Among this mixture of genre stories, there is one very popular action, thriller, and romance drama story; “Healer.” “Healer” is a South Korean television series that was aired between 2014 and 2015. “Healer” has a total of 20 episodes.
The story of “Healer” is spun around the events that occurred in the past many years, including the group of five friends who were controlling an illegal pro-democracy broadcasting station at the time of the Fifth Republic in South Korea.
The story escorts three different people at the same time: a reporter from a second-rate tabloid news website, a well-known journalist at a notable broadcast station, and an illegal ‘night courier’ with a secret name “Healer” who is a master of top level fighting skills.
He was employed by a young reporter to look over a case that occurred over 20 years ago that provided a route for him to expose a major scheme. Later, “Healer” unintentionally falls in love with the young reporter, and with each other, they face several strong political leaders in Seoul.
The story of “Healer” is heroic, and “Healer” is a rare hero who opts to isolate himself from society. The drama received a moderate rating in South Korea but gained a huge audience abroad. The main characters of “Healer” are Ji Chang-Wook, Park Min-Young, Yoo Ji-Tae, Kim Mi-Kyung, and Tae-Mi.
There are some dramas like “Healer” that provide a mixture of action, thriller, and romance. Everyone has their unique storyline and characters that keep the audience entertained, like Doctor Stranger, The K2, and so on.
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1. Time Between Dog and Wolf
“Time Between Dog and Wolf” is a South Korean action romance drama. The story of the drama revolves around two NIS agents; Lee Soo-Hyun and Min Ki, and their love interest Ji- Woo.
Lee Soo Hyun is a talented NIS agent who has a dark past; he witnessed his mother’s murder when he was young by the Triad in Thailand. Later, Lee Soo Hyun was adopted by another NIS agent; Kang Joong Ho, and grew up with his best friend cum Brother, Min Ki; who also became a NIS agent after growing up. After becoming a NIS agent, Lee Soo Hyun starts his journey of seeking justice for his mother and taking revenge on his enemies.
In his revenge path, Lee Soo Hyun faced many challenges and dangers, like assassination, moments of pain, and denial, but he continued his journey of revenge and justice for his mother’s death.
The story of the drama explores themes of revenge, denial, identity, amnesia, elements of internal affairs, lines between good and evil, loyalty, and the reuniting of brothers. The story of the drama received a positive response from the audience for its solid performances and gripping plot.
The story brings out a layer of romance when Lee Soo Hyun meets his childhood sweetheart, Ji Woo, after many years of separation. Lee Soo Hyun and Ji Woo met each other when they were twelve years old; sparks fly after their re-connection, and their romance begins.
The presence of Ji Woo also brought a love triangle in the story, as both Min Ki a Lee Soo Hyun fell in love with Ji Woo. This also brought some misunderstandings between Min Ki and Lee Soo Hyun.
There were several memorable moments in the drama that struck audiences, like the reunion of Ji Woo and Lee Soo Hyun; their separation and reunion brought a touch of romance to the story; Lee Soo Hyun’s training as an NIS agent; where he showed his determination and growth.
The assassination attempts on Lee Soo Hyun, the revelation of truth related to his past and the people around him, and the action fights; where Lee Soo Hyun’s skills as an NIS agent were seen, brought an extra layer of excitement to the audience and Lee Soo Hyun’s journey for revenge and justice.
- Released in: 2007
- Number of episodes: 16 episodes
- Cast: Lee Joon Gi, Nam Sang Mi, Jung Kyung Ho, Lee Ki Young, Choi Jae Sung, Cha Soo Yeon, Lee Tae Sung, Choi Ji Na
- Director: Kim Jin-Min
- Streaming platforms: Kocowa, Rakuten Viki, KoreaOnDemand, The Roku Channel
- Reviews: IMDb – 8/10, Viki – 9.2/10
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2. Doctor Stranger
“Doctor Stranger” is a South Korean medical thriller and romance drama. The story of the drama revolves around Park Hoon, who is an excellent cardio-thoracic surgeon. In the past, Park Hoon and his father, Park Cheol, were sent to North Korea on a secret diplomatic mission.
But Park Cheol was killed in North Korea because Park Hoon and his father were betrayed by their own country. After his father’s death, Park Hoon met Song Jae Hee, a North Korean girl with whom Park Hoon fell in love while facing various challenges in escaping from North Korea.
