Nothing is more currently prevalant or widely explored than serial killers and true crime in today's popular culture — here are the best K-dramas with a serial killer, ranked from worst to best. Fabricated serial killers or real-life documentaries of famed murderers seem to catch audiences' attention. Just as there are popular crime dramas centered around serial killers, there are also K-dramas that do the same. Fans might get hooked on this genre of crime K-dramas and will find it hard to stop binge-watching.
While most of the best K-dramas on Netflix and the like are romantic endeavors, Korean thrillers are equally renowned and beloved among K-drama fans. A Korean drama with a serial killer provides an extra dose of high-stakes thrills and chills, something that K-dramas aren't generally known for, but excel at nonetheless. These K-dramas are riddled with riveting storylines, chilling cases, and the hunt to find the culprit responsible for taking innocent lives. Don't expect all serial killer K-dramas to be cut and dry — audiences are in for numerous twists and turns, gasping moments, and maybe a bit of comedy and romance.
10 Somebody (2022)
As a Korean drama with a serial killer, Netflix's Somebody provides an intriguing and twisty storyline with a topical premise, making it that much scarier. Somebody follows app developer Kim Sum (Kang Hae-lim), who works with the social connecting app "Somebody," despite her own issues when it comes to interpersonal communication. When a grisly murder occurs it's found to be connected to the app, and Kim Sum becomes involved with the investigation.
With the help of her friends Mok-won (Kim Yong-ji) and detective Ki-eun (Kim Soo-yeon), the trio is thrown headfirst into the case. When Kim Sum is confronted by handsome Architectural designer Sung Yun-oh (Kim Young-Kwang), she comes to the conclusion that everything is not as it seems. Somebody is an incredibly slow-burn series, so it's best for those with a bit of patience, but the ending is well worth the wait. In addition, it's one of the few K-dramas with LGBTQ+ representation.
9 Train (2020)
Train, a Korean drama with a serial killer, has a unique fantasy element that viewers will enjoy intermixed with the storyline of crime and murder. Seo Do-Won's (Yoon Shi-Yoon) life changes after the woman he loves becomes the latest victim of a serial killer. Do-Won gains the ability to travel between parallel worlds. In one world, he's a dedicated officer trying to atone for his father's sins. In the other world, Do-Won is a corrupt police officer.
Do-Won realizes that his love in one world might be dead, but she's still alive in another. He vows to solve her case in one world while trying diligently to protect her in the other. Train is definitively more fantastical than the typical true crime fare, but its uniqueness seemed to resonate with viewers. During its 12-episode run the pace notably faltered though not irreperably, dipping a bit during the middle of the season but managing to climb out of its slump during the third act.
8 Memorist (2020)
Memorist quickly rose the ranks of being one of 2020's most talked-about crime thrillers, and is a great Korean drama with a serial killer. Like many other K-dramas, the K-drama was based on a published Daum webtoon by Jae Hoo. The main character, Dong Baek (Yoo Seung-Ho) has an interesting story to tell. He has the ability to read people's memories by touch and becomes a dedicated detective.
As a young boy, Dong Baek lost every piece of his memory save for that of his mother's murder. In the present day, a series of brutal killings leads him to team up with a criminal profiler. As they find the culprit, their hidden pasts come to light. Memorist managed to maintain decent viewership ratings during its 2020 run, thanks to its supernatural storyline and is surprisingly fraught with tension throughout.
7 Tunnel (2017)
Tunnel has elements of crime, intrigue, mystery, and is a K-drama with time travel. This Korean drama with a serial killer was so popular that it was remade in other countries and languages (there's yet to be a US adaptation). Park Gwang-Ho (Choi Jin-Hyuk) is a diligent detective in 1986, as he and the precinct are plagued with a gruesome serial killer. One day, Gwang-Ho gets a lead and finds the culprit. He chases him through a tunnel to find himself on the other side three decades in the future.
Unable to return home, Gwang-Ho pretends to be a detective to stop a serial killer with the same M.O. from 1986. He theorizes that, by solving the case, he can go home and rectify the outcomes of the past in the future. Tunnel's ratings only got better as the series progressed, ending with an average of 4.6 among audiences. The time travel aspect actually enhanced the plot, rather than detracted from it, and it's an innovative show that is sure to ensnare international audiences.
6 Voice (2017-2021)
Voice, a Korean drama with a serial killer, is often regarded as a popular crime K-drama that was so loved it received a second season installment, being one of the few K-dramas with more than one season. The lives of Moo Jin-Hyuk (Jang Hyuk) and Kwon-Joo (Lee Ha-Na) intersect when they both have loved ones murdered on the same night by the same culprit. In the present day, a once 'mad dog' detective Jin-Hyuk recluses himself after his wife's murder.
