Everyone loves dystopia because of its inclusive nature. It could be a love story, an action-packed fantasy, or even horror. Maybe that is why Korean dystopian shows are so famous. Fantasy combined with a storyline based on dystopian reality is a straightforward recipe for swoon-worthy dramas that send fans into meltdowns. The success of these shows is clear from their multiple fandoms, fan pages, and high demand for spin-offs. A lot of Korean actors have gained fame by working in these dramas. They are globally acclaimed by not just the regular audience but also other famous people belonging to the entertainment industry. Here is a list of the top 10 popular dystopian Korean dramas that are a must-watch.
1. The Silent Sea
This show, with its unique storyline, throws light on a post-apocalyptic Earth where everyone is dying with no water to drink or food to eat. As a result, a space agency sends a team to the moon to collect mysterious samples from an abandoned research center. Gong Yoo, the famous actor who has also been the lead in movies like Train To Busan, along with all the other actors, gives an enthralling performance in the show. With its stunning cinematography and beautiful VFX & CGI, this show is a must-watch for Sci-Fi and dystopian lovers!
2. Black Knight
Based on a world that is ruined by air pollution, this drama talks about a future where the pollution around us may get so severe that it might actually wipe us off the face of the Earth. In the world of Black Knight, the air around the residents is so toxic that people cannot leave their homes, which results in the formation of a delivery system that includes people trained in combat, called the Knights. These Knights use unconventional means to deliver their packages while protecting them from thieves. If you are into a storyline of this sort (or Kim Woo-Bin, the lead actor), you must add this drama to your watch-list.
3. Squid Game
Who doesn’t know about this Korean phenomenon? From its release in 2021, till now, it is still on its fans’ tongues, who cannot stop gushing about the show. Based on the plight of the cruel lender and borrower relationships prevalent in Korea, this show revolves around a game that sends invitations to these cash-strapped, buried-in-debt people to participate in it for a grand prize. The show, with its chilling twists and turns and unpredictable storyline, is one of a kind!
4. Dark Hole
This dark show perfectly throws light on what might happen if all the chemical pollution is left unchecked, in its own fictional-dystopian way. Based in Muji City, South Korea, things in this peaceful place begin to go wrong when the sinkhole of a pharmaceutical company begins to release a mysterious black fog, turning people into monsters in its wake. Lee Hwa-Sun, a detective from Seoul, finds herself in the middle of this mess as she travels to Muji City to search for her dead husband’s murderer. The show is a thriller capable of keeping the viewers on their toes owing to its mysterious plotline.
5. Hellbound
Famous for its political commentary and religious discourse, Hellbound is a Korean drama based in a dystopian world where people hear predictions of their deaths before dying. The world in this show is ruled by a religious group Saejin Ihwe, which sends death angels when the time comes for a person to die. The show revolves around a group of people who fight against the superiority and blind faith of this religious group while secretly digging out their secrets. This drama is definitely the one to be checked out from every dystopian K-drama lover list.
6. Sweet Home
A 2020 dystopian drama starring Song Kang, Sweet Home is an apocalyptic horror story that could haunt you in your dreams. Cha Hyun-Su( Song Kang) is a reclusive teenager who rarely leaves his apartment. As he lives his solitary life in his room, one day, the people around him suddenly begin to turn into monsters. Sweet Home is the story of this teen fighting these monsters while trying to retain his humanity!
7. Love Alarm
Based in a world where people are perpetually dependent on AI, this show depicts the lonely lives of the ones continually driven in the competitive world of Korean high school. The show revolves around the lives of three high schoolers who find themselves brought closer by the cell phone app Joalarm, which tells you if a person around you has a crush on you. The show is heartwarming and a lighter watch than its dystopian counterparts!
8. Sisyphus: The Myth
Based on the dystopian world of time travel, this show deals with the consequences of trying to tamper with time. Han Tae-Sul is an engineer and the co-founder of the Quantum and Time company in Korea. The show depicts his journey from the revelations of multiple secrets to his meeting with a fighter from the future who comes to his world to save the future world from destruction. For Sci-Fi lovers, this show is undoubtedly a treat to watch owing to its brilliant storyline and fantastic cinematography.
9. SF8
SF8 is another show and a better portrayal of a world ruled by artificial intelligence. Each episode depicts eight different masterfully crafted stories of people dreaming of a perfect society. It deals with themes of Virtual and Augmented realities and often raises thought-provoking questions, sometimes even acting as a cautionary tale. This show definitely gets a place on our list of must-watches for its unique storyline!
10. All Of Us Are Dead
Even though this one is more famous as a zombie apocalypse story, it is also a cautionary tale about everything that could go wrong in a world driven by scientific approaches and ambitions. After a zombie virus outbreak, a high school becomes ground zero for this infection, leaving the students to either fight their way out or turn into a rabid monster. This show is surely one of the best dramas of 2022, and we don’t think it would disappoint its audience!
