3 Must-Watch Korean Dramas of July 2026 — Donggung, Apartment & The Haunted Romance
July Korean dramas feature three completely different works in terms of genre—historical occult, gangster human comedy, and occult romance—all premiering within a week of each other. You can pick just one according to your taste, or switch between them every weekend. We've summarized where and when to watch them first.
| Title | Platform | Premiere | Genre | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donggung | Netflix | 7/17 (Fri) | Historical Occult | An exorcist unearthing a curse hidden in the palace |
| Apartment | JTBC · TVING/Netflix | 7/11 (Sat) 22:40 | Human Comedy | A former gangster running for resident representative, eyeing 17.8 billion won |
| The Haunted Romance | tvN · TVING | 7/18 (Sat) 21:10 | Occult Romance | A ghost-seeing heiress × a ghost-fearing prosecutor |
① Donggung — Netflix Historical Occult (7/17 Global Simultaneous Release)
This is the story of **Guchun**, an exorcist who traverses the world of ghosts, and **Saenggang**, a mysterious palace maid who hears the voices of ghosts. Called by the king, they uncover a curse hidden deep within the palace. It will be released simultaneously worldwide via Netflix on Friday, July 17th. With a historical setting infused with occult elements, it's a shame to miss if you enjoy the mise-en-scène of traditional palaces and a chilling atmosphere. Find more details on the Donggung page.
② Apartment — A Gangster Runs for Resident Representative (JTBC 7/11)
This is the story of a former gangster boss who runs for the chairman of the resident representative council, aiming to seize the enormous sum of 17.8 billion won in long-term repair reserves hidden in the apartment's accounts. It premieres as a JTBC Saturday-Sunday drama on Saturday, July 11th, at 10:40 PM, and will also be streamed on OTT platforms TVING and Netflix. The biggest highlight is how a heavy subject is tackled with a cheerful human comedy approach.
③ The Haunted Romance — A Ghost-Seeing Heiress and a Fearful Prosecutor (tvN 7/18)
This is a tumultuous occult romance where **Chun Yeo-ri**, a chaebol heiress with the fatal secret of seeing ghosts, and **Ma Kang-wook**, an ace prosecutor at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office who fears ghosts more than anything in the world, accidentally become entangled and solve cold cases together. It premieres as a tvN Saturday-Sunday drama on Saturday, July 18th, at 9:10 PM, and will also be simultaneously streamed via TVING.
What to Watch This Weekend
- 7/11 (Sat) — Apartment premiere
- 7/17 (Fri) — Donggung Netflix release
- 7/18 (Sat) — The Haunted Romance premiere
If historical dramas and occult are your taste, Donggung is the answer; if you want to watch something with a laugh, it's Apartment; and if you want to add a chill to your romance, it's The Haunted Romance. For a broader look at new films and variety shows in July, refer to the July Must-Watch compilation, as well as the Netflix and Drama pages.