Kwon-Joo becomes the leader of a special task force, the 'Golden Time team,' with her psycho-acoustics skills. Jin-Hyuk is tasked with helping her and the team solve cases. When a murderer arises, they realize he might be the culprit who changed their lives. Voice's 4-season run is unique among Korean dramas, proving just how well-liked the series is. In 2017, actor Jang Hyuk won Korean Film Shining Star Award's Drama Star Award for his portrayal of Moo Jin-Hyuk.
5 Mouse (2021)
When looking for one of the best K-drama thrillers, full of murder, intrigue, spine-chilling drama, and countless storyline twists, Mouse, a Korean drama with a serial killer, is a perfect choice. The 2021 drama is like no other serial killer story. The premise revolves around the research of a scientist who can uncover the psychopathic gene in the womb. Audiences will be torn in trying to figure out who the real psychopath is.
Jeong Ba-Reum (Lee Seung-gi) is a diligent officer of a local town who crosses paths with a serial killer. He joins forces with Go Moo-Chi (Lee Hee-Joon), a detective and survivor of one of Korea's famous killers. As they investigate gruesome murders, Ba-Reum learns that everything they thought they knew isn't true. Mouse broke the record for highest viewership among dramas in tvN's Wednesday-Thursday block. The series was nominated for a Baeksang Arts Award, and ended up winning a Grand Prize at the 2021 Asia Artists Awards for Le Seung-gi's role as Jeong Ba-Reum.
4 Suspicious Partner (2017)
A Korean drama with a serial killer, Suspicious Partner, is often remembered for its crime storyline and as one of the best legal K-dramas. For fans who don't want the Terry and dark crime story all the way through, Suspicious Partner has moments of comedy and romance between the main characters. Noh Ji-Wook (Ji Chang-Wook) is a prosecutor who works with a trainee, Eun Bong-Hee (Nam Ji-Hyun) on the case of a psychopathic murderer.
As they start to investigate, Bong-Hee becomes a suspect as she and Ji-Wook suspect the real killer to suffer from amnesia. Ji-Wook's past trauma and Bong-Hee's past are more entangled than they realized. Suspicious Partner is critically acclaimed thanks to its compelling and suspenseful plot, and the series did an awards nomination sweep at the 25th SBS Drama Awards, garnering six nominations. Plus, Nam Ji-Hyun ended up scooping an Excellence Award for the role of Eun Bong-Hee.
3 Less Than Evil (2018)
The storyline for Less Than Evil, a Korean drama with a serial killer, will feel very similar to fans of Luther. The 2018 show was based on the British crime series and stands as one of the best Korean remakes. Woo Tae-Seok (Shin Ha-Kyun) is a dedicated detective, albeit one with inner demons and rage as he teeters on the edge between good and evil. When he encounters a genuine violent psychopath there's one problem: Tae-Seok can't find sufficient evidence to convict her.
Instead of her facing justice, the psychopath joins forces with Tae-Seok to solve crimes. It's rare that a series based on another show does as well as Less Than Evil did, but the K-drama faced some major successes. Just like in the original British series, Less Than Evil's psychological warfare played out abundantly well on the screen, affording the series three MBC Drama Awards, and a nomination at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards.
2 Beyond Evil (2021)
A once-great detective lives a recluse life in a small and quiet city. Beyond Evil, a Korean drama with a serial killer, tells the story of Lee Dong-Sik (Shin Ha-Kyun), who become partners with a young detective named Han Joo-Won (Yeo Jin-Goo). They butt heads as Joo-Won also becomes his boss as he comes from a distinguished background.
A small and peaceful city is rattled by a serial killer that has the same M.O. of a killer from 20 years ago—the same killer that changed Dong-Sik's life. Dong-Sik and Joo-Won work on the case, while Jo-Won has his own hidden secret. It's no secret among K-drama fans that Beyond Evil is an intriguing watch and an incredible show, being listed in NME's 10 Best Korean Dramas of 2021. The series won for Best Drama at the 2021 Baeksang Arts Awards, as well as Best Screenplay for Kim Su-Jin and Best Actor for Shin Ha-Kyun.
1 Flower Of Evil (2020)
Flower of Evil, the best Korean drama with a serial killer, sees dreams turning slowly into nightmares as the ideal of a perfect family is pulled apart piece by piece. In the show, Detective Cha Ji-won (Moon Chae-won) seemingly has the perfect family, including her loving and devoted husband Baek Hee-sung (Lee Joon-gi), and their six-year-old daughter. However, a string of gruesome murders comes across her radar. As Ji-won and her team begin investigating the murders, it becomes clear that her own husband is hiding something big from her, something that could tear their lives apart.
Watching Ji-won discover that her life may be a lie is both compelling and heart-wrenching, with each progressive episode seeing her husband Hee-sung in an entirely different light. Lee Joon-gi's performance is so impressive that he earned an Asia Celebrity and Best Artist Award at the 2020 Asia Artist Awards. In addition, the K-drama's director, Kim Cheol-kyu, was also recognized with a Best Director (TV) Award at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards, making this arguably the best K-drama with a serial killer.