20 Recommendations for Korean Dramas in the Thriller Crime Genre, Exciting and Tense

Kapanlagi.com - The story of criminal events is indeed exciting to be made into films or dramas. It's no wonder that many titles of Korean dramas in the thriller crime genre have emerged over time.

The stories vary, ranging from serial murders, the struggles of investigative teams, to acts of revenge crime. Of course, Korean dramas in the thriller crime genre contain tense stories.

If you are looking for recommendations for Korean dramas in the thriller crime genre that are exciting and tense, please check out the reviews below.

1. DUTY AFTER SCHOOL (2023)

(Credit: Imdb.com)

If you are looking for a recommendation for a thrilling crime genre Korean drama, DUTY AFTER SCHOOL might be the answer. The story begins when strange events occur in society. Suddenly, alien creatures appear in the city and claim many victims.

To address this, the government decides that students in schools and university students must take action. Because the existing military power is inadequate, they are deployed to help defend the earth against the attack.

You can watch this drama on the streaming services Viki and Viu.

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2. TAXI DRIVER (2021)

TAXI DRIVER is also a recommended Korean drama in the thriller crime genre that is worth watching. This drama, inspired by the Webtoon titled The Deluxe Taxi by Lee Jae Jin and Carlos, tells the story of Kim Do Ki (Lee Je Hoon), a military member whose life changes when his mother tragically passes away.

He becomes a taxi driver at Rainbow Taxi. Unlike regular taxis, Rainbow Taxi provides a service to take revenge on criminals. You will see various thrilling actions from Kim Do Ki and his colleagues as they try to fulfill orders from their customers.

You can watch this drama on the streaming services Vidio and Viu.

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3. MOUSE (2021)

(Credit: Imdb.com)

Next, there is MOUSE as a recommendation for a Korean drama in the thriller crime genre that is worth watching. The main character is named Jung Ba Reum (Lee Seung Gi), an honest new police officer who upholds justice. However, his life changes when he gets involved in a case with a psychopathic serial killer.

Jung Ba Reum collaborates with detective Koo Moo Chi (Lee Hee Joon) to solve the case that is haunting the community. Not only are there tense scenes, but this drama also contains unexpected plot twists. You can watch this drama on Viu.

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4. MEMORIST (2020)

MEMORIST is also part of the Korean drama in the thriller crime genre. Broadly speaking, this drama tells the story of a young man who has the ability to read other people's minds just by touching them. This ability allows Dong Baek, a genius detective, to solve various criminal cases.

While working as a detective, he collaborates with a criminal profiler named Han Mi Sun (Lee Se Young). It turns out that both detectives have a dark past. You can watch this drama on the streaming service Viu.

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5. STRANGER FROM HELL (2019)

(Credit: Imdb.com)

If you are looking for recommendations for Korean dramas in the thriller crime genre, STRANGER FROM HELL should definitely not be missed. The story revolves around a character named Jong Woo (Im Si Wan) who is forced to live in a cramped and crowded Goshiwon due to financial constraints. He ends up being neighbors with Moon Jo (Lee Dong Wook), a dentist with a mysterious side.

Jong Woo begins to experience many strange things in his residence. You will feel the tension as you follow Jong Woo's story when he confronts the other odd and somewhat terrifying residents. You can watch this drama on streaming services like Viu, Netflix, and Prime Video.

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6. VOICE (2017)

Speaking of Korean dramas in the thriller crime genre, VOICE certainly deserves to be discussed. This drama features Kwon Joo (Lee Ha Na), who is a professional voice profiler. Another character is Detective Jin, known as a tough and principled detective.

They share a common goal, which is to solve the murder case involving their loved ones. Eventually, they collaborate to uncover and catch the perpetrator. You can watch the drama VOICE on the iQIYI service.

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7. CRIMINAL MINDS (2017)

(Credit: Imdb.com)

Do you want to watch a Korean drama in the thriller crime genre that shows an investigation team at work? CRIMINAL MINDS might be the answer. You will feel the tension while watching each episode.