After coming back to South Korea, Park Hoon was admitted to Myungwoo University Hospital. Here at Myungwoo University Hospital, Park Hoon faces various challenges and problems as Park Hoon adjusts to his new life and plans to reunite with his lost love; Song Jae Hee.
Tension in the story begins to grow when Park Hoon starts to fall in love with another doctor from the hospital, Oh Soo Hyun. The truth about Song Jae Hee being alive and changing her name comes in front of Park Hoon. The love triangle between Park Hoon, Oh Soo Hyun, and Song Jae Hee, adds dispute and emotional depth to the drama.
The story shows various medical expertise, where Park Hoon shows his surgical skills to his competitors in the hospital and solves strange medical cases. This competition at the hospital becomes the stage for dispute, rivalry, ambition, and various political manipulations.
Park Hoon faces various challenges, sacrifices, risks, conspiracies, and political web in his journey of truth, desire, and justice for his father’s death, as he reveals various corruptions within medical fields and political institutions.
- Released in: 2014
- Number of episodes: 20 episodes
- Cast: Lee Jong Suk, Jin Se Yeon, Kang So Ra, Park Hae Jin
- Director: Jin Hyeok
- Streaming platforms: Kocowa, Rakuten Viki, KoreaOnDemand
- Reviews: IMDb – 7.4/10, Viki – 9.2/10, WeTV – 7.3/10
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3. The K2
“The K2” is a South Korean drama. The story revolves around a former mercenary soldier, Kim Je Ha, also known as “K2”. Kim Je Ha was wrongly charged with killing his girlfriend while doing his duty in Iraq, which led him to become a fugitive.
After returning to South Korea, Kim Je Ha took a job of being a bodyguard for Choi Yoo Jin, who is the wife of a presidential candidate, Jang Se Joon, and the owner of JSS Security. Later, Kim Je Ha got entangled with Anna, who is the secret daughter of the presidential candidate, when Kim Je Ha was trying to find out the truth and take revenge.
The setting of the drama shows various locations throughout South Korea, including Seoul. The story opens in the background of the political terrain, with the presidential election presented as the central theme.
“The K2” shows the powerful and luxurious world of riches, as well as the darker side of corruption and politics. The drama shows themes like political drama, action, and romance. “The K2” also displayed various action-packed scenes that were shot in different settings like secret hideouts, high-rise buildings, and numerous outdoor locations.
“The K2” received admiration and applause from the audience for its performance and intense action scenes, but some people also expressed their dislike by saying that it failed to balance different genres.
- Released in 2016
- Number of episodes: 16 episodes
- Cast: Ji Chang Wook, Choi Seung Hoon, Im Yoon Ah, Lee Yoo Joo, Jo Sung Ha
- Director: Kwak Jung Hwan
- Streaming platforms: Netflix, Tubi TV, iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Instant Video
- Reviews: IMDb – 7.8/10
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4. Suspicious Partner
“Suspicious Partner” is a South Korean television series. The story revolves around Eun Bong Hee, a lawyer, and Noh Ji Wook, a prosecutor. Eun Bong Hee and Noh Ji Wook first met each other while working at the prosecutor’s office. Eun Bong Hee was an intern, and Noh Ji Wook was her boss.
One day, Eun Bong Hee accidentally witnessed a murder scene, and then the murderer tried to kill her but coincidentally killed her ex-boyfriend. Then Eun Bong Hee was suspected of the murder of her ex-boyfriend and was arrested, and then Noh Ji Wook became her prosecutor.
Later, based on some shreds of evidence, Noh Ji Wook finds Eun Bong Hee innocent and works to prove it in court. Both Noh Ji Wook and Eun Bong Hee joined hands to uncover the truth about the murders and gradually fell in love with each other. They faced many obstacles, including pressure from the chief prosecutor and the real murderer.
Along with the murder mystery, Noh Ji Wook uncovers the truth about his father’s death and proves that Eun Bong Hee’s father was innocent. The setting of the story takes place in various locations, like the prosecutor’s office.
The theme of the story is romance, comedy, and investigation. The main plot of the story is to catch the murderer, who is especially a psycho-serial killer, and prove Eun Bong Hee innocent. The story has other characters like psycho-killers and stalking victims.
