20 Best Korean Revenge-Themed Dramas

Korean dramas captivate audiences with not only heartwarming love stories, but also dramatic tales of revenge. These dramas typically feature tension, intrigue, and occasionally, intense bloody scenes that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.

Revenge-themed dramas often revolve around power struggles, bullying, infidelity, or financial conflicts. Curious about compelling Korean revenge dramas with captivating stories? Discover our must-watch list below!

1. Taxi Driver

Taxi Driver is a Korean drama based on the webtoon series, The Deluxe Taxi, written by Carlos and Lee Jae-jin. The show follows Kim Do-gi (Lee Je-hoon), whose mother was murdered during his childhood.

A Korean military academy graduate, Do-gi works as a taxi driver who surprisingly offers revenge services for clients disillusioned by the justice system. In early episodes, Do-gi completes missions, including seeking vengeance on a sexual harasser released by the police.

2. The Glory

Moon Dong Eun suffered a torturous adolescence, enduring daily bullying from classmates, including Park Yeon Jin, who inflicted severe injuries upon her. Driven to the brink of suicide, Dong Eun eventually resolves to stay alive for revenge.

Years later, having become a teacher through hard work, she plots her vengeance on Yeon Jin, now a weather anchor, and her former tormentors. Joo Yeo Jeong, a young plastic surgeon who admires Dong Eun, is willing to assist her in her mission.

This drama became one of the best Korean drama original by Netflix that gained high ratings worldwide.

3. My Name

In the revenge-themed Korean drama My Name, Yoon Ji-woo's (Han So-hee) father is shot dead on her 17th birthday. Ji-woo subsequently joins mafia boss Choi Mu-jin (Park Hee-soon), her father's friend, and becomes his subordinate.

After intensive training, Ji-woo infiltrates the police narcotics unit as a detective to find her father's killer while remaining the strongest female member of Mu-jin's criminal organization.

4. The King of Pigs

The King of Pigs tells the story of Hwang Kyung-min (Kim Dong-wook), a victim of high school bullying who seeks revenge on his tormentors by terrorizing and eliminating them one by one.

Kyung-min's life has been haunted by the trauma of the violence he experienced at school 20 years ago, leaving him filled with anger and unresolved pain. When an incident triggers his past trauma, he takes matters into his own hands, exacting his revenge through terror and murder.

5. Reborn Rich

Senior manager Yoon Hyeon Woo has worked for the Soonyang conglomerate group for five years when he is tasked with a life-threatening assignment by his boss. He never expected that his mission to save the company's money would result in a shooting.

Hyeon Woo's life takes an unexpected turn when he is reborn as the youngest grandson of the Soonyang owner, Jin Do Jun. In his new life, he retains memories of crucial events that impacted his grandfather's business.

As Jin Do Jun, Hyeon Woo discovers that his parents' poverty in his previous life was a consequence of Soonyang's policies. Determined to exact revenge on Soonyang, he repeatedly disrupts their business operations, once again putting his life at risk as he contends with his avaricious uncles.

6. Revenge of Others

Ok Chan Mi lives apart from her twin sister, who was adopted as a child and resides in Seoul. Despite the distance, Chan Mi maintains a close relationship with her brother, Park Won Seok. They even promise to reunite soon, but sadly, Park Won Seok passes away before their reunion.

When Chan Mi learns about her brother's death belatedly, she suspects something is amiss. To investigate, she moves to Seoul, enrolls in her brother's former school, and conceals her true identity.

On her first day in Seoul, Chan Mi inadvertently meets Ji Soo Heon, who turns out to be a schoolmate of Park Won Seok. As their friendship deepens, Soo Heon offers to help Chan Mi uncover her brother's killer.

7. Itaewon Class

No discussion of revenge dramas is complete without mentioning Itaewon Class (2020). This show provides lessons about business, investment, and the pursuit of a better life through its revenge storyline.

