The world of Korean dramas has never failed to display empowered female characters often shining and capturing viewers’ attention with their strong and compelling stories. However, it is time to change our perspective and explore a unique realm where the male protagonists are put at the forefront to lead the show.
From murder mysteries to crime thrillers to corporate stories, we have curated a list of dramas filled with captivating performances with a fresh take on the storyline for the days when you are not in the mood of a romantic drama, where male characters take the spotlight.
1. Prison Playbook
The story focuses on the life of a basketball player, Kim Je Hyuk's stay in jail. He was sent to prison for using excessive force on his sister's molester. In prison, he met Lee Joon Ho, his old accomplice, who is currently recruited as a prison guard who helps him through his life in jail. It is a 16-episode drama full of suspense and closures.
2. Kingdom
The series revolves around the sudden rumours about the demise of the King, which resulted in the crown prince being declared a traitor by the Cho clan, the Queen's clan, and her father's clan. The crown prince along with his guard, leaves in a hurry to find Doctor Lee Seung Hui to save his dying father. The series takes an exciting turn when they are stuck with a doctor's assistant and a mystery man in a village full of diseases.
3. Beyond Evil
It is a crime drama depicting the story of Han Joo Won. He is an introverted police officer transferred to a new place where he comes across a mysterious case and suspects his partner Lee Dong Shik to be involved in it. The case has continued for 20 years and keeps getting more twisted, with every piece of evidence produced. The way the series holds its suspense by putting everyone on the radar of being a suspect is amazing.
4. Mouse
The 20 episode of the series deals with serial killings and nail-biting scenes where Jung Ba Reum is a police officer working on those cases. After facing the ruthless psychotic killer so closely, his life changes completely. If you are into watching thriller, you must give it a watch.
5. D.P.
Jun Ho was a soldier in the military in his youth days. Later, he became a part of the military defector arrest team where his daily duty was to capture deserters. The series shows his life being involved in the team and the circumstances that come with it. It shows a perspective of how a confused soul like his deals with it.
6. Bad Guys
As the name suggests, the story stars criminals set on a mission to save the world from terrifying bad guys. A group of misfits join hands to do virtuous deeds for the society as a part of their redemption process. The feel-good series is packed with action scenes and charming ways to put their criminal experience in use.
7. The Guest
The Guest will give you nightmares that last for a long time. It is a scary tale based on a demon called Son who possesses people and breaks them to the point that they kill their families and themselves. To encounter this powerful demon, a psychic joins hands with a detective and a catholic priest to put an end to it and the murders happening every day. The series with exorcism scenes will surely give you chills.
8. Move To Heaven
An autistic boy of 20 takes over his father's company that deals in cleaning up messes at the crime scene. His father's death caused his guardianship to move to his uncle, who wanted to inherit whole of Move To Heaven company and wanted the money too.
9. Tunnel
It is another detective story set in the year 1986. Park Gwang Ho takes on homicidal cases and one day he comes across a time portal and travels to the future where he meets an excellent detective and together, they work to solve different cases. With its gripping storyline it keeps its audience engaged throughout the series.
10. Taxi Driver
This series focuses on the transformative journey of Do Gi who was a special forces officer who had to leave his job under unwanted circumstances when his mother was killed. His anger and pain fuelled him to avenge the death of his mother and he starts working in a Rainbow Taxi company, which is a secret organization. The series displays how justice prevails at the end and the processes involved in doing so.
