Tantara Premieres Dec 11 on Netflix: Song Hye-kyo, Gong Yoo and the Story So Far

Tantara, the Netflix period drama starring Song Hye-kyo and Gong Yoo, arrives on Friday, Dec 11. It follows two childhood friends in Korea’s entertainment industry between the 1960s and the 1980s, and it is written by Noh Hee-kyung, who returns after more than four years. Netflix announced the date on Oct 22 with a new poster that shows the characters on a turntable.

The date and the announcement

Netflix confirmed the Dec 11 date on Thursday, Oct 22, according to the Korea JoongAng Daily, which cited Yonhap, and the Korea Herald described the series as one of Netflix Korea’s biggest K-dramas of 2026. As of Oct 27 it is 45 days away. Check the Netflix title page for the episode count, the runtime and the release format.

The project was announced earlier under a different name. The JoongAng Daily’s Feb 10, 2025 report on a Netflix original called Show Business lists the same leads, the same writer and director and the same 1960s to 1980s entertainment-industry setting as the current reports on Tantara.

The story

The Korea Herald’s synopsis follows childhood friends Min-ja, played by Song Hye-kyo, and Dong-gu, played by Gong Yoo, who work in the music industry after overcoming poverty to pursue their ambitions. Soompi adds that Min-ja is raised in poverty and takes various jobs before entering the record industry, while Dong-gu supports her dreams.

Soompi’s poster report describes the key art in detail: the key figures appear on a turntable, and the posters trace the characters from childhood poverty to adult jobs as waiters and then rookie managers. Music ties the characters together, with one character singing, another playing saxophone and a third singing passionately.

Who plays whom

The Korea Herald lists the supporting cast as Lee Ha-nee, Seolhyun and Cha Seung-won. Seolhyun is also known as a member of AOA.

The writer and the director

The JoongAng Daily describes Noh Hee-kyung as a star screenwriter returning after more than four years. It lists her earlier works as Worlds Within from 2008 and That Winter, the Wind Blows from 2013, both starring Song Hye-kyo, and Our Blues from 2022. The Korea Herald adds Dear My Friends and It’s Okay, That’s Love to the list.

The Korea Herald names Lee Yoon-jung as the director and lists Coffee Prince and Cheese in the Trap among her earlier works. The JoongAng Daily’s Oct 22 report does not name a director, while its Feb 2025 report on the same project does.

Where it sits in Netflix’s Korean year

Tantara appears among the titles Netflix showcased for its 10th anniversary in Korea. The Korea Times report of Oct 25 on the anniversary event names four upcoming titles without release dates: Tantara, a live-action Solo Leveling, the film Possible Love and All of Us Are Dead Season 2. The JoongAng Daily adds that Netflix launched its service in Korea on Jan 17, 2016.

How to prepare for Dec 11

1. Mark Friday, Dec 11 and check the Netflix title page for the episode list when it appears.
2. Look back at Noh Hee-kyung’s earlier dramas, which the reports list as Worlds Within, That Winter, the Wind Blows and Our Blues.
3. If you want the same pairing of writer and lead actress, the two dramas that starred Song Hye-kyo are Worlds Within and That Winter, the Wind Blows.
4. Note that the series was first announced as Show Business, in case you see older articles under that title.

• Netflix subscription active before Dec 11
• Calendar reminder set for Friday, Dec 11
• Cast and roles noted: Min-ja and Dong-gu
• Older Show Business articles recognized as the same project

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