Itaewon Class (2020) follows the journey of young Park Sae Ro Yi, who loses everything after clashing with food business tycoon Jang Dae Hee. In addition to mourning his father's death, he faces imprisonment. Upon his release, his sole objective is to exact revenge by toppling Jang Dae Hee's business empire.

8. Voice 1

Voice 1 revolves around Moo Jin-hyuk (Jang Hyuk), a renowned detective who successfully solves high-profile cases. His life changes drastically when his wife is murdered by a serial killer. Consumed with guilt for not being able to protect her, Jin-hyuk seeks revenge by secretly hunting for his wife's killer.

Meanwhile, Kang Kwon-joo (Lee Ha-na), a top graduate of the police academy, is assigned to the 112 emergency call center. While working there, a brutal murder case occurs, leaving her father dead at the scene. Kwon-joo hears the entire incident over the phone as her father dies.

This tragic event leads Kwon-joo to study in America, where she becomes a professional profiler. Upon her return, she teams up with Jin-hyuk to solve the case and track down the serial killer responsible for their loved ones' deaths.

9. Military Prosecutor Doberman

Military Prosecutor Doberman narrates the story of two military prosecutors with distinct goals, backgrounds, and personalities.

Do Bae-man (Ahn Bo-hyun) aspires to become a military prosecutor for financial gain, while Cha Woo-in (Jo Bo-ah) chooses the profession to exact revenge. Together, they collaborate to become the greatest military prosecutors and combat crime within the military.

10. Mine

This high-rated drama also features cunning strategies in the pursuit of revenge. Seo Hee Soo relinquishes her successful acting career to become the daughter-in-law of the affluent Hyowon Group family.

Adapting to her new life within the conglomerate, Hee Soo must navigate her relationships, including that with her first sister-in-law, Jung Seo Hyun. Jung Seo Hyun assumes control of the company due to her husband's ineptitude.

Together, the two women strive to reclaim what rightfully belongs to them, even devising a revenge plan against Han Ji Young, the second son of the Hyowon Group's owner and Hee Soo's husband.

11. Graceful Family

The MC Group establishes a legal team called TOP to resolve issues within Mo Seok Hee's family. TOP's leader, Han Je Kook, is responsible for concealing and covering up all crimes committed by MC Group members.

Mo Seok Hee is the MC Group's heiress, but following her mother's death, she is sent to America for 15 years by her father. He fears that she may eventually obstruct his control over the MC Group.

After over a decade, Seok Hee returns to Korea, determined to find her mother's murderer and seek retribution.

12. Again My Life

Kim Hee Woo is a dedicated young prosecutor who believes in punishing crime, regardless of the offender's status. However, his idealism puts his life in danger when he investigates a crime committed by the seemingly upstanding politician Cho Tae Sub, resulting in his death.

Remarkably, Hee Woo is granted a second chance at life. He encounters the Grim Reaper and vows to apprehend and imprison Tae Sub more effectively. In his new life, Hee Woo is driven by vengeance, as he failed to capture Tae Sub in his previous life.

13. The Veil

The Veil is a drama that chronicles the story of an NIS agent's quest for vengeance. Han Ji-hyuk (Nam Goong-min) is an NIS agent who suffers from amnesia. Ji-hyuk is a top agent who excels in every mission he undertakes.

A year after his mission, he returns to Korea, but his arrival is unwelcome by many. Having disappeared for a year, he now joins a crime syndicate with the objective of uncovering the traitor who betrayed him.

14. Bulgasal: Immortal Souls

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls is a Korean drama that portrays the story of Bulgasal's revengeful intentions. He is a human who became a mythological creature in Korean folklore.

Legend has it that Bulgasal preyed on human blood and was subsequently cursed to live forever, unable to be killed.

In this drama, Dan Hwal (Lee Jin-wook) transforms into Bulgasal. He searches for a woman named Min Sang-woon (Kwon Na-ra) who he believes can reincarnate and help him escape the Bulgasal curse. She used to be a Bulgasal, and now she is the person Dan Hwal desires most to break free from the centuries-old curse.

15. Why Her

Oh Soo Jae is a smart and successful lawyer, but due to his lack of education, he is underestimated by his colleagues at TK Law Firm.

