#Hwaseong serial murders

[busylazy]

A lot of movies and series were made with reference to that case (Hwaseong serial murders).

To name some:

Confession of Murder (2012)

Gap-dong (2014)

Signal (2016)

Tunnel (2017)

Criminal Minds (2017)

Life on Mars (2018)

Flower of Evil (2020)

MEMORIES OF MURDER (2003) dir. Bong Joon-ho THROUGH THE DARKNESS (2022) dir. Park Bo-ram

[koreaguides]

K-Dramas Based on True Stories

1. Fight for My Way 

This rom-com drama stars Park Seo Jun and Kim Ji Won. It is loosely based on the life of a real mixed martial artists Choo Sung Hoon and his wife Yano Shiho. The writer of the series had once mentioned in an interview that he saw Shiho crying while watching her husband in a match. 

2. Move to Heaven 

This drama was inspired by the non-fiction essay “Things Left Behind” by Kim Sae Byul. He had mentioned before in an interview that he cleaned the house of a man in his 70s who died alone and was only found many weeks later. It was in the form of different and was only found many weeks later. It was in the form of different characters but an exact setting was featured in one of the episode. 

3. Signal 

The top-rating K-Drama Signal stars Lee Je Hoon and Kim Hye Soo. The crimes shown in the series were derived from real cases in South Korea. This includes the Park Chorong Bitnari kidnapping case and also the Hwaseong serial murders that took place in Gyeonggi province. 

4. Reply 1988 

The series of K-Drama was loved by many viewers. One of the characters from the story was inspired by a real person. Taek played by Park Bo Gum was actually inspired by a real-life Baduk player, Lee Chang Ho which won lots of local and international Baduk tournaments. 

5. Crash Landing on You 

The writer of this drama revealed that her inspiration came from South Korean actress Jung Yang’s real-life even where the actress and her friends rose a leisure ferry boat and sail across Incheon’s shores but was swept away to the Northern Limit Line due to bad weather. The writer then proceeded to write a similar story.

[trulyinspiringmovies]

Memories Of Murder

“Memories Of Murder” is a master class in filmmaking, but is bogged down only by its adherence to real-life events.

Park Doo-man is a detective who believes he can tell whether or not a culprit is guilty or innocent just by looking into their eyes. Seo Tae-yoon is a detective from Seoul and prefers to stick to hard evidence and facts. After a series of murders, all carried out in the same fashion, it’s determined that they have a serial killer on their hands. While the murders are happening, Park Doo-man and Seo Tae-yoon clash over their differences in detective work.

Before watching this movie, I had no idea that this movie was inspired by the real-life murders of Hwaseong. Perhaps if I had known beforehand, I would’ve enjoyed the movie a lot more. The reason why I didn’t have such a great time with this movie was because of how the movie wanted the audience to be invested in circumstantial evidence. While Park Doo-man and Seo Tae-yoon were chasing down some pervert who masturbated in the forest, I was thinking about how his actions didn’t outright make him the murderer. When Inspector Kwon brought up that she noticed the song “Sad Letter” play every night a murder took place, I just thought how the murderer could like operating on rainy nights and someone else could want the radio station to play a specific song on rainy nights. It felt like such a reach that I couldn’t get on board with it. The only things that felt remotely like a lead were the red dress theory and the rainy night theory. Both of them turned out to be false in the end, but it was still in the realm of believability. I feel like if there was a disclaimer at the beginning of the movie saying that this movie was based on true events, then I would’ve been praising the movie for showcasing the incompetence of the police at the time. Instead, I was focusing on trying to figure out who the killer was before it was revealed with really bad clues. Still, this is a Bong Joon-Ho movie, so it’s chock-full of amazing filmmaking. For starters, I thought the reverse arcs of both Park Doo-man and Seo Tae-yoon were brilliant. It turned Park Doo-man, a character I hated, into one that I genuinely enjoyed thoroughly. It turned Seo Tae-yoon, a character I was rooting for, into a complex and interesting character. Bravo to Bong Joon-Ho for that. I know there was a lot of consideration when it came to the music in the movie. The main score is fantastic and still plays in my head as I write this review. Some songs felt out of place or awkward when matched with the tone of the scene. I think the highlights were definitely the legendary stand-off on the train tracks and the final shot. Those, for me, cemented this movie as something special in Bong Joon-Ho’s already stellar filmography. While movies like “Memories Of Murder” or “Zodiac” feel like empty mysteries, I’m glad we finally know the actual murderers of both those movies in the real world.