- Released in 2017
- Number of episodes: 40 episodes
- Cast: Ji Chang Wook, Nam Ji Hyun, Choi Tae Joon, Kwon Na Ra
- Director: Park Seon Ho
- Streaming platforms: Netflix, Kocowa, Amazon Prime Video, Rakuten Viki, MxPlayer, Zee 5, OTT Play
- Review: IMDb – 7.8/10, MyDramaList – 8.3/10
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5. You’re All Surrounded
“You’re All Surrounded” is a South Korean television series. The story revolves around the lives of four rookie detectives who work in Gangnam, Seoul, South Korea. The story is a mixture of action, comedy, romance, and mystery.
The main characters of the story are Ji Gook, Park Tae II, Eun Dae Gu, and Eo Soo Sun. Ji Gook; he is a detective with great intelligence and analytical skills. Park Tae II; is a detective with a strong sense of justice and passion for work.
Eun Dae Gu; is a skilled detective with a tragic past and was trying to take revenge against someone who betrayed him in the past. Eo Soo Sun; is a resolute detective who is clumsy but has a crush on Eun Dae Gu.
All four of them together solve many mysterious crime cases while facing many obstacles like corruption inside the police department, which makes them get closer to each other and helps in grow both professionally and personally.
- Released in: 2014
- Number of episodes: 20 episodes
- Cast: Lee Seung Gi, Go Ara, Ahn Jae Hyun, Park Jung Min, Cha Seung Won, Oh Yoon Ah, Sung Ji Ru
- Director: Lee Myung Woo
- Streaming platforms: Netflix, Hotstar, Amazon Prime Video, Hooq, Rakuten Viki, BetaSeries, MyasianTV, JustWatch
- Review: IMDb – 7.5/10
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6. Empress Ki
“Empress Ki” is a historical Korean drama. The story revolves around Ki Sung Nyang, a woman belonging to a lowly background who becomes a powerful empress. Ki Sung Nyang was a girl disguised as a boy to avoid becoming a palace maidservant.
Later, Ki Sung Nyang was sent to China as a part of the concubine tribute from Goryeo (Korea). There, she caught the attention of Emperor Ta Hwan, also known as Toghon Temur. Through her intelligence, wit, and martial arts skills, Ki Sung Nyang gains the trust of Emperor Ta Hwan and becomes his concubine.
Later, Ki Sung Nyang rose in power and became one of the primary empresses of Emperor Ta Hwan; she gave birth to a prince, Biligtu Khan, who later became Emperor Zhaozong.
All through the drama, Ki Sung Nyang faces alliances and conflicts with other authoritative figures, including Empress Bayan Khutugh and the prince of Goryeo, Wang Yu.
The theme of the drama is loyalty, love, betrayal, action, and the pursuit of power in the historical plot. “Empress Ki” is popular for its intricate plot, epic scale, and strong performances by the cast. The drama shows the personal journeys of characters as well as the rise and fall of the empires.
- Released in: 2013
- Number of episodes: 51 episodes
- Cast: Ha Ji Won, Ji Chang Wook
- Director: Han Hee
- Streaming platforms: Kocowa, Rakuten Viki, KoreaOnDemand, The Roku Channel, Amazon Prime Video
- Reviews: IMDb – 8.4/10, Viki – 9.4/10, MyDramaList – 8.6/10
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7. City of the Sun
“City of the Sun” is a South Korean television drama series. The story of the drama series is based on the Japanese novel “Bones of Steel” by Jun Ikeido. The story of the drama revolves around a corrupted construction company and the supervisory agency that is exploiting it.
The main protagonist of the drama, Kang Tae Yang, is a young man who is working in a construction company. And nurture ideals of home buildings for people to live in. Kang Tae Yang fights to make a difference in a corrupt system and opposes against corrupt forces that are trying to stop him.
The theme of the story is social justice, political corruption, and the struggle for change in the corrupted system.