Unfazed, Soo Jae remains focused on his goal: to avenge the actions of Choi Tae Guk, the ambitious leader of TK Law Firm. Soo Jae harbors deep resentment towards Tae Guk for his past deeds and stays within the law firm to make Tae Guk feel threatened.

In addition to Soo Jae, a young man named Gong Chan also seeks the person responsible for the death of his adopted sister a dozen years ago. He devises a plan after being released from prison.

16. Remarriage & Desires

Netflix's original makjang drama, Remarriage and Desires (2022), also features a plot about the vengeful efforts of a wounded individual. Starring veteran actress Kim Hee Sun, this drama narrates the story of a heartbroken wife who was cheated on by her husband and left to commit suicide.

The divorce filed by Kang Nam Sik from Seo Hye Seung was instigated by another woman, Jin Yoo Hui. However, Kang Nam Sik is falsely accused of rape and embezzlement by Yoo Hui herself. Desperate, Kang chooses to commit suicide.

Hye Seung, unable to accept her husband's death, endeavors to foil Yoo Hui's plan to marry a handsome and wealthy businessman.

17. Cafe Minamdang

Nam Han Jun loses his job as a profiler after being accused of involvement in the death of Han Jae Jeong, a prosecutor and his best friend.

Upon his release from prison, Nam has the idea to become a shaman and open a spiritual consulting business. While not actually possessing magical powers, Nam employs advanced technology and his younger sister's hacking skills.

Nam's reputation as a shaman soars due to his seemingly accurate 'predictions.' Amidst his fake shaman persona, Nam is in fact seeking the true culprit behind Han Jae Jeong's murder, preparing to avenge his friend's death.

18. Insider

The story begins with Kim Yo-han (Kang Ha-neul) undergoing judicial technical training. As an intern, he is assigned to investigate gambling establishments, where he frequently faces harassment.

He works under the command of Noh Young-guk (Yoo Jae-myung) and Mok Jin-hyung (Kim Sang-ho), who also experience terror that ultimately leads to Young-guk's death.

However, Yo-han is betrayed during his mission. Feeling the injustice in his life, he plans to exact revenge on those who caused his life to end in prison.

While incarcerated, Yo-han searches for ways to change his life. He meets Oh Soo-yeon (Lee Yoo-young), a successful businesswoman who owes her achievements to her connections.

They had previously encountered each other at a gambling establishment. Upon reuniting, Soo-yeon makes an intriguing offer, leading to the duo hatching a grand plan.

19. Chimera

This unique Korean revenge drama employs methods related to the Greek mythological creature, Chimera. The creature has a peculiar appearance, featuring a lion's head, a goat's body, and a snake-like tail. The Chimera is also known for its ability to breathe fire.

A serial killer in this drama uses these characteristics for revenge. All of their victims die from being burned alive. It all begins with an explosion in 1984. Surprisingly, the fire incident, known as the Chimera incident, repeats itself several years later.

Detective Chae Jae Hyun struggles to apprehend the intelligent serial killer who creates explosions from chemical reactions unbeknownst to the victims. Assisted by criminal profiler Eugene Hathaway, Jae Hyun relentlessly pursues the perpetrator, who is revealed to be connected to his mother.

20. Eve

Eve is a Korean drama about Lee Ra-el's (Seo Ye-ji) attempt at revenge. Ra-el's life is shattered when her father is killed, forcing her to leave her homeland. After spending 13 years in a foreign country, she returns to carry out her revenge mission against the person who ruined her life.

Ra-el does not undertake her revenge efforts alone. She is assisted by Seo Eun-pyung (Lee Sang-yeob), a young lawyer who had previously aided Ra-el when her family faced misfortune.

These 20 Korean dramas about revenge feature thrilling and suspenseful stories. They tackle themes such as infidelity, bullying, and attempts to break free from curses.

Revenge stories are filled with intrigue that captivates and emotionally engages the audience. Are you a fan of revenge-themed dramas?