[TF Chuseok Special] "This is the Drama for Chuseok" Dramas Chosen by Citizens for the 'Golden Holiday'

From 'Buzzworthy Dramas' to 'Nostalgic Dramas'A List of Works Citizens Want to Watch During the Chuseok HolidayAs the Chuseok holiday approached, people gathered at Seoul Station, waiting for trains. / Reporter Moon Chae-young[THE FACT | Reporter Moon Chae-young] When given a 'golden holiday' like Chuseok, interest in dramas that people couldn't watch due to their busy lives increases. The long-awaited break is the perfect opportunity to catch up on dramas that have been put on the back burner. Especially with this Chuseok offering a total of four days, including the weekend, curiosity grows about what 'holiday-perfect dramas' citizens have chosen.Just before the start of the 2026 Chuseok holiday, Seoul Station in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, was bustling with people eager to start their early journey home. Inside the station's waiting area, many citizens could be seen pulling their luggage and intently watching the electronic display boards. In this moment, the reporters asked citizens, while they waited for their trains home, about the dramas they wanted to watch during Chuseok.Interest in this year's 'buzzworthy dramas' was high, as expected. Among them, many citizens expressed a desire to watch the Netflix original series 'The Rat' (written by Lee Jae-gon, directed by Kim Hong-sun), starring Ryu Jun-yeol and Sol Kyung-gu, during Chuseok.'The Rat' tells the story of novelist Moon Jae (played by Ryu Jun-yeol), who has his name, face, and entire life stolen by a mysterious entity, as he pursues the hidden truth. After its release on the 28th of last month with all 10 episodes, it ranked first in the global non-English TV shows category within two weeks.Ms. Min, a woman in her 30s, said, "I plan to watch 'The Rat' this Chuseok," adding, "I've heard many good reviews from friends and acquaintances." Ms. Choi, a woman in her 50s, also listed 'The Rat' as a drama of interest, explaining, "I've heard a lot of word-of-mouth. I became curious because people said Ryu Jun-yeol and Sol Kyung-gu's acting is very realistic."The Netflix original series 'The Rat' (left), released on the 28th of last month, and the tvN drama 'Four Hands,' which premiered on the 29th of last month, are receiving much attention. / Netflix, tvNAdditionally, there were citizens who wanted to binge-watch the currently airing tvN drama 'Four Hands' (written by Shin Yi-won, directed by Park Hyun-seok). 'Four Hands' depicts the friendship, love, competition, and growth of young people at an arts high school filled with musical prodigies. It premiered on the 29th of last month.Ms. Yoo, a woman in her 20s, who plans to watch 'Four Hands' during Chuseok, said, "I'm interested because of the cast lineup," adding, "I think it will be fun, especially with the combination of Song Kang and Lee Jun Young."Conversely, there were also citizens who wanted to watch old, nostalgic dramas. They cited their affection for the actors in the works or the high quality that evoked deep emotion as reasons.Ms. Yoon, a woman in her 20s and a devoted fan of D.O., a member of the group EXO and an actor, said she wants to rewatch the tvN drama '100 Days My Prince' (written by Noh Ji-seol, directed by Lee Jong-jae&Nam Sung-woo) during this Chuseok holiday.'100 Days My Prince,' which aired in 2018, tells the story of Crown Prince Lee Yul (played by D.O.) who loses his memory due to an unfortunate accident and becomes a useless man, leading to him living as a married couple with Hong Shim (played by Nam Ji-hyun), the oldest unmarried woman in Joseon, for 100 days. It recorded a maximum viewership rating of 14.4% (based on Nielsen Korea's paid household ratings nationwide) for its final 16 episodes.Ms. Yoon stated, "'100 Days My Prince' is the drama of my life. I want to watch it again this Chuseok," adding, "I never get tired of watching it, no matter how many times I see it. It's because I can appreciate D.O.'s visuals and acting skills."Dramas that have already concluded, '100 Days My Prince,' 'Descendants of the Sun,' 'Trauma Center,' and 'Mr. Sunshine' (clockwise from top left), were recommended for the 2026 Chuseok holiday. / tvN, KBS2, NetflixNext, Ms. Jang, a woman in her 20s, chose the KBS2 drama 'Descendants of the Sun' (written by Kim Eun-sook&Kim Won-seok, directed by Lee Eung-bok&Baek Sang-hoon) and the tvN drama 'Mr. Sunshine' (written by Kim Eun-sook, directed by Lee Eung-bok&Jang Young-woo). Both works were written by Kim Eun-sook, known as the queen of romance dramas.'Descendants of the Sun,' which aired in 2016, is a popular drama that depicted the romance between soldier Yoo Si-jin (played by Song Joong-ki) and doctor Kang Mo-yeon (played by Song Hye-kyo), recording a maximum viewership rating of 38.8% at the time of its broadcast. 