Are you ready to dive into the world of Korean dramas? Netflix has become a treasure trove for fans seeking thrilling narratives, unforgettable twists, and memorable characters.
From tales wracked with nail-biting tension to some great cat-and-mouse detective thrillers, Netflix offers an impressive selection of K-dramas, which are renowned for their ability to blend genres, creating a unique viewing experience that goes beyond traditional thriller TV shows.
So are you ready to explore the most thrilling K-dramas available to stream on Netflix in 2024? Join us as we dive into the best ones available on the platform:
Beyond Evil
A Chilling Whodunit
Beyond Evil is a great example of how to take a simple concept and absolutely run with it. Between the exemplary acting, tight writing and numerous twists and turns along the way, this Korean drama is easily one of the best horror-thrillers on Netflix. It’s hardly surprising then that it’s been nominated for 7 Baeksang Awards.
At its core, Beyond Evil plays out as a simple murder mystery. Police detective Dong-Sik is haunted by the ghosts of his past, forced to deal with the death of his sister Yu-Yeon 20 years prior. With the case still unresolved to this day, a string of new murders seem to be connected with Yu-Yeon’s death.
This is a stunning crime drama, packed with intricate layers of beauty despite some chilling and outright scary scenes that transcend beyond the simple story being told.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
Money Heist: Korea
If It Aint Broke, Don’t Fix It
Netflix have have been on a roll with their K content recently. And it seems those in charge of Money Heist: Korea went in with the thought of: “Well, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.” For some, that’s going to be very annoying and a bit of a disappointment given how similar it is to the original Money Heist. For others, they’ll be quite happy to take that trip down memory lane.
To be fair, the story does have a few differences, namely that of the first 15 minutes or so of episode 1. An intriguing prologue whisks us forward to some time in 2025. North and South Korea have come to a political agreement and open up their borders to one another. The fighting is over and for now, Korea is one.
As part of this historic unification, those in Pyongyang and neighbouring North Korean villages are free to head down South to try and make a name for themselves. With high hopes and dreams for the future, it doesn’t take long for the crushing reality of capitalism to rear its ugly head.
Eking out a living in the midst of this happens to be Tokyo, who becomes disillusioned with her current life and ends up on the run. Wanted by police and with nowhere else to go, in a neon-lit alleyway one night she takes a gun and prepares to fire. Step forward The Professor. The rest, as they say, is history!
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
Extracurricular
A Thrilling Teen Drama
With lots of flawed characters throughout, Extracurricular offers a slightly different flavour of spice to this teen drama genre, one that increases in pacing and tension across the episodes.
The story itself revolves around Ji-Soo, a model student in the eyes of teachers and other students. He keeps his head down, has no friends and spends most of his days acing exams and staying invisible.
Under this façade however is a darker side to Ji-Soo’s persona which is revealed in the first episode and continues to snowball as his tight-knit operation goes horribly wrong.
Well written and engrossing, this one’s definitely worth watching – and one of Netflix’s more underrated gems too.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
Sky Castle
We All Lie
Sky Castle boasts one of the highest network ratings (reaching nearly 24.5% during its finale) and for good reason too. It’s a remarkable feat, especially when you look back and see the drama hit a measly 1% with its opening episode.
This satirical drama revolves around four housewives residing in an exclusive residential area, desperate to get their kids into university no matter the cost.
While simple in theory, Sky Castle’s examination of class and culture is partly why the show works as well as it does. Alongside this are numerous thought provoking discussions around the parental pressure of excelling at school. All of this combines to make Sky Castle one of the best Korean dramas out there.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
The Glory
Ice-Cold Revenge
While not an outright horror or suspense thriller, The Glory’s allure comes from its ice-cold revenge story that will keep you watching until the crazy end. And it’s all inspired by true events too!
The Glory follows a woman named Dong-eun as she plots her revenge on bullies from high school, setting out to make all of them pay for their deeds. It is a thrilling, well-written revenge drama with a great understanding of its characters and the prominent societal issues in Korea when it comes to bullying.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
Flower of Evil
Not Everyone Is As They Seem
Flower of Evil is a suspenseful crime drama revolving around a man hiding his past and his detective wife who begins to suspect him. Say what you will about the narrative, but this show has some very impressive cinematography.
The camera work is dynamic and intense, mirroring the suspense and tension of the narrative, while the characters put on some excellent performances through to the crazy end.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
Kingdom
Non-stop Zombie Action!
Beautifully presented and dripping in Asian culture, zombie action-thriller Kingdom is quite the thrill ride. The show effortlessly blends political drama with a thrilling action plot, full of beautifully shot set pieces.
The story begins slowly, using its first episode to show off the gorgeous setting of Hanyang in South Korea as we travel back through time to the Joseon Period. Crown King Lee Chang is our protagonist and while he begins engaging in a bitter feud with the Queen, physician Seo-Bi in Jiyulheon makes a horrific discovery.
With no guns or modern weaponry, much of the tension comes from seeing these men and women make do with the scarce resources around them. It’s also one of the few zombies shows that balances this action with tension perfectly.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
Stranger
A Politically Charged Thriller
Stranger is a thrilling procedural, with some great action, lots of detective work and two seasons with plenty to whet the appetite. In many ways, this sequel fails to match the brilliance of the first but it’s not for the want of trying.
