Korean dramas have skillfully blended genres, creating thrilling stories with zombies and multiverses. These series mix horror, fantasy, and sci-fi, offering viewers a unique and exciting experience. Let’s look at the best 16 Korean dramas that showcase these intriguing themes.
Imagine a historical setting where a prince battles a mysterious plague turning people into zombies. The blend of history and horror creates a gripping narrative. Another series ventures into parallel worlds, following a detective’s emotional journey after encountering a woman resembling his late mother.
In a different show, dark smoke turns people into monsters, focusing on the desperate struggles of survivors. Another drama portrays a dystopian world where apartment residents battle monstrous transformations, adding psychological depth to the horror.
These dramas push the boundaries of traditional storytelling with innovative plots and engaging characters. The seamless integration of zombies and multiverses provides a fresh take on familiar themes. For fans of inventive storytelling, these series are a must-watch, showcasing the limitless creativity of Korean drama creators.
1. Kingdom (2019)
When the Joseon King succumbs to smallpox, rumours of his death spread swiftly. The Cho Clan, including the pregnant Queen and her father, Chief State Councillor Cho Hak Joo, declare the Crown Prince a traitor.
Suspicious of the circumstances, the Crown Prince and his loyal guard, Moo Young, set out on a mission. They seek to find Lee Seung Hui, the last physician to treat the King and uncover the truth.
Their journey takes an unexpected turn when they meet Assistant Physician Seo Bi. Alongside a mysterious man named Young Shin, they find themselves trapped in a village gripped by a terrifying disease.
As the horror unfolds, alliances are tested, and secrets are revealed. The Crown Prince must face political intrigue and supernatural threats to save his kingdom.
- Aired: Jan 25, 2019
- No of Episodes: 6
- Cast: Ju Ji Hoon, Ryu Seung Ryong, Bae Doo Na, Kim Sung Gyu
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
2. Strangers from Hell (2019)
Yoon Jong Woo, a young man in his 20s, moves from the countryside to Seoul after securing a job offered by his college friend, Jae Ho. In search of affordable housing, he comes across Eden Gosiwon, a budget hostel with shared facilities. Despite his initial displeasure with the quality and the odd residents, Jong Woo decides to stay for six months until he can afford better accommodations.
Among the peculiar residents is Seo Moon Jo, a charming dentist who lives next door. Jong Woo finds Moon Jo’s charisma unsettling but resolves to endure the discomfort. As time passes, strange and eerie occurrences begin to unfold inside the hostel, making Jong Woo increasingly uneasy.
The unsettling atmosphere of Eden Gosiwon starts to weigh heavily on Jong Woo. He notices the bizarre behaviours of the residents and hears strange noises at night. His initial plan to save money and move out becomes overshadowed by a growing sense of dread and paranoia.
As the mystery deepens, Jong Woo begins to fear for his safety. The once tolerable living situation now feels like a trap. The true nature of the hostel and its inhabitants slowly unravels, pushing Jong Woo to confront the disturbing reality he has stumbled into.
- Aired: Aug 31, 2019 – Oct 6, 2019
- No of Episodes: 10
- Cast: Yim Si Wan, Lee Dong Wook
- Streaming Platform: Prime Video, Apple TV
3. Rugal (2020)
Kang Ki Beom, an elite police officer, faces a devastating attack from Argos, a notorious criminal organization. Masked assailants brutally murder his wife and gouge out his eyes, leaving him for dead.
When Kang wakes up in the hospital, he’s wrongfully accused of murdering his family. The NIS intervenes, offering him a chance at redemption: join Rugal, a special team equipped with cutting-edge biotechnology.
With his new artificial eyes, Kang acquires extraordinary abilities. Armed with these powers, he is determined to bring down Argos, the organization responsible for his suffering.
Relentless and focused, Kang Ki Beom, along with the Rugal team, embarks on a mission to dismantle Argos. They aim to destroy the criminal organization that shattered his life, seeking justice and vengeance.
- Aired: Mar 28, 2020 – May 17, 2020
- No of Episodes: 16
- Cast: Choi Jin Hyuk, Park Sung Woong, Jo Dong Hyuk, Jung Hye In, Kim Min Sang, Park Sun Ho
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
4. Tunnel (2017)
In 1986, Park Gwang-ho, a passionate and successful detective, led a serial homicide case. Chasing the culprit through a tunnel, he emerges 30 years later, finding himself in 2016.
