My Liberation Notes (나의 해방일지, sometimes translated as My Liberation Diary) is a 2022 South Korean slice‑of‑life drama written by acclaimed screenwriter Park Hae‑young (My Mister, Another Miss Oh). It stars Lee Min‑ki, Kim Ji‑won, Son Suk‑ku, and Lee El as four lonely adults stuck in emotional and physical ruts.
Key facts:
- Network: JTBC (cable)
- Global streaming: Netflix (licensed, not a Netflix Original)
- Airing period: April 9 – May 29, 2022
- Episodes: 16 (about 70 minutes each)
- Genre: Slice‑of‑life, drama, “healing” K‑drama
The story is set in the fictional semi‑rural suburb of Sanpo in Gyeonggi Province, and follows the three Yeom siblings — Ki‑jung (eldest), Chang‑hee (middle), and Mi‑jeong (youngest) — who endure long, draining commutes to Seoul for dead‑end jobs and return home to a tight‑lipped, emotionally distant family.
Their life patterns change when a mysterious, perpetually drunk outsider known only as Mr. Gu (Gu Ja‑gyeong) appears in their village to work at their father’s small sink factory. Mi‑jeong eventually asks him to “worship” her — an odd but deeply resonant attempt to be truly seen and cherished for the first time in her life.
Critics praise My Liberation Notes for its character‑driven storytelling, understated direction, and nuanced dialogue, calling it one of the best K‑dramas of 2022.
Ratings & reception: why fans want My Liberation Notes season 2
Even without flashy plot twists or conventional K‑drama hooks, My Liberation Notes quietly built impressive word‑of‑mouth.
- The drama started with a modest 2.9% nationwide rating for its premiere on JTBC, typical for a small cable show.
- Ratings steadily climbed, and the finale hit 6.7% nationwide, setting a personal best and confirming its status as a bona fide hit for the network.
- It regularly appeared on “buzzworthy” lists and topped discussion rankings, with Son Suk‑ku in particular dominating actor buzz charts during the run.
Netflix lists My Liberation Notes as a “healing, award‑winning TV drama” and continues to feature it prominently in its K‑drama section. Reviewers have called it a “masterpiece” and “must‑watch for K‑drama fans,” emphasizing how it elevates small, everyday moments into profound reflections on the human condition.
With that kind of love, it’s natural fans search for “My Liberation Notes season 2 release date” and hope for more time with Mi‑jeong, Mr. Gu, and the Yeom family.
Official renewal status: is My Liberation Notes season 2 happening?
JTBC & production team stance
There is no official season 2 announcement for My Liberation Notes.
- TheReviewGeek and other outlets noted shortly after the finale that JTBC had not renewed the drama for a second season, and that there was no indication a follow‑up was in the works.
- A 2023 KDramaStars cast update reported that, despite the show’s success, the production unit “has no plans on renewing the drama for a new season.”
Since the drama concluded in May 2022, there have been no casting calls, press releases, or industry leaks suggesting a continuation — unusual if a new season were seriously being developed.
Netflix renewal status
Because My Liberation Notes is a licensed title, not a Netflix original, Netflix doesn’t control renewal on its own. However, fans still watch it mostly through Netflix and expect news there.
What’s‑On‑Netflix, which tracks international K‑drama renewals, summarized the situation in mid‑2022:
- Official Netflix status: No renewal, no cancellation — simply “pending”, but
- The site says it’s “highly unlikely” we’ll see a season 2, and
- Emphasizes that performance is not the issue; the show did very well, but is clearly written as a limited, one‑story series.
In other words:
My Liberation Notes season 2 is not in production, and industry watchers view a renewal as very unlikely, despite strong ratings and streaming performance.
Storytelling reasons a second season is unlikely
Beyond business and scheduling realities, there are creative reasons season 2 probably won’t happen.
1. Park Hae‑young’s writing style: complete journeys
Screenwriter Park Hae‑young is known for tightly structured, character‑focused dramas like My Mister — which, like My Liberation Notes, told a complete story in 16 episodes and never sought a second season.
Critics and bloggers note that My Liberation Notes feels like a carefully architected “one‑novel” story about liberation as an ongoing journey, not a franchise pilot. One longform review says bluntly: “The writer had a story to tell and at the end of 16 episodes, viewers were treated to a varied landscape of ideas and people to come to clear conclusions.”
2. The ending is open‑ended, but emotionally complete
The finale doesn’t give a fairy‑tale “happily ever after,” but it does bring each key character to a believable stopping point:
- Mi‑jeong learns to name her desires and assert boundaries, hinting she will no longer disappear into other people’s expectations.
- Mr. Gu confronts his past in Seoul, detoxes, and begins walking toward Mi‑jeong again in a final, ambiguous but hopeful scene.
- Chang‑hee and Ki‑jung both make hard choices about work and love, stepping out of stagnation into imperfect but real growth.
