A “DARK” KDRAMAS REC LIST
*inspired by and assembled with help from babyjollof
*(legal) links to watch are provided where available!
White Christmas (KBS 2011) 8 episodes
Sung Joon, Kim Woo Bin, Lee Soo Hyuk, Hong Jong Hyun, Esom
Seven students and a teacher from an elite but remote private high school find themselves stranded on campus over the winter holiday week. What follows is eight days’ worth of anonymous letters, uninvited guests,mind games, character studies and the search for the answer to the show’s key conundrum; are monsters born or made? And how far would you have to go to defeat one? If you’re into : psychological thrillers, philosophical antagonists, Woo Bin in pink hair, narratives told in single locations within a limited time frame
Soul / Posessed (MBC 2009) 10 episodes :: watch
Lee Seo Jin, Im Joo Eun
A high school girl is possessed by the spirit of her murdered sister and gains supernatural powers, prompting a criminal psychologist to step in and exploit her abilities in order to exact his own brand of vigilante justice.
If you’re into: old-school horror, moral ambiguity
Mawang / The Devil (KBS 2007) 20 episodes :: watch
Uhm Tae Woong, Joo Ji Hoon, Shin Min Ah
A detective, a defense attorney and a psychic librarian (a psychic librarian!)
find themselves working together to solve what seems to be a series of unrelated murders. The only clues are a selection of symbolic Tarot cards left behind at the crime scenes and a tragic, dark secret from our male protagonists’ shared past.
If you’re into: childhood secrets, revenge/redemption arcs, morally ambiguous leads, psychic librarians
Secret Investigation Record (TVN 2010) 12 episodes :: watch
Kim Ji Hoon, Im Jung Eun
In this alternate history version of the Joseon-era, a dedicated inspector discovers a secret government organization tasked with investigating and recording various paranormal (and potentially extraterrestrial) phenomena. Sageuk/science fiction fusion, yes? Yes?? YES.
If you’re into: Mulder & Scully AUs, period dramas, aliens.
God’s Gift : 14 Days (SBS 2014) 16 episodes :: watch
Lee Bo Young, Jo Seung Woo, Kim Tae Woo
A grieving mother discovers she has the ability to time travel to precisely 14 days before the day of the kidnapping and murder of her young daughter. With the help of a former policeman/current private investigator, she races against time to save her child and alter the future.
If you’re into: time travel, grief/vengeance arc from the female character’s perspective
Gap-dong (TVN 2014) 20 episodes
Yoon Sang Hyun, Kim Min Jung, Sung Dong Il, Lee Joon
Based on the real-life (and still unsolved) Hwaseong serial murders, this fictional re-telling sees two sets of eerily identical serial killings taking place in the same neighbourhood within 17 years of each other. Is the present perpetrator a copycat killer, or the original murderer (nicknamed “Gap-dong”) returning to finish what he started?
If you’re into: murder mysteries, Lee Joon being creepy
Gaksital / Bridal Mask (KBS 2012) 28 episodes :: watch
Joo Won, Jin Se Yun, Park Ki Woong
Set in Japanese-occupied Seoul in the 1930s, a bright young officer assists the Japanese police in their attempts to capture a mysterious Korean freedom fighter who is always seen wearing a traditional bridal mask. As our protagonist grows ever more disillusioned and frustrated with the cruelty of the Japanese colonizers and his own betrayal of the Korean people, he himself takes on the “bridal mask” persona and begins fighting for justice and independence.
If you’re into: historical settings, vigilante heroes, Park Ki Woong’s face
Heartless City / Cruel City (JTBC 2013) 20 episodes :: watch
Jung Kyung Ho, Nam Gyu Ri, Kim Yoo Mi, Go Na Eun
A young orphan-turned mob leader known as the “Doctor’s Son” navigates the seedy criminal underworld of Seoul’s drug rings, as two members of the special crimes investigation unit remain hot on his heels.
If you’re into: nice suits, stylishly choreographed fight scenes, gorgeous noir aesthetics and solid storytelling to back it all up.
Nine : Nine Time Travels (TVN 2013) 20 episodes :: watch
Lee Jin Wook, Jo Yoon Hee, Park Hyung Sik
A reporter stumbles across a set of nine incense sticks which allow him to travel 20 years back in his own timeline in order to prevent a family tragedy. But every decision he makes in the past comes with consequences and ripple effects he cannot predict or control, as he risks unraveling the lives of everyone he knows, including himself.
If you’re into : Lee Jin Wook’s bunny teeth, a time travel concept with legitimately high-stake consequences and an interesting twist in the rules
Special Affairs Team TEN (OCN 2011-12) 21 episodes, 2 seasons.
Joo Sang Hoo, Choi Woo Shik, Jo An, Kim Sang Ho
An ensemble police procedural drama which sees its characters tackling various violent, twisted crimes in every episode. While season 1 has more of a focus on individual cases, season 2 introduces a story arc in the form of the hunt for a serial killer known only as “Murderer F” and the possibly related disappearance of a member of team TEN.
