Best Korean Action Series, in the past few decades, particularly the Vengeance Trilogy by Park Chan-
wook, have been praised for their skillful and meaningful portrayal of violence as a strategic tool for
storytelling.
While this characteristic continues to be prominent in Korean films, the genre’s peak may have been in
the early- and late-2000s. Television adaptations of these movies often tone down the violence but still
exist.Action has emerged as a key theme in Korean dramas as well, with characters ranging from boxers
seeking to fight their way out of trouble to lawyers prepared to get their hands dirty to learn information
about their cases. Squid Game caused controversy because of how obscenely it portrayed capitalism,
brutality, and poverty, yet Korean culture has been exploring this theme for years. These Korean action
series make an ordinary Tuesday for the protagonists more exciting by incorporating action into the
primary plot.
Best Korean Action Series You Need to Watch
1.Vagabond
Lee Seung-gi plays Cha Dal-gun in the 2019 film Vagabond. Cha Dal-gun is a stuntman who carries a lot
of weight on his shoulders. He decides to adopt his nephew after learning that he has been abandoned.
But when his nephew travels to Morocco, Dal-gun is shocked to learn that the plane his nephew was on
was involved in an accident. He goes to Morocco in search of resolution, but when he learns that it could
not have been an accident, he teams up with a National Intelligence Service agent (Bae Suzy) to learn the
truth.
2.Bloodhounds
In the 2023 series Bloodhounds, Woo Doo-hwan and Lee Sang-yi play energetic young male boxers who
become involved with crime and loan sharks when Woo’s character’s mother falls victim to a loan scam.
The duo utilizes their boxing skills to protect Kim Saeron’s character, Hyeon-ju. However, they soon find
themselves targeted by the wrong people, forcing them into a life-or-death fight for survival. The series
consists of eight episodes.
3.Squid Game, Best Korean Action Series
Squid Game, released during the COVID-19 pandemic, has become a massive Korean television sensation
worldwide. The show presents a scenario where individuals from lower-income backgrounds are enticed
into a reality game show, but with a deadly twist. Participants who lose the game face systematic
elimination, while the main characters strive to win the coveted cash prize. Offering an unflinching
portrayal of various societal issues in contemporary Korea, Squid Game is a gripping and remarkable
series.
4.D.P.
D.P. is a Korean drama that spans six episodes, providing a critical perspective on the lives of conscripted
individuals in the Korean military. Mandatory military service for men is a result of the ongoing conflicts
on the peninsula. Jung Hae-in and Koo Kyo-hwan play characters responsible for apprehending army
deserters. The series delves into the reasons behind desertion, which often include mental health issues
such as depression. It explores the challenges and experiences these two characters face as they strive to
bring back these individuals alive and intact.
5.My Name
My Name, a Netflix series consisting of eight episodes, delivers a powerful impact. Released in 2021, Han
So-hee takes on the role of Yoon Ji-woo, a young woman seeking revenge following her father’s untimely
death. She finds herself drawn into a criminal organization, where the leader personally trains her. Her
most significant mission is to infiltrate the local police department’s drug unit as an undercover agent.
However, when she forms emotional connections with her colleagues, it threatens to jeopardize their
lives. My Name is a gripping tale of loyalty and danger.
6.W, Best Korean Action Series
In recent years, webtoons from South Korea have gained immense popularity, and many Korean dramas
have been adapted from them. While W is not directly adapted from a webtoon, it incorporates one into
its plot. The series follows a surgeon (Han Hyo-joo) who happens to be the daughter of a renowned
webtoon creator. When her father mysteriously disappears, she finds herself drawn into the world of his
webtoon. In a twist of events, she saves the main character, Kang Chul (Lee Jong-suk), but this action has
unforeseen consequences. Now, she must navigate between two different worlds, and matters become
even more perilous as they fall in love and the boundaries between their realities blur. W is a captivating
series that combines romance, danger, and the merging of parallel worlds.
7.Mr. Sunshine
Mr. Sunshine is an iconic Korean drama that has garnered a significant following and is available for
streaming on platforms like Netflix. Led by Lee Byung-hun, the series takes place in the early 1870s and
revolves around a former Joseon slave who immigrates to America. Returning to Joseon as an adult and
serving as a soldier for the American army, he falls in love with the daughter of an aristocrat, portrayed by
Kim Tae-ri. Against the backdrop of Japanese colonization efforts in the peninsula, the drama explores the
impending conflict and its impact on the characters. Mr. Sunshine is a captivating tale of love and
struggle in a historical setting.
8.The K2
The K2, released in 2016, features Ji Chang-wook as Je-ha, an elite bodyguard. Formerly a mercenary, he
is hired to protect the daughter of a CEO of a security company. However, there’s a twist: the daughter’s
existence is meant to be kept a secret. Je-ha takes on the job with the hope of seeking revenge for his
former lover’s murder in Iraq. As the story unfolds, Je-ha and the daughter develop romantic feelings for
each other, complicating the situation. With the revelation of family politics, the situation turns
increasingly ugly, leading to further conflicts and complications. The K2 is a thrilling drama that delves
into love, revenge, and political intrigue.
9.City Hunter
City Hunter is a Korean drama based on a popular Japanese Manga of the same name, and it played a
significant role in launching Hallyu star Lee Min-ho into international recognition. Co-starring with Park
Min-young, the drama begins in 1983 when South Korean dictator Chun Doo-hwan is on a foreign visit
and a bombing occurs, claiming the lives of several individuals in his party. However, when a retaliatory
team is sent to North Korea, they are betrayed by their own government. Years later, the son of one of the
fallen men from that mission seeks revenge and becomes determined to do whatever it takes to
accomplish it. City Hunter is a gripping tale of vengeance and political intrigue.
10.Healer, Best Korean Action Series
In the 2014 television series “Healer,” Park Min-young and Ji Chang-wook take on the lead roles. The
story revolves around three individuals who join forces to uncover the truth about an incident that
occurred in 1992. At that time, a group of five friends operated a broadcast station advocating for
democracy in an era when South Korea was under a dictatorship. In the present day, the trio strives to
unveil the hidden facts, which leads them to confront individuals involved in suppressing freedom of
speech. Along the way, they also question their own beliefs and challenge the narratives they were taught
about history and the right path to follow. “Healer” is a thought-provoking series that explores truth,
justice, and personal convictions.
