11 Spicy K-Dramas You Absolutely Have To Watch
Come to the dark side with these thrilling Korean dramas that are sexy, intense, and all kinds of crazy
There’s a deviousness to darker themed K-dramas that is simply satisfying. They’re never a walk in the park to watch, they keep you on the edge of your seat, and they have you staring at the ceiling wondering what on earth just happened when all you wanted was a good night’s sleep.
Some of these dramas are sexy. They involve illicit affairs and an extra dose of skinship you don’t often see in most Korean romcoms. Some are ostentatiously insane. Think revenge plots left and right, rich people wanting to one-up each other, and unfortunate souls getting pushed off buildings. Some are psychological thrillers on steroids. Psychopaths are everywhere, everyone is in danger, and everyone is a potential killer.
Brave enough to stream one such story tonight? We’ve got you covered. Buckle up and keep your wits about you; you’re in for a wild ride.
Check the gallery below for a list of the most thrilling and spiciest K-dramas out there!
11 Thrilling and Spicy K-Dramas You Have To Watch
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The World of the Married (2020)
There’s something about infidelity and immorality that makes for addictive binge viewing. You have terrible people doing terrible things to each other on screen; you hate everyone’s guts, but you want to watch them hate each other even more. Case in point: The World of the Married, a masterfully executed Doctor Foster adaptation that currently holds the top spot as the highest rated K-drama on cable television.
Photo Credit: JTBC
The World of the Married (2020)
It shatters the illusion of a picture-perfect married life almost instantly. At first glance, Ji Sun-woo (Kim Hee-ae) seems to have it all: a loving family, a cushy job, and a good reputation. A strand of red hair and a tube of cherry chapstick, among other things, leads her to realize that her husband Lee Tae-oh (Park Hae-joon) is cheating on her. It’s an all-out war between the pair from here on out; expect multiple revenge plots, nosy neighbors, a wayward son, and… even more affairs.
Photo Credit: JTBC
SKY Castle (2018)
This highly rated satirical drama explores the materialistic desires of the extremely wealthy upper class families of SKY Castle, a fictional address where only the most renowned doctors and professors can live. At the epicenter are the Castle mothers, who are obsessed with three things: ensuring their children’s admittance into one of Korea’s top three universities, keeping their overachiever spouses at the top of the career totem poles, and one-upping each other in every which way. It’s the Spite Olympics and everyone wants to win.
Photo Credit: JTBC, @jungedum
SKY Castle (2018)
Just like its strong female leads—Kim Seo-hyung delivers a powerhouse performance as the devious coordinator Kim Joo-young—this show exaggerates everything and fears nothing. Hinging on a suicide that propels the plot forward, it reels you in and gets you addicted. SKY Castle drives home the idea that there is no prize greater than success and that being the best is the only way to ensure your survival.
Photo Credit: JTBC, Tumblr
Extracurricular (2020)
It’s hard to fault people in dire straits for being desperate enough to do just about anything to survive, especially when they’re victims of circumstance. Such is the case of Oh Ji-soo (Kim Dong-hee), an uber intelligent top student who just wants to get into university. Barely getting by on a day-to-day basis, Ji-soo resorts to illegal means, moonlighting as a businessman that mediates dates between clients and sex workers while providing security for the latter.
Photo Credit: Netflix
Extracurricular (2020)
His classmates are just as troubled. Bae Gyu-ri (Park Joo-hyun) is clever and wealthy, but feels stifled by her demanding parents. Seo Min-hee (Jung Da-bin) engages in sex work so she can afford expensive gifts for her materialistic boyfriend. Extracurricular isn’t an easy watch. Its airing coincided with an investigation into the dangers of online sex chatroom culture in South Korea; actor Kim Dong-hee shared to Soompi. “It made me think that adults should take more interest in teenagers.”
Photo Credit: Netflix
Hell is Other People/Strangers From Hell (2019)
Moral of the story: be careful where you move. Down-on-his-luck Yoon Jong-woo (Im Si-wan) learns this the hard way when his rental situation has him sharing a dormitory with a slew of sketchy residents and under the thumb of a landlady. Night after night, horrific events take place in the residence, which makes him wonder if staying on is worth the extra savings.
Photo Credit: OCN
Hell is Other People/Strangers From Hell (2019)
It doesn’t help that Seo Moon-jo (Lee Dong-wook), the seemingly friendly dentist living next door, seems to have a hidden agenda. One of the darkest psychological thrillers to grace the small screen, Hell is Other People demands your discomfort. It wants you to hold your breath as Jong-woo cautiously navigates the claustrophobic halls of the dorm. It dares you to look away each time Moon-jo smiles. Behind every locked—or slightly ajar door—is a stranger, and you’re better off knowing as little as possible.
Photo Credit: OCN
The Penthouse: War in Life (2020)
Ah, Penthouse—the revenge thriller so juicy and gripping that it gets an ultra rare third season. Where do we even begin with this one? Much like Sky Castle, it tells the story of the high profile families of Hera Palace and the children at Cheong-ah Arts School. Welcome once again to the land of the power-hungry and extravagantly wealthy; money, fame, and prestige are everything, and betrayal is a small price to pay.
Photo Credit: SBS
The Penthouse: War in Life (2020)
At Hera Palace, all eyes are on the classy Queen Bee Shim Su-ryeon (Lee Ji-ah), the vicious musical prodigy Cheon Seo-jin (Kim So-yeon), and the fierce and feisty mum Oh Yoon-hee (Eugene). Throw in the other devious characters into the mix and you have yourself an overblown tug-of-war that’s tons of fun to watch. Especially when things start going off the rails. If you’re counting sins, Penthouse has a lengthy laundry list—hardly anyone wants to play nice here. It makes for fantastic viewing, though, especially when you’re in the mood for something extra dramatic.
