Signal, Flower of Evil and more are some of the most adding thriller series. Here are the 9 best detective Korean dramas.
Flower of Evil, Mouse and many more detective Korean dramas provide thrill and action to the audience. The viewers get involved in the mystery and the story of such detective K-dramas. Action K-dramas like Taxi Driver, not only create a mystery but also provide a spectacle with fighting and stunt scenes. Such thriller K-dramas create excitement and keep the viewers hooked on for the next episode. Here is a list of some of the best action-thriller detective Korean dramas.
1. Flower of Evil
- Release year: 2020
- Director: Kim Chul Gyu, Yoon Jong Ho
- Cast: Lee Joon Gi, Moon Chae Won, Jang Hee Jin, Seo Hyun Woo
A suspenseful drama where a detective’s world unravels as she suspects her seemingly perfect husband of having a dark past. With twists and complex character development, this show keeps viewers on edge.
2. Mouse
- Release year: 2021
- Director: Choi Joon Bae, Kang Cheol Woo
- Cast: Lee Seung Gi, Lee Hee Joon, Park Ju Hyun, Kyung Soo Jin
Set in a world where psychopaths can be identified through a genetic test, a rookie cop becomes embroiled in a cat-and-mouse game with a brutal serial killer. The story’s twists will have you questioning every character’s motives.
3. Beyond Evil
- Release year: 2021
- Director: Shim Na Yeon
- Cast: Yeo Jin Goo, Shin Ha Kyun, Kim Shin Rok, Choi Sung Eun, Choi Dae Hoon
A psychological drama about two detectives obsessed with a murder case from 20 years ago. As they dig deeper, they find themselves questioning their own morals and each other’s intentions.
4. The Devil Judge
- Release year: 2021
- Director: Choi Jung Gyu
- Cast: Ji Sung, Kim Min Jung, Park Jin Young, Park Gyu Young
The Devil Judge is set in a dystopian world in which evil has reached its greatest limits. The Head Judge takes matters into his own hands and turns the courtroom into a reality show-esq space as he punishes criminals.
5. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
- Release year: 2018
- Director: Yoo Je Won
- Cast: Seo In Guk, Jung So Min, Park Sung Woong
The Korean version is a remake of the Japanese TV series Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi. The story revolves around a mysterious young man who doesn’t remember his memories from when he was young. He is a suspected murderer who gets involved in the life of the detective’s sister who’s out to get him.
6. Through the Darkness
- Release year: 2022
- Director: Kim Jae Hong, Park Bo Ram
- Cast: Kim Nam Gil, Jin Seon Kyu, Kim So Jin
Through the Darkness is adapted from the autobiography of South Korea’s first criminal profiler Kwon Il Young and journalist Ko Na Mu. Set in the 1990s, the drama stars Kim Nam Gil, Jin Seon Kyu and Kim So Jin. It surrounds the case of the attacks and murders of women by the criminal dubbed as ‘Red Cap’.
7. Taxi Driver
- Release year: 2021
- Director: Park Joon Woo
- Cast: Lee Ji Hoon, Esom, Kim Eui Sung, Pyo Ye Jin
Taxi Driver is based on a popular webtoon but the drama released in 2021 takes a different take on the original copy. The series starring Lee Ji Hoon, Esom, Kim Eui Sung and Pyo Ye Jin is about a group of people who were wronged in their lives who come together to become vigilantes of sorts. Together they take revenge on the criminals and those who do others wrong.
8. Connection 
- Release year: 2024
- Director: Kim Moo Kyo
- Cast: Ji Sung, Jeon Mi Do, Kwon Yul, Kim Kyung Nam
It tells the story of detective Jang Jae Kyung who is kidnapped and forced to consume drugs. After his old high school friend passes away mysteriously, he teams up with an old school friend, who reunites after 20 years to solve the case.
Conclusion
Detective K-dramas are a rollercoaster ride and provide a range of emotions from sympathy to sadness and love. Thriller K-dramas like Flowers of Evil and Mouse show the side of the criminals and their mentality as well. On the other hand, action K-dramas like Taxi Driver and The Devil Judge portray the main characters with gray moral values and walk the path of crime.
