As the weather gets warmer, May’s lineup promises to be just as cozy with feel-good K-Drama comedies to lift your mood, exciting comebacks to get you moving, and the final spring festivals of the year. This month is all about blossoming and getting ready for the summer season.
Here’s everything happening in K-Culture that’s worth watching, listening to, and experiencing in person. You’re sure to add a few new items to your calendar.
K-Dramas to Watch This May
May’s lineup, which features fewer drama releases, is on track to be the lightest-hearted month of the year, with six out of seven new dramas offering comedy-filled entertainment.
My Royal Nemesis (Netflix, May 8 – Comedy, Romance)
Kang Dan Sim (Lim Ji Yeon) is a notorious concubine from the Joseon Dynasty who is sentenced to death by poison, only to suddenly wake up in the body of Shin Seo Ri (Lim Ji Yeon), a struggling modern-day actress.
The drama follows her as she adjusts to a whole new way of living that is much less restrictive than her previous one, and her tumultuous relationship with the cold-hearted chaebol heir Cha Se Gye (Heo Nam Jun), whom she meets in an almost fateful encounter.
Azure Spring (Kocowa, May 11 – Life, Youth, Drama)
This is a six-episode drama that tells the story of Seo An Na (Kim Ye Rim), a job seeker with an uncertain future who moves back to her seaside hometown in hopes of starting over, and Yoon Deok Hyun (Kang Sang Jun), a middle-aged man who earns a living as a haenam (male diver) but feels trapped in a life that seems unable to move forward.
The two embark on a journey together with Yoon Deok Hyun helping Seo An Na train to become a haenyeo (female diver) as they both find refuge in the sea despite their vastly different backgrounds.
The Legend of Kitchen Soldier (HBO Max, May 11 – Military, Comedy, Fantasy)
Kang Seong Jae (Park Ji Hoon) joins the army as a kitchen assistant, hoping to escape reality after losing his father. However, he soon earns the title of “problem soldier.”
Until one day, a mysterious quest window appears before him, which, little by little, allows him to develop extraordinary culinary skills and helps him become a legendary cook-soldier.
The WONDERfools (Netflix, May 22 – Superhero, Comedy, Action)
Set in 1999, the drama revolves around a group of outcasts in Haeseong whose lives are turned upside down when they unexpectedly gain superpowers.
With no idea of how to use their abilities responsibly, and in a world gripped by fear as it prepares to enter the new millennium, they are forced to do their best to use their talents to help people, whilst also attempting to reveal the truth behind a series of disappearances in their town.
Fifties Professionals (HBO Max, May 22 – Action, Comedy)
Three middle-aged men, once heads of their respective departments, now live in hiding on a remote island. Unsure of the future of the mission they once took part in, the drama follows the three men as they rediscover the truth about their mission a decade later, along with the challenges that come with aging.
Reborn Rookie (VIU, May 30 – Office, Fantasy, Comedy)
Kang Yong Ho (Son Hyun Joo) is the chairman of the Choiseong Group, a company he built from the ground up, earning him the title of the “God of Business.”
Hwang Jun Hyun (Lee Jun Young), on the other hand, is a young soccer player who has recently joined the League 1 team FC Choiseong.
They are so different from each other, but their lives become intertwined after the two are involved in an accident that triggers a soul-swapping situation that transfers their souls into each other’s bodies.
K-Pop Comebacks To Keep an Eye On
May brings new comebacks, fresh albums, and new music releases. It’s a busy month indeed for K-Pop fans.
- SEUNGMIN from Stray Kids (May 1) – Solo release “Into The Current.“
- I.O.I (May 4) – Pre-releases “Goodbye With A Smile.”
- BABYMONSTER (May 4) – Third mini album “CHOOM.”
- CORTIS (May 4) – Second EP “GREENGREEN.”
- ANTON from RIIZE (May 5) – Title track “Close to Me” from the Yumi’s Cells 3 OST.
- BOL4 (May 6) – Single “Someday” from the Sold Out On You OST.
- Tiffany Young (May 8) – Single “Summer’s Not Over.”
- RAIN (May 11) – Digital single “Feel It.”
- Aespa (May 11) – Pre-releases “WDA.”
- MINGI from ATEEZ (May 11) – Releases “FIX OFF Desire Project: ORIGIN.”
- NMIXX (May 11) – Fifth EP “Heavy Serenade.”
