K-dramas are known for their romantic, historical and revenge-based storylines, but hidden among the most popular genres are detective stories. The best detective K-dramas contain a well-written mystery that even the most attentive viewers will not be able to solve immediately. Many detective series follow a similar formula in which its protagonists are forced to return to crime-solving After leaving their jobs due to traumatic events. Such is the case in K-dramas like Hello monster And Tell me what you saw.
Others in the genre, including He is psychometric And Inspector CoShake things up and include larger hints of comedy and romance than is typically expected from a detective series. Regardless of how firmly a series adheres to the expectations of the genre, one thing is certain: the best detective K-dramas keep the audience second-guessing their instincts until the last episode.
10
Mouse (2021)
A detective tries to catch a dangerous serial killer.
Just like a few other crime thriller K-dramas, Mouse is inspired by real-life events. Screenwriter Choi Ran found inspiration in a 2017 South Korean murder case in which the killer showed zero signs of remorse while appearing in court. Ran was fascinated by the killer’s response and decided to create a show in which the killers reflect on their actions.Because such a realization would be a form of punishment in itself.
Mouse is centered around killers with psychopathic tendencies who are investigated by detective Ko Moo-chi (Lee Hee-joon) and his partner Jeong Ba-reum (Lee Seung-gi). Mouse Provides K-drama fans with an absorbing mystery, but some complex themes are also explored. As they pursue the killer, Ko Moo-chi and Jeong Ba-reum dive deep into psychopathic behaviors and how these traits come to be.
9
He’s Psychometric (2019)
A man uses his ability to access the past to solve a criminal case.
He is psychometric is a procedural series that fuses several different genres, including romance, comedy, and fantasy. The K-drama revolves around Lee Ahn, played by Got7 member Park Jin-young in his first leading role. Lee has the ability to read a person or an object through the use of physical contact — known as psychometry — and uses his talent to solve a case that has weighed heavily on him and his friends.
Unlike other detective K-dramas mentioned, He is psychometric Has a side romance. One of Lee’s friends, Yoon Jae-in (Shin Ye-eun), is a little withdrawn, but Lee uses his ability to help her heal from her hidden past. However, the budding romantic connection between some of He is psychometricThe characters of the series do not take away from the central mystery of the series.
8
Tell Me What You Saw (2020)
A profiler works with a team of detectives to catch the killer of his fiancee.
Jang Hyuk leads Tell me what you saw As Oh Hyun-jae, an esteemed profiler who isolates himself from others after his fiancé tragically dies. However, Hyun-jae is back on the job a few years later after a crime similar to the one that killed his fiancée is committed. Hyuk is supported by a handful of actors like Choi Soo-young, Jang Hyun-sung and Jin Seo-yeon, who play an assortment of detectives who help Hyun-jae catch the serial killer.
Tell me what you saw Had some narrative missteps and certain episodes make it clear that the series was starting to lose steam. yet, Tell me what you saw Click A powerful mystery where each person involved in solving the case has their own motives. For Hyun-jae, his motives are personal and Hyuk does a great job of capturing the toll such an investigation has on his character.
7
Hello Monster (2015)
Two detectives are caught in a cat-and-mouse game.
Despite earning less than impressive ratings, Hello monster Still managed to earn praise from critics and audiences as the thrilling police procedural has an enticing story and stellar performances. Hello monster It begins with profiler Lee Hyun (Seo In-guk) who returns home to investigate his father’s death. Meanwhile, his colleague, Detective Cha Ji-an (Jang Na-ra), has begun her own investigation into Lee Hyun.
The two eventually cross paths and uncover a truth that is more twisted than either of them could have expected. Due to the writing and structure of the series, audiences are guaranteed to be completely enthralled by it Hello monsters mystery And just as shocked as the characters of the series. Seo and Jang are strong leads in the series, each earning a handful of award nominations for their performances, but it’s Park Bo-gum’s performance that captivated audiences and earned. Hello monster Its two wins during award season.
6
Class of Reading (2019)
A former lawyer is failing at a high school.
Rather than taking place in the streets of a populated South Korean city, Class of reading is predominantly set in a private high school. Class of reading Follows Gi Moo-hyeok (Yoon Kyun-sang), a respected lawyer who gets his license to practice suspended after being surrounded by allegations of bribery. Gi then adopts a fake name, Gi Kang-jae, and takes a teaching job at a high school plagued by the mystery of a student’s murder.
