If you’re a fan of gripping TV shows that will absolutely keep you guessing until the very end, then the Kdramas on this list are a must-watch.
With their unique ability to seamlessly blend heart-pounding action with intricate plotlines and unforgettable characters, there’s a very good reason the world looks to SK when the topic of the best action, thriller, or mystery shows is mentioned.
I have scoured the world of Kdramas to bring you the top 10 action, thriller, and mystery shows that will leave you breathless. Sit back and get ready to be amazed!
Here are the best action, thriller, and mystery Kdramas to watch:
1. Vagabond (2019)
When Cha Dal Gun loses his nephew in a suspicious plane crash, he’s determined to expose the corrupt officials responsible for the cover-up.
With the help of Go Hae Ri, a National Intelligence agent, he dives headfirst into a dangerous and exhilarating quest for justice.
Full of twists and turns, this gripping mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very end.
Cast:
- Lee Seung Gi as Cha Dal Gun.
- Bae Suzy as Go Hae Ri.
- Shin Sung Rok as Gi Tae Ung
2. Healer (2014)
In this heart-pumping Kdrama, three unlikely allies – Seo Jung Ho, an illicit night courier, and reporters Chae Young Shin and Kim Mun Ho – are brought together by a 10-year-old incident shrouded in mystery.
As they delve deeper into the past and try to uncover the truth, they find themselves embroiled in a dangerous web of secrets and deception.
But as they work to unravel the conspiracy, they also begin to heal old wounds and forge a bond that could save them all.
Cast:
- Ji Chang Wook as Seo Jung Hu/Park Bong Soo.
- Park Min Young as Chae Young Shin/Oh Ji An.
- Yoo Ji Tae as Kim Mun Ho
3. Kill It (2019)
Prepare to be on the edge of your seat with this action-packed, thriller Kdrama.
When detective Do Hyun Jin begins investigating a series of gruesome serial killings, she crosses paths with the enigmatic Kim Soo Hyun, a seemingly kind-hearted veterinarian.
But there’s something about Soo Hyun that makes Hyun Jin suspicious.
As she delves deeper into his past, she discovers a mysterious event that connects them, and they must team up to solve the perplexing mystery together.
Cast:
- Jang Ki Yong as Kim Soo Hyun.
- Nana as Do Hyun Jin / Lee Young Eun.
- Roh Jeong Eui as Min Ji/Kang Seul Gi
4. My Name (2021)
Yoon Ji-woo is a member of Choi Mu Jin’s notorious drug cartel, but she has a secret agenda: to avenge her father’s murder.
In a daring move, she becomes an informant for the drug investigation unit of the police department, all while plotting to take down the person responsible for her father’s death.
As the suspense builds and the stakes get higher, Ji-woo must navigate a web of intrigue to unravel the mystery surrounding her father’s demise.
Cast:
- Han So Hee as Yoon Ji Woo / Oh Hye Jin.
- Park Hee Soon as Choi Mu Jin.
- Ahn Bo Hyun as Jeon Pil Do.
5. Two Weeks (2013)
In this heart-pounding Kdrama, Jang Tae San leads a double life as a pawn shop worker by day and a prostitute by night.
But when he learns that he has a daughter who desperately needs a bone marrow transplant to survive leukemia, he’s willing to do whatever it takes to save her.
When he gets falsely accused of murder, Jang Tae San finds himself on the run and in a race against time, and with just two weeks to clear his name and reach his daughter before it’s too late, he must navigate a dangerous web of intrigue and betrayal in this pulse-pounding action thriller.
Cast:
- Lee Joon Gi as Jang Tae San.
- Kim So Yeon as Park Jae Kyung.
- Ryu Soo Young as Im Seung Woo.
6. Memorist (2020)
Dong Baek, a skilled detective with an uncanny power to read people’s memories, is on the hunt for a ruthless serial killer.
In order to crack the case, he joins forces with Han Sun Mi, a young and enigmatic criminal profiler who has her own dark secrets.
As they delve deeper into the investigation, they soon realize that the killer’s twisted motives are more chilling than they could have ever imagined.
With their troubled pasts haunting them at every turn, Dong Baek and Han Sun Mi must race against time to catch the killer before it’s too late, and the shocking truth about their own lives threatens to unravel everything they’ve ever known.
Cast:
- Yoo Seung Ho as Dong Baek / Sung Ju Ho.
- Lee Se Young as Han Sun Mi / Kim So Mi.
- Jo Sung Ha as Lee Shin Woong.
7. Bad Guys (2014)
Detective Oh Gu Tak is not one to play by the rules. His unorthodox and extreme approaches to catching criminals often result in him getting suspended from duty.
But now, he’s taking matters into his own hands by forming a team of Bad Guys to take down the most elusive and dangerous criminals who always manage to slip through the fingers of the police force.
His team is an unlikely crew of misfits, including a psychopath, a leader of goons, and a hitman. But together, they’re a force to be reckoned with.
As Oh Gu Tak leads this group of bad guys, the drama unfolds in a heart-pounding frenzy of action, suspense, and mystery.
They’ll stop at nothing to catch the bad guys haunting the district with their violent crimes, even if it means becoming a little bad themselves.
Cast:
- Kim Sang Joong as Oh Gu Tak.
- Ma Dong Seok as Park Woong Cheol.
- Park Hae Jin as Lee Jung Moon.
8. City Hunter (2011)
Lee Yoon Sung lives a double life, working as a MIT graduate in the Blue House by day, and hunting down his father’s killers by night.
But when he dons his mask and becomes the City Hunter, he becomes a force to be reckoned with.
As he battles to expose the corruption of South Korea’s most powerful people, Lee Yoon Sung will stop at nothing to seek justice and avenge his father’s death.
Cast:
- Lee Min Ho as Lee Yoon Sung.
- Park Min Young as Kim Na Na.
- Lee Joon Hyuk as Kim Young Joo.
9. Mouse (2021)
Prepare for an adrenaline-pumping ride with this Kdrama that is packed with action, suspense, and mystery.
The citizens are tormented by a cunning psychopath who has committed a string of gruesome murders, and it’s up to police officer Jeong Ba Reum to bring him to justice.
After a deadly confrontation with the serial killer, Jeong Ba Reum is left shaken but determined to catch the murderer.
As the gripping drama unfolds, Jeong Ba Reum races against time to solve the case before the killer strikes again.
As anyone can testify, this drama had the craziest twist I’ve seen in my history of watching Kdrama thrillers. You’ll love this if you enjoy a very interesting tale.
Cast:
- Lee Seung Gi as Jeong Ba Reum.
- Lee Hee Joon as Ko Moo Chi.
- Park Ju Hyun as Oh Bong Yi.
10. Bad And Crazy (2021)
Ryu Su Yeol is a detective whose questionable work ethic has allowed him to climb the ranks.
But when he starts encountering a mysterious and righteous helmet-wearing figure known only as “K”, things take a turn for the surreal.
It soon becomes clear that K is no ordinary person, but the manifestation of Su Yeol’s own conscience.
As the two team up to take on corrupt politicians, mafias, and higher-ups in the police department, this action-packed and thrilling Kdrama develops.
Cast:
- Lee Dong Wook as Ryu Su Yeol.
- Wi Ha Joon as K.
- Han Ji Eun as Lee Hui Gyeom.
With these 10 Kdramas, you’re sure to be entertained for hours on end.
Don’t miss out on the heart-pumping action, spine-tingling suspense, and mind-bending mysteries that these shows have to offer.
So, grab some popcorn, settle in, and get ready for an unforgettable binge-watching experience.
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