'Mr. Sunshine,' which aired in 2018, is set in the era just before the Japanese colonial period and tells the heartbreaking love story between American soldier Eugene Choi (played by Lee Byung-hun) and Joseon noblewoman Go Ae-shin (played by Kim Tae-ri). It won the Drama of the Year award at the 6th APAN Star Awards.Ms. Jang explained her reasons for wanting to rewatch both dramas: "They are often recommended on OTT (Online Video Service) platforms, and as they are considered masterpieces, they seem like good choices to watch with family during the enjoyable holiday." She added that these are works that can create a strong holiday atmosphere while watching with family.Ms. Myung, a woman in her 20s who usually prefers dramas with fast-paced plots, said she wants to rewatch the Netflix original series 'Trauma Center' (written by Choi Tae-gang, directed by Lee Do-yoon&Lee Ho-bin), which released all 8 episodes last year.'Trauma Center' depicts the story of genius trauma surgeon Baek Kang-hyuk (played by Joo Ji-hoon) who is appointed to the trauma team at a university hospital and treats patients. Immediately after its release, it ranked first on Netflix's 'TOP 10 Series in Korea Today' and maintained its top position for about three weeks, proving its popularity.Ms. Myung explained her reason for wanting to rewatch 'Trauma Center': "I've been feeling very tired lately due to the frustrating reality," she said. "I want to feel a sense of catharsis by watching a work with a 'soda' character like Baek Kang-hyuk."The romance drama 'Love According to the Law' and the black comedy dramas 'The Killer of Married Women' and 'Cheating is Not the Problem Now' (from left) were selected by women in their 40s and 50s as dramas they want to watch during Chuseok. / KBS2, MBC, Coupang PlayThere were also citizens who wanted to watch dramas of their preferred genres to their heart's content this Chuseok. First, among women in their 40s and 50s, romance and black comedy works were popular. In particular, many citizens expressed a desire to watch dramas featuring famous actors from recent productions.First, Ms. Kim, a woman in her 40s, chose the KBS2 drama 'Love According to the Law' (written by Yoo Su-ji, directed by Hwang Seung-gi&Lee Ga-ram), starring Seo Kang-joon and Ahn Eun-jin. 'Love According to the Law,' which premiered on the 12th, is a melodrama that depicts a couple of 10 years facing unfamiliar emotions.Ms. Kim said, "Although I haven't watched the full episodes yet, the trailers and synopsis were intriguing enough," adding, "The story of a long-term couple resonated deeply with me. I want to binge-watch the episodes that have already aired during this Chuseok holiday."Ms. Choi, a woman in her 50s, chose two black comedy dramas. Ms. Choi expressed her desire to watch the MBC drama 'The Killer of Married Women' (written by Kim Eun-hee, directed by Yoon Jong-ho&Kim Ji-hoon), which concluded on the 12th, and the Coupang Play original series 'Cheating is Not the Problem Now' (written by Jung Eun-kyung&Park Soo-rin, directed by Lee Chang-hee), which released all 8 episodes on the 4th.'The Killer of Married Women,' starring Gong Hyo-jin, is a drama about a working mother with a dangerous profession who struggles to keep her secrets. 'Cheating is Not the Problem Now,' starring Kim Hye-soo and Jo Yeo-jeong, is a black comedy that depicts an influencer couple and their doctor neighbors becoming entangled in a serious secret and spiraling out of control.Ms. Choi said, "I've read many articles about the dramas on portal sites," adding, "I'm interested because the actors are famous." She also mentioned hearing many good reviews from people around her. Ms. Choi explained, "I've heard that the directing is good and that it has the unique fun of the black comedy genre, so I plan to binge-watch it this Chuseok."Thriller dramas also garnered attention as Chuseok viewing options. The Netflix original series 'The Bequeathed' piqued the interest of Ms. Jang, a woman in her 20s. / NetflixMs. Jang, a woman in her 20s, showed interest in the thriller genre. While she usually avoids watching scary content alone, she plans to take advantage of the Chuseok holiday, when her family gathers, to watch the long-awaited thriller series 'The Bequeathed.''The Bequeathed' (written by Park Joong-seop, directed by Park Yoon-seo), a Netflix original series consisting of 8 episodes, tells the story of high school students who are suddenly foretold their deaths due to a wish-granting app called 'The Bequeathed,' and their struggle to survive. It ranked first in the Netflix 'TOP 10 Series in Korea Today' category shortly after its release in April.Ms. Jang said, "I'm interested because it's a well-known work," adding, "I'm scared to watch thriller series alone, so I think it would be good to watch it with my family during Chuseok. Since it's a long holiday, I think I can immerse myself in watching it."[Entertainment Desk | __2__]mcy21@tf.co.krssent@tf.co.kr