In this new era, Gwang-ho meets Kim Seon-jae, an eccentric elite detective with exceptional investigative skills. Despite the time gap, they form a strong partnership, driven by their shared commitment to solving crimes.
The serial killer from the past resumes the murders with the same modus operandi. The detective duo joins forces with Professor Shin Jae-yi, a criminal psychologist, to tackle the cold cases and catch the elusive murderer.
Together, they combine their unique strengths to bring justice to the victims. Their relentless pursuit of the truth uncovers hidden secrets and strives to put an end to the killer’s reign of terror.
- Aired: Mar 25, 2017 – May 21, 2017
- No of Episodes: 16
- Cast: Choi Jin Hyuk, Yoon Hyun Min, Lee Yoo Young
- Streaming Platform: Netflix, Viki
5. The Uncanny Counter (2020)
“The Uncanny Counter” follows a unique group of demon hunters known as the Counters. They disguise themselves as noodle restaurant employees while capturing evil spirits in pursuit of eternal life.
So Moon, the youngest Counter, becomes a key figure after surviving a mysterious childhood accident. His journey intertwines with the group’s mission, bringing fresh determination and perspective.
Do Ha Na possesses the rare ability to sense evil spirits and read memories through touch. She collaborates closely with So Moon, using her talents to locate and combat malevolent entities.
Ga Mo Tak, with his immense strength and background as a former police officer, mentors So Moon. Despite losing his memory seven years ago, he is driven by an unyielding sense of justice.
Chu Mae Ok, the team’s healer and the restaurant’s chef, provides emotional support and stability. Her nurturing presence helps balance the group’s dynamics during their battles.
Choi Jang Mool, the oldest Counter, manages the team’s finances and holds legendary status among Korea’s Counters. His extensive experience and wisdom guide the group in their challenging mission.
- Aired: Nov 28, 2020 – Jan 24, 2021
- No of Episodes: 16
- Cast: Cho Byeong Kyu, Yoo Joon Sang, Kim Se Jeong, Yeom Hye Ran, Ahn Suk Hwan
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
6. Duty After School (2023)
Sungjin High School plunges into chaos as an alien invasion unleashes violent insect-like creatures worldwide. With the South Korean military overwhelmed, mandatory conscription is imposed on all third-year high schoolers, forcing them into military training while facing impending university exams.
Platoon leader Lee Chun Ho guides the students through rifle shooting, combat, and obstacle courses, all in their school uniforms. Amidst the turmoil, class teacher Park Eun Young fights to protect her students, balancing their safety and education.
The students grapple with their new reality, struggling to transform from typical teenagers into capable soldiers. Their resilience and courage are tested as they confront both the alien threat and the pressures of their academic future.
In this dire situation, these high schoolers must rise to the challenge. Can they become the unexpected saviours in the face of global doom?
- Aired: Mar 31, 2023
- No of Episodes: 6
- Cast: Shin Hyun Soo, Lee Soon Won, Kim Ki Hae, Choi Moon Hee, Kim Su Gyeom, Lee Yeon, Kwon Eun Bin, Moon Sang Min
- Streaming Platform: Viki
7. All of us are Dead (2022)
In the city of Hyosan, South Korea, a science teacher’s horrifying experiment unleashes a zombie outbreak at a local high school. The experiment spirals out of control, leading to a chaotic scene as the school becomes overrun with zombies.
As the outbreak spreads through the city, authorities struggle to manage the escalating crisis. With the city in turmoil and help scarce, the situation becomes increasingly dire.
Trapped in the school, a group of students must rely on their resourcefulness and teamwork to avoid the dangers around them. They face relentless threats while trying to find a way to escape the infected environment.
Amid the chaos and fear, these students must use their ingenuity to survive and reach safety. Their journey is a test of courage and survival in the face of an overwhelming zombie apocalypse.
- Aired: Jan 28, 2022
- No of Episodes: 12
- Cast: Park Ji Hu, Yoon Chan Young, Lomon, Cho Yi Hyun
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
8. Night Has Come (2023)
A gripping teen drama unfolds as second-year high school students are plunged into a real-life mafia game during their retreat. This intense scenario triggers fierce psychological battles among the students, pushing them into survival mode.
At Yooil High School, the 2nd grade 3 class embarks on a field trip. Suddenly, they find themselves trapped in a deadly mafia game, desperately fighting for their lives.