- PARK JIN YOUNG from GOT7 (May 13) – Second mini album “Said & Done,” and title track “EVERLOVE.”
- TAEYONG from NCT (May 18) – First album “WYLD.”
- ITZY (May 18) – Twelfth Mini album “Motto.”
- ZEROBASEONE (May 18) – Sixth Mini Album “Ascend.”
- I.O.I (May 19) – Third mini album “I.O.I: LOOP.”
- Xikers (May 19) – Seventh mini album “ROUTE ZERO: The ORA.”
- YOON SANHA from ASTRO (May 20) – Third mini album “NO REASON.”
- LE SSERAFIM (May 22) – Second studio album “PUREFLOW pt1.”
- XLOV (May 27) – Second mini album “I,God.”
- Aespa (May 29) – Second album “LEMONADE.”
May Events and Activities Happening in Seoul
Spring is almost over, and with it come the last spring festivals of the year. These will give you a last chance to admire the cherry blossoms and how nature blends perfectly with Seoul’s urban landscape.
Seoul International Garden Show 2026 (서울국제정원박람회)
This is a citywide project that turns Seoul Forest and Seongsu-dong into a large-scale garden themed “Seoul, Green Culture.”
Attendees can experience the beauty of nature and urban life coming together through exhibits and programs across the area. This year also marks the event’s largest and longest-running edition to date.
Duration time: 12:00 PM–7:00 PM / From May 1 to October 27, 2026
Official sites: English website / Instagram
Venue: Seoul Forest (서울숲) & Seongsu-dong area
18th Jungnang Seoul Rose Festival (중랑서울장미축제)
Seoul’s signature spring event, which celebrates over 10 million roses in bloom. The festival is community-driven, featuring a mix of performances, parades, hands-on activities, and local markets.
Duration time: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM / From May 15 to May 23, 2026
Official sites: English website
Venue: Jungnang Rose Park (중랑장미공원)
2026 Seoul Drum Festival (서울드럼페스티벌)
The 28th Seoul Drum Festival invites you to enjoy a range of performances across various genres, accompanied by workshops, drum lessons, and interactive exhibits that will immerse you in the music.
Duration time: 1:00 PM–7:30 PM / From May 16 to May 17, 2026
Official sites: English website / Instagram
Venue: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)
Seoul International Garden Show 2026 (서울국제정원박람회)
This is a citywide project that turns Seoul Forest and Seongsu-dong into a large-scale garden themed “Seoul, Green Culture.”
Attendees can experience the beauty of nature and urban life coming together through exhibits and programs across the area. This year also marks the event’s largest and longest-running edition to date.
Duration time: 12:00 PM–7:00 PM / From May 1 to October 27, 2026
Official sites: English website / Instagram
Venue: Seoul Forest (서울숲) & Seongsu-dong area
18th Jungnang Seoul Rose Festival (중랑서울장미축제)
Seoul’s signature spring event, which celebrates over 10 million roses in bloom. The festival is community-driven, featuring a mix of performances, parades, hands-on activities, and local markets.
Duration time: 11:00 AM–9:00 PM / From May 15 to May 23, 2026
Official sites: English website
Venue: Jungnang Rose Park (중랑장미공원)
2026 Seoul Drum Festival (서울드럼페스티벌)
The 28th Seoul Drum Festival invites you to enjoy a range of performances across various genres, accompanied by workshops, drum lessons, and interactive exhibits that will immerse you in the music.
Duration time: 1:00 PM–7:30 PM / From May 16 to May 17, 2026
Official sites: English website / Instagram
Venue: Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP)
Salon in Yangjaecheon (양재아트살롱)
This is a special art market that opens when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom along Yangjaecheon Stream in the center of the city.
The aim of this event is to provide a space where you can relax your body and mind by making your own tea, meditating, and strolling down the cherry blossom-covered path.
Duration time: 1:00 PM–7:30 PM / May 17, 2026
Official sites: Korean website / Instagram
Venue: Waterside Stage by Yeongdong 1 Bridge, Yangjaecheon
May is already setting the tone for June, and we are excited to see all that is in store; be sure to follow us to stay up to date on the latest events and roundups specially curated for you.
And if you’d like to take your love for K-Pop and K-Dramas beyond the screen, Noona’s Noonchi Chapters might be exactly what you’re looking for.
Noona’s Noonchi Chapters are local community-driven meetups happening across the USA where ARMY, K-Pop, and K-Drama fans alike gather, connect, and promote jeong (정).