Still, the mystery is intriguing, with a lot of politically charged references and ideas. Still, there’s a reason this one is rated so highly and the ending seems to hint we’ll be getting a third season at some point.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
Hellbound
Supernaturally-Charged Thrills
A seemingly ordinary day in Korea is turned upside down when strange shadowy creatures show up and hunt down an innocent bystander. Only, he’s presumably not innocent and actually a sinner.
It’s around this time that a cult-like group called New Truth begin to show up, pedalling this as a message from God and claiming that He has come to cast judgment upon those who deserve it. This narrative comes from the mouth of charismatic but mysterious Jin-Soo, the leader of this group.
Hellbound is undeniably gripping and there’s a definite moreish feel to watching a lot of this story play out.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
Taxi Driver
Revenge Thriller With A Kick-Ass Soundtrack
Who wouldn’t want their Uber driver to avenge your sworn enemy on special request? Taxi Driver follows the life of Kim Do-ki who graduated from the Naval Academy and became a UDT (underwater demolition team) Official.
After his mother was murdered by a serial killer, Kim Do-ki turned his life around to be a deluxe taxi driver for the Rainbow Taxi Company. The company is not just any ordinary taxi firm but one that offers a special “revenge-call” service for clients who want to take revenge on people.
The show has an episodic format and a longer-running narrative woven through it. This blend makes it a really enticing and well-written prospect.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
Vincenzo
Mafia Action & Slapstick Comedy
Vincenzo is tvN’s latest comedy/thriller hybrid, taking parts of both genres and meshing them awkwardly together. It takes a while to get going but soon the show manages to strike the right balance between the two states. The opening scene in episode 1 is by far the best 10 minutes from any drama in 2021, with ruthless, unflinching action and tension.
The main story doesn’t come from a mafia feud or warring families though, instead turning to a simple court case and drama surrounding a building called Geumga Plaza. With lawyers on both sides of the conflict doing their utmost to gain the upper-hand, Vincenzo’s long (nearly 90 minutes!) episodes are packed full of shocking twists and slapstick comedy.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
The Lies Within
Slow-Burn Thrills
The Lies Within is a thrilling whodunit, revolving around a woman whose husband has disappeared. Driven to find the truth, she joins the National Assembly and teams up with a detective in her search for the truth. The two of them work together to break through the silence and lies that people spill to protect their own interests.
In true K-drama fashion, not everyone is being truthful and there are plenty of twists and turns in this one to keep you on the edge of your seat while you watch.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
My Name
Fast-Paced Action Thriller
Revenge thrillers are all the rage right now, and after the success of Squid Game, a gritty Korean thriller called My Name looked like the perfect heady cocktail, blending these two elements together. And for 6 episodes, it absolutely works. However, an ending can make or break a story and in the case of My Name, that much is unfortunately true here as well.
The story here revolves around a young woman named Jwoo who witnesses her father, Donghoon, being brutally murdered, shot at point-blank range outside their apartment. With rumours that the police are involved and a late night snoop from Captain Cha backing that claim up, Jiwoo remains desperate for answers.
This is a fast-paced and action packed thriller well worth your time.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
Mask Girl
Psychologically Charged Thriller
Mask Girl is a seven episode mini-series that follows the story of a girl who grows up with the dream of being a stage performer but is ignored and put in the background because she is not stereotypically beautiful.
Mo-mi, an ordinary office woman with a severe sense of inferiority complex, caught up in various incidents while working as an internet broadcast jockey with her face covered by a mask.
Joo Oh-nam is Kim Mo-mi’s co-worker who harbours a one-sided crush on her. Just like Mo-mi, Oh-nam also suffers from an inferiority complex about his appearance. Oh-nam’s only source of joy is watching internet broadcasts and things get chaotic when he’s swept up in an unexpected incident involving Mo-mi.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
A Killer Paradox
A Gritty Crime Drama
This sinister drama follows the life of Lee Tang, a college student who unintentionally kills a person who later turns out to be a serial killer. When he realises that he has a supernatural power that allows him to identify bad people, he begins to root them all out. But his deeds don’t go unobserved and a shrewd detective sets out to catch him, leading to a tense cat and mouse chase.
The acclaimed director of the unsettling drama Strangers from Hell, Lee Chang-hee, has come up with yet another fascinating crime thriller. And this one’s a Netflix original!
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
Penthouse
Messy Makjang Mayhem
Penthouse is a crazy, dramatic, beautiful mess. Leaning heavily into overly dramatized elements (makjang), Penthouse is a 21 episode rollercoaster ride of emotion. Blending elements of a murder mystery, slice of life drama and thriller together, SBS’s latest melodrama is a thoroughly enjoyable romp and despite its obvious flaws, makes for some unforgettable TV.
Penthouse is not perfect, it has some conventional “soap opera” turns and the character development is poor at times. What it sacrifices in characterisation it makes up for with an irresistible storyline that’s hard to turn away from once you’re hooked. It won’t be for everyone but for those who are sucked into the drama of this one, Penthouse is makjang at its gloriously trashy best.
Has this piqued your interest? Why not add it to your watchlist on Netflix now!
And there we have it, our picks for the most thrilling K-Dramas on Netflix right now. What do you think of our list? Have we included your favourites? Feel free to let us know in the comments below.