SBS unveiled its 2026 drama lineup packed with a variety of works. From fresh romances to genre pieces and reliable season-based series, this lineup demonstrates SBS's strength as the No. 1 drama channel and signals its next moves.
According to the household average ratings results for major channels in 2025 analyzed by ratings research firm Nielsen Korea (based on the Seoul metropolitan area, targeting miniseries that began in 2025, excluding weekend continuous, daily, and single-episode dramas, hereinafter the same), SBS ranked first with 8.2%, proving itself as the top drama channel. The 20-49 ratings, which reflect program buzz and advertiser preference, also showed SBS at 2.3%, the only channel to surpass 2%, claiming first place for six consecutive years.
Among them, SBS attracted attention by revealing a drama lineup aiming for a seventh consecutive year of ratings dominance in 2026. From the currently airing No Tail to Tell to Shin and the law office, Sold Out Again Today, Shinsegae, Mr. Kim, Flex x Cop 2, Doctor X: era of the white mafia, Nine to Six, Good Partner 2, and more, romances, genre pieces, season-based series and dramas of various themes will take charge of viewers' living rooms.
■ a stream of fresh romances! 'the rom-com powerhouse' SBS
First, the SBS romance genre, which proved its strengths last year with Love Scout, Dynamite Kiss, and Would You Marry Me?, filled its 2026 lineup with romance works of different tones.
Leading off is No Tail to Tell, starring Kim Hyeyoon and Lomon (written by Park Chan-young and Cho Ah-young, directed by Kim Jung-kwon, planned by Studio S), which announced the start of SBS's 2026 dramas. With a novel reinterpretation of the familiar Korean gumiho motif, a story in which that gumiho and an ordinary human meet through antipathy and become entwined by fate, and the synergy between Kim Hyeyoon and Lomon, the series has been praised for fully realizing the virtues of the rom-com genre.
Sold Out Again Today (directed by Ahn Jong-yeon, written by Jin Seung-hee) is a dreamily warm, bickering romantic comedy about three-job farmer Matthew Lee (a.k.a. Mechuri) and top show host Dam Ye-jin, who suffers from severe insomnia, meeting day and night. It draws attention as the meeting of Ahn Hyo Seop, who achieved consecutive hits with the Romantic Doctor series, Lovers of the Red Sky, and Business Proposal and displayed explosive synergy with SBS, and Chae Won-bin, who won the best female newcomer acting award in the television division at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards for Doubt.
Melting Shinsegae (directed by Han Tae-seop, written by Kang Hyun-joo) is an antipathy romance between the astonishing Joseon villainess 'Shin Seori' and Korea's vicious conglomerate heir 'Cha Segae,' generating buzz just from the casting news of chart-topping Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun. In particular, attention is focused on Lim Ji-yeon's new transformation as she takes on a dual role as the Joseon era villainess Kang Dan-sim, who possesses the body of the unknown contemporary Korean actress Shin Seori, and on the antipathy chemistry between Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-jun.
Also, Nine to Six, starring Park Minyoung and Yook Sung-jae (written by Choi Ji-oh, directed by Lee Hyung-min), is a relatable romance that depicts the reality of modern people facing choices between work and love, drawing interest in the chemistry the two differently minded characters will create.
■ from comic courtrooms to medical noir! the return of the genre powerhouse
The genre lineup has also been further strengthened.
Shin and the law office (directed by Shin Jung-hoon, written by Kim Ga-young and Kang Chul-gyu) is a strange yet warm cathartic adventure in which ghost-seeing lawyer Shin I-rang and elite lawyer Han Na-hyun resolve the grievances of very special clients through the law. Yoo Yeon-seok, who transforms into a lawyer who sees and can be possessed by ghosts, and Esom, who plays an ace lawyer with a 100% win rate, are expected to provide a possessed kind of fun that will open a new trend in SBS's invigorating courtroom dramas.
Mr. Kim (written by Nam Dae-joong, directed by Lee Seung-young, produced by Lee So-eun) is a drama about Kim Bu-jang, an ordinary breadwinner and small-town man, who reveals a secret that must never be known to save his beloved daughter and stakes everything to rescue her. Adapted from a Naver webtoon of the same name, the work, featuring So Jisub, Choi Dae-hoon, and Yoon Kyung-ho, promises the birth of a new-sense 'dad universe' where spectacular action, delightful bromance, and deep paternal love sweep through, raising expectations.
Doctor X: era of the white mafia (produced by Studio S, Studio Dragon, Highzhim Studio) is a medical noir that follows Dr. X, Gye Soo-jung, a doctor who proves what a physician is solely through skill, as she operates on a medical power structure rotten with corruption. Director Lee Jeong-rim of VIP, Revenant, and As You Stood By joins forces with writer Pyeonseonggeun, who is drawing industry attention, and the cast includes strong names like Kim Ji-won, Lee Jung-eun, Son Hyunjoo, and Kim Wooseok, building a lineup with both acting ability and box-office appeal that heightens expectations.
■ the proven legacy continues with season-based series
Trusted season-based dramas are returning.
Flex x Cop 2, the new entry from SBS, the home of reliable season-based dramas, returns after two years. Flex x Cop 2 (produced by Studio S, Big Ocean E&M, BA Entertainment) reunites director Kim Jae-hong and writer Kim Ba-da, who handled the direction and script of season 1, to build a solid universe, and Jung Eun-Chae joins as Ahn Bo-hyun's new co-op partner, raising expectations that it will deliver another round of exhilarating fun.
Finally, Good Partner 2 (written by Choi Yuna, planned and produced by Studio S, Studio & New, Artist Company) returns with season 2 after two years, featuring Kim Hyeyoon appearing as Jang Nara's new partner. The finale of season 1 surged to a peak rating of 21% (according to Nielsen Korea), ranking first not only among Friday-Saturday dramas but among all programs broadcast that week. Its 20-49 ratings also ranked first in its time slot, proving its intense popularity and raising expectations that it will deliver back-to-back hits.
Along with this, SBS released a relay challenge video featuring the cast under the concept 'ride on SBS' to welcome 2026, the 'year of the red horse.' The relay video, in which the leading figures of the 2026 drama lineup participated directly at the awards filming scene, naturally raises anticipation for each work and focuses viewers' attention.
Having completed a broad lineup spanning romance, genre pieces, and season-based series, SBS plans to maintain its status as the No. 1 drama channel in 2026.
[Photo] Provided by SBS
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