Lee Yoon Seo, with her keen observation and reasoning skills, becomes pivotal in devising escape plans. Kim Jun Hee, the class president, embodies justice and responsibility, striving to protect his classmates.
Oh Jung Won, academically top-ranked yet an outcast, must collaborate with her peers to endure the harrowing ordeal. Their journey becomes a test of wit, courage, and unity.
- Aired: Dec 4, 2023 – Dec 21, 2023
- No of Episodes: 12
- Cast: Lee Jae In, Kim Woo Seok, Choi Ye Bin, Cha Woo Min, Ahn Ji Ho
- Streaming Platform: Netflix, Viki
9. Parasyte: The Grey (2024)
In this story, parasites from space descend to Earth, seeking to gain power by controlling human hosts. These parasites kill and manipulate their victims by infiltrating and taking over their brains and bodies.
Jung Soo In becomes infected with a parasite on her hand, leading to an unusual cohabitation. The parasite, unable to take over her brain, must coexist with her, creating a bizarre and uneasy partnership.
Seol Kang Woo embarks on a quest to find his missing sister, who is connected to the parasitic threat. His search leads him to the heart of the outbreak, where the parasites are wreaking havoc.
Meanwhile, Choi Jun Kyung, the leader of the specialized team ‘The Grey,’ is dedicated to exterminating these parasitic creatures. Her mission is driven by personal loss, as she seeks revenge for her husband, who was killed by the parasites.
- Aired: Apr 5, 2024
- No of Episodes: 6
- Cast: Jeon So Nee, Koo Kyo Hwan, Lee Jung Hyun
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
10. Sweet Home (2020)
After a tragic event takes the lives of his family, Cha Hyun-su relocates to a rundown apartment complex called Green Home. His attempt at starting anew is disrupted when monstrous beings suddenly appear and begin terrorizing the city.
The arrival of these creatures forces Hyun-su and his fellow residents into a desperate fight for survival in the confines of the apartment building. Together, they face this strange and terrifying threat.
Hyun-su soon experiences monstrous changes himself, including the ability to transform into a winged monster at will. This new power presents both opportunities and dangers as he deals with his transformed state.
Other residents of Green Home also transform into monsters reflecting their deepest desires. As they grapple with their new abilities and the external threat, they must find a way to coexist and protect each other.
- Aired: Dec 18, 2020
- No of Episodes: 10
- Cast: Song Kang, Lee Jin Wook, Lee Si Young, Lee Do Hyun, Go Min Si
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
11. Hellbound (2021)
Set in South Korea between 2022 and 2027, Hellbound depicts a chilling reality where supernatural beings called angels deliver decrees that condemn individuals to Hell at specific times, ranging from mere seconds to years in the future. These decrees are followed by terrifying demonstrations in which massive monsters appear to violently execute the condemned.
The series features two influential groups exploiting these supernatural events for their gain. The New Truth Society, a cult-like organization, and the Arrowhead group, a gang-like faction, manipulate public fear to increase their power and influence.
In the first three episodes, the story revolves around a detective investigating the eerie phenomena, the chairman of the New Truth Society, and a principled attorney. The focus shifts in episodes four through six, set five years later, to a television producer and his wife as they grapple with the harrowing news that their newborn baby is destined for Hell.
The transition in core characters reflects a broader exploration of the impact of these supernatural events on different lives, from law enforcement and religious leaders to ordinary families confronting their darkest fears.
- Aired: Nov 19, 2021
- No of Episodes: 6
- Cast: Yoo Ah In, Kim Hyun Joo, Yang Ik Jun, Park Jeong Min, Won Jin Ah
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
12. Happiness (2021)
Yoon Sae Bom, a quick-witted special agent with exceptional abilities, secures a desirable apartment in a new civil servant complex by pretending to marry her high school friend, Jung Yi Hyun. Yi Hyun, a detective, is investigating a mysterious disease.
Their situation changes dramatically when Han Tae Seok, who leads a task force to manage the outbreak, orders the apartment complex to be sealed off from the city. The residents find themselves trapped, turning the building into a microcosm of societal dynamics.
As the quarantine continues, the social hierarchy in the complex becomes apparent. The disease and isolation highlight both the strengths and weaknesses of the residents, showcasing a range of human behaviours under stress.
In this high-pressure setting, Sae Bom and Yi Hyun face the challenges of their confined situation while dealing with the growing threat of the disease.
