10 Best Detective & Crime K-Dramas, Ranked

There are many incredible detective K-Dramas, but some of these shows cross into being the best K-dramas of all time. Many of these series rival American shows like Hannibal, which are often praised for their deep mysteries and thoughtful visuals. These Korean shows are much the same, following intriguing plotlines with plenty of twists and turns to throw viewers off while they build their mysteries and tension from the ground up.

Several of the most notable K-drama series are romances, but despite this sub-genre receiving so much acclaim and popularity, there are many great K-dramas that are not romances. Detective thrillers and crime dramas are some of the best, simply because they can be so fun to watch. With nail-biting action that leaves viewers on the edges of their seats, shows like Less Than Evil and Stranger have been challenging fans for years.

10 Less Than Evil (2018-2019)

It Was Originally Based On A British Show

First airing on the Korean channel MBC, Less Than Evil is actually based on the British crime drama Luther, starring Idris Elba. The series follows detective Woo Tae-suk as he chases Eun Sun-jae, a psychopath and murderer that he has yet been unable to gather enough evidence on to put in jail. In a strange turn of events, Sun-jae actually begins to assist Tae-suk, utilizing her own experience as the two of them grow closer.

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Although its premise is based on another show, Less Than Evil manages to stand out on its own. The story is compelling, and the relationship between Tae-suk and Sun-jae really propels the plot forward in a way that feels satisfying. The performance of Lee Seol Eun Sun-jae has been praised in particular, especially considering this was one of her first big roles.

9 Mouse (2021)

A Serial Killer Is Portrayed With Chilling Transparency

Another crime thriller revolving around chasing a serial killer, Mouse focuses on traumatized detective Ko Moo-chi and his rookie cop partner Jeong Ba-reum. The two are tasked with hunting down a serial killer who has terrorized the city of Mujin. Mouse focuses on psychopathy and what it does to a person, exploring whether murderers are capable of empathy and repentance.

Mouse
was inspired by an event in screenwriter Choi Ran’s childhood in which he watched the trial of a murderer in Incheon, who showed no remorse for killing.

Mouse asks many questions about the characters it creates, hoping for a better world while portraying one that is incredibly dark. The series was a massive hit, garnering some of the biggest numbers for its channel, tvN, in around two years. This is for good reason, as the show is both delightfully tense and introspective.

8 Stranger (2017-2020)

This Seasons Long Detective Drama Has More Than One Mystery

Stranger (2017)

Stranger is a South Korean television series that follows prosecutor Hwang Si-mok (Cho Seung-woo), who, after undergoing brain surgery, lacks emotion but gains heightened rationality. Partnering with police detective Han Yeo-jin (Bae Doona), he tackles corruption within the prosecution system, aiming to uncover the hidden truths behind a tangled web of deceit and crime. The series is praised for its intricate plot, compelling characters, and gripping narrative.

Cast
Cho Seung-woo , Bae Doona , Lee Jun-hyuk , Jeon Bae-soo , Choi Jae-woong , Yun Se-ah , Song Ji-ho , Park Sung-Geun
Release Date
November 1, 2017
Seasons
2

Stranger is a series that revolves around a prosecutor who once had a debilitating sound sensitivity but underwent surgery to help alleviate the problem. This procedure affected his sense of empathy, however, making him a much colder person in the process. The series is a unique detective drama that spans two seasons, with a different case being focused on in each season.

When Stranger originally released, it garnered high viewership and was rated highly. Stranger was considered one of the best shows of the year by several outlets, which praised its cerebral method of storytelling. After winning several awards, both for its acting and for the series as a whole, Stranger is now available to watch on Netflix.

7 My Name (2021)

It Was An Action-Focused Detective Thriller With A Female Lead

my name

My Name is a South Korean television series starring Han So-hee as Ji-woo, a revenge-driven woman who infiltrates a drug cartel to avenge her father’s death. As she rises through the ranks, Ji-woo must navigate the dangerous underworld of organized crime and confront her own morality.

