In the mood for some shivers down your spine? Then you’re just in time for a Korean horror drama fix!
Ready to jump out of your skin? Here are the 10 best Korean horror dramas to make you pee your pants!
The 10 Best Korean Horror Dramas
Whether you’re looking for ghosts, zombies, or pure psychological horror, there’s something in this best Korean horror dramas list for you.
- Strangers from Hell (2019)
- King of Pigs (2022)
- The Guest (2018)
- Sweet Home (2020)
- Priest (2018-2019)
- Hotel del Luna (2019)
- Through the Darkness (2022)
- Save Me (2017)
- The Ghost Detective (2022)
- The Cursed (2020)
1. Strangers from Hell (2019)
Due to tight finances, Yoon Jong Woo (Im Si Wan) just moved to a cheap but dirty apartment in Seoul. Within paper-thin walls and grimy bathrooms, what he finds isn’t just a hellish place. The apartment is also home to hellish neighbors, including a dentist who doubles as a serial killer at night…
Want something to freak you out? Then jump on this show right away. There are no ghosts or other scary supernatural creatures, because the real monsters here are the characters of the show. It also gives a disturbing commentary on society, so prepare to get major chills down your spine!
P.S: It’s only 10 episodes long!
2. The King of Pigs (2022)
An unexpected case brings back Hwang Kyung Min’s (Kim Dong Wook)’s trauma from being bullied at school 20 years ago. Detective Jung Jong Suk (Kim Sung Gyu) receives a mysterious message from a friend from the past 20 years. Reminded of the school violence back then, Jong Suk tries to stop crazy murders from happening again.
This unique psychological horror is easily the best 2022 show for anyone who’s watched it. Fans praise it for phenomenal acting and clever writing. You won’t see much blood, but the damage you’ll get is guaranteed deep. Trigger warning, though: each episode gets heavier with scenes of uicide, school violence, and sexual aggression.
3. The Guest (2018)
A bloodthirsty spirit is wreaking havoc with gruesome crimes. An exorcist-priest (Kim Jae Wook), a psychic (Kim Dong Wook), and a detective (Jung Eun Chae) team up to bring it down.
You’ll want to turn the lights on while watching this. First episode in and there’s already too much blood, killing, and gore. But while it’s dark and intense, the leads’ great friendship is something to look forward to. Still, you’ll want to turn the lights on while watching this.
P.S: You may want to research more about the Korean folklore mentioned in the show!
4. Sweet Home (2020)
An incident that killed his family forces Cha Hyun Soo (Song Kang) to move to a dirty apartment complex. But the dirty apartment soon becomes bloody when Hyun Soo’s neighbors start turning into monsters.
The home in Sweet Home is far from sweet. But while it’s a feast of gore, the show also has some existential points to make. It teaches us that humans and monsters aren’t so different, after all. Rumor has it that Sweet Home will be renewed for another season. So be sure to watch it soon!
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5. Priest (2018-2019)
Ham Eun Ho (Jung Yoo Mi) became a doctor to save lives after losing her family to an accident. She does not believe in God. That’s until she meets Oh Soo Min (Yeon Woo Jin), a priest who performs exorcisms.
This show is also heavy with scary action-filled scenes. It’s 16 episodes of making your blood run cold! But what sets it apart from our first four Korean horror dramas is it packs a bit of unexpected romance. It’s still devastating, so watch out!
P.S: Watch out for the mindblowing plot twist!
6. Hotel del Luna (2019)
As punishment for her sin, 1000-year-old Jang Man Wol (Lee Ji Eun) runs a hotel for guests. When cowardly Koo Chan Sung (Yeo Jun Goo) gets hired as the hotel’s manager, Man Wol’s millenia-old secrets begin to unfold.
If you’re craving romance, comedy, fantasy, with bits of scary, this is it. Hotel del Luna is known best for its lighthearted parts. But the scary looks and antics of its dead ghosts may leave you covering your eyes. And it’s a superbly produced show! Soundtrack, styling, acting, cinematography? Name it, and Hotel del Luna did it spectacularly!
7. Through the Darkness (2022)
A series of brutal attacks paralyzes the city in fear. Criminal profiler Song Ha Young (Kim Nam Gil) turns to the psychology of serial killers to predict their next move.
The show’s heavier on the crime and thriller side. But the killers that Ha Young profiles just seem so real that they’d send shivers down your spine. Seriously, they’ll really make you wonder if there’s a criminal hiding near you. At the end of its 12 episodes, you’ll also wonder why no one’s talking about this!
8. Save Me (2017)
Im Sang Mi’s (Seo Ye Ji) family was ruined by a religious cult. With her parents brainwashed by this dark and murderous cult, she’s unable to escape from its clutch. But when she meets three men and whispers, “Save me,” the cult’s secrets begin to unfold.
Save Me is not a horror drama with typical supernatural creatures. But the horrific reality of life inside some cults will scare you out of your wits. Even Seo Ye Ji reportedly fell into depression while shooting this. Trust us: this is not for the faint of heart. But if you want something to destroy you, this is the show for you.
9. The Ghost Detective (2018)
Lee Da Il (Choi Daniel) is a detective who catches ghosts. He and his assistant Jung Yeo Wool (Park Eun Bin) try to solve the case of Yeo Wool’s sister’s death. All while they work on crimes involving ghosts.
Looking for a drama with hardcore scary visuals? The Ghost Detective made great use of special effects to bring out the horror in its scenes. The ghosts are super scary that you might pee your pants or jump off your seat when they appear.
10. The Cursed (2020)
Baek So Jin (Jung Ji So) is a “cursed” girl who can bring death by using names, photos, and other objects. She joins forces with righteous journalist Im Jin Hee (Uhm Ji Won) to beat the evil-possessed CEO of an IT company.
The Cursed comes from the writer of hit zombie film Train to Busan. So you’re sure to get the jitters with this film! With clear writing, you may have to rewatch some episodes because there’s too much you could miss! Or you might need to take a break because you’re too scared.
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You just saw the 10 best Korean horror dramas you should watch now! These shows rank high not just in the scare levels, but also in quality. So you’re sure to get not just major jitters but also an amazing watching session!
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