If you’re into : crime procedurals, ragtag team shenigans
Tree With Deep Roots (SBS 2011) 24 episodes :: watch
Jang Hyuk, Han Suk Kyu, Song Joong Ki, Shin Se Kyung
A royal guard at King Sejong’s palace becomes embroiled in the investigation of serial murders of scholars who were working - in secret - on the development of the Korean written script. Nefarious plots, hidden organizations and conspiracies abound in this period drama/murder mystery based on the novel of the same title by Lee Jung Myung.
If you’re into : murder mysteries, historical conspiracies, court politics
Missing Noir M (OCN 2015) 10 episodes :: watch
Kim Kang Woo, Park Hee Soon
A young detective returns home to South Korea after working for the FBI and is assigned to a special missing persons task force with a focus on unsolved crimes. He is partnered with a much older, gruff and grizzled veteran investigator who isn’t impressed with his new colleague’s fancy credentials or methods.
If you’re into : (dark) buddy cop shenanigans, murder mysteries, brief glimpses of Kang Ha Neul’s face
Two Weeks (MBC 2013) 16 episodes :: watch
Lee Joon Ki, Ryu Soo Young, Kim So Yeon
A petty criminal/small-time gangster discovers that he has a biological daughter dying of leukemia and agrees to be her bone marrow donor. He becomes unwittingly embroiled in a political conspiracy and ends up a murder suspect and fugitive, with both the police and the mob on his heels, and with only two weeks in which to save his own life and his daughter’s.
If you’re into : redemption arcs, action/thriller with a touch of family drama, crying, lee joon ki, crying about lee joon ki.
Vampire Prosecutor (OCN 2013) 23 episodes :: watch S1 / watch S2
Yeon Jung Hoon, Lee Young Ah
An actual, literal vampire solves difficult cases using his ability to determine the location and method of murder by tasting/smelling the victim’s blood. He maintains a strict diet of drinking the blood of already-deceased humans, and spends his free time trying to uncover the identity of the vampire who bit and turned him against his will 7 years ago.
If you’re into : stylish vampires in the city, noir aesthetics, murder mysteries
Phantom / Ghost (SBS 2012) 20 episodes :: watch
So Ji Sub, Lee Yeon Hee
A brilliant detective is assigned to the cyber crimes investigation unit and tries to take down an anonymous hacker known only as Hades. Cue conspiracies, murder and hidden identities, plus everyone and their grandmothers trying to get their hands on a mysterious encrypted file referred to as “phantom”.
If you’re into : conspiracies, people hacking into stuff, the ~dark~ side of modern technology
My Beautiful Bride (OCN 2015) 16 episodes :: watch
Lee Si Young, Kim Moo Yul, Ryu Seung Soo
A naive, straight-laced office worker is determined to go to extremes in order to find his missing fiancée, even at the cost of unraveling his life and past self.
If you’re into : suspense/thrillers, revenge arcs
Bad Guys (OCN 2014) 11 episodes
Park Hae Jin, Kim Sang Joong, Jo Dong Hyuk, Ma Dong Seok
Determined to beat violent criminals at their own game, a hardened detective puts together an investigation team made up of incarcerated felons (a contract killer, a gang member, and the youngest known serial killer in the country), promises them the reward of a shortened jail sentence, and sets them to work on some of the most twisted, depraved cases on record.
If you’re into : murder mysteries, dark pasts, grudge/respect team dynamics, redemption/revenge arcs
The Virus (OCN 2013) 10 episodes
Uhm Ki Joon, Lee So Jung, Lee Ki Woo
A mutant virus with a 100% fatality rate makes an appearance in Seoul, and members of the Special Infectious Disease Crisis Response Team only have a matter of days to identify and contain the virus before it spreads to the rest of the world.
If you’re into : medical thrillers/procedurals with a vague apocalyptic threat looming in the background
Liar Game (TVN 2014) 12 episodes :: watch
Kim So Eun, Shin Sung Rok, Lee Sang Yoon
A college student in debt, a swindler and a psychology professor take part in a reality game show where the primary objective is to lie, cheat and manipulate your fellow contestants on the way to winning a million-dollar grand prize.
If you’re into : mind games, potential for characters to cross their personal moral event horizons
Cheo Yong (OCN 2014) 10 episodes, 2 seasons
Oh Ji Ho, Oh Ji Eun, Jun Hyo Seong
Detective Cheo Yong is born with the ability to see, hear, touch and smell ghosts. He solves murders with his companion (the spirit of a high school girl who has been haunting him since his childhood) and aided by clues left behind by the spirits of the victims.
If you’re into : murder mysteries, cute ghosts, other not-so-cute ghosts
The Village : Achiara’s Secret (SBS 2015) 16 episodes :: coming soon (Oct 7)
Moon Goon Yeung, Yook Sung Jae, On Joo Wan, Shin Eun Kyung
Life in a small, peaceful, crime-free village is interrupted by the discovery of an unidentified corpse. With no missing person reported in the community, a young teacher and a policeman take it upon themselves to discover who the victim is, why they are there, and whether this was a murder, suicide, or accident.
If you’re into : moody murder mysteries, seemingly quaint small towns with ugly secrets
*considering the themes/general plot for a lot of these dramas, i’d say most - if not all - of them would come with a general trigger/content warning for violence, death, murder, sexual violence, blood/gore/body horror, drug & alcohol use, guns, knives and other weapons use, etc.
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