What’s‑On‑Netflix argues that “My Liberation Notes doesn’t need a second season” because most members of the Liberation Club reach their own form of liberation; the beauty lies in knowing they’re on the way, not in watching every detail of the rest of their lives.
3. K‑drama format norms
Modern cable K‑dramas — especially introspective slice‑of‑life titles — are almost always limited series, not multi‑season shows. Shows like My Mister, Another Miss Oh, and many other acclaimed dramas by writer‑driven teams were never designed to continue beyond their original run.
Unless there’s an extraordinary business case (like Squid Game), industry practice is to move writer, director, and cast on to new projects, not extend their previous drama indefinitely. After My Liberation Notes, director Kim Seok‑yoon and actor Lee Min‑ki, for example, were already reported to be considering other new projects, not planning a return to Sanpo.
Taken together, these factors make a canonical My Liberation Notes season 2 highly improbable.
If My Liberation Notes season 2 happened, what could it explore?
While a true sequel is unlikely, it can be helpful (and fun) from an SEO and fan‑discussion perspective to think about what “season 2” might look like in thematic terms.
Given how season 1 ends and the show’s grounded realism, a hypothetical My Liberation Notes season 2 would almost certainly:
1. Shift from “liberation” to “maintenance”
Season 1 focuses on characters trying to break free from suffocating patterns — oppressive commutes, toxic work dynamics, numbing routines, and unspoken family resentment. A second season would likely pivot toward maintaining liberation in the face of everyday backsliding:
- Mi‑jeong learning how to sustain authenticity at work without burning out.
- Chang‑hee navigating financial and emotional setbacks after leaving his comfort zone.
- Ki‑jung exploring what long‑term, realistic love looks like once the initial spark fades.
2. Dive deeper into Mr. Gu’s long road to recovery
Mr. Gu’s alcoholism and trauma are handled with unusual nuance for a K‑drama, and the finale implies that his journey is ongoing rather than magically fixed. A second season could explore:
- His continued struggle with addiction and guilt in Seoul.
- Re‑negotiating his relationship with Mi‑jeong as a more stable, present partner.
- The tension between his past in the underworld and his desire for a quiet, anonymous life.
3. Explore liberation as a community, not just individuals
The Liberation Club is one of the show’s most memorable devices: tired adults meeting after work to admit how stuck they feel and dream out loud of something better. A season 2 could expand this into:
- New members from Sanpo and Seoul bringing different age, class, and gender perspectives.
- The club organizing small acts of “collective liberation” — community projects, workplace pushback, family interventions.
- Showing how subtle acts of solidarity can soften a harsh, hierarchical society.
These ideas are speculative and not based on any real planning by JTBC or Netflix, but they match the show’s tone and explain why viewers feel there’s still “room” for more — even if the writer chooses not to go there.
Where and how to watch My Liberation Notes (instead of waiting for season 2)
Rather than waiting endlessly for a second season, new viewers can fully experience the story now.
- JTBC: Originally aired Saturdays and Sundays at 22:30 KST.
- Netflix: Streams My Liberation Notes in many regions, listed as a 16‑episode 2022 drama about three siblings seeking “fulfillment and freedom from their unremarkable lives.”
Netflix categorizes the show as a “healing, understated, award‑winning TV drama”, highlighting family relationships and subtle character work. Fans and critics alike recommend watching it at a slow, reflective pace, savoring each line and scene instead of binging it like a thriller.
If you’re searching for “My Liberation Notes season 2”, the most rewarding move right now is to:
- Watch or rewatch season 1 on Netflix.
- Dive into post‑drama essays and discussions, where many viewers unpack the ending and themes in rich detail.
FAQ – My Liberation Notes Season 2
Is My Liberation Notes season 2 confirmed?No. My Liberation Notes has not been renewed for a second season by JTBC or Netflix, and news outlets report that the production unit has no plans to renew the drama.
What is the My Liberation Notes season 2 release date?There is no release date. Renewal status on Netflix‑tracking sites remains “pending” or “unlikely,” and industry commentary suggests a second season is very improbable.
How many episodes are in My Liberation Notes?The show has 16 episodes, which aired from April 9 to May 29, 2022 on JTBC and are available on Netflix in selected regions.
Why is a second season unlikely even though ratings were good?Because My Liberation Notes was written and structured as a complete, one‑season story, the finale provides emotional closure for each main character, and K‑dramas of this type almost never receive multi‑season orders.
Did low ratings cause the lack of renewal?No. Ratings actually grew significantly, with the finale achieving 6.7% nationwide — the drama’s highest rating, and a strong number for JTBC. The lack of renewal is a creative/structural choice, not a ratings failure.
Is there a My Liberation Notes webtoon or novel that continues the story?No. My Liberation Notes is an original screenplay by Park Hae‑young, not adapted from a webtoon or novel, and there’s no extra source material continuing the characters’ lives beyond the drama.