★★★★★

Watched on May 21st, 2023

[fauxkaren]

Beyond Evil - 9/10

 Crime dramas are not usually my favorite genre, but now and then I get in the Mood and decide to check one out. And honestly, no regrets. Beyond Evil was one of the best crime K-dramas that I’ve seen. I think the show did a really good job of weaving the tapestry of secrets, lies and conspiracies in a way that revealed things slowly and were a bit surprising but never in a way that was like “lol ok that is bullshit and they were just trying to be shocking”. The surprises always made sense in retrospect and often could be figured out a bit earlier than the reveal if you were paying attention.

For me, what really elevated this drama to be one of my favorites in the crime genre is the secondary characters. A lot of time in these kinds of dramas, the secondary cast of characters feel like an afterthought, only there when they are needed to progress the plot. But in Beyond Evil, the secondary cast really contributed to building out the world. The relationships between them and the leads were well developed and added a lot to the show, making it feel like a more fully fleshed out world.

Beyond Evil is maybe the third drama I’ve seen that draws inspiration from the Hwaseong serial murders that happened in South Korea in the 80s and 90s, so it seems to me like those murders really imprinted itself on the public consciousness. Although, in this show, the serial murders are almost a red herring. Like they happen and they are they, but it’s not the actual solution to what is established as the central crime- the disappearance (and presumed murder) of the main character’s twin sister in 2000. Twenty years later and our protagonist, Lee Dong-sik, is working as a police officer in the same town he grew up in.

Our second lead is dropped into this same small town. This is Han Jun-won who is the son of one of the highest ranking police officers in the country, who is hoping to be made the General Commissioner. Jun-won has been sent out to this rural station sort of as punishment but definitely to keep him out of the public eye for a major fuck up of his. He ran an unauthorized sting operation, using a civilian as bait, and things didn’t go well, resulting in her murder.

Both characters have an intense desire to find the truth and to get justice. At the start of the series Jun-won is very much a ‘by the books’ type of cop (definitely as a result of his unauthorized sting going south), but as things get complicated he begins to take more risks. Dong-sik is DEFINITELY a wild card type character. He will absolutely bend the rules and maybe outright break some of them if it will get him the answers and justice he is searching for.

If you’re going to watch a crime drama, I think this is definitely a great one to start with. Solid, all around!

[rookie-critic]

Memories of Murder (2003, dir. Bong Joon-ho) - review by Rookie-Critic

Prior to 2019 (really 2020, if we want to get really specific) there probably weren't a lot of people in the States who could tell you who Bong Joon-ho is if pressed. Nowadays, after Bong's historic first non-English language Best Picture win for Parasite, most people would at least identify the name as familiar, and for good reason. Parasite is undoubtedly amazing; its message is both regionless and timeless, it has superb acting and brilliant cinematography, it is one of the best films of the modern era, if not any era. However, prior to Parasite, back in the days when Bong's fanbase outside of his native South Korea was limited to foreign film lovers and people who really liked Snowpiercer, most people would probably point to his breakout film, Memories of Murder, as his best work, and for a lot of the same reasons that people point to Parasite as his best now.

I'm not entirely sure why it has taken me so long to sit down and watch this considering how much I've enjoyed the other films of his that I've seen, but I'm glad I finally did. Following the true story of the detectives that investigated the Hwaseong serial murders of the mid-80s to the mid-90s, the film works as both a gripping crime thriller and a social satire of the failings of the legal system and the corrupt nature of a lot of its employees. One of our protagonists, Detective Park Doo-man (played brilliantly as always be Song Kang-ho) as well as his partner Detective Cho Yong-koo, are horrible police officers. They fake evidence, they torture victims until they'll confess to anything to make it stop, and they scoff at real investigative discoveries and excuse them as the other detectives "watching too many crime movies" (which in and of itself is an amazing line that both pokes fun at and winks a respectful eye towards the crime films that it follows in the legacy of); all they care about is putting someone away, regardless of if the person is actually guilty of the crime they're accused of committing or not. You can watch the film purely from a plot perspective and be entertained and engrossed, but much like Parasite, the true genius of it lies within this satirical commentary.

The knowledge that maybe the killer could have been stopped, victims could have been saved, if more resources had been poured into actually searching for the real killer instead of trying to put away people who obviously had nothing to do with it is maddening, but somehow Bong is able to inject humor throughout the film that makes all of these frustrating people and darker moments have a brief sense of levity without taking away from the nature of the subject matter. It's truly amazing the way he is able to craft stories that are not only interesting from a surface level perspective, but that contain darker themes and complex social commentary that even casual moviegoers can pick up on and appreciate, and then even with all of that blend comedy and drama so seamlessly you rarely notice the change. Another element of the film that I personally found brilliant, and that I briefly mentioned above, is the way that it seems to be a love letter to the crime dramas/thrillers that came before it and a criticism of them at the same time. If you've been following my reviews for awhile, you'll know how deeply I appreciate films that are able to strike that balance (Scream, Nope, etc.). The ability to acknowledge the problems with a genre without completely dismissing the films that portray those flaws as lesser or bad is something that just appeals to me on such a core level. This may just sound like a meeting of the Bong Joon-ho Fan Club, but it is truly awe-inspiring that he can make a film that has something for everyone in it, and can make everyone enjoy the other bits that, in any other movie, they may not have.

