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 |
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.
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.
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.
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.
We've gathered all the new releases for the month of July, from OTT to theaters, in one place. "What to watch now" is curated by July's Watchlist, and this article is a new releases calendar showing "what's new." It covers all formats, from trending dramas to movies to watch on the weekend, and new season variety shows. (Please check official announcements from each platform/distributor for specific programming/release dates.)
The centerpiece of July's new releases is undoubtedly Donggung. This 8-episode Korean occult historical drama, set in a 'palace one can only leave upon death,' stars Nam Joo-hyuk, Noh Yoon-seo, and Jo Seung-woo, and will be released on Netflix on July 17. Being an 8-episode series, it's the perfect length for a weekend binge-watch.
Beyond this, the summer drama lineup is rich with youth, romance, and thrillers. Programming and key viewing points for each work are organized by genre and platform in the Drama Hub.
July is the peak summer season for theaters. While blockbuster spectacles fill the screens, the number of exclusive and simultaneous OTT releases is also increasing, allowing new works to be enjoyed at home. One at a cool theater to escape the heat, or one in your living room — it's the month with the most options.
In July, the vacation season, new seasons and pilots of travel, survival, and observational variety shows are pouring in. It's a time when new variety shows, perfect for casual viewing, are flooding both OTT and cable.
This article shows "what's new," and for "what to watch," refer to July's Watchlist. Also, utilize the Watchlist hub, which curates only this month's recommendations across movies, dramas, and variety shows.
July's new releases are updated weekly. Release dates and programming may change, so we recommend checking the official announcements of each platform once more before viewing.