15 Best Revenge-Themed K-Dramas Like Netflix's 'The Glory'

There are plenty of K-Dramas that feature a vengeful lead, one of which is The Glory, a Netflix revenge tragedy that follows Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo), a former victim of school violence who seeks revenge on her bullies after taking up a job as a homeroom teacher at the elementary school of her bully's child. Due to its depth, unabashed ability to face worrisome issues in schools, and very well-written screenplay, the series was at the top of the trending charts.

What makes revenge K-Dramas so intoxicating to watch is due to its compelling and fascinating main characters who are more than willing to do anything to achieve their goals. Whether it's a displeased wife or a wrongly framed heir, the leads of some of the best vengeance K-Dramas are headstrong, fascinating, and resilient. With countless similar-themed shows made each year in Korean cinema, the concept of retribution is not new to the small screen. There are, therefore, many options for those who want to watch K-Dramas that are centered around retributive justice.

15 'The Penthouse: War in Life' (2020 - 2021)

Creator: Kim Soon-ok

While some K-Dramas are adored by viewers for their relatable narratives, some shows take things to the next level. The K-Drama The Penthouse: War in Life shines the spotlight on the residents of a luxury apartment tower named Hera Palace. Some of the characters, including Shim Su-ryeon (Lee Ji-ah), who wants to take revenge on her manipulative and cruel husband, as well as Oh Yoon-hee (Kim Yoo-jin ), who wants to avenge herself from the person who framed her for murder.

The plot of The Penthouse is borderline absurd and unrealistic, especially as it looks like it only features the squabbles between ultra-rich characters at first glance. But with each episode, more details about the story get revealed, uncovering the greed and ambition of the show’s characters. Despite its many melodramatic plot twists, The Penthouse is a must-watch K-Drama streaming now that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

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14 'The World of the Married' (2020)

Creator: Kang Eun-kyung

Based on the popular British series Doctor Foster, The World of the Married is one of the most-watched K-dramas due to its intense scenes and thrilling twists. In the show, the life of a doctor named Ji Sun-woo (Kim Hee-ae) is suddenly overturned when she discovers her husband’s unfaithfulness. The affair becomes more complicated when Sun-woo becomes the doctor assigned to her husband’s mistress.

The show became a cultural phenomenon in South Korea due to its raw and moving plot that’s full of betrayal and revenge. Sun-woo, fed up with all her husband’s lies and her friends’ complicity, decides to take matters into her own hands. In one of the highly emotional scenes in the show, Sun-woo exposes her husband’s affair in front of his mistress' parents, resulting in a jolting confrontation. Despite what she experienced, Sun-woo gets her vengeance on those who hurt her due to her intelligence and self-restraint.

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13 'Vincenzo' (2021 - )

Created by Studio Dragon

Vincenzo follows the titular character, a mafia consigliere (Song Joong Ki) who escapes to South Korea in order to reclaim 1.5 tons of gold hidden in Geumga Plaza's basement. Vincenzo must use his skills to retake the building and regain his money because a firm has unlawfully acquired ownership of it.

For fans of Western mafia flicks with a hint of Asian culture, the show is a thrilling K-drama that strikes the perfect mix between mind games and action. However, even without the explicit reference to revenge, the show's atmosphere is nonetheless rife with it; as a result, it strongly recalls The Glory. Moreover, the series is praised for its well-crafted plot, intriguing storylines, and unexpected twists. If viewers appreciate shows with intricate narratives and clever storytelling, Vincenzo might be worth watching.