Martial arts techniques are seen in a variety of K-dramas, adding pizzazz to stories about revenge, paranormal hunters, and corrupt officials. Some of the most action-packed K-dramas contain martial arts sequences, which take choreographed fighting to the next level. Just like the best martial arts performances in movies and TV shows, these scenes are best performed when they are filmed and choreographed with a creative approach. When these elements combine seamlessly in martial arts TV shows, the action on the small screen can feel reminiscent of that seen in theatrical releases.
It’s not a requirement of martial arts K-dramas, but some choose to incorporate learning a martial art into a character’s journey, as seen in boxing in Hunting dogs and taekwondo in Fight for my way. Other series like Tramp present their characters as already adept martial artists. Regardless of how they are introduced into the narrative, the best martial arts K-dramas are made better by using recognizable approaches to combat.
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Fight for my way (2017)
Two best friends encourage each other to pursue their dreams
Not every martial arts K-drama can be a gritty series rooted in thrills and revenge. The story of life in Fight for my way follows longtime best friends Ko Dong-man (Park Seo-joon) and Choi Ae-ra (Kim Ji-won), who encourage each other to pursue their dreams of becoming a professional martial artist and a news anchor , respectively. Just like many of the endearing friends-to-lovers stories in K-dramas, Dong-man and Ae-ra soon realize that they are destined to be more than just friends.
Again, Fight for my way It’s not as dark or hard-hitting as the other K-dramas listed, but it still features a lot of martial arts happy. Throughout the show, there are several scenes where Dong-man trains with his taekwondo coach to regain his former skills. Fight for my way is highly relatable as its characters are simply deciding who they want to be and how they can achieve their goals.
9
The K2 (2016)
A man is tasked with protecting powerful figures as bodyguards
In The K2Kim Je-ha (Ji Chang-wook) is a former mercenary soldier hired as a bodyguard to protect presidential candidate Jang Se-joon’s daughter. Je-ha is conflicted about whether to act on her romantic feelings for her daughter or stay focused and execute her secret plan for revenge against another presidential candidate. The K2 It’s fast-paced, but it will certainly cover the backstory of its main characters to help the audience better connect with the show.
One aspect of the show that keeps it moving is its frequent action scenes. As a bodyguard, Je-ha takes his job seriously. He will do whatever it takes to protect those he cares about and often does so in physical confrontations. All over The K2, a variety of martial arts are seen, including taekwondo, jujutsu and aikido. Not only are these scenes well choreographed and executed, thanks in part to Ji Chang-wook performing his own stunts, but the action sequences are also shot incredibly well.
8
Lawless Lawyer (2018)
Unconventional methods of physical force are used by a determined lawyer
Set in the fictional, lawless city of Kisung, lawless lawyer follows two business partners who work together at a law firm and fight against the most corrupt people in positions of power. Bong Sang-pil (Lee Joon-gi) and Ha Jae-yi (Seo Yea-ji) are the lawyers at the center of lawless lawyerand for them, your business is personal. Seeking revenge against corrupt professionals who caused harm to their loved ones and innocent people in the city, Sang-pil and Jae-yi will stop at nothing to get the job done.
The series’ martial arts content comes from Sang-pil, a former gangster who uses unlikely physical methods to get people talking. lawless lawyer is one of the best legal K-dramas, hitting all the right notes for a thriller and featuring plenty of martial arts action scenes. The series also has sweeter stories, as the main characters form a romantic bond through their work.
7
The Strange Accountant (2020-2023)
Paranormal hunters protect people from being possessed by evil spirits
Based on the webtoon by Jang Yi, Incredible rumor, The strange accountant combines coming-of-age themes with fantasy and action. The titular character in The strange accountant is a physically challenged high school student, So Mun (Jo Byeong-kyu), who is part of a supernatural team known as the Counters. The powerful individuals pose as employees of a noodle restaurant, but in reality they are responsible for defeating evil spirits that have escaped from the afterlife. The premise of The strange accountant it is truly unique and never loses its breath.
Despite the high risks presented The strange accountantThe show even has comedic moments due to its charming characters. Counter team members are extremely fun and receive various special abilitiesallowing them to be separated from each other. When facing evil spirits, counters perform a series of martial arts skills. These action scenes are some of the best in K-dramas and are choreographed to near perfection.
6
Alchemy of Souls (2022-2023)
A skilled warrior trains under the guise of a servant
Taking place in the fictional country of Daeho, Alchemy of Souls is a riveting K-drama about love, magic and action. The series begins with the soul of a warrior, Nak-su (Go Youn-jung), entering the body of the weaker Mu-deok (Jung So-min). The host body swap occurs as a result of the titular spell and when Nak-su, as Mu-deok, meets the nobleman Jang Uk (Lee Jae-wook), the two train together and begin to fall in love. Mu-deok teaches Jang Uk his combat skills, and they prove to be quite useful as the series continues..