- Released in 2015
- Number of episodes: 16 episodes
- Cast: Kim Joon, Jung Min, Song Min Jung, Jung Joo Yeon, Kim Sung Kyung
- Directors: Park Ki Hyung and Jung Heung Soon
- Streaming platforms: OVID, DocAlliance Films, AsianWiki, In Studio Live
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8. I Can Hear Your Voice
“I Can Hear Your Voice” is a South Korean television drama series. The drama is a mixture of genres like romance, action, thriller, and fantasy. The story revolves around Jung Hye Sung, a public defense lawyer who is jaded, self-preserving, and pragmatic. Park Soo Ha, a high school student, can read a person’s mind by looking into his eyes.
The story starts with some past moments, where Park Soo Ha gains the power of mind reading after witnessing her father’s murder by a serial killer, Min Joon Gook. Moving on, the drama shows the present day when Park Soo Ha meets Jung Hye Sung, a lawyer who helped Park Soo Ha in the trial of her father’s murder case.
As the drama moves forward, Park Soo H and Jung Hye Sung work together to solve cases and bring justice to criminals. As time passes, they start developing feelings for each other, but their feelings get entangled in a complicated situation because of their age difference and the fact that Park Soo Ha is a minor.
On the other side, the serial killer, Min Joon Gook, who killed Park Soo Ha’s father, got out of jail and started his revenge against Jung Hye Sung, the defense lawyer, and Park Soo Ha, the witness of the case.
The story explores themes like revenge, forgiveness, justice, and the power of love. The story also featured a strong supporting cast, including Cha Gwan Woo, a defense lawyer who has a crush on Jung Hye Sung, and Seo Do Yeon, a prosecutor, and rival of Jung Hye Sung.
The story won several awards for its uniqueness and strong performances by the characters.
- Released in: 2013
- Number of episodes: 18 episodes
- Cast: Lee Bo Young, Lee Jong Suk, Yoon Sang Hyun, Lee Da Hee, and Jeong Woong In
- Director: Jo Soo Won
- Streaming platforms: Kocowa, Hulu, Rakuten Viki, and Korea OnDemand
- Review: IMDb – 8.1/10, Viki – 9.3/10
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9. Remember: War of the Son
“Remember: War of the Son” is a South Korean television drama series. The story is a legal thriller with a touch of fantasy and romance. The story revolves around Seo Jin Woo, a lawyer with a hyperthymesia condition, who is set on a journey to prove his father’s innocence in a murder case.
With the help and support of Park Dong Ho, a lawyer, he set his journey to uncover the truth and bring justice. Park Dong Ho discovers the truth behind his own father’s death when he looks at the corruption of the Nan family.
Seo Jin Woo faced many obstacles in his journey, like having Alzheimer’s disease, including some personal challenges like his feelings for Lee In Ah, a defence lawyer and friend of Seo Jin Woo. Lee In Ah also helped in Seo Jin Woo’s father’s case by discovering crucial evidence.
The story brings out themes like justice, corruption, family, and love. The story delves into the lengths one can go to to protect his family and the inner workings of the legal system. The series received a positive response from the audience for its beautiful cinematography, solid plot, and strong cast.
- Released in 2015
- Number of episodes: 20 episodes
- Cast: Yoo Seung Ho, Park Sung Woong, Namkoong Min, Park Min Young, and Jung Hye Sung
- Director: Lee Chang Min
- Streaming platforms: PlayPilot, SoundCloud, Reelgood, MyDramaList, and JustWatch
- Review: IMDb – 7.7/10, Viki – 9.3/10
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10. Kill Me, Heal Me
“Kill Me, Heal Me” is a South Korean drama. The story is thriller and romance genre. The story revolves around Cha Do Hyun, a wealthy heir who is suffering from dissociative identity disorder (DID), also known as multiple personality disorder.
Cha Do Hyun has seven personalities, and each personality has unique memories and characteristics. Cha Do Hyun met Oh Ri Jin, a first-year resident and a psychiatrist.
Oh, Ri Jin helps Cha Do Hyun in uncovering the truth about the past and overcoming his personality disorder. As they work together, they slowly develop feelings for each other.
All through the drama, Cha Do Hyun faces several obstacles and challenges; he also discovers his family’s secret and the people around him who want to take advantage of his illness. The drama shows themes like family, love, and mental health.
The drama received positive results from the audience for its strong cast, unique storyline, and emotional depth. The songs of drama sung by K-pop artists were also liked by the audience and earned many praises.
