these dramas can change in the future. The synopses have been taken from MDL respectively. Drama specials and sequels have been excluded on purpose.
JUNE
 | YoukuBlowing in the WindA group of young people with a love for mountaineering face their fears and take a step forward in an inspirational journey through life. Starring: Xing Zhao Lin, Eleanor Lee Tropes: Hiking, Mountain Climbing, Hate To Love, Strong Female Lead, Love/Hate Relationship, First Love |
 | GTV, LINEBefore We Get MarriedZhou Wei Wei is about to marry her successful, devoted fiancé. And Chu Ke Huan is also planning to tie the knot with the beautiful woman he thinks he wants to spend the rest of his life with. There’s just one hitch – as their respective wedding days approach, Wei Wei and Ke Huan are starting to develop feelings for one another. Starring: Jasper Liu, Puff Kuo Tropes: Betrayal, Infidelity, Mature, Arrogant Male Lead, Rich Male Lead |
 | IQIYIMy Beluga BoyfriendAs Meng Yao and Sheng Wei Yin get to know each other, they begin to unravel an earth-shattering conspiracy from five years ago. It involves an ex-boyfriend that went missing mysteriously and an intellectually superior green-eyed beluga. The couple who slowly fall for each other finds themselves at the center of the schemes. Starring: Li Jun Chen, Vicky Wang |
 | jTBCThe Wind BlowsA story about a man who decided to divorce his beloved wife after suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and a woman who decided to divorce her husband to have children. The plot unfolds six years later when they reunite. Starring: Kam Woo Sung, Kim Ha Neul Tropes: Romance, Drama, Melodrama, Divorced Couple, Alzheimer's Disease |
 | YoukuUnrequited LoveA story revolving around two students, Huai Nan and Lui Zhi, who immediately hit it off when they meet in university, but a message from an ex complicates things. Starring: Zhao Shun Ran, Zhu Yan Man Zi Tropes: Romance, Life, School, Youth, Unrequited Love |
 | tvNSearch: WWWThis drama is about the conflicts, the wins, and the losses one experiences when working. It will follow the story of 21st-century women, who chose to not be a wife or a mother and successfully work without discrimination or impediments. Starring: Im Soo Jung, Jang Ki Yong Tropes: Business, Romance, Drama, Fantasy, Older Woman/Younger Man, Sismance, Age Gap, IT Industry |
 | KBS2PerfumeSeo Yi Do is a top designer. Although he appears to be the perfect man on the outside, his personality leaves something to be desired. On top of that, he has about 52 phobias and 35 allergies. Starring: Shin Sung Rok, Go Won Hee |
 | GMM 25Theory of LoveFor three years, Third has kept his secret love in his heart, silently supporting and loving Khai while knowing there is absolutely no future between them since Khai is as straight as a streetlight pole and also an absolute player. Third has tried to see Khai as just a friend. But has failed time and time again. That is until Third learns a secret that breaks his heart completely. But when Third decides to stop, Khai decides to start. Tropes: Comedy, Romance, Drama, Bisexual Male Lead, Gay Relationship, Friends To Lovers, Unrequited Love, Gay Character, Bromance |
 | IJQMy GirlfriendWhen Ding Xiao Rou was 17, she was cursed by a stranger, due to a misunderstanding, to never be able to find true love - and thereafter, her romantic relationships failed one after another... until she meets Chi Xin... |
 | iQiyiA Little Love SongChildhood playmates Li Tao and Zhang Sheng get to know each other by fate and mutually support each other through tennis. Facing her family’s objection towards the path of tennis, Zhang Sheng supported Li Tao’s decision; Li Tao gave her encouragement to move forward when faced with an accidental injury which could endanger her professional tennis career. They gradually fell in love after overcoming obstacles after another. Starring: Liao Yu Chen, Ren You Lun Tropes: Romance, School, Youth, Sports, Childhood Friends |
 | GMM OneThe Fallen LeafThe story of a boy who is a little girl at heart, he is shattered from not being accepted by anyone but his mother who wholeheartedly loves him. One day, Nira coincidentally meets Chatchavee. Due to her beauty, he starts to fall for her and so does Nira's father. None of them recognizes her. The tragic love begins to be more and more complicated when Nira's aunt, who always looks down on Nira's love and is envious of her, discovers the truth and tries to hinder Nira in every way. How will this story end? Tropes: Romance, Melodrama, LGBT, Domestic Violence, Revenge, Transgender Character |
 | MGTVGank Your HeartThis is a love story between an e-sports gamer and a Tsundere live streamer. Starring: Wang Yi Bo, Wang Zi Xuan Tropes: Romance, Youth, Sports, Hate To Love, Tsundere |
