Clever scams, intricate plots, and thrilling suspense are the essential elements that you can find in almost every thriller drama that has come out of Korean in recent years.
The K-drama industry is growing in popularity around the world, especially in the romantic genre and hits like Squid Game. However, in the world of thriller movies, Korean thrillers in particular show a distinct advantage. With in-depth stories about psychopathic killers and unique settings, Korean thriller series are able to bring a thrilling experience to the audience.
Korean thriller dramas are capable of evoking mixed emotions of anxiety, fear, and frustration in their viewers. The genre often crosses borders into other genres such as survival, sci-fi, and dark fantasy, providing a suspenseful thrill that exceeds fans’ expectations.
Recommended Best Thriller Korean Drama
Below are recommendations for the best thriller drama from Korean that presents a suspenseful story and full of plot twists.
15. Innocent Defendant
In the Defendant series, Park Jung-woo, a prosecutor known for his success, is suddenly sentenced to death and must prove his innocence. The challenge gets even tougher as he suffers from amnesia, making it difficult for him to remember what happened and find evidence to defend himself.
Park doesn’t remember how he got caught up in this mysterious situation, and viewers will be swept away as he uncovers the truth. In 2017, Defendant was nominated in 17 categories at various Korean TV awards and won seven of them.
14. Sweet Home
Sweet Home is a horror apocalyptic thriller that has earned multiple award nominations over three seasons. Lee Eung-bok won the best directing award from the Asian Academy Creative Awards.
Although it focuses on the theme of apocalypse, the story centers on Chan Hyun-soo, a high school student who struggles to maintain his humanity.
After his parents are killed, Chan moves to The Green Home, where he lives as a depressed student and loner. When a viral outbreak turns humans into monsters, the residents of the building are confined and struggle to survive. The story gets more interesting when Chan gains monster abilities but struggles to remain human.
13. All of Us Are Dead
Furthermore, All of Us Are Dead is a unique movie in the zombie apocalypse and survival genre. The story follows a group of high school students who must band together to fight the mutation of some of their friends into zombies. These mutations are caused by the efforts of a scientist trying to create a serum to protect his son from bullies.
The serum in this drama taps into people’s fears to turn them into zombies. The show was a huge success in its first season, almost as popular as Squid Game. The drama highlights adjustment, the search for purpose, and issues of maturity, making it more human than just a zombie story.
12. Vagabond
In the series Vagabond, Cha Dal-gun, a stuntman who aspires to be an actor and takes care of his nephew, feels a deep sadness when he finds out that his nephew was on the plane that crashed. Shortly after, he coincidentally meets a passenger who was supposed to be on the plane.
Cha, curious as to why the passengers are not on board, joins forces with NIS secret agent Go Hae-Ri. Together, they investigate traces of corruption and an intricate web of deception. The drama “Vagabond” won five awards at the SBS Drama Awards after receiving sixteen nominations.
11. Hellbound
Next up, Hellbound, which has released two seasons and received critical acclaim for its combination of suspense and dark fantasy. In this show, creatures called angels appear on earth to punish those deemed worthy of hell, followed by the appearance of giants who torture the damned.
Hellbound deals with issues of morality, sin, religion, and spirituality, with a plot that suggests a conspiracy where several groups gain power and profit.
At the end of the first season, people realize that the curse placed on newborns by the angels may not be related to sin. Hellbound’s second season releases in full on October 25, 2024.
10. The Glory
In The Glory, a victim of bullying, Moon Dong-eun, seeks revenge after suffering through a painful adolescence due to mistreatment from her friends, teachers, and guardians. After surviving an attack by a group of teenagers who feel entitled to harm, she vows to avenge the pain she has endured.
The Glory is the best Korean thriller series with a complex story of revenge, following Moon Dong’s journey in plotting justice for himself. With a strong female lead and a talented cast, this series is a delight for viewers who love to see bullies get their comeuppance.
9. The Silent Sea
A world without water is a difficult scenario to imagine, yet that’s exactly what the remaining population of The Silent Sea is facing. Scientists struggle to find a permanent solution, and hope springs from a research facility on the moon. However, the situation becomes complicated when space explorers are sent to retrieve samples.
The Silent Sea is a sci-fi thriller suitable for fans of movies like Alien, with a more visceral approach. With its claustrophobic environment, fear of the unknown, and human anxiety, the movie manages to captivate the audience until the very end.
