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The lockdown four years ago gave me a new appetite for Korean dramas, and that was when I started watching the scariest, most disturbing shows I could find—there was something so morbidly entertaining about it.
If, like me, you also want to watch something darker than usual that explores taboo or problematic topics, I’ve rounded up this short list of seven personal faves anyone would enjoy.
Whether it’s a religious cult that slowly encroaches on the lives of the inhabitants of a suburb or an atmospheric race against time to catch an enthusiastic killer, you’re going to love it.
1. Save Me
This psychological thriller follows a young woman and her family who become entangled with a religious cult.
What happens with the people’s blind faith? And what are the consequences of unchecked fanaticism?
This drama delves into these and more (abuse, manipulation, and the search for power), and trust me when I say you’ll be absolutely hooked.
Related: 10 Can’t-Miss Korean Dramas With The Most Shocking Plot Twist
2. Strangers from Hell
Adapted from a popular webtoon, this drama follows a young man who moves to Seoul for a new job and finds himself living in a rundown apartment building filled with eccentric and sinister residents.
Soon enough, he becomes trapped in a nightmarish spiral of paranoia and violence, and if urban isolation ever sounded like a treat, this drama is going to show you how there are always horrors that lurk beneath the surface.
3. It’s Okay, That’s Love
While not a typical horror drama, It’s Okay, That’s Love explores disturbing themes such as mental illness and trauma.
The drama revolves around a successful psychiatrist with his own hidden struggles and a mystery novelist with a troubled past as they learn to confront their fears.
You May Also Like: 10 Amazing Korean Dramas With The Most Satisfying Endings
4. White Christmas
Set in an elite boarding school during the winter holidays, White Christmas follows a group of students who find themselves trapped on campus after a snowstorm.
And while learning about each other’s secrets, they’re forced to confront their own deepest fears and desires in this chilling psychological thriller Kdrama.
5. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
This hauntingly beautiful dark romance revolves around a mysterious man with a troubled past and a young woman who becomes entangled in his life.
But their dark secrets and painful truths loom above them, and to find their happily ever after, they’ll have to let go of guilt and walk towards redemption.
This drama is incredibly atmospheric, so you’d be sucked in from the very beginning, and I just know you’ll appreciate every bit of it.
6. Nightmare Teacher
Nightmare Teacher centres on a group of high school students who meet their new and mysterious substitute teacher, Han Bong-gu.
He offers them solutions to their problems, but at a terrible price, and the students soon realize that they are trapped in a nightmare that they can’t escape from.
Also See: 8 Romance-Free Korean Dramas That Hit The Right Notes
7. Possessed
This supernatural thriller follows a detective and a psychic medium as they investigate a series of gruesome murders that seem to be connected to a mysterious woman possessed by evil spirits.
But they’re soon confronted by the dark forces that threaten to consume them, and if you want a chilling drama that blends elements of horror and mystery to create a gripping tale of supernatural suspense, this is a good option.
What do you think? Will you check out these dark Korean dramas? Let me know in the comment section below.
As always, remember to check the related posts below for more recommendations!