During his secret work, Gi Kang-jae discovers a secret about the school’s privileged students. Despite their rich education, the high school students in Class of reading are never presented as shallow stereotypes of rich kids. instead, Class of reading Be sure to include commentary on the results that come from an unmonitored, highly connected environment. Still, audiences root for Gi Kang-jae to break through the high school’s connections and find the real killer.
5
Inspector Ku (2021)
An insurance investigator uses her prior detective knowledge to solve a case.
Once an accomplished police officer, Inspector CoThe titular character turns to alcohol and gaming after the death of her husband. However, Koo Kyung-yi (Lee Young-ae), now an insurance investigator, returns to her crime-solving days after she suspects that a serial killer is orchestrating murders to appear as accidents. Lee Young-ae, best known for her role in the historical K-drama Jewel in the PalaceGore transforms for her portrayal of Koo Kyung-yi.
Although there is an intriguing mystery at the center of the series, Inspector Co Is not as deep as other detective series. There are plenty of suspenseful moments throughout, however Inspector Co Acts more like a blend between thriller and slice-of-life K-dramas. The latter genre is made clear by the assortment of eccentric characters around Kyung-yi, such as the titular character’s friend Han Kwang-wook.
4
Partners for Justice (2018-2019)
A forensic doctor and a prosecutor team up to solve cases.
in Partners for JusticeBaek Beom (Jung Jae-young) is a forensic doctor who teams up with prosecutor Eun Sol (Jeong Yu-mi). Together, the two solve a series of cases. The two have mismatched personalities in the beginning, which makes for some entertaining interactions between them. However, they end up being a strong team, as seen above Partners for Justices two seasons.
what makes Partners for Justice A solid detective series is its sharp writing and well-crafted plot twists. These factors not only attract audiences and keep them invested, but they also allow for more varied cases as the series progresses. Each case has a varying level of stakes, with some cases being wrapped up sooner than others, ensuring audiences are rarely able to predict how and when Baek Beom and Eun Sol will solve a case.
3
Vagabond (2019)
Two men team up to uncover a government conspiracy.
It appears a government conspiracy is tied to a mysterious plane crash and Vagabond Sees an ordinary stuntman stepping up to uncover the truth. Cha Dal-gun (Lee Seung-gi) is a stuntman whose nephew was killed in a plane crash he’s not sure was an accident. Therefore, Dal-gun teams up with undercover operative Go Hae-ri (Bae Suzy) to find out what really happened.
Vagabond It ends on a cliffhanger that has yet to be resolved, as no news about season 2 has been announced. yet, Vagabond Season 1 is full of exceptional action sequences and a series of unexpected plot twists That keep audiences engaged till the end. Dal-gun and Hae-ri are each compelling characters in their own right, but the latter has a determined attitude that makes her a likable character and one of the toughest female K-drama leads.
2
Flower of Evil (2020)
A wife becomes suspicious of her secret husband.
In the center of Flower of evil is a seemingly perfect married couple, Baek Hee-sung (Lee Joon-gi) and Cha Ji-won (Moon Chae-won). From the beginning, neither party fully trusts the other, but Ji-won becomes increasingly suspicious of her secret husband after her detective work sends her down a rabbit hole of unexplained murders. As exciting as a shocking ending in a detective series can be, there is always a risk of losing the audience’s attention before the big reveal is made.
however, Flower of evil Ensures that this never happens. With each episode, Subtle clues are scattered throughout this hint at the series’ biggest reveal. Besides this mystery, flower of evilS leads do a brilliant job of pulling audiences in. Joon-gi effectively portrays the enigmatic Hee-sung and Chae-won strikes the ideal balance as a woman playing it cool not to interfere with her outside investigation.
1
Signal (2016-present)
Two detectives from different decades solve cold cases.
Signal is recognized as one of the highest-rated K-dramas in cable television history, and it’s easy to see why. The gripping series has elements of time travel K-dramas viz His story interweaves two timelines, one in 2015 and the other in 1989. This is explained by a mysterious walkie-talkie discovered by criminal profiler Park Hae-young (Lee Je-Hoon). The discarded device allows him to communicate with Detective Jae-han (Cho Jin-woong) who is living in the past.
Together, the two effectively work to solve a series of cold cases. Signal Gets its inspiration from the 2000 film FrequencyAs well as a series of murders in South Korea that took place between 1986 and 1994. However, Signal Doesn’t aim to replicate the events of its inspirations piece by piece, leaving plenty of room for unpredictable plot twists that keep the audience guessing.