Korean entertainment has seen a very noticeable increase in popularity. The absurd barrier of subtitles is finally being overcome in the West. Slowly but surely, we’re beginning to appreciate non-English spectacles more and more. South Korea has been setting the standard as a non-English speaking nation with very profitable items on both the domestic and global markets. Have you seen a Korean horror movie that was poorly made? We have not either.
Additionally, more non-English TV shows and movies have become available to viewers thanks to streaming services like Netflix. These Korean horror TV shows are available on Netflix.
Okay, we admit that many of the shows on our list are zombie extravaganzas, but it’s not our fault that South Korea is a country that does the genre exceptionally well. Another popular k-drama is All of Us Are Dead, which received 474.26 million hours of viewing in its first 30 days on the platform. The coming-of-age zombie horror series, which is based on a Naver webtoon of the same name, is set in a single high school where a zombie virus spreads after a botched research experiment. The students are compelled to use every effort to survive. Korean television shows excel at making you care about every single character, especially the darker, more malevolent ones. Because it deals with significant subjects, has distinctive zombies, has a tonne of action, and has acting that makes you cry, All of Us Are Dead stands out from other zombie horror movies. It’s wonderful that a second season has been confirmed.
Goedam (2020)
The Korean horror anthology series Goedam, which translates to “urban ghost story,” is centred on the ghosts and shadows of urban legends. Do not waste time and watch this if you enjoy “style over content” horror and would like to understand more about the horrific Korean urban tales! Even while it initially appears that the anthology has no point, if you pay close attention, you’ll notice that each of the five 15-minute episodes has a few things in common. It features a high school girl who is physically injured by the ghost of a fellow student, a terrifying dentist, and other terrifying scenes.
Hellbound (2021)
Hellbound is a dark fantasy horror Netflix series that broke some Squid Game records following its premiere. It is based on the filmmaker Yeon Sang-own ho’s webtoon of the same name. It is founded on the idea of divine justice and revolves around supernatural beings that emerge out of nowhere to send people to hell. The Korean TV show was the first to be accepted into the Toronto International Film Festival (via NME). This horror series, which followed Squid Game, prompted comparisons, yet Hellbound is still worthwhile to watch despite them. The idea is straightforward: if you commit enough sins while you are on Earth, the demonic triad that ultimately punishes you will have nothing positive to offer you. It was recently renewed for a second season.
Hometown (2021)
Hometown is a 1999 mystery-horror thriller that centres on the discovery of a recording that reveals the truth about multiple serial homicides following an odd murder that occurs in a small town. This TV show is for people who like stories that are hard to predict how they will end. The cast excels at what they provide to the show, and the storyline is consistently grim. The stories of the three major characters—police detective Choi Hyung In, mass killer Jo Kyung Ho, and his estranged sister Jo Jyung Hun—intertwine and set off a series of dramatic events.
Kingdom is an intriguing fusion of period drama and horror, something South Korean directors are adept at doing. It is Netflix’s first original Korean TV series. It has two seasons so far and is based on The Kingdom of the Gods, another webtoon. It blends aspects of zombie horror and political thriller. It follows the Crown Prince of Joseon as he decides to look into the King’s illness. The story is set in a fictionalised version of the Joseon era in the 16th century. While battling his political rivals, he learns about a dangerous epidemic that must be stopped in order to rescue the nation. The extreme dread with which the people react to the zombie aspects is what makes them compelling, not the zombies themselves. The core themes of the TV show’s plot revolve around hunger and the basic corruption of human nature. Third season of the show is planned.
Nightmare High (2016)
A mystery horror Korean drama called Nightmare High is also referred to as Nightmare Teacher. It revolves on a new instructor, whose arrival causes everyone’s dreams—both good and bad—to start coming true. Before it’s too late, the class president needs to find the answer to the enigma. It has very little horror content, but it offers a dark spin on coming-of-age stories. The students’ acting enhances the horror components, and the teacher is both spooky and endearing. Even though the plot occasionally seems monotonous, the chaotic components leave you wondering what will happen next.
The Cursed, which centres on a young woman who can call the dead back to life using their names and possessions, and a just social issues reporter who battles a powerful evil hidden behind an IT conglomerate, is the last but certainly not the least. It has all the necessary horror suspense in addition to the fantasy and drama blend that sets it apart from American TV shows. Some of the characters, like the investigator, ought to have had more time on screen. It’s exciting and little disturbing, and the excellent acting adds to the captivating tale. Netflix is breaking the law by not renewing.
The Guest (2018)
The Guest nonetheless received good ratings from the Korean audience despite not broadcasting during primetime television. The k-drama examines exorcism and shamanism, the latter of which is still widely practised in South Korean culture. It follows a detective, a priest who practises Catholicism, and a psychic as they work together to fight evil forces and solve crimes. The first episode immediately draws you in with its excellent acting, compelling story, and action-packed moments. It draws you into the narrative and its components truly give the supernatural occurrences a very realistic feel.