Now, Memories of Murder isn't perfect, it is only Bong's second film and some of those early film maker pitfalls exist here. A lot of the first half of the movie tends to drag a bit, and there may be certain scenes that could have cut or sequences that could have been re-edited to keep that sense of urgency (or maybe even the lack thereof on the part of the detectives) a little more present and flowing. Also, and I know I just got done ranting about how great this exact quality was, but sometimes the injection of humor could overtake the film a little too much. It doesn't happen but maybe once or twice, but I did take note of those moments as something that stood out to me, at least. Outside of these few kinks, Memories of Murder just further proves that Bong Joon-ho just knows what he's doing, and I can safely add another film to the "great" column of his filmography, and hopefully soon I can finish out watching the rest of them.

Score: 9/10

Currently streaming on Hulu.

[heavensickness]

What was memories of murder based on???

Hwaseong serial murders. Tw for general serial murder shit and sexual assault

[diary-of-siyu]

English work

I don��t agree with the quote "In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." There are many reasons why I disagree with this but the main reasons are not all people are good at heart like Hitler, serial killers, and Jeff Bezos.

First of all, I think that some people are not good at heart. For example Hitler. Hitler was a man that was the leader of Nazi Germany. He caused World War II which killed many people. This shows that some people are not good at heart. Hitler’s reason that causing World War II is very bizarre, it was because he failed art college. This small event caused Hitler to cause World War II which killed about 60-85 million people. He also killed many Jews because the people who didn’t allow Hitler to go to college were Jewish.  Hitler killed disabled children for no reason. Hitler burned all the books because he had to censor the bad rumors about him, to block people from listening to the truth.  

Another evidence is serial killers, they killed many people that are innocent. For example You-Young-Chul his first victims were a 72 years old man and his wife, murdered in January 2003. You said that he was motivated by his anger towards the rich. There is another killer and his name is Lee- Choon- Jae. He was the serial killer for Bong-Joon-Ho’s movie “Memories of Murder”. Between 1986 and 1994, a total of 15 women and young girls were killed around Hwaseong, about 40km away from Seoul. Jeong-Nam-Gyu, He has killed over 14 innocent people randomly wether if the victim is old or young,  man or a woman.

The last evidence is Jeff Bezos. Jeff Bezos is the owner of Amazon company. Jeff Bezos is the third richest man in the world. With his money, he could pay every single debt in America but he doesn’t. He got enough money to space but his workers can not go to the bathroom. Another person is Elon Musk, he is the second-richest man in the world with his money, he can help world hunger but he doesn’t. He said he’d spent  6 billion dollars to solve this problem and explain how they can do on Twitter. He hired private detectives against the Thailand cave rescue divers. Rich people can solve problems but with that amount of money they just mass with it. Bernald Arnault is the world richest man in the world. Korea’s GDP is 1.8trillion dollars and in Bernals Arnault, world richest man got ten percent of that money. Nickhil Kamath, he cheated at charity chess tornurment. Cecil Chao offered hundred eighty million dallors to any man who could mary his lesbian daughter, and it was already married that time.

In conclusion, These were all the reasons why I think quote “In spite of everything, I still believe that people are really good at heart." is not true. It’s because rich people waste there money, people like hitler exists, and finally serial killers are killing people for no reason.

[chasingfigments]

GUYS, THEY FOUND HIM.

[umjrder-blog]

The Hwaseong Serial Killer

The Hwaseong Serial Killer, also known as "The Hwaseong Strangler", is a still-unidentified serial killer and rapist who was active in the South Korean city of Hwaseong between September 15, 1986, and April 3, 1991.  In each case, a woman or girl was found bound and murdered. The murders are considered to be the most infamous in the modern history of South Korea and have been compared to those of the Zodiac Killer.