JULY
 | MBN, VikiLevel UpAhn Dan Te is a true “cold city man” of this era with a poker face that doesn’t express emotions, perfect workmanship, and cold-blooded harshness. Shin Yeon Hwa is the chief development officer of the dying game company Joy Buster, who teams up with Ahn Dan Te. Starring: Sung Hoon, Han Bo Reum |
 | MBSCoffee & VanillaA love story between a student and a businessman. As romance blossoms between them, she discovers his dark past. Starring: Fukuhara Haruka, Sakurada Dori Tropes: Romance, Drama, Older Man/Younger Woman |
 | MBCRookie Historian Goo Hae RyungSet in the early 19th century. Goo Hae Ryung works as a historian in a time when female historians are generally looked down upon because of their gender. Yet, Goo Hae Ryung fulfils her duty as a historian. She gets involved with Prince Lee Rim. Starring: Shin Se Kyung, Cha Eun Woo Tropes: Historical, Romance, Drama |
 | OCNClass of LiesThe drama is about a highly successful lawyer who falls from grace because of one case. He becomes a fixed term teacher at a high school that is tied to that case in order to regain his honour. Starring: Yoon Gyun Sang, Geum Sae Rok, Jun Tropes: Law, Crime, School, Drama, Prosecutor, Lawyer, Teacher, High School |
 | jTBCMoment of EighteenComing-of-age drama about 18-year-olds, taking a realistic look into the moments of their lives, moments that all of us might have experienced at one time or another. Starring: Kim Hyang Gi, Ong Seong Woo, Shin Seung Ho Tropes: Life, School, Youth, Drama, High School, Coming Of Age, Student, Idol Actor |
 | SBSDoctor ChaThis is a new medical drama about doctors specializing in pain management. In a refreshing take on the genre, “Doctor Cha” will portray the doctors’ search for the cause of their patients’ mysterious pain as a thrilling chase, almost like a detective hunting down the perpetrator behind an unsolved crime. Starring: Ji Sung, Lee Se YoungGenres: Drama, Medical |
 | Don't You Think Girls Who Talk in Hakata Dialect Are Cute?The series follows the story of a high school boy and his childhood friend, Hakata no Donko-chan, who is from Hakata and really talks in Hakata dialect! People around her sometimes get confused because of it, but her dialect makes them smile! Starring: Okada Kenshi, Fukuda Mei |
 | Fuji TVI Don't Love You YetMitari Yo is a career woman who works for a shoemaker. She finds her work rewarding and has successfully advanced in her career. But she keeps having her heart broken, and her romantic life has not gone very well lately. The only person who she pours her heart out to and who understands her the best and is Ishida Ren, Yo’s best friend. On Yo’s 29th birthday, the two friends place a wager to give 300,000 yen as a congratulatory gift to the one who is the first to get married by the last day they are 30. Starring: Adachi Rika, Shirasu Jin |
 | OCNWATCHERThe lives of Do Chi Gwang, Kim Young Koon, and Han Tae Joo were destroyed by a tragic affair. They became members of an internal affairs investigation team for the police and they try to dig up the truth on who is behind the tragic affair. Tropes: Thriller, Psychological, Drama, Political, Investigation, Police Officer, Lawyer, Corruption, Tragic Past |
 | NTVGisou FurinHama Shoko is a 32-year-old single woman and a contract worker. She is not good at romance and does not have a boyfriend, but she wants to get married. During a solo trip, she meets a handsome younger man. She lies to him that she is a married woman. He tells her "let's have an affair during this trip." Starring: Anne Higashide, Miyazawa HioGenres: Romance, Older Woman/Younger Man |
 | tvNHotel del LunaJang Man Wol is the CEO of Hotel del Luna. The hotel is situated in downtown in Seoul and has a very old appearance. She made a big error many years ago and, because of this, she has been stuck at Hotel del Luna. She is beautiful, but she is fickle, suspicious and greedy. The hotel's clientele consists of ghosts. Starring: IU, Yeo Jin Goo Genres: Mystery, Horror, Romance, Drama, Fantasy, Supernatural, Ghost |
 | TBSHeavenIga Ken works at a family restaurant. He is sincere, but rigid in his ways. Kanako is a mysterious woman. She tells Kan that she is going to open a French restaurant soon. The French restaurant is located in a cemetery, away from the busy streets and residential areas. The staff at the French restaurant do not appear suited for such a restaurant. Why does Kanako gather these people? Starring: Ishihara Satomi, Fukushi Sota |
 | MBCWelcome 2 LifeThe drama is a fantasy drama that will tell the story about a selfish lawyer who helps people who want to take advantage of the law. One day he gets sucked into a parallel universe due to an unfortunate accident and begins to live a completely new life as an upright prosecutor. Starring: Rain, Im Ji Yeon Tropes: Law, Romance, Drama, Fantasy, Parallel Dimension, Police Officer, Prosecutor |