Photo Credit: SBS
Mouse (2021)
Equal parts enthralling and terrifying, Mouse is a crafty series that explores the makings of a psychopath. Its premise poses a heavy question: if society could predict that a person would become a killer based on their genetic make-up, what must be done? Would it be ethical to remove them from the picture in hopes of preventing potential future crimes? This is the dilemma that good-natured rookie police officer Jung Ba-reum (Lee Seung-gi) and firebrand detective Go Moo-chi (Lee Hee-joon) find themselves confronting as they become embroiled in the events surrounding the ongoing Head Hunter killing spree.
Photo Credit: tvN
Mouse (2021)
Mouse isn’t for the faint of heart. There’s plenty of violence—some scenes are incredibly graphic—and dark themes to go around, but the drama adds an extra layer of complexity to its narrative by linking murder to the human condition. It brings the ever-popular nature versus nurture debate into the spotlight, forcing you to confront your own morals.
Photo Credit: tvN
Secret Love Affair (2014)
This Baeksang-awarded noona melodrama takes the cake for a scandalous narrative that cuts deeper than what it presents. Kim Hee-ae plays Oh Hye-won, the sophisticated and successful director of planning for the Seohan Arts Foundation. Despite her seemingly fulfilling life, she’s also knee-deep in her superiors’ corrupt dealings, which puts her in jeopardy. Enter Yoo Ah-in as Lee Sun-jae, a 20-year-old piano prodigy who works as a delivery boy. Thinking his genius will help elevate her music professor husband’s standing, Hye-won has Sun-jae study under his tutelage. The two end up connecting on a deeper level, and end up tangled in an illicit affair.
Photo Credit: JTBC
Secret Love Affair (2014)
There’s a thrilling aspect to the romance, but there’s a contemplative approach to it, too. People get lonely and love doesn’t always come easy. There’s nothing noble about adultery; Secret Love Affair gracefully understands this and isn’t caught up in justifications of any sort.
Photo Credit: JTBC, Tumblr
Beyond Evil (2021)
Is wanting to catch a killer enough reason to break the very laws you are bound by? Sergeant Lee Dong-sik (Shin Ha-kyun) and elite detective Han Hoo-won (Yeo Jin-goo) certainly believe so. The serial murder case that first plagued the small town of Manyang 20 years ago has began a new cycle, and the two find themselves tangled in its web.
Photo Credit: JTBC
Beyond Evil (2021)
Beyond Evil benefits from a character-driven storyline propelled by a well-rounded cast. Dong-sik and Hoo-won have their own secrets, but so does everyone else. Tension is always sustained, and the characters don’t always know who or what to believe. And when they start suspecting each other, you can’t resist joining in. For a series with such a simple plot, it isn’t interested in giving everything away all at once. Evil isn’t presented in an over-the-top way, either. It chooses to be quiet and sedate, keeping you on your toes the whole time.
Photo Credit: JTBC
Save Me (2017)
When a religious cult has most of a county within its grasp, it’s highly advisable you leave immediately and never return. Unfortunately for Im Sang-mi (Seo Ye-ji), her family opts to move to one such place after her father’s business fails. Disguised as a peaceful church, the Goseonwon cult harbors plenty of dark secrets; brainwashing, torture and murder are just a few of their weapons of choice.
Photo Credit: OCN
Save Me (2017)
Trapped with no hopes of escape, Sang-mi turns to her former classmate Han Sang-hwan (Ok Taecyeon) for help. The son of the county chief, Sang-hwan is determined to put an end to the wrongdoings his family took part in. Exposing the cult is easier said than done, though, and he’s quick to realize that this is merely the tip of the iceberg. It’s a stressful watch, and you’d be hard-pressed to tear your eyes away—except when things get gristly—from the screen. Feeling uncomfortable? How can you not be when there’s a cult involved, right?
Photo Credit: OCN
White Christmas (2011)
A series of deaths take place in the span of eight days in a private high school deep in the mountains. Only the top 1% of elite students in the country are accepted here, where a strict punishment system holds them captive. During the winter break, only seven students, a teacher, and an injured newcomer are snowed in. Of course, this is when things start getting really grim.
Photo Credit: SBS
White Christmas (2011)
White Christmas understands what fear and anxiety does to people. After receiving a cryptic letter alluding to a murderer in their midst, everyone suddenly begins to suspect each other. Trust is quick to deteriorate and it becomes a cat and mouse game of survival. Like Mouse, this drama begs the question as to whether human beings are inherently evil by nature. Cut off from the regular world, the students aren’t in the best emotional shape. It’s a heavy unraveling all the way to the finish line, but one worth watching.
Photo Credit: KBS
Nevertheless, (2021)
Perhaps the newest member of this little club, Nevertheless, caught netizens’ attention when it was issued a 19+ rating for adult content. This romance drama brings together Yoo Na-bi (Han So-hee), a cynical young woman nursing a broken heart, and Park Jae-eon (Song Kang), a mysterious flirt with commitment issues. Sparks fly during their initial meeting, and the two can’t seem to keep their eyes off each other.
Photo Credit: JTBC, Netflix
Nevertheless, (2021)
There’s a lot yet to unravel as the drama is still ongoing. But based on what has been released so far, viewers are in for a spicy ride. Whereas most romance-oriented Korean works start slow and sweet, Nevertheless, isn’t afraid to take a novel approach, pushing the envelope just a little. It’s all very classy, though; you’re definitely going to want to see more.
Photo Credit: JTBC, Netflix
Lead photos and still cuts of Penthouse: War in Life, Nevertheless,, and The World of the Married courtesy of SBS, JTBC
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