- Aired: Nov 5, 2021 – Dec 11, 2021
- No of Episodes: 12
- Cast: Han Hyo Joo, Park Hyung Sik
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
13. Signal (2016)
In 2015, criminal profiler Park Hae-young stumbles upon a discarded walkie-talkie. To his shock, the voice on the other end, Detective Jae-han, is speaking from the past and seems to know him well. With Jae-han’s guidance, Hae-young cracks a 15-year-old kidnapping and murder case involving his former classmate.
This breakthrough leads to the creation of a cold case team, headed by Detective Cha Soo-Hyun, who has been searching for her mentor Jae-han for 15 years. She is determined to solve cold cases and uncover the truth behind Jae-han’s mysterious disappearance in 2000.
As Hae-young continued to receive help from Jae-han in the 1990s, they solved numerous cold cases that have puzzled the police for years. However, their efforts to correct past wrongs lead to unforeseen consequences in the present.
Together, Hae-young, Soo-Hyun, and Jae-han face the complexities of their unique connection across time. They strive to deliver justice while grappling with the implications of altering the past.
- Aired: Jan 22, 2016 – Mar 12, 2016
- No of Episodes: 16
- Cast: Lee Je Hoon, Kim Hye Soo, Jo Jin Woong
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
14. Sisyphus: The Myth (2021)
An unforeseen incident pulls a brilliant engineer into a web of dangerous secrets and introduces him to a woman from the future. Han Tae Sul, a co-founder of Quantum and Time, is celebrated for his exceptional coding skills and impressive looks. Despite the company’s global prestige, Tae Sul’s personal struggles have led to fluctuations in its stock market since his brother’s death a decade ago.
One day, Tae Sul witnesses a shocking event that drives him to uncover the truth behind it. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, he sets out on a perilous quest.
Kang Seo Hae, hailing from a dystopian future, has survived amidst chaos and danger. She travels back in time with the mission to protect Tae Sul from looming threats.
Together, they face numerous challenges that intertwine their destinies. Seo Hae’s future knowledge combined with Tae Sul’s technical expertise becomes essential in confronting the imminent dangers.
- Aired: Feb 17, 2021 – Apr 8, 2021
- No of Episodes: 16
- Cast: Cho Seung Wo, Park Shin Hye
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
15. Gyeongseong Creature (2023)
Jang Tae Sang, a wealthy and charming figure in Bukchon, Gyeongseong, is celebrated for his quick thinking and sharp insight. His sociability and skills have made him a key source of information in the area. However, his life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Yoon Chae Ok, leading him to reconsider his priorities.
Yoon Chae Ok is a famed todugun, known for her ability to locate missing people. Her challenging upbringing, travelling between Manchuria and Shanghai with her father, equipped her with essential survival skills. Adept with firearms, knives, and machinery, she has been on a decade-long quest to find her missing mother.
Her search brings her to Gyeongseong, where she meets Jang Tae Sang. United by their missions, they start investigating a series of mysterious disappearances, gradually uncovering disturbing truths. Their partnership becomes essential as they the perilous journey.
As they dig deeper, they uncover a grim reality, facing dangerous forces and their inner battles. Through their collaboration, they find strength in each other, fostering a resolve to confront the looming challenges. Their shared determination drives them to persist, despite the odds stacked against them.
- Aired: Dec 22, 2023 – Jan 5, 2024
- No of Episodes: 10
- Cast: Park Seo Joon, Han So Hee
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
16. The Guest (2018)
Yoon Hwa Pyung, a young psychic from a shamanic family, becomes aware of a formidable demon named “Son” (Guest). This demon can control other demons, leading them to possess vulnerable individuals who then spiral into madness, commit murders, and harm themselves.
The paths of Hwa Pyung, Choi Yoon, a boy from a devout Catholic family, and Kang Kil Yeong, the daughter of a detective, intersect tragically when their families are slain by a demon.
Two decades later, the demon-related killings resurface. Hwa Pyung now works as a taxi driver, using his psychic abilities to locate and help possessed individuals. Yoon has become a Catholic priest skilled in exorcism, while Kil Yeong, now a detective, remains skeptical of the supernatural.
The trio reunites and combines their unique skills to confront and defeat the malevolent “Son,” striving to end the cycle of violence and madness unleashed by the demon.
- Aired: Sep 12, 2018 – Nov 1, 2018
- No of Episodes: 16
- Cast: Kim Dong Wook, Kim Jae Wook, Jung Eun Chae
- Streaming Platform: Netflix
