The Best Horror and Thriller K-Dramas of 2023

Gone are the days when K-dramas almost exclusively meant love stories, period pieces and family dramas. Today, South Korea produces some of the most chilling and outrageously violent TV shows you’ll ever see—while also continuing to release the more traditional, wholesome fare that longtime K-drama fans fell in love with years ago. 

The diversification of genres in recent years can largely be attributed to the rise of global streaming platforms like Netflix and Disney+. In the past, most K-dramas were aired on broadcast TV, which comes with certain guidelines around what can and cannot be shown (no sex or excessive violence, for example). By contrast, streamers aren’t bound by such rules around content. 

The result? More extreme and graphic K-dramas, with Korean original series on OTT services like Netflix, often featuring plenty of gore and violence, and sometimes some sex and nudity as well. This year saw a host of Korean thrillers and horror series, and here we’ve compiled 12 of the best ones for you to check out, in no particular order. From crime-fighting vigilantes to superhuman spies to paranormal creatures, these K-dramas will show you a bloody hell of a good time. And if you thought Squid Game was violent, wait till you watch some of these.

Leave a Comment