- Released in 2015
- Number of episodes: 20 episodes
- Cast: Ji Sung, Hwang Jung Eum, Park Seo Joon, Oh Min Suk, Kim Yoo Ri, Kim Young Ae, and Choi Won Young
- Director: Kim Jin-Man
- Streaming platforms: Kocowa, Rakuten Viki, and Korea OnDemand
- Review: IMDb – 8.3/10, Viki – 9.6/10
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11. City Hall
“City Hall’ is a South Korean drama. The story of the drama revolves around Shin Mi Rae, who is a low-ranking government clerk, who becomes the youngest mayor of Inju City, and Jo Gook, an ambitious and cynical deputy mayor in Inju City who helps Shin Mi Rae with political issues.
Later, Shin Mi Rae and Jo Gook develop feelings for each other. The story shows themes of love, power, and corruption. The drama delves into the world of dirty politics, highlighting the struggles and obstacles faced by Shin Mi Rae and Jo Gook.
The drama is a heartwarming tale of ambition, love, and politics. The drama also focuses on the love story of Jo Gook and Shin Mi Rae, showing two people’s love in political chaos. “City Hall’ was also very popular in Vietnam.
- Released in: 2009
- Number of episodes: 20 episodes
- Cast: Kim Shin A and Cha Seung Won
- Director: Shin Woo Chul
- Streaming Platforms: Kocowa, Rakuten Viki, KoreaOnDemand, and Max
- Review: IMDb – 7.5/10, Viki – 9.5/10
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12. Pinocchio
“Pinocchio” is a South Korean drama. The story revolves around Choi Dal Po and Choi In Ha, two brothers, who witnessed their family being destroyed by the lies of the media. Choi Dal Po becomes a reporter to take revenge against those who destroyed his family’s life.
Choi In Ha has a Pinocchio Syndrome, which leads her to hiccups whenever she lies; she is also a reporter. Choi In Ha and Choi Dal Po work together to uncover the truth behind those corrupted reporters who destroyed their family’s lives.
The drama deals with themes like truth, revenge, and justice, showcasing obstacles and struggles faced by characters as they make their way into the world of journalism. The drama’s original soundtrack features songs by several artists, including “Non-Fiction” by Every Single Day.
The drama delves into the importance of telling the truth and the consequences of manipulating facts. The drama shows the power of investigative journalists and the role of a journalist in uncovering the truth. “Pinocchio” is written by Park Hye Ryun.
- Released in 2014
- Number of episodes: 20 episodes
- Cast: Lee Jong Suk, Park Shin Hye, Kim Young Kwang, Lee Yu Bi, Lee Pil Mo, Jin Kyung, and Kim Hae Sook
- Director: Joo Soo Won
- Streaming platforms: Viki, IMDb, UnitedKpop, Wikipedia, KoreanDrama.org, and MyDramaList
- Review: IMDb – 8.1/10, Viki – 9.5/10
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13. City Hunter
“City Hunter” is a South Korean drama series. The drama is based on a Japanese manga series of the same name and was written by Tsukasa Hojo. The story of the drama revolves around Lee Yun Seong, a young man with a hidden identity known as “City Hunter.”
At the start of the story, Lee Yun Seong enters a village in Thailand and witnesses a Korean man, Bae Sik Joong, being harassed by Thai gangsters. Lee Yun Seong, the “City Hunter,” takes revenge and seeks justice for his father’s murder caused by the betrayal of government officials.
All through the drama, Lee Yun Seong works with a bodyguard, Kim Na Na, to uncover political conspiracies and corruption and bring justice to their loved ones. While working together, they gradually fell in love with each other.
The story of the drama deals with themes like action, romance, corruption, and friendship. The series received positive reviews from the audience for its unique storyline, performances of cast members, and well-executed action sequences.
- Released in: 2011
- Number of episodes: 20 episodes
- Cast: Lee Min Ho, Park Min Ho, Park Min Young, Lee Joon Hyuk, Kim Sang Joong, Kim Sang Ho, Hwang Sun Hee, Goo Hara, Chun Ho Jin, and Lee Kwang Soo
- Director: Jin Hyuk
- Streaming platforms: IMDb, Viki, MyDramaList, TV Tropes, Wikipedia, and AsianWiki
- Review: IMDb – 8.1/10, Viki – 9.1/10
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