Cast
Han So-hee , Park Hee-soon , Ahn Bo-Hyun , Kim Sang-Ho , Lee Hak-ju
Release Date
October 15, 2021
Seasons
1
Creator(s)
Kim Jin-min , Kim Ba-da

Beginning with the murder of her father, My Name tells the story of Ji-woo’s quest for revenge. After her father, a gangster for the Dongcheon gang, is murdered, Ji-woo joins the police force under false pretenses to find the killer. She takes the name Oh Hye-jin, working for the department’s drug division while feeding information back to her father’s gang.

Just before their debut, three of
My Name
‘s eight episodes were screened at the 26th Busan International Film Festival.

This is an action-packed K-drama, filled with well-choreographed and visceral fight scenes. Many of the actors and actresses appearing in My Name are relatively new to acting, with this series being among the first breakout hits for many of them, and because of this, much of the cast was nominated for awards for Best New Actor or Actress. 100% of the critics’ reviews on Rotten Tomatoes for this show are positive, praising everything from acting to action and much more.

6 Bad And Crazy (2021-2022)

Lee Dong-wook and Wi Ha-joon Come Together In This Detective Comedy

Starring the legendary Lee Dong-wook as an untrustworthy detective named Su-yeol, the series progresses as he realizes that he has manifested a split personality in the form of Wi Ha-joon’s mysterious K. This personality of his represents the justice that he has been lacking as a detective, prompting him to get involved in increasingly dire, but also comedic, situations. There is even a romantic subplot that adds a flair of drama to the series.

The comedy in the series is well-timed, and it often plays on its different premise frequently. The chemistry between Dong-wook and Ha-joon as leads is electric, and both of them give great performances throughout the entire series. It is definitely one of the better comedy detective shows out there, making it stand out in a genre full of depressing and oftentimes hopeless plots.

5 Signal (2016-Present)

This K-Drama Was Recently Brought Back After Several Years

Signal 2016 TV Series Poster

Signal is a South Korean crime thriller television series that follows a detective from the present day who communicates with a detective from the past through a ham radio. They work together to solve cold cases and uncover the truth behind a mysterious crime.

Cast
Lee Je-hoon , Kim Hye-soo , Cho Jin-woong , Jang Hyun-sung , Jung Hae-kyun
Release Date
January 22, 2016
Seasons
1
Creator(s)
Kim Eun-hee , Kim Won-suk

Following a criminal profiler rather than a traditional detective, Signal is a show that uncovers the perpetrators of cold cases rather than ones that have recently occurred. This does not change the urgency with which the show progresses, however, as there are big reveals around every corner. There is even a bit of a timeline jump between the 90s and the present, adding an extra layer of depth to the story’s plot.

Signal
has won several different awards, including Best Actress forKim Hye-soo as well as Best Screenplay.

The performances in Signal are top-notch and filled with passion, sure to elicit emotion in the viewer. Because of this, it became one of the highest-rated dramas in Korean cable television history, cementing Signal as an iconic piece of media. In March 2024, the series’ writers confirmed that a second season was in production, set for release sometime in the future.

4 Through The Darkness (2022)

This Crime Drama Won Several Different Awards

One of the more recent additions to the crime thriller genre, Through the Darkness is another series that revolves around the life of a criminal profiler. Following Song Ha-young as he attempts to solve gruesome crimes by getting into the minds of their perpetrators, Through the Darkness ends up being a gritty representation of the darkness that can end up shrouding people’s real lives. It features plenty of crime and even more serial killers, with a well-rounded and dynamic cast.

The writing of this series feels grounded in a way that most series simply cannot replicate, truly taking viewers through the darkness of the villainy it depicts.

The writing of this series feels grounded in a way that most series simply cannot replicate, truly taking viewers through the darkness of the villainy it depicts. This is possibly because Through the Darkness is based on a novel written by South Korea’s first criminal profiler, Kwon Il-yong. There is only a single season of this show, which, despite a thrilling conclusion, will still leave viewers wanting more.

