Best Korean Thriller Drama Recommendations to Relate to Watching in 2025

Korean thrillers continue to capture attention thanks to their gripping plots, full of mystery, and often incorporating psychological or supernatural issues that relate to modern life. The year 2025 is the perfect time to explore the best Korean thriller dramas, ranging from revenge stories, crime, to thrilling conspiracies. If you are a fan of this genre, here are the best Korean thriller dramas you must watch this year.

1. A Shop for Killers

Drama Poster Illustration (Image by mydramalist)

In A Shop for Killers, we follow Ji-an, a young woman whose life drastically changes after the death of her uncle, Ji-man. Ji-man, who was known as an ordinary man, turns out to have been running a secret business providing assassination services. After his sudden death, Ji-an discovers the truth and begins to be hunted by dangerous parties seeking her uncle's inheritance.

2. Sweet Home

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Sweet Home brings a thriller atmosphere into the horror world with a post-apocalyptic touch. Cha Hyun-soo, a reclusive teenager, moves to the Green Home apartment after a family tragedy. However, his life becomes increasingly terrifying as a mysterious outbreak turns humans into horrifying monsters.

What makes Sweet Home so gripping is how the tension arises not only from the ferocious creatures but also from conflicts among humans. The residents of Green Home become suspicious of each other, struggling to survive and adapting to a brutal new reality. The series also incorporates themes of humanity, trauma, and deep loss.

3. Defendant

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Defendant invites the audience into the nightmare of a prosecutor named Park Jung-woo. He wakes up in prison and finds himself accused of murdering his wife and child, even though he remembers nothing. With the threat of the death penalty hanging over him, Jung-woo must race against time to uncover the truth and regain his memory.

This drama presents a story full of surprises that is rich in emotion and moral dilemmas. How is it possible that someone who upholds the law becomes a victim of a corrupt system? Jung-woo's struggle to prove his innocence reveals many dark secrets within the law enforcement institution.

4. Tunnel

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Tunnel offers a unique combination of crime story and time travel. Detective Park Gwang-ho is chasing a serial killer in 1986, but he is suddenly thrown into the future, specifically the year 2016. There, he meets a new detective and a psychologist to investigate a similar case.

The complex yet coherent plot keeps the audience intrigued. Park Gwang-ho must adapt to modern technology and investigative methods while trying to piece together the fragments of an unsolved case. The collaboration across generations in solving the mystery becomes the main strength of this drama.

5. Masked Girl

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Masked Girl depicts the life of Kim Mo-mi, an office worker who feels insecure about her appearance. At night, she transforms into a popular figure named Masked Girl, an online persona known for her live broadcasts with her face covered by a mask. However, her life takes a drastic turn when she becomes involved in a series of tragic incidents.

This drama raises social issues such as pressure to meet beauty standards, the toxic digital world, and dual identities. Kim Mo-mi's journey is not only full of twists and turns but also illustrates how social media can slowly yet surely destroy a person's life. The story evokes empathy and criticism towards the current online culture.

6. Watcher

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Watcher tells the story of Julia, an American woman who moves to Bucharest with her husband. Her new life, which was supposed to be peaceful, turns into a nightmare when she feels she is being watched by someone from the window of the apartment across the street. Her anxiety intensifies when she learns about the existence of a serial killer known as The Spider.

This drama delves deep into the fear and isolation experienced by Julia, making the audience feel the paranoia that haunts her. The foreign city setting, psychological tension, and the unfolding mystery make Watcher a gripping thriller. The audience is left wondering whether Julia is really being watched or if it is all just in her mind?

7. Revenant

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Revenant takes the audience into a chilling supernatural realm, wrapped in a thriller story filled with mystery. Ku San-yeong, a young woman, becomes possessed by a demon after receiving an inheritance from her deceased father. She then meets Yeom Hae-sang, a folklore professor with the ability to see spirits.

Together, they investigate a series of mysterious deaths that turn out to be connected to the demon possessing San-yeong. This drama is not only frightening but also deeply explores Korean history and mythology. The blend of personal stories and folklore elements creates a complex and emotional narrative.

(kpl/khs)