Squid Game & The Glory Stars Officially Return To Netflix In New K-Drama

The stars of Netflix's best K-dramas are returning to the platform with an exciting new series. The world-renowned streaming service has released some of the most iconic K-drama masterpieces of the past decade, with smash-hit titles like Squid Game propelling the genre to mainstream success. The Glory rode the wave of that momentum, quickly becoming one of the most-watched Non-English series in Netflix history. In the four years since the latter's premiere, however, the K-drama landscape has grown exponentially more popular on major streaming services, with fan-favorite stars teaming up for romantic comedies, dark thrillers, and every sub-genre in between.

Whereas The Glory is regarded as a seminal revenge K-drama thanks to the chilling performances of the main cast, Squid Game had an instantly-captivating premise that was further bolstered by its talented ensemble. Across the dystopian drama's three seasons, there were dozens of focal characters, and each actor felt immensely consequential to the overall plot— including Gong Yoo, who played the unsettling recruiter in seasons 1 and 2. The actor's illustrious career dates back to the turn of the century, but he has undeniably hit his stride in the 2020s.

Gong Yoo has already starred in numerous Netflix original K-dramas like murder mystery The Trunk and sci-fi spectacle The Silent Sea, but the beloved male lead is returning from a two-year television hiatus alongside the actress that made The Glory a must-watch: Song Hye-kyo. As Moon Dong-eun, Song was the epitome of an antihero the audience loved to root for. In late 2026, however, she will take on a whole new character archetype as Gong Yoo's main scene partner in the upcoming period drama Tantara.

What Will Tantara Be About?

Tantara is already one of the most highly-anticipated new K-dramas of 2026, and its brief synopsis already stands out from the crowd. There's nothing wrong with the high volume of love stories and melodramas that K-dramas typically prioritize, but Tantara will explore a niche period in Korean history with a seemingly grounded approach. Named after the onomatopoeia describing the blare of a trumpet, Tantara will, fittingly, focus on both the entertainment industry and the effects of war on an ever-changing society.

The story will be split between the 1960s and the 1980s, placing the narrative against the real-world background of life-changing events like the Korean DMZ Conflict, the Gwangju Uprising, and the fallout from both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. In response to the unrest, Korean society embraced a strict moral code and conservatism, which stands in stark contrast to the hopeful musicians at the forefront of the story, be it protagonist Min-ja (Song Hye-kyo), side character Yang-ja (Lee Hanee), or budding composer Gil-yeo (Cha Seung-won).

Although there will clearly be a focus on music and politics, it's likely Tantara will also have a romantic subplot or two to draw in viewers. Gong Yoo's character— Dong-gu— is described as Min-ja's childhood friend who takes the leap of joining the entertainment industry to support her. That set-up could provide ample drama and interpersonal conflict, but it could just as easily be the breeding ground for some star-crossed romance. Plus, it would certainly be a waste if Gong Yoo and Song Hye-kyo didn't have some sort of side story.

Gong Yoo & Song Hye-Kyo Are An All-Star Pairing

Individually, Gong Yoo and Song Hye-kyo have been involved in epoch-making shows in the K-drama industry. Gong Yoo has been lauded as one of the best K-drama actors of all time since his debut in 2001, while Song Hye-kyo has been honing her craft for 30 years. Both have led class K-dramas that remain essential viewing to this day, be it Coffee Prince, Autumn in My Heart, or Full House. The two have had immensely successful and long-lasting careers, but Tantara will be their first on-screen collaboration.

As such, fans have incredibly high hopes for the upcoming Netflix original. The co-stars have demonstrated their uncanny ability to oscillate between victim and victor, good and evil, hero and antihero— all while evoking a strange sort of sympathy. Of course, Gong Yoo's role in Squid Game is one of his most cut-and-dry villainous roles, but even then, the masterful performer added unbelievable depth to his darkness that made the recurring character unforgettable in all the worst ways.

Meanwhile, Song Hye-kyo found stardom early on in her career with humorous roles, but she's shown true adaptability in the past few years. Without question, the acting that was celebrated in an early 2000s K-drama is leaps and bounds away from the caliber that viewers now expect. Nevertheless, from Descendants of the Sun to Encounter to The Glory, the actress has proven time and time again that she has the carefully-crafted skill to bring her characters to life with startling realistic emotion. Within the gripping context of Tantara's plot, she will surely shine alongside Gong Yoo.

Tantara Continues Netflix's Best K-Drama Trend

Netflix has been a prominent producer of K-content for years, but not every original series is a globally adored sensation, like Squid Game, All of Us Are Dead, or Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Yet, even if a title isn't hoisted as a bastion of pop culture, Netflix has one undeniable strength viewers can always look forward to: the casting.

Whether it's the budget, the famed writers and directors on-board, or the stories themselves, original streaming K-dramas often pair up some of the biggest stars in the world— either for the first time, as is the case with Tantara, or for a long-awaited reunion that rewards superfans' patience.

To that end, we are currently in a new era for Netflix K-dramas where actors who are often side characters are finally getting the opportunity to be a lead, like Ha Young in Our Sticky Love. Similarly, stars who dominate their respective niches are teaming up to create internet-breaking couples, like Park Eun-bin and Cha Eun-woo in The Wonderfools.

So far, Tantara seems like the best of both worlds: Gong Yoo and Song Hye-kyo will undoubtedly make a memorable pair, while rising stars like Kim Seol-hyun (Min-hui) and cultural icons like Lee Hanee get to show off their acting chops on the world's leading streaming service. Consequently, the star-powered leads will give Tantara a leg-up, but the Netflix original's true test will be its small ensemble cast.