Netflix has pulled the plug on the second seasons of several new K-dramas in 2025. After dropping titles like Resident Playbook, When Life Gives You Tangerines, When the Phone Rings and more, the streaming giant has now axed hopes for another set of shows that premiered between May and September 2025.
While Netflix hasn’t issued an official statement on the cancellations, it’s clear that the platform has marked these dramas as limited series, meaning they were intended for just one season, with no follow-up in sight.
However, not all hope is lost. A few titles, including Lee Jae Wook’s Dear Hong Rang, Queen Mantis, My Lovely Liar, and Trauma Codes: Heroes on Call, haven’t been tagged as limited series yet, leaving fans wondering if a renewal might still be on the table.
5 popular K-dramas that won’t be returning for a second season
Beyond the Bar: The legal K-drama starring Lee Jin Wook as Yoon Seok Hoon, Jung Chae Yeon as Kang Hyo Min, Lee Hak Joo, and Jeon Hye Bin, despite positive reviews and decent viewership, won’t be returning for a second season. The series follows an idealistic and ethical rookie lawyer who’s brilliant with the law but a little awkward in social situations. She finds comfort in one of her seniors, a highly skilled attorney who appears cold on the outside. The show revolves around their relationship and mentorship as they grow in their careers, guide each other, and take on challenging cases at Yullim Law Firm.
Bon Appétit, Your Majesty: The fan-favourite Netflix K-drama that broke viewership records in October, Bon Appétit, is sadly not returning for a second season either. The show stars Girls’ Generation’s Yoona as Yeon Ji Yeong, a modern-day Korean chef who excels in French cuisine but somehow time-travels and lands in the Joseon era. It also features Lee Chae Min as King Yi Heon, a young monarch who, according to Korean history, later becomes a tyrant but is also known for his love of gourmet food. Chef Yeon is then appointed as the palace’s head chef, where she uses her innovative modern culinary skills to prepare exquisite dishes.
You and Everything Else: Starring Kim Go Eun as Yoo Eun-jung, Park Ji Hyun as Cheon Sang Yeon, Gun Woo and Jang Hye Jin, this Netflix drama is a touching coming-of-age story that takes place over many years. It follows two women, a TV drama writer with a big heart, and an ambitious film producer. They grow up as friends and rivals, dealing with feelings of admiration, jealousy, and the pressure to succeed. Over time, they part ways and reunite, and the show beautifully shows how their friendship, filled with love, competition, and understanding, shapes who they become.
Mercy for None: So Ji Sub’s highly awaited comeback (on fans’ demand) as the central character, Nam Gi Jun, from the popular webtoon has also been slapped with a Limited Series tag. While the show’s live-action adaptation received mixed reviews, fans were still hoping to see more of So’s powerful acting. The series is a gritty and intense action-noir thriller that follows a former gangster who left the criminal world due to certain agreements. A decade later, he’s dragged back into the brutal underworld, driven by revenge as he sets out to find who killed his younger brother.
Aema: While a bit controversial, the story of Aema was inspired by a true legend from Korean film history. Netflix went bold with this one, as very few ever touch upon that era of the Korean film industry, as most K-dramas usually portray a contrasting side. However, with Aema, the world got to see the story behind the making of the hugely controversial erotic film Madame Aema.
Set in Chungmu-ro, the hub of the Korean film industry in the 1980s, the show follows two top divas of the time, Jeong Hee Ran (Lee Hanee), a glamorous top star who feels she’s being exploited, and Shin Joo Ae (Bang Hyo Rin), a rookie actress cast in the lead role. The show won’t be returning for a second season either.