3 Strangers From Hell (2019)

This Horror Series Is Both Brutal And Fascinating

Strangers From Hell (2019)

Strangers From Hell is a South Korean psychological thriller series directed by Lee Chang-hee. The show follows Yoon Jong-woo, a young man who moves to Seoul for a job and ends up in a sinister, rundown apartment complex. As he encounters strange and unsettling neighbors, he becomes entangled in horrifying events, questioning the reality around him.

Cast
Yim Si-wan , Lee Dong-wook , Park Jong-hwan , Lee Jung-eun , Kim Ji-eun , Ahn Eun-jin , Kim Han-jong , Lee Jung-ok , Choi Chan-ho , Ro Jong-hyun , Lee Hyun-wook , Anupam Tripathi , Song Wook-kyung , Kim Yannie
Release Date
August 31, 2019

A bit of a unique take on the detective genre, the detectives in Strangers from Hell take a backseat to the plot between serial killer Seo Moon-jo and his would-be victim Yoon Jong-woo. In fact, as opposed to most crime dramas, which focus on more realistic situations, Strangers from Hell leans more into the horror aspect of the genre. It does this while showing Jong-woo’s psychological decline in harrowing detail, all at the hands of Moon-jo.

Strangers from Hell is truly full of twists and turns with shocking moments that many won’t see coming. Although the detectives are not the main characters in this series, their presence is very much felt, leaving viewers to wonder whether Moon-jo will be caught by the series’ end. Both gruesome and beautiful in equal measure, Strangers from Hell is a great example of a K-drama with the perfect villain.

2 Flower Of Evil (2020)

Two Perfectly Matched Characters Face Off

Flower of Evil (2020)

Flower of Evil is a South Korean thriller series that follows the story of Baek Hee-sung, a man who hides his dark past and pretends to be a perfect husband and father. However, his life is disrupted when Detective Cha Ji-won, a determined and intelligent detective, begins to suspect him of being involved in a series of mysterious events.

Cast
Lee Joon-Gi , Moon Chae-Won , Jang Hee-jin , Seo Hyun-woo , Jung Seo-yeon
Release Date
July 29, 2020
Seasons
1
Creator(s)
Kim Cheol-Kyu , Yoo Jung-hee

Beginning with a mysterious string of murders, police officer Cha Ji-won must investigate who is causing mayhem in Kangsoo. Her seemingly loving husband appears to be supportive at first, but things begin to fall apart once Ji-won realizes that he might be hiding something from her. Ji-won quickly realizes that he is not a simple, loving husband, but rather a monster with a hidden past.

Flower of Evil
has since received a 2022 remake, which was produced and aired in the Philippines.

The series is well shot, beautifully rendered, with the series even winning an award for its incredible directing. Though it initially starts off a bit slower, once things ramp up and mysteries begin to unfold, Flower of Evil rapidly becomes one of the most intriguing mysteries in recent years. The tension is palpable, and the story is easy to follow, making Flower of Evil a memorable and heart-pounding ride.

1 Beyond Evil (2021)

The Mystery In This Detective Thriller Will Leave Viewers Guessing

Closely following two detectives as they investigate a serial murder in a small town, Beyond Evil is a paranoid masterclass in mystery making. As the series continues, the two detectives become increasingly unhinged, making it so that even they are suspects in the murder case. No one is safe in this tense drama, with edge-of-your-seat writing and fast-paced reveals that leave viewers reeling.

Beyond Evil poses the question of who really is a monster, turning the magnifying glass on each of its characters and breaking them down to their faults. The layers continue to build until the series hits its natural breaking point, and once it does, every ounce of drama that the show had built until that point lands in the best way possible. The journey is just as compelling as the mystery’s end, making Beyond Evil the greatest detective and crime K-Drama.

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