If you’ve already run through all the romantic Korean dramas on your list, you may want to turn your attention to another genre that’ll have your heart racing in a different way — thrillers. From murder mysteries and psychological thrillers to those with supernatural beings, these are the adrenaline-inducing Korean dramas to catch in 2022.
What it’s about: One of the latest additions to South Korea’s burgeoning zombie dramas is All of Us Are Dead. In a similar vein to Sweet Home and Alone, it is centred around a group of people trapped in a building while a zombie virus spreads like a wildfire; this time, it’s a group of high schoolers trapped in their school. Without a way to reach their family as well as food, they can only count themselves to survive.
Based on the chart-topping Korean webtoon called Now at Our School, the series stars rising actors Yoon Chan-young, Park Ji-hoo, Cho Yi-hyun, Lomon, and Yoo In-soo.
Premieres Jan 28, 2022, on Netflix.
What it’s about:Eight-part sci-fi mystery thriller The Silent Sea stars heavyweights like Gong Yoo and Bae Doona as a soldier Han Yoon-jae and scientist Song Ji-an respectively, who go on a dangerous mission to the moon.
In a dystopian future world where the world is facing a water crisis that results in severe resource rationing, a team of space explorers go on a perilous 24-hour mission on the moon, to try to retrieve samples from an abandoned research facility steeped in classified secrets.
However, things go awry and they crash-land on the moon’s surface, miles away from the station.
Now on Netflix.
What it’s about: Yet another zombie series to satisfy your appetite for shows depicting hordes of the undead running rampant, Happiness is set in a high-rise apartment building with residents of different social classes. However, the building is sealed off when a new infectious disease emerges in the city. During this time, not only must the residents survive the virus, but doubt and conflicts between the various social groups also start to emerge. Interestingly, it’s also set in a world that has experienced Covid-19 – think plastic dividers and face masks.
Han Hyo-joo plays the spunky Yoon Sae-bom, a member of a special police squad who faces a crisis when she moves into the apartment. Park Hyung-Sik stars as detective Jung Yi-hyun, Sae-bom’s former high school classmate who has feelings for her.
The chemistry behind the duo is undeniable, as they struggle to survive the apocalypse.
Now on iQiyi.
What it’s about: After saving mankind from a crisis, a mysterious being (Lee Si-young) suddenly reappears to protect a serial murderer. By award-winning writer Lee Su-yeon, the mystery thriller follows government official Kim Sae-ha ( Seo Kang-jun) and detective (Jung Sae-byuk) who tenaciously delve into many secrets and uncover the mystery of why the entity is protecting the murderer.
Premieres 2022 on Disney+.
What it’s about: Protagonist Song Ha-young (Kim Nam-gil) works as a criminal profiler, in a time where criminal profiling is still a novel concept in society.
Based on a non-fiction book co-written by Korea’s first criminal profiler Kwon Il-yong, it follows the calm and charismatic criminal profiler who investigates gruesome murder cases; you’ll be taken through the process of how he deeply analyses the minds of serial murderers.
Now on Viu.
What it’s about: Netflix K-drama series Hellbound starts with the arrival of supernatural beings in a dystopian world — but it’s nothing angelic. Instead, they’re there to condemn and send people to hell, creating chaos.
Taking advantage of the chaos, a religious group named The New Truth thrives as people search for answers. Yoo Ah-in plays the protagonist, with Park Jung-min and Kim Hyun-joo in supporting roles.
It’s directed by filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho, who is also behind zombie thriller Train To Busan, so you’ll be in for a ride. It will also be aired at the 46th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), making it the first Korean television series to be invited.
Now on Netflix.
What it’s about: Based on a popular webtoon of the same name by Kim Carnby and Hwang Young-chan. This fantasy-horror thriller stars Song Kang as troubled teen Cha Hyun-soo who moves into an old apartment called Green Home after his family is killed in a car accident.
Soon, however, monsters start to unexpectedly show up, but Hyun-soo and his neighbours are stuck inside. They hole up inside the apartment in hopes of surviving the monster apocalypse as they can – but what they soon realise is that the “monsters” are really people who have turned into these creatures when they give in to their desires, and they could so become one themselves, too.
Now on Netflix.
What it’s about: A ruthless and crazed serial killer is on the loose, and has the nation gripped with fear. Rookie cop Jung Ba-reum, played by Lee Seung-gi, has a face-to-face encounter with him, and it drives him, together with his partner Go Moo-chi (Lee Hee-jun), to unearth the truth behind the killer’s psychopathic behaviour.
The action-packed show explores the idea of psychopaths being naturally born rather than raised, and questions the ethics of identifying them before birth.
Available on Viu.