The action in Alchemy of Souls is largely familiar and has been seen in other martial arts films and TV shows. However, it is elevated due to the incorporation of magic. The use of magic by Alchemy of Souls‘ is portrayed with stunning CGI work and adds a fantastical feel to the intense confrontations. These action scenes come to life as a result of Alchemy of Souls‘ big budget and accomplished cinematography.
5
My Name (2021)
A girl takes revenge on her father’s killers
my name it’s the kind of K-drama audiences can binge in a day. The series isn’t necessarily rushed, but its action and revenge-based plot allow it to move at high speed. my name stars Han So-hee as Yoon Ji-woo, a woman who wants to avenge her father’s death, and to do so, she gets involved with a dangerous anti-drug organization and goes undercover as a police officer. Ji-woo is often in danger, but is extremely determined, which makes her one of the strongest protagonists in K-dramas.
There are several obstacles and intimidating figures that Ji-woo encounters throughout the show.but she moves forward with a lot of physical and mental strength. The first is on full display in my nameaction scenes, which typically show Ji-woo defeating one opponent after another. In addition to its exciting fight scenes, my name also manages to keep the audience’s attention with its clever writing and subtle plot twists that create enough suspense to keep viewers engaged until the series’ stunning finale.
4
Vagabond (2019)
Two people discover the truth about a mysterious accident
The mystery at the center of Tramp makes the show a K-drama that will keep the audience guessing until the end. When Cha Dal-gun’s (Lee Seung-gi) nephew dies unexpectedly in a plane crash, he begins to investigate the situation despite the persistent efforts of others to stop him. With his investigation becoming increasingly dangerous and complicated than he expected, Dal-gun teams up with NIS agent Go Hae-ri (Bae Suzy). Tramp is a gripping crime series that combines themes of loss, government conspiracy and corruption.
The action of martial arts in Tramp involves Dal-gun and Hae-ri as they face powerful figures who wish to keep them away from their scent. Both Dal-gun and Hae-ri, a stuntman and a secret agent respectively, are highly trained individuals.and its backgrounds translate well to viewers. The two characters prove to be more than capable in their intense confrontations. Action moments throughout Tramp are captured in a purposefully shaky manner to portray the adrenaline felt by the characters on screen.
3
Weak Hero Class 1 (2022)
A bullied student defends himself
Like most drama series set in high school, Weak Hero Class 1 portrays a divide between the school bullies and the more academically successful. In Weak Hero Class 1Yeon Si-eun (Park Ji-hoon) falls into the latter social group and is often insulted by bullies in her class. However, Si-eun uses his intelligence to his advantage and, teaming up with two other classmates, he protects himself from his bullies. Unlike some other martial arts K-dramas, There are no supernatural abilities or physical training involved in Si-eun’s strength.
This makes Si-eun an extremely relatable character, flaws and all. While the audience may sympathize with Si-eun and her need to enact violence against her attackers, he is participating in the same callous behavior that caused her harm. With Si-eun being such a dynamic character, Weak Hero Class 1 is realistic, and the same can be said of its fight scenes – directed by Heo Myeong-haeng and Ahn Ji-Hye, who worked on Vincenzo and squid game respectively.
2
Taxi Driver (2021-present)
A taxi company offers revenge calling services
Based on the webtoon by Carlos and Lee Jae-jin, The Deluxe Taxi (Red Cage), Taxi driver became a highly award-winning K-drama about seeking revenge. The series follows Kim Do-gi (Lee Je-hoon), a graduate of the Korean Military Academy who works as a taxi driver. However, Do-gi’s duties are far from those of a typical taxi driver. The organization Do-gi works for specializes in revenge, helping clients who have been wronged. Like the characters in lawless lawyerDo-gi is motivated by a personal experience in which he was unable to avenge his mother’s death.
Do-gi finds himself in a sticky situation, wanting to gain a sense of justice but taking reckless approaches to get there. The action in Taxi driver is brutal and absorbing, and it’s not difficult for someone to root for Do-gi to eliminate individuals who would otherwise be unharmed. However, Taxi driver it’s not just one thoughtless fight scene after another. Instead, the series effectively interweaves commentary on social issues with its diverse revenge stories.
1
Bloodhounds (2023 to present)
Two boxers defeat power-hungry individuals
Nothing brings people together like having a common enemy, and that’s what unites Hunting dogs‘two main characters closer together. In the show, former marines turned boxers – Kim Geon-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and Hong Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi) – fight together to defeat a notorious loan shark who preys on vulnerable clients. The loan shark is played by Park Sung-woong, and his character, Kim Myeong-gil, is one of the most menacing villains in K-drama thrillers. Park’s performance is wonderfully chilling as the violent, money-hungry antagonist.
The action scenes in Hunting dogs they are impossible to look away from. With Geon-woo and Woo-jin’s preferred method of self-defense being boxing, Fight scenes are filled with quick, controlled punches used to knock down those who stand in your way. One of the most impressive scenes is the one in which the two boxers face off against a group of intimidating individuals armed with metal baseball bats. Hunting dogsThe ability to mix brutal action scenes with an eye-opening story about the effects of Kim Myeong-gil’s business led to the series being very successful.