Korean thriller series have gained immense popularity worldwide in recent years, with Netflix leading the charge in delivering these captivating dramas to international viewers. Featuring complex storylines, breathtaking visuals, and outstanding performances, Korean thrillers have enthralled audiences with their knack for keeping us in suspense. Whether you enjoy suspense, mystery, or psychological drama, this selection of top Korean suspenseful dramas on Netflix has something for everyone.
ALSO SEE:
- Panchayat Season 4 Confirmed to Arrive Earlier than Expected On Fans Demand: Trailer Released
- Best Anime Shows To Watch on Netflix India (2025)
- Bollywood’s 2025 Lineup: Hindi Films to Watch Out for in 2025
- Netflix Confirms Stranger Things Season 5 Release Dates: Special Teaser Released
1. Vagabond
- IMDb Rating- 8.10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-88%
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Runtime- 1 hour per episode
- Starring-Bae Suzy, Lee Seung Gi & others
About the Show- A stuntman involved in a tragic airplane crash ends up discovering a national corruption scandal in the process. The show has one season comprising 16 episodes.
It is a highly suspenseful K-drama that starts with a mysterious plane crash and unfolds into a deeper conspiracy involving government corruption, espionage, and terrorism. Almost every episode has a cliffhanger, and the show is filled with unexpected twists and spy thriller vibes. The emotional tension is intense throughout the series.
2. Extracurricular
- IMDb Rating- 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating- 91%
- Smartprix Rating- 8/10
- Runtime-50 minutes per episode
- Starring- Park Ju-hyun, Kim Dong-hee & others
About the Show- A teenager involves himself in a dangerous business to pay his tuition fees. Things soon take a turn for the worse when his peers take an interest in his dark secret. The show has one season comprising 10 episodes.
It is a suspenseful K-Drama in a darker, more psychological way compared to action thrillers like Vagabond. This one has a high-stakes double life plot exploring dark themes like crimes, exploitation, bullying, and moral ambiguity, along with escalating danger at every turn and unpredictable plot twists.
3. My Name
- IMDb Rating- 7.8/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating- 100%
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Runtime-50 minutes per episode
- Starring- Han So-hee, Ahn Bo-hyun & others
About the Show- Following her father’s murder, a revenge-driven woman puts her trust in a powerful crime boss and enters the force under his direction. The show has one season comprising 8 episodes.
This one is one of the most intense thrillers on Netflix. The main character joins a criminal gang to avenge her father’s murder and goes undercover in police form, and this dual life creates constant tension and danger. It has a revenge-driven plot and shocking twists at every turn. There is a relentless pace that keeps the person on the edge of their seat.
4. Celebrity
- IMDb Rating- 7.4/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-80%
- Smartprix Rating-7.8/10
- Runtime- 1 hour per episode
- Starring-Park Gyu-young, Kang Min-hyuk & others
About the Show- Seo A-ri achieves social media stardom overnight, but deadly consequences await in this glitzy, glamorous world of influencers. The show has one season comprising 12 episodes.
This glamorous and psychologically suspenseful K-drama has a murder mystery setup wherein secrets keep unfolding and narrative tension keeps building. The characters are always plotting or hiding something, and the show frequently shifts direction, with sudden reveals that change the viewer’s perception of characters and motives.
5. The Penthouse: War in Life
- IMDb Rating- 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-N/A
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Runtime- 1 hour 10 minutes per episode
- Starring-Lee Ji-ah, Kim So-yeon & others
About the Show- The residents of Hera Palace live a life of wealth and prestige. Secrets are revealed and relationships crumble behind closed doors after a death takes place in the 100-storey building. The show has three seasons comprising 52 episodes.
It is one of the most intense and melodramatic thrillers on Netflix, overflowing with twists, secrets, and emotional rollercoasters. The shoe is dripping with betrayal, secrets, revenge, and jaw-dropping backstabbing that will satisfy the urge to watch something super suspenseful.
6. A Time Called You
- IMDb Rating- 7.9/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-57%
- Smartprix Rating-7.5/10
- Runtime- 1 hour per episode
- Starring- Rowoon, Ahn Hyo-seop & others
About the Show- A young woman mourns the death of her boyfriend. As a result, she is inexplicably transported back in time in the body of a high school student. There she meets a student who looks confusingly like the deceased. The show has one season comprising 12 episodes.
This suspenseful K-drama blends suspense with romance, time-travel, and mystery rather than traditional action or thriller elements. There is a murder subplot that keeps the viewers on the edge of their seats, and twists that unfold are unpredictable by the human mind. Emotional tension makes you feel for the characters.
7. All of Us Are Dead
- IMDb Rating- 7.6/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating- 89%
- Smartprix Rating-7.8/10
- Runtime- 1 hour per episode
- Starring-Park Solomon, Park Ji-hun & others
About the Show- Trapped students must escape their high school, which has become ground zero for a zombie virus outbreak. The show has one season comprising 13 episodes.
This suspenseful K-Drama is one of the most intense survival thrillers on Netflix. It starts with a zombie outbreak at high school, trapping students who have to fight to which creates edge-of-your-seat tension. The characters are at risk of getting infected or dying at any moment, which maintains an atmosphere of tension. The pacing is fast, characters’ deaths are unpredictable, and moral dilemmas are well explored.
8. Flower of Evil
- IMDb Rating- 8.5/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-65%
- Smartprix Rating-8/10
- Runtime- 1 hour 10 minutes per episode
- Starring- Lee Joon-gi, Moon Chae-won & others
About the Show- When Detective Cha Ji-Won marries Baek Hee-Sun,g they have a daughter. While he seems like a committed family man, they are unaware that he is living in disguise. The show has one season comprising 16 episodes.
This deeply suspenseful K-drama explores a dark double life story revolving around a perfect husband who is hiding a dark past. The emotional suspense stems from what happens if the wife uncovers the truth, and flipping perspectives keeps viewers confused about what will happen next.
9. Mask Girl
- IMDb Rating- 7.3/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating- 100%
- Smartprix Rating-8.2/10
- Runtime- 1 hour per episode
- Starring-Nana, Lee Han-byeol & others
About the Show- An office worker who is insecure about her looks becomes a masked internet personality by night until a chain of ill-fated events overtakes her life. The show has one season comprising 8 episodes.
The story involves multiple identities, murders, and secrets that lead to crime and chaos. Multiple perspectives unfold along various time periods, adding layers of suspense and surprise. The plot is unpredictable, and themes of revenge and obsession are well explored. It is not a light or romantic K-drama but gritty and disturbing at times.
10. Tangeum
- IMDb Rating- 7.7/10
- Rotten Tomato Rating-N/A
- Smartprix Rating-7.6/10
- Runtime- 1 hour per episode
- Starring- Lee Jae-wook, Jo Bo-ah & others
About the Show- When a long-lost heir returns with lost memories, love and suspicion entwine, is he truly Hongrang, or a stranger disturbing hearts and family ties? The show has one season comprising 11 episodes.
Also known as Dear Hongrang, this is an identity mystery drama wherein the true identity of a young man gets revealed. There is always high-stakes tension and fast-paced plotting, along with shocking moments every now and then. The show has an emotional depth, and you will like it if you like historical mysteries and psychological suspense.
You can follow Smartprix on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Google News. Visit smartprix.com for the latest tech and auto news, reviews, and guides.
