The best fantasy and supernatural K-dramas on Netflix offer both familiar and completely new tales to Western audiences. K-dramas have exploded in popularity over the last decade, mainly thanks to the dozens of horror, crime, and romance K-dramas pushed by Netflix. While fantasy K-dramas are famous for focusing on romance, this is just one aspect of what the term encompasses. Indeed, many of these shows also dip their toes in horror, dive deeply into the history and mythology of Korea, have well-written comedy, and feature some of the most relatable characters on television. Plenty also throw a supernatural spin on crime shows, with the fantasy slants making for some of the best cop-based K-dramas around.
Netflix is renowned for international supernatural shows and has of course been integral in bringing these fantasy K-Drams to the West. From reincarnated deities and parallel universes, to ghosts and other mysterious characters, locations, and events, every single one of the best supernatural K-dramas on Netflix offer something new to its millions of subscribers. Some of these K-dramas are fairly lighthearted, while some are definitely not for the faint of heart. All of them have a unique story to tell though, and offer the same fresh take on existing tropes that only South Korean dramas seem to manage. For lovers of fantasy and supernatural tales, here are some of the best K-dramas Netflix has to offer.
15 Unlock My Boss (2022)
One of the most recent hit supernatural K-Dramas on Netflix is also one of the weirdest. Unlock My Boss has a simple premise — the soul of the CEO of a tech company is trapped inside a cellphone. It's exactly as strange as it sounds, with Park Sung-woong's performance as Kim Seon-joo (the titular boss) is a notable highlight. There is a coherent plot to Unlock My Boss, despite how whacky this supernatural Netflix K-Drama sounds. Kim Seon-joo's phone is found by unemployed jobseeker Park In-seong (Chae Jong-hyeop), and the pair embark on a series of escapades as Park does Kim's bidding in an effort to be granted 10 billion won of the deceased entrepreneurs' fortune (with hilarious results).
14 Possessed (2019)
Possessed starts with the introduction of heinous K-drama serial killer Hwang Dae-du, who kills 30 people and is summarily caught and executed. Fast-forward twenty years to the present day, and there's a new evil hoping to bring Hwang Dae-du back the killer from the afterlife. Possessed centers around homicide detective Kang Pil-sung, who comes to meet Hong Seo-jung — a young woman who has the ability to see and communicate with the dead. Their lives intertwine as they band together to stop a series of murders that are anything but ordinary. One of the best fantasy K-dramas on Netflix, this show isn't for the squeamish as it does have displays of violence and chilling moments.
13 The Bride Of Habeak (2017)
Many of the best supernatural K-dramas on Netflix combine romance with otherworldly characters and events, and this show is no exception. In The Bride Of Habeak, the God of Water wants his rightful place on the throne but needs to make a trip to present-day Seoul in order to retrieve three stones powerful enough to get what he wants. The show throws in a love interest when the god meets neuropsychiatrist Yoon So-ah — who was destined to be his bride. He finds himself not only weary of loving her, but also must protect her from other gods who wish to complicate his plans.
12 Abyss (2019)
Abyss takes viewers on a whirlwind of bizarre events, but it's what makes the show one of the best fantasy K-dramas on Netflix. Two friends are on different ends of the spectrum. One, Cha Min, is the heir of a cosmetics company but deemed unattractive. The other, Lee Mi-do, is a beautiful prosecutor. One fateful night they both die in different circumstances and are reincarnated by a supernatural being known as "Abyss" — but there's a catch. Their new forms take on the appearance of their souls. Despite their new looks, they have to uncover the truth to why they were reincarnated.
11 Bring It On, Ghost (2016)
Bring It On, Ghost is also known as Hey Ghost, Let's Fight. The show is based on a popular webtoon from 2007. In Bring It On, Ghost, Park Bong-pal has the ability to speak with the dead and exorcises them for money in order to get a procedure to make his ability disappear. At a haunted high school, Bong-pal meets the feisty female ghost Kim Hyun-ji, who died in a traffic accident. They become friends and partners in helping ghosts. A romance brews, but they are unaware that there's an evil ghost who is the reason behind both their fates. The way this story unfolds makes Bring It On, Ghost one of the best supernatural K-dramas on Netflix.
10 Mystic Pop-Up Bar (2020)
Mystic Pop-Up Bar was one of the best K-dramas of 2020, and told the story of a pop-up bar whose employees have unique abilities and stories. The owner is Weol-ju, a woman cursed for the past 500 years to be in the Living Realm helping people and ghosts settle their grudges. Alongside her is part-time employee Han Kang-bae, who was labeled an outcast for his ability to get people to confess their feelings with a mere touch. There's also the cursed woman's former love interest, Crown Prince Yi-Hon, who works as the manager. For its unique premise and comedic and dramatic elements, Mystic Pop-Up Bar is definitely among the best supernatural K-dramas on Netflix.
9 A Korean Odyssey (2017)
A Korean Odyssey is loosely based on the classic 16th-century Chinese novel titled Journey to the West. The show begins with the fate of the mythical Monkey King Son Oh-gong the Great Sage Equal to Heaven, who was imprisoned in Heaven for his crimes. Son Oh-gong makes a wager with a young girl named Jin Seon-mi, who has the ability to see ghosts and spirits. The Monkey King promises to keep Seon-mi safe whenever she calls his name, but ends up double-crossing her after being set free. Years later, they meet again, unfolding one of the best supernatural K-dramas on Netflix.