What it’s about: If you’re into murder mysteries, this 16-episode drama is for you. It follows two detectives, Lee Dong-sik (Shin Ha-kyun) and Han Joo-won (Yeo Jin-goo), who have been assigned to the sleepy town of Manyang, which also has a history of horrific serial murders 20 years ago — and they’re now starting again.
The two are bent on doing anything to catch the killer – including breaking the law. Expect impressive performances from the duo, with veteran actor Shin Ha-kyun snagging the Best Actor award at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards for his role. The show also doles out a continuous level of tension, surprises, and plot twists to keep you wanting more.
Available on Viu and Netflix.
What it’s about: The wildly popular high society melodrama about three mothers and their secret desires to elevate their lives returns for its third season.
In this season, Su-ryeon (Lee Ji-ah) takes revenge on the residents of luxury apartment Hera Palace that wrecked her child’s life. Seo Jin (Kim So-yeon) may have cultivated a successful career as a classical singer, but her daughter seems to lack in so many things unlike her. Yoon-hee (Kim Yoo-jin) refuses to pass down poverty and devastation to her daughter and tries everything she can to move into the Penthouse. The three then join hands to take down the vicious Joo Dan-tae.
Available on Viu.
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What it’s about: Netflix K-drama series Hellbound starts with the arrival of supernatural beings in a dystopian world — but it’s nothing angelic. Instead, they’re there to condemn and send people to hell, creating chaos.
Taking advantage of the chaos, a religious group named The New Truth thrives as people search for answers. Yoo Ah-in plays the protagonist, with Park Jung-min and Kim Hyun-joo in supporting roles.
It’s directed by filmmaker Yeon Sang-ho, who is also behind zombie thriller Train To Busan, so you’ll be in for a ride. It will also be aired at the 46th Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), making it the first Korean television series to be invited.
Scheduled to air on Netflix in 2021.
What it’s about: Following their appearance together in Kingdom season two, Gianna Jun (Jun Ji-hyun) and Ju Ji-hoon team up again, this time as national park rangers Seo Yi-kang and Kang Hyun-jo who watch over the unexplored Mount Jiri National Park, the largest in South Korea.
They also unravel its many secrets and mysteries, including a rather deadly one.
The iQiyi original is directed by Lee Eung-bok, who helmed “Mr. Sunshine” and written by Kim Eun-hee, who was also behind “Kingdom”.
Scheduled to air in Oct 2021 on iQiyi.
What it’s about: Now in its fourth season, top Korean crime thriller Voice revolves around the story of an emergency call centre team (also introduced as the Golden Time Team) who have to race against time to save victims of crime who dial in for help.
In this season, a murderer sneaks onto an island that is a popular tourist destination. Not just that, he also has superhuman hearing abilities that match detective and ace criminal profiler Kang Kwon-joo’s (Lee Han-na) own enhanced hearing powers.
Together with her team, they have to weed him out amongst all the other criminals who target vacation-goers. They also join forces with Derek Jo (Song Seung-heon), leader of a Los Angeles Police Department squad, to catch their common enemy.
You’re in for lots of dynamic action and suspense.
Available on Viu.
What it’s about: Starring Lee Je-hoon, Esom, and Kim Eui-sung, this crime thriller is based on the webtoon The Deluxe Taxi by Carlos and Lee Jae-jin.
After enduring personal losses from crime, a group of people takes justice into their own hands. Using their taxi service business as a front, they help victims of crime get revenge when the law doesn’t help them. Lee Je-hoon is cast as Kim Do-gi, a former Korea Military Academy graduate whose mother was murdered. He joined the Rainbow Taxi Company after his mother was killed. Meanwhile, Esom plays elite prosecutor Kang Ha-na, and Kim Eui-sung takes on the role of Jang Sung-chul, who is CEO of the taxi company.
Available on Viu.
What it’s about: While we’re still having withdrawals from season 2 and eagerly waiting for season three of zombie period thriller Kingdom, set in the ancient Joseon era, its special episode Ashin of the North is here to fill that gaping hole
The Netflix original reveals more about the resurrection plant, which is the source of the zombie apocalypse. It also dives into the backstory of Ashin (Gianna Jun), who is the mysterious woman seen keeping zombies as pets in the last scene of season two. Revenge is the name of the game, and yes, you can expect more of the terrifying zombies.
Available on Netflix.
What it’s about: Park Shin-hye is literally back in action for Sisphyus: The Myth with not just lots of car chases, shootouts and plane crashes but also time travel.
The show follows genius engineer Han Tae-sul (Cho Seung-woo), who is trying to uncover the truth behind the death of his brother. He encounters Kang Seo-hae (Park Shin-hye), a skilled warrior and time-traveller from a dystopian future. She had gone back in time to save Tae-sul against mysterious beings, and in doing so, prevent the chaos and destruction that would otherwise ensure.
Now on Netflix.
This article was first published in The Singapore Women’s Weekly.