Popularly known for romcoms, Korean dramas have several hidden gems in the suspense thriller genre. These engrossing Korean dramas (like High Cookie, Unlocked, Forgotten, etc), offer a pulse-pounding experience and keep viewers on the edge of their seats. From intricate plot twists to heart-stopping moments, Korean suspense thrillers deliver a rollercoaster of emotions. Let’s embark on an adrenaline-fueled ride with Korean dramas that will leave you on tenterhooks and in anticipation of what the end will be.
7 spine-tingling suspense thrillers (Korean dramas) with mind-bending twists that will keep you guessing till the very end; on Netflix, Viki Rakuten, MX Player and more
1. Night has Come – Viki Rakuten
For time immemorial, adults and children have played the game “mafia,” where a member of the group takes on the role of a killer, and the rest strive to unveil the identity of this mysterious assailant. This popular game takes a chilling turn for second-year high school classmates Yoon Seo (Lee Jae In), Joon Hee (Kim Woo Seok), Jung Won (Choi Ye Bin), Kyung Joon (Cha Woo Min), Da Bum (Ahn Ji Ho), and So Mi (Jeong So Ri) during a class retreat. Their usual game becomes a terrifying reality when unexplained text messages pop up on their phones, forcing them to play the game to survive. Suddenly, they are thrust into a high-stakes situation where losing the game means facing a gruesome fate. The classmates utilise their skills and make collective efforts while racing against time to unmask the real mafia killer before it’s too late.
2. Battle for Happiness – Viki Rakuten
This thrilling suspense drama revolves around five upper-class mothers – Jang Mi-ho (Lee El), Song Jung-ah (Jin Seo-yeon), Kim Na-young (Cha Ye-ryun), Hwang Ji-ye (Woo Jung-won), and Oh Yu-jin (Park Hyo-jo) – leave no chance to pull each other down on social media by bragging about their perfect lives. Their seemingly innocent social media battles turn into a crime scene when one of them is murdered. The mothers turn against each other with one of them wanting to unearth the truth and another wanting to bury it. Each episode is full of twists and the drama takes you on an intense ride as you wonder who the killer is and what was the motive.
3. Mask Girl – Netflix
Kim Mo-mi (Lee Han-byeol), is an ordinary office worker plagued by insecurities about her appearance. She assumes the identity of a masked internet personality in the night, putting up sci-spicy videos of herself. She gains popularity and quickly gains fame and followers. While she is successfully managing her mundane work life and an exciting digital persona, a series of unfortunate events turn her world upside down. She gets entangled in a murder along with her colleague, unfolding a tense plot and a thriller viewing experience. Another binge-worthy title on the list of engaging Korean suspense thrillers compiled by us.
4. Lies Hidden in My Garden – Viki Rakuten
This compelling suspense thriller revolves around two women – Moon Joo-ran (Kim Tae-hee) and Chu Sang-eun (Lim Ji-yeon). For outsiders, Joo-ran leads a perfect married life – a well-crafted lie that she created. However, a foul smell emitting from her garden crumbles her life. On investigation, she finds a corpse. Sang-eun is a pregnant young woman, a victim of domestic violence desperately seeking ways to escape her husband. Her life takes a dramatic turn when she meets Joo-ran. The two women find themselves connected to a past event that threatens to destroy their present.
5. Defendant – Viki Rakuten, MX Player
The list of Korean suspense thrillers includes Defendant, which revolves around a righteous prosecutor Park Jung-woo (Ji Sung), whose life takes a nightmarish turn when he wakes up to find himself on death row with no memory of how he got there. Falsely accused of murdering his wife and daughter, Park Jung-woo becomes entangled in a complex web of conspiracy and betrayal. Determined to uncover the truth and clear his name, he navigates the harsh realities of prison life while his former colleagues work against him. As the suspenseful narrative unfolds, the Korean drama keeps viewers hooked with its compelling storyline and a stellar performance by Ji Sung.
6. The Deal – Viki Rakuten
This Korean drama narrates the tale of three ex-high school classmates reuniting – Lee Jun-seong (Yoo Seung-ho), Song Jae-hyo (Kim Dong-hwi), and Park Min-woo (Yoo Su-bin), whose lives take an unexpected turn when money-strapped Jun-seong and Jae-hyo kidnap their rich friend Min-woo. An unforeseen twist propels the three friends into a hazardous and tumultuous journey.
7. The Village: Achiara’s Secret – Zee5, Viki Rakuten
Set in the idyllic village of Achiara, the story begins when a quiet English teacher, Han So-yoon (Moon Geun-young), discovers a buried corpse in the woods. As the investigation unfolds, the dark secrets hidden beneath the tranquil surface of the village are exposed. The drama delves into the lives of Achiara’s residents, unravelling a complex web of interconnected relationships, hidden crimes, and long-buried mysteries. Park Woo-jae (Yook Sung-jae), a police officer, becomes entangled in the investigation and the mystery of the village.
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