8 The King: Eternal Monarch (2020)
The King: Eternal Monarch takes place in parallel worlds. As a child, the prince of the Kingdom of Corea, Lee Ji-hun, witnessed his uncle murder his father. Years later, the now-king discovers the gateway to a parallel world where his uncle fled. Venturing to this parallel world, the king meets a female detective named Jeong Tae-eul, who is the key to uncovering the mystery of his traumatic childhood. Together, they try to stop Ji-hun 's uncle's plan of taking over both worlds. Undoubtedly one of the best fantasy K-dramas on Netflix, where it became top-rated across multiple territories, The King: Eternal Monarch is a great modern adaptation of a classic Korean tale.
7 Arthdal Chronicles (2019)
Arthdal Chronicles takes place in a mythical land called Arth and focused on how the fates of certain crucial individuals will determine the land's future. These characters include Ta-gon, the first son of the Arthdal Union leader, identical twins Eun-seom and Saya who are the fated offspring of a taboo relationship, and the warrior-scientist Tae Al-ha who is also the daughter of the Hae Tribe Chief. Through their lives, Arthdal Chronicles paints a tumultuous and insightful picture of the Bronze Age, driven by political drama, love interests, and some impeccable animation and visuals. Arthdal Chronicles is definitely one of the best supernatural K-dramas on Netflix for viewers looking for a well-produced, action-packed epic.
6 The School Nurse Files (2020)
Decidedly one of the best supernatural K-dramas on Netflix, The School Nurse Files imagines a world where human emotions, spirits, and desires exist in the form of "jellies," with some being harmless while others are dangerous. Ahn Eun-young, a school nurse who has the ability to see and interact with these jellies, is assigned to a new school that seems to be haunted by mysterious incidents. Later, she meets Hong In-pyo, a man with an energy field that protects him from the jellies, and also teaches at the schoo. The two team-up to solve the strange cases occurring in the school in The School Nurse Files, a lighthearted comedic fantasy Korean drama.
5 Alchemy of Souls (2022)
In the fictional country of Daeho, Alchemy of Souls tells the story of the forbidden titular spell, which has the power to switch souls between bodies. The story begins when elite female assassin Nak-su's soul is trapped in the much weaker body of a woman named Mu-deok. As Mu-deok, Nak-su then becomes the servant of the nobleman Jang Uk, teaches him her combat skills, and the two fall in love with each other. Apart from its complex storylines, Alchemy of Souls is one of the best fantasy K-dramas on Netflix for those in search of great action, effects, and production value.
4 The Uncanny Counter (2020-present)
Demon hunters called Counters are tasked with banishing evil spirits who have escaped from the afterlife in a bid to become immortal. When one of the Counters, Jang Cheol-joong, falls to strong Level 3 evil spirit, Cheol-joong's spirit possesses the body of a high school boy named So Mun - the titular Uncanny Counter. So Mun, who is physically disabled, suddenly finds himself with strange supernatural abilities. Inarguably one of the best supernatural K-drama on Netflix, The Uncanny Counter combines a coming-of-age story with an epic fantasy mission, complete with some of the best choreographed fights in K-drama history.
3 Bulgasal: Immortal Souls (2021-2022)
Another show in contention for being the best supernatural K-drama on Netflix, Bulgasal: Immortal Souls is a dark fantasy series about revenge. Dan Hwal is a Joseon period military official cursed with being a Bulgasal, a blood-drinking immortal creature, and is on a 600-year mission for vengeance. Hwal forms a tense relationship with Min Sang-woon, who loses her immortality after 600 years following a tragic event. As Bulgasal: Immortal Souls unravels the respective past lives and present journeys of both characters, the show masterfully combines thriller and fantasy elements across a truly epic history-inspired drama.
2 Hotel Del Luna (2019)
There's a reason why Jang Man-wol, the owner of the Hotel Del Luna, is often aloof, moody, and ill-tempered: she was cursed to maintain this establishment 1,300 years ago for sins she committed in her past. Meanwhile, through a deal that a deity struck with a human 21 years ago, the human's son, Koo Chan-sung, is forced to become the manager of the Hotel Del Luna. This is one of the best fantasy and female-led K-dramas on Netflix, and its darkly comedic premise allows it to stand out among most other rom-com K-dramas. Despite the heavy stakes, Hotel Del Luna has a somewhat lighthearted approach that makes it accessible to most K-drama viewers.
1 Mr. Queen (2020-2021)
Jang Bong-hwan is a head chef at the prestigious Blue House, the former residence and office of the South Korean president. Following an incident that almost gets him fired, he also suffers a near-death experience, which somehow transports his soul into the body of Queen Cheorin in the Joseon period. While inside the body of the Queen, Bong-hwan must get back to his original body and time - while also navigating not just the political landscape, but also his feelings for King Cheoljong. Mr. Queen is not just one of the best fantasy K-dramas on Netflix, but also one of the most compelling Joseon era K-dramas, while also being a legitimately funny rom-com/dramedy.