SBS has released its 2026 drama lineup. Photo: SBS
SBS has unveiled its 2026 drama line-up filled with diverse works. This lineup, which includes novel romances, genres, and reliable seasons, shows SBS’s potential as the No. 1 drama channel and its next steps.
According to the average household viewership ratings for major channel dramas in 2025 (based on the metropolitan area, excluding mini-series starting in 2025, weekend serials, daily dramas, and one-act dramas; the same below) analyzed by Nielsen Korea, a viewership rating research company, SBS ranked first with 8.2%, proving to be the No. 1 drama channel. SBS’s 2049 viewership rating, which shows program topicality and advertiser preference, was also 2.3%, the only channel among all channels to exceed 2%, ranking first for six consecutive years.
Among these, SBS is attracting attention by unveiling the drama lineup that aims to be number one in viewership ratings for the seventh consecutive year in 2026. From ‘Law Office with Shin‘, which will be aired for the first time on March 13, to ‘Sold Out Today’, ‘Brave New World’, ‘Chief Kim’, ‘Chaebol X Detective 2’, ‘Doctor
▲ ‘Romance comedy’ SBS to showcase novel romance
First, SBS’s romance genre, which proved its strength last year through ‘My Perfect Secretary’, ‘I KISSED FOR NOTHING!’, and ‘Space Merry Me’, has filled its lineup with romance works with different resolutions in 2026 as well.
‘I sold out today’ (written by Jin Seung-hee and directed by Ahn Jong-yeon) is a dreamy romance comedy that unfolds as three-job farmer Matthew Lee (aka Quail) and malignant insomnia Top Show host Dam Ye-jin meet day and night. Ahn Hyo-seop, who has shown extreme synergy with SBS by making successive hits with the ‘Romantic Doctor’ series, ‘Hong Cheon-ki’, and ‘In-House Confrontation’, and ‘This is such a close relationship’ The meeting of Chae Won-bin, who won the Best New Actress Award in the Broadcast category at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards for her role in ‘Traitor’, is attracting attention.
‘Brave New World’ (written by Kang Hyun-joo, directed by Han Tae-seop) is a hateful romance between the amazing Joseon villain ‘Shin Seo-ri’ and Korea’s evil conglomerate ‘Cha Se-gye’, and is raising expectations based on the news of the casting of popular Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-joon. In particular, attention is drawn to the new transformation of Lim Ji-yeon, who challenges herself to play two roles as the character of ‘Sin Seo-ri’, an unknown Korean actress who is possessed by the Joseon Dynasty’s greatest villainess, ‘Kang Dan-sim’, and the hateful chemistry between Lim Ji-yeon and Heo Nam-joon.
Also, ‘Nine to Six’ starring Park Min-young and Yook Sung-jae (written by Choi Ji-oh, directed by Lee Hyeong-min) is a relatable romance that depicts the reality of modern people at a crossroads between work and love, and attention is focused on the chemistry that will be created between two characters with different determinations.
▲ From comical legal dramas to medical noir… The return of a genre powerhouse
The genre lineup has also been further strengthened.
‘Shin Rang Law Office’ (written by Kim Ga-young, Kang Cheol-gyu, directed by Shin Jung-hoon) is a strange and heart-warming adventure in which Shin Rang, a lawyer who can see ghosts, and Hanna Hyeon, an elite lawyer, solve the injustices of very special clients through the law. Yoo Yeon-seok, who transformed into a lawyer who sees ghosts and is possessed, and Lee Som, who plays an ace lawyer with a 100% win rate, are expected to provide exciting fun that will open a new trend in SBS Cider legal dramas, raising expectations.
‘Manager Kim’ (written by Nam Dae-jung, directed by Lee Seung-yeong and Lee So-eun) is a drama about Manager Kim, who lived as an ordinary family head and small citizen, reveals his secrets that should never be known in order to find his beloved daughter, and risks everything to save her. This work is an adaptation of the Naver webtoon of the same name, and So Ji-sub, Choi Dae-hoon, and Yoon Kyung-ho are raising expectations as they herald the birth of a new father universe filled with spectacular action, pleasant bromance, and deep fatherly love through ‘Chief Kim’.
‘Doctor Director Lee Jeong-rim of ‘VIP’, ‘Ghost’, and ‘You Killed’ joined hands with writer Pyeon Seong-geun, who is attracting attention in the industry, and a powerful lineup with both acting and box office power, including actors Kim Ji-won, Lee Jeong-eun, Son Hyeon-joo, and Kim Wooseok, is being built, raising expectations.
▲ Box office success that continues through a proven season system
Seasonal dramas that you can trust and watch are also returning. First, ‘Chaebol X Detective 2’ returns after two years. In ‘Chaebol
Lastly, as ‘Good Partner 2’ returns with Season 2 after two years, Kim Hye-yoon appears as Jang Na-ra’s new partner. The final episode of Season 1 soared to a peak viewership rating of 21% (based on Nielsen Korea), ranking first not only among Friday-Saturday dramas but also among all programs broadcast during the week. As the 2049 viewer rating also ranked first in the same time slot, proving its popularity, expectations are rising that it will lead to a second consecutive hit.
In addition, SBS released an actor relay challenge video with the concept of ‘Get on SBS’ to mark 2026, the ‘Year of the Red Horse’. This relay video, in which the main characters of the 2026 drama lineup participated directly at the filming site of the acting awards, naturally raises expectations for each work and focuses the attention of viewers.
SBS, which has completed a wide lineup of romance, genre, and seasonal programs, plans to continue its status as the No. 1 drama channel in 2026.
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date: 2026-02-10 05:45:00