Korean Crime Dramas Worth Watching
Crime and police procedural dramas that worth the watch with good plot, characters and acting.
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1. Bad Guys: City of Evil
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
The plot is heavy. The plot is straightforward. A lot of grey areas here. If you are the kind that only sees black and white, this is not for you as this drama deals with good people who fight evil with whatever means they can, even if it means they have to fight dirty.
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2. Come and Hug Me
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
The drama that made me fall in love with Jang Ki Yong. His acting here is superb. The plot is also amazing. Two souls who fell in love when they were teenagers despite the circumstances. Totally worth the watch.
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3. Defendant
Korean Drama - 2017, 18 episodes
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4. Doctor Prisoner
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
An eye opener how hospitals are being run by people who only think about profit. The premises of the characters however are quite weak for me. Should have made the ML's background story more tragic. But still, the plot and writing are commendable.
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5. Lawless Lawyer
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
I like the premis of this drama. The plot was not cliche. Both ML and FL were not annoying. But the winner would be the villains. They stole the show. Impeccable acting!
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6. Life on Mars
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Have Jung Kyung Ho ever disappoint you? Well, never happened to me. His dramas are always worth watching. This is a remake of a British TV series of the same name. I haven't watched the British version so I can't compare which one is better. But based on what I've read so far, they said this Korean version is worth your time.
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7. Live
Korean Drama - 2018, 18 episodes
I feel like I was duped when I watch this drama. Based on the casts, I was expecting a comedy kinda drama like Prison Playbook. Boy, was I wrong.
This drama is basically about the life of korean police men and women from the academy until being a police officer. Kwang Soo surprised me with his acting here. I thought he would be playing a comedic character like in It's Ok It's Love. Nope. He is more serious here (and toned too again to my surprise).
The plot of this drama is unlike any other. You just get hooked from the first episode up till the last. This drama makes me understand how the policemen and women are in Korea especially in their struggle in doing their job.
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8. Mad Dog
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
What Iike about korean dramas is the variety that they have in terms of setting and plot. This drama is about a group of people who investigates insurance frauds, which is apparently popular in South Korea. Insurance fraud! Even Hollywood hasn't done any series bout this, as far as I'm concerned.
I like the team members' relationchip that are filled with angst, compassion and humour.
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9. Missing Noir M
Korean Drama - 2015, 10 episodes
Underrated! This drama deserve a second season! Everything was perfect for me. A brilliant leader, a hot headed and impulsive cop and a kick ass IT expert. Their teamwork was superb. No unnecessary drama between them. Even the cases were not predictable and were creatively written.
The ending of this drama was rushed. Why only 10 episodes? Maybe they planned for second season but didn't get to follow through. Gosh! Season 2 pleaseeeee!
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10. Player
Korean Drama - 2018, 14 episodes
Leverage kinda drama where a con team cons criminals. The twist is for every criminal thay they con actually have something to do with the death of a prosecutor years back.
I like the feel of a team in this drama. Even shed tears in the last episode (if you watch it you'll know what I mean). After Stranger and Life on Mars, this is one of the dramas where I wish they would have a second season.
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11. Signal
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
Nothing Negative I have on this drama. Pure masterpiece
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12. Special Labor Inspector Jo
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
I was surprised with this drama. It took me off guard. I fell in love right in the first episode.
This drama is about Inspector Labor Jo Jin Gap whose job is to investigate employers who misused their power over their workers. Basically, an Inspector Labor's scope of work is to investigate any report of wrongdoings by employers such as pay less than what they are supposed to be paid or demand overtime without paying their workers.
I like how upright Jo Jin Gap is in this drama and how loved he is by other people especially his ex students. This drama shows how a good teacher is the one that has the most impact in their stduents' lives.
This drama investigates white collar crime with lots of comedy. That being said, there are moments where it can make you feel so overwhelmed by the cases. Although not as intense as dramas like Signal or Missing Noir M, this drama does give you a fresh feel.
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13. Stranger
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
The ML is a prosecutor who does not have any emotion due to a brain surgery that he went through when he was little. Therefore people deem him as cold and unfriendly. The FL is a cop who always coincidentally end up investigating the same cases with the ML. She befriended him when nobody doesn't want to. Together they solve cases involving dirty prosecutors and police officers.
On the top of my list! I just love the characters! The friendship between the main characters were not forced. It seems natural. The bond between the ML and FL were strong. They really fit, and that is what I really like about this drama. Can't wait for season 2!
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14. Tunnel
Korean Movie - 2016
Good plot. Good acting. and I love the cases that they have to solve.
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15. Voice
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
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16. Welcome 2 Life
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
Underrated drama of 2019. I'm not a big fan of Rain Didn't even like Full House. But this drama is worth watching. His acting here is golden.
What would you do if you wake up and realised that you are at an alternate universe where you were leading your life according to the path not taken? This was what happened in this drama. The ML was a successful lawyer who only thinks about money. One day he was involved in an accident and woke up in a different life. In this alternate life, he's a selfless prosecutor who fights for injustice, who is a total opposite of hwat he really is. Interesting, isn't it? The real gem is the wife and daughter that he does not have in his other life.
So from being a rich single hotshot lawyer who has everything, to a married prosecutor who is poor and has nothing.
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17. When the Camellia Blooms
Korean Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
Among all of the dramas here, this drama is the slowest. But despite that, the plot is good and the actors acted well. If you are ok with a slow paced crime drama with some romance, this is a drama for you.
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18. While You Were Sleeping
Korean Drama - 2017, 32 episodes
I find the characters too handsome and beautiful, and it disturb my concentration. I think dcrime dramas should have a more serious ground. This has the romance comedy feel. This is amore like a 50% crime and 50% romance drama. And then there's the supernatural element. My least favourite in this list.