 | Fuji TVLupin no MusumeHana comes from a family that has been thieves for generations. Hana refuses to become a thief and she wants to live a normal life. She currently works as a librarian and she is dating Kazuma, who works as a public officer. She hears that Kazuma’s family are all public officers. One day, Hana visits Kazuma’s family. She discovers that Kazuma ’s family, including Kazuma, are actually all police officers. Starring: Fukada Kyoko, Seto Koji Tropes: Comedy, Romance, Thieves, Police |
 | tvNDesignated Survivor: 60 DaysA remake of the U.S. series "Designated Survivor." Park Moo Jin is a former professor of chemistry and now holds the Minister of Environment position. A terror attack takes place, killing many government officials, including the president and ministers. Park Moo Jin is the highest ranking government official left alive. He doesn't want the position, but he must sit as the acting president for 60 days. Park Moo Jin chases after the person or group responsible for the attack as he grows as a national leader. Starring: Ji Jin Hee |
 | Channel ALove Affairs in the AfternoonSon Ji Eun moves to a small city due to her husband's new job as a civil servant. She works part-time at a mart. Son Ji Eun is quiet and sincere. Her life in the small city becomes boring. Son Ji Eun's life is shaken by Yoon Jung Woo. Yoon Jung Woo is a biology teacher at a local school. Starring: Lee Sang Yeob, Park Ha Sun Tropes: Romance, Drama, Melodrama, Married Couple, Teacher, Infidelity |
 | TV TokyoSoaking Wet Private Detective Hagoromo MizunoHagoromo is a university student. She has a mysterious special ability which allows her to travel back in time when she gets soaking wet. Starring: Sakurako Ohara |
AUGUST
 | WOWOWAnd, LiveToko Ikuta was active as a local idol and she dreamed of becoming an actress. At the age of 19, she is set to take an audition in Tokyo. The day before her audition, on March 11, 2011, the great Tohoku earthquake and tsunami hit Japan. In the autumn of 2011, Toko Ikuta works at a cafe. She does volunteer work in Kesennuma as the area recovers from the devastating tsunami. There, Toko Ikuta meets Kiyotaka Shimizu. While spending time together in Kesennuma, Toko Ikuta and Kiyotaka Shimizu develop feelings for each other. Starring: Kasumi Arimura, Sakaguchi Kentaro |
 | KBS2Let Me Hear Your SongA murder takes place. Hong Yi Young, who is a timpanist, does not remember what happened on the day of the murder. She is simple-minded and suffers from insomnia. Hong Yi Young looks for a job. She happens to meet Jang Yoon. He is bad at singing but is a pianist in an orchestra. To help with Hong Yi Young's insomnia, Jang Yoon calls her every night. They try to find the truth about the murder. Starring: Kim Se Jung, Yeon Woo JinGenre: Music, Mystery, Comedy, Romance, Drama |
 | NetflixThe Naked DirectorBased on a non-fiction novel by Motohashi Nobuhiro, the drama is set in the 1980s and it follows the story of AV Director Toru Muranishi and those around him. Starring: Yamada Takayuki Tropes: Drama, Mature, Porn Industry, Based On True Story |
 | tvNWhen the Devil Calls Your NameThis drama is about a man who sold his soul to the devil ten years ago for youth and success. But as soul collection day draws near, he bargains with the devil for an extension of their contract. The devil’s conditions are this: He must find three other people who have promised to sell their souls and take their contracts. Starring: Jung Kyung Ho, Park Sung Woong Genres: Drama, Fantasy, Melodrama, Supernatural |
 | TV AsahiSemi OtokoA cicada was saved by a woman. He fell in love with her and transforms into a human being, but he only has 7 days. Starring: Yamada Ryosuke, Kinami HarukaGenres: Romance, Fantasy |
 | GMM One3 Will Be FreeNeo is a stripper who is running away from a loan shark and his gang (Known as Crazy48) for stealing a purse that contains compromising information from the group. One fine day, the criminals find him in the bar where he works. In attempting to escape, he ends up bumping into two people who will change his life: Chin, a gay boy, the son of a gangster who is frustrated at being rejected by a friend; and Mew, the manager of the stripper bar who is running away from her past. |
 | Fuji TV, KTVTwo WeeksDaichi served time in prison for attempted murder. After his release from prison, he spends his time doing nothing and he doesn't see any hope for himself. One day, Daichi hears that a woman, whom he once loved, had a daughter Hana that was his. Hana is now 8-years-old and has leukemia. Starring: Miura Haruma |
