10 Best Action-Packed K-Dramas With No Feelings Involved
Not everything has to be about love.
Although many people believe that K-dramas would not be as internationally successful as they are if it weren't for the various romantic tropes that these shows explore, the reality is that there is much better that the industry has to offer. From gruesome horror and thrillers to mind-bending mysteries, Korean television has something for every viewer.
If you're not particularly interested in soapy dramas or romantic comedies, but love a good action sequence, this list is for you. Pick a show you like from the 10 below and let your mind drift away from everyday worries.
A Shop for Killers (2024)
After receiving the news of her uncle's death, Jian is forced to take over his shop. Shocked by his sudden decision to take his own life, she delves deeper into his shady business and begins to believe that someone else is responsible for his death. Now it's up to her to keep the shop running and avenge him.
Taxi Driver (2021)
Despite its fun and cheerful name, Rainbow Taxi is far from your average taxi service. It exists to avenge the victims that the law could not protect and to bring terrible people to justice. A former Special Forces officer, Do Gi, crashed by the murder of his mother, joins this taxi to finally avenge her and help the others, no matter what the law thinks.
Bloodhounds (2023)
Kim Geon Woo and Hong Woo Jin, both former Marines and professional boxers, are sure they can box their way out of any trouble. They decide to take down the ruthless loan shark business that has been harassing Geon Woo's mother and her small cafe, but they don't realize how powerful the organization is and how much it would take to take it on.
D.P. (2023)
After young soldier Jun Ho suddenly becomes a member of the military's defector arrest team, he's forced to confront the most confusing and heartbreaking cases of deserters. One by one, he tries to understand the power that can force someone to take the riskiest step and leave with nothing but the hope of escape.
A Killer Paradox (2024)
When Lee Tang kills his first victim, it is an accident that happens during an unfortunate argument. But when he learns that his victim was actually a serial killer, he realizes that he has the power to track down the criminals and take them down one by one. His vigilante plan, however, is interrupted by the tenacious detective.
Mask Girl (2023)
Adapted from the webtoon series Mask Girl, this K-drama follows Kim Mo Mi, a woman full of insecurities about her appearance. She works in an office, has a small circle of friends, but really lives only on the Internet, streaming daily while wearing a mask. The mask not only protects her self-confidence, but also gives her a whole new personality.
Squid Game ( 2021)
Sometimes money drives people to make some of the worst decisions of their lives. Agreeing to participate in a series of children's games with a deadly twist can earn the 455 contestants of a Squid Game a ₩45.6 billion prize, but it can also cost them their lives. Who will survive, and who will be eliminated in the middle of the competition? Tune in to find out.
Vigilante (2023)
The justice system is flawed, so not everyone gets the punishment they deserve. When Kim Ji Yong's mother is brutally beaten on the street, the perpetrator only gets 3.5 years in prison. When Ji Yong meets him years after his release, he sees no change and beats him up instead. Thus, he becomes the justice and begins his path as a vigilante.
Stranger from Hell (2019)
When Yoon Jong Woo gets the chance to move from his small town to Seoul, he is excited and takes it immediately, without worrying too much about where he will live. He rents a room in a cheap dormitory in Eden Gosiwon, but soon realizes that he is in real trouble, because his closest neighbors aren't who he thinks they are.
Grid (2022)
Set in a near dystopian future, Grid is a thriller that follows the story of Kim Sae Ha, who stumbles upon a murder, and Jung Sae Byeok, a detective sent to arrest the killer. The investigation becomes more twisted when she encounters a man who saved humanity 24 years ago and then disappeared for decades.