8. Taxi Driver
When the system fails to deliver justice, victims often look elsewhere for solutions. The movie Taxi Driver follows the journey of a KMA graduate who ventures into the world of “vengeance calls”, where he helps criminals and gives hope to those overlooked by the system.
This suspenseful drama is inspired by true crimes in Korea, making it an interesting watch. The anticipation of the drivers’ revenge for their passengers is the main attraction. With excellent performances from the cast and a thrilling story, Taxi Driver is a nightmare for any criminal.
7. My Name
In My Name, Yoon Ji-woo chooses not to succumb to the grief of his father’s death. He is determined to take revenge on those responsible, even if it means joining a criminal syndicate. In the midst of her efforts, Ji-woo is trapped as a double agent, facing a conflict between her declining morality and the desire for revenge.
My Name is an engaging thriller series at its best, featuring exciting action and a formidable female lead. The complex storyline and exploration of human emotions make this movie highly praiseworthy.
6. Flower of Evil
The next best thriller Korean drama recommendation is Flower of Evil. Flower of Evil is a tense modern thriller. The story will leave you feeling tense and irritated. If you’re a fan of Netflix series like You or Criminal Minds, you’ll love the tense and mysterious atmosphere surrounding a normal family caught up in a murder mystery.
A young detective is passionate about uncovering the connection between a gruesome murder and her perfect husband. She gets caught up in lies and hatred, but remains determined to find the truth. The “Flower of Evil” series develops characters and storylines that make viewers want to watch marathons.
5. Mask Girl
Korean dramas, especially in Mask Girl reveal social norms and emotional turmoil in a unique way. The story follows an ordinary office lady struggling with unrealistic standards of beauty and social status.
To overcome his insecurities and escape the monotony of life, he leads a double life as a masked internet personality at night. However, he does not realize that his double life will bring dire consequences.
Mask Girl is a dark and creepy movie, following the journey of a female lead who gets caught up in a world of crime and murder. With a vague theme of becoming an internet sensation, many viewers may find the movie too cold and disturbing, especially due to its starkly graphic landscape.
4. A Killer Paradox
A Killer Paradox is a murder thriller that emphasizes moral ambiguity, similar to Dexter. The story begins when a young college student accidentally kills a serial killer in self-defense. Despite his initial remorse, he becomes trapped in a cycle of violence that he cannot stop.
This Korean thriller depicts the mind of a killer coldly and matter-of-factly. In this story, a stubborn detective is determined to catch the perpetrator, making viewers question morality and the challenges of maintaining the right moral compass.
3. Squid Game
Squid Game became a global phenomenon upon its release on Netflix, surpassing modern pop culture and inspiring many to reproduce the iconic elements of the series in various media.
This best Korean thriller series tells the story of a deadly game where participants compete voluntarily for the grand prize. However, every failure in the game leads to a fatal punishment, and only one person will survive to win the huge amount of money.
The Squid Game series features high-stakes drama and gaming thrills, while profoundly depicting the frailties of people struggling below the poverty line. In a compelling and merciless way, Squid Game highlights the discrimination between the rich and the poor, revealing a harsh reality that society often ignores.
2. Mouse
The next best thriller Korean drama recommendation is Mouse. Mouse is one of the best Korean dramas in recent years, although fans usually prefer romance stories. The drama offers suspense with a twisted storyline that gets bloodier with each episode. The story focuses on a cat-and-mouse game between a dedicated cop, a detective, and a notorious killer.
Mouse is a suspenseful movie, inspired by tragic events and delving into the mind of a psychopathic killer who kills without remorse. The story will leave viewers feeling stunned by the end.
1. The Penthouse: War in Life
The story of The Penthouse is very complex with various intertwined storylines. Every time the viewer feels like they understand the story, the series throws in a surprise that adds an element of mystery and thrill. The story focuses on the lavish lifestyle of Korea’s elite class who live in luxurious buildings, the highest status symbols in society.
The lives of the rich are often perceived as luxurious, but this is not always the case. When an innocent girl falls from a building, a devastated mother seeks revenge and will not stop until the perpetrators are punished. The Penthouse is the best Korean thrille series with an exciting story that is entertaining and full of intrigue.
That’s the best thriller Korean series or drama that is a recommendation for drakor lovers who like to watch. Hope it helps!
