2026 JTBC Drama Lineup: Must-Watch Titles Like ‘모두가 자신의 무가치함과 싸우고 있다’ and ‘신입사원 강회장’

Photo: JTBC

[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung] JTBC has unveiled a bold drama slate set to define 2026.

Known for striking a balance between commercial appeal and critical acclaim, JTBC will offer viewers an even broader mix of genres and distinct concepts next year.

The lineup kicks off April 18 with the new weekend drama Everyone Is Fighting Their Own Worthlessness, followed by New Employee Chairman Kang, Apartment, Final Table, Gold Digger, and The Divine Bead—titles that span fantasy, historical romance, mystery romance and even variety-style formats.

Koo Kyo-hwan, Ko Yoon-jung

First up, the weekend drama Everyone Is Fighting Their Own Worthlessness (working title) follows a man who unravels from envy and jealousy while surrounded by seemingly successful friends, and his desperate search for peace. The series pairs reliable leads Koo Kyo-hwan and Ko Yoon-jung with writer Park Hae-young, known for sharp scripts, and director Cha Young-hoon, whose work is both precise and warmly human.

Lee Jun-young, Son Hyun-joo, Lee Joo-myung, Jeon Hye-jin, Jin Goo

New Employee Chairman Kang centers on a conglomerate chairman—revered as a business deity—who, after a freak accident, finds himself forced into a second life. Lee Jun-young, Son Hyun-joo, Lee Joo-myung, Jeon Hye-jin and Jin Goo are attached. Based on a web novel by San-gyeong, the author behind the 2022 ratings phenomenon The Youngest Son of a Chaebol, the project also brings Kim Soon-ok on board as creator, signaling another high-profile series in the making.

Ji Sung, Ha Yoon-kyung, Park Byung-eun, Moon So-ri

In Apartment, Ji Sung plays Haegang, a former mob enforcer who runs for tenants’ association president to get at the building’s unaccounted funds. Teaming up with residents, he exposes corruption within the complex. Ji Sung’s dramatic transformation, alongside Ha Yoon-kyung, Park Byung-eun and Moon So-ri, promises storylines rooted in everyday realities with satisfying payoffs.

Ahn Hyo-seop, Hong Hwa-yeon, Jang Ryul, Jung Yoo-jin

Final Table is set against the global culinary survival series The Table: K Chef 2026 and dramatizes the dazzling dishes and personal backstories of Korean chefs from around the world. Ahn Hyo-seop, Hong Hwa-yeon, Jang Ryul and Jung Yoo-jin have signed on. With the in-universe competition staged like a variety show, the series aims to fuse scripted drama and entertainment for a fresh viewing experience.

Kim Hee-ae, Noh Sang-hyun

Gold Digger is a mystery romance about a successful, middle-aged woman who becomes entangled with a dangerously young man, and how suspicion and misunderstanding blur the line between love and deception. Leading the cast are Kim Hee-ae—star of The World of the Married, which reached a 31.7% peak among paid households in the Seoul metro area—and rising actor Noh Sang-hyun. Adapted from the BBC drama of the same name, Gold Digger promises tense psychological chess and gripping twists.

Ahn Bo-hyun, Lee Sung-min, Soo-hyun, Ha Yoon-kyung, Yoon Gyun-sang

Rounding out the year, The Divine Bead takes place in 1258 CE, during Korea’s losing struggle against Mongol forces after 30 years of war. The story follows a heroic escort unit racing into battle to recover the sacred relic Gwaneum Boju and the princess who risks everything to save them. Director Jung Dae-yoon, known for The Youngest Son of a Chaebol, pairs with writer Jung Hyun-min of Nokdu Flower; Ahn Bo-hyun, Lee Sung-min, Soo-hyun, Ha Yoon-kyung and Yoon Gyun-sang join to mount an epic-scale historical drama.

[Sports Today reporter Kim Tae-hyung ent@stoo.com]
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