Each episode features different cases, but there is one main case that is investigated from start to finish, which is hunting a psychopath. Interestingly, the actions of the psychopath are also related to the personal lives of the team members. You can watch the full story on iQIYI and WeTV.

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8. NATIONAL DEATH PENALTY VOTE (2023)

NATIONAL DEATH PENALTY VOTE is one of the recommended Korean dramas in the thriller crime genre that you should look forward to. This drama features a villainous character known as Dog Mask. It is told that he is also evading the death penalty.

Furthermore, there is a police team pursuing Dog Mask, involving three individuals. Kim Moo Chan is the leader of the First Investigation Team at the Southern Police Agency. Together with other team members, he struggles to solve the case and capture Dog Mask. With a touch of action and mystery, this latest crime drama is definitely worth watching.

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9. BRAIN WORKS (2023)

(Credit: Imdb.com)

Next, there is a new crime drakor titled BRAIN WORKS. This drama tells the story of a neurosurgeon from a wealthy family named Shin Ha Ru and a detective named Geum Myung Se. They have very different characters.

Shin Ha Ru is a confident person but lacks empathy for others. Meanwhile, Geum Myung Se is a straightforward detective who often speaks harshly but still cares for others. In this Korean drama of the thriller crime genre, their actions while having to work together to solve a case are certainly not to be missed.

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10. PAYBACK: MONEY AND POWER (2023)

PAYBACK: MONEY AND POWER is also an interesting Korean drama in the crime thriller genre. The story in this drama focuses on the revenge actions of an elite businessman who refuses to remain silent about the abuse of authority.

This latest crime drama also contains a conspiracy against a money cartel that collaborates with legal entities. The villains include a money dealer who becomes a financial manager, a former prosecutor as well as a judicial official, a young prosecutor, and a popular prosecutor. This story is worth following.

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11. DECOY (2023)

(Credit: Imdb.com)

The next Korean drama in the crime thriller genre is DECOY. This drama features a character named Gu Do Han, a former lawyer who is now a detective. In this latest crime drama, you will see his actions in uncovering the truth behind unsolved crimes.

He conducts investigations through cases occurring in the present. The people he meets include Reporter Jung Na Yeon and a con artist named No Sang Cheon.

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12. BIG BET SEASON 2 (2023)

BIG BET SEASON 2 is also a must-watch recommendation for the latest 2023 crime drama. This Korean drama in the thriller crime genre tells the story of Cha Mu Sik, a man who has sacrificed his time and resources since youth to make a name for himself in the casino world. He struggles from scratch to become the casino king in the Philippines.

However, Mu Sik must face a rocky road. In this season 2, his story continues. He is once again trying to save himself and the life he has built.

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13. MURDERER O NANGAM (2023)

(Credit: Mydramalist)

MURDERER O NANGAM is also one of the Korean dramas in the thriller crime genre that you should look forward to. This upcoming crime drama tells the story of Lee Tang, a college student who works part-time at a department store. One day, he gets into a fight with a rough drunk man and accidentally kills him. He feels terrified.

However, it turns out that the person he killed is a serial killer who has been wanted for the last 4 years. Lee Tang realizes that he has a special ability to recognize evil people who deserve to die. Lee Tang soon becomes a serial killer to eliminate these bad people. Meanwhile, Detective Jang Nan Gam investigates the murders committed by Lee Tang.

14. THE MANIPULATED

THE MANIPULATED (credit: Disney+)

The drama THE MANIPULATED tells the story of Tae Jung, a simple man whose life is shattered after being framed in a serious criminal case. He is imprisoned for a crime he never committed. This situation makes him feel wronged.

Behind all this, there is a mysterious figure named Yo Han, the mastermind who orchestrates his downfall. After being released from prison, Tae Jung is determined to take revenge on Yo Han and seek justice in his own way. This story highlights themes of manipulation, revenge, and the dark quest for truth.

15. DEAR X

DEAR X (credit: TVING)

Baek A Jin grows up in domestic violence and learns to survive by manipulating the emotions of others. From the outside, she appears kind and perfect, but hidden beneath that is a dangerous dark side.

With her beauty and talent, she manages to become a top actress. However, her glamorous life turns into a nightmare when those closest to her betray her. All of this happens as Baek A Jin's actions spiral out of control. On the other hand, she also faces karma for her past actions.

16. TAXI DRIVER SEASON 3

TAXI DRIVER SEASON 3 (credit: SBS)

The third season of the successful series Taxi Driver returns with the story of Kim Do Gi, a former special forces member who lost his mother to a brutal murder. He then joins a secret organization called Rainbow Taxi, which quietly delivers justice for crime victims overlooked by the law.

In this latest season, Rainbow Taxi faces an international crime network involved in human trafficking and loan sharking. The conflict intensifies as they must expand operations overseas to stop the syndicate threatening many innocent lives.

17. QUEEN MANTIS

QUEEN MANTIS (credit: SBS)

Twenty years ago, Jung I Sin, a woman dubbed The Mantis, brutally killed five men and became one of the most feared killers in Korea. Now, her son Cha Su Yeol, who has become a police officer, lives with hatred towards his mother.

However, when a new murder case occurs that mimics The Mantis's crime style, Su Yeol is forced to seek his mother's help to catch the real perpetrator. This drama showcases the complex relationship between mother and son in the shadow of past sins and heinous murders.

18. A KILLER PARADOX

A KILLER PARADOX (credit: Netflix)

Lee Tang, an ordinary student who works part-time at a store, gets involved in a fight with a customer and accidentally kills him. However, he later discovers that the victim was a serial killer.

This incident completely changes Lee Tang's life. He discovers a supernatural ability to recognize evil people. He uses this ability to hunt down criminals who have not been brought to justice. However, his actions cause a detective to begin suspecting him. As a result, Lee Tang becomes a fugitive from the detective due to his vigilante actions that are not in accordance with the law.

19. NOTHING UNCOVERED

NOTHING UNCOVERED (credit: KBS2)

Seo Jung Won, a famous reporter known as the Villain Hunter, hosts a TV show that exposes public crimes. However, her life changes when she becomes involved in a mysterious murder scandal.

She must team up with her ex-boyfriend, Kim Tae Heon, a stubborn detective, to uncover the truth behind the case. On the other hand, her husband Woo Jae, a famous mystery writer, harbors a dark secret that connects everything in a complex web of serial murders.

20. BURIED HEARTS

BURIED HEARTS (credit: SBS)

This drama depicts a world of political corruption and dark ambitions behind power. A man attempts to embezzle a dark fund of 2 trillion won to save his life. However, he is killed by an influential figure who is unaware that his secret has been uncovered.

Meanwhile, Seo Dong Ju, a loyal executive of Daesan Group, hides his ambition to take over the company. On the other hand, Yeom Jang Seon, a former intelligence chief who is now a law professor, controls the political world from behind the scenes. Meanwhile, secrets from the past begin to unravel concerning Seo Dong Ju's origins. To gain that power, all means are employed, including committing crimes and plotting murders. This story highlights a world of manipulation, money, and deadly power.

21. QnA Recommendations for Korean Drama Genre Thriller Crime

Q1: Is Dear X also a psychological genre?

A1: Yes, this drama combines psychological, criminal, and revenge elements with complex characters.

Q2: Who is the main actor in Taxi Driver Season 3?

A2: Actor Lee Je Hoon returns as Kim Do Gi, a former special forces operative turned revenge driver.

Q3: Is The Manipulated related to real legal cases?

A3: It is not directly mentioned, but the story depicts a legal system manipulated by hidden powers.

Q4: What is the main attraction of A Killer Paradox compared to other crime dramas?

A4: The supernatural elements and the dual morality of the main character set it apart from conventional crime dramas.

Q5: Does Buried Hearts focus on politics or corporate crime?

A5: This drama combines both, depicting the relationships between politicians, businessmen, and dark money scandals.

Well, KLovers, those are a series of thrilling crime thriller Korean dramas for you to watch. Follow the latest celebrity news only at Kapanlagi.com. If not now, when?

(kpl/gen/ans)