Case History

The women, ages ranging from fourteen to seventy-one, were each found gagged, raped and murdered over a four-year and seven-month period in the rural city of Hwaseong in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Each victim was sexually assaulted and strangled to death with her own clothes. The evidence compiled from forensics pointed to a man in his late 20s to early 30s, about 165 to 175 cm tall, with blood type AB+. The case is infamous within Korea for being the first truly identifiable string of murders with a modus operandi. Police officers involved spent two million man-days on the case. The total number of suspects also grew to enormous numbers, eventually ending with a total count of 21,280 individuals. Until it was lifted in July 2015 by the National Assembly, the statute of limitations for murder in Korea was fifteen years. The statute for the killings had expired on April 2, 2006, but police records were still kept due to the significance of the case. With the statute's lifting, cold cases have been re-visited.In 2004, a female college student was murdered, sparking new interest in the Hwaseong serial murders, though the case also remains unsolved.  

Modus Operandi

From the accounts of the few witnesses of known attacks, it is generally believed that the killer dressed in black clothing of various types (depending on the month), and wore a hood and/or black baseball cap (at least during the 1990, 9th murder). The Hwaseong killer’s usual pattern of attack, however, was to target Korean women and girls, strike when they were walking alone in secluded areas, rape and kill them via manual strangulation. There is another theory surrounding the killings - all of them took place during rainy nights and before the killings someone was ordering the same song to be played in the local radio. This would oppose the theories about killer acting on the impulse or being retarded, but even if this is true the police did not manage to find any such links that would lead them to the assailant. There is one weak point of this theory - ordering the song on the rainy night is one thing, but how the killer could be sure that on that particular night he will find a victim - a woman walking alone in the secluded area? The police hypothesised that if the killer was playing the songs, it might reflect a childhood memory, the song may remind him of a happy event he experienced, in contrast to a very poor and unhappy childhood.

Why He Stopped

There could be numerous explanations, but since it seems that the assailant was most likely a psychopath and the thrill of killing and raping was pushing him to such extents of cruelty it is very unlikely that he stopped on his own. People with such deformed personalities do not just stop - he is most likely to be dead since he did not return to killing.

But there are other explanations that are equally possible, but more distressing, for example, one theory is that he was locked up in mental hospital after 1991, which leads to the conclusion that one day he could be released.

Another theory is that he might have emigrated from South Korea after 1991, which could mean that killed again, but in different place or country, this is unlikely however, if he were to have moved to another country he probably stopped killing.

Another option, albeit highly unlikely, is that after the 10th killing, something changed in his life and he did not need the thrill of hunting women any more. Another equally unlikely option is, assuming that he was a psychopath planning the murders, that the police investigation was getting closer to him or the DNA tests scared him off the area and he relocated or stopped to avoid being caught.

cr/

[sandiegokpop]

Random, but I just found out South Korea "found" the killer from their first serial killer case, the Hwaseong serial murders. Wild. Apparently some dude that was already serving a sentence from killing his sister-in-law confessed last year. The statue of limitations already expired tho so he can't be prosecuted for murdering 15 ppl. So upsetting. He's only 57 & can get paroled at anytime, where's the justice?

Some of you guys are probably familiar w/the case like I am from the film Memories of Murder that came out years ago, or Gap-dong or many of the other movies & dramas based on it.

[thekillerblogofkillers]

Lee Choon-jae (1963-?)

Lee Choon-jae, also known as the Korean Zodiac Killer, was convicted of killing 16 people, including his sister-in-law, 10 of which were victims of the Hwaseong serial murders that occurred between 1986 and 1991. The serial killings are considered to be the most infamous in South Korean history, and even inspired Bong Joon-ho movie ‘Memories of Murder’ (2003). The series of rapes and murders began on September 15, 1986 and ended on April 3, 1991. Each woman was found bound, gagged, raped and strangled to death with an item of their own clothing. The Hwaseong serial murder investigation took more than 2 million man-days, with over 21,000 suspects questioned. A sketch of the suspect was drawn from the memory of a bus driver, Uhm, who saw a man board his bus shortly after the 7th murder on September 7, 1988. The description matched that given by survivors of the rapes. The suspect was described as a thin man in his mid-20s, 165-170cm tall, with short hair and a sharp nose. 

In September 1989, Lee Choon-jae broke into a house in Gwangju, Suwon, Gyeonggi Province with weapons and was found by the landlord. He was arrested and sentenced to a year and a half in prison for the charges of robbery and violence. Lee filed an appeal, claiming that he was attacked by a young man and only entered the home as he was being chased. The court commuted the sentence to 2 years’ probation, and he was released in April 1990. After Lee’s wife left him, he invited over his 18-year-old sister-in-law, whom he proceeded to drug, rape and murder on January 13, 1994. He offered his father-in-law assistance in finding her, before going to the police to falsely report that she had been abducted. During interrogation, Lee asked, “How many years do you serve in prison for rape and murder?��� He denied any responsibility and claimed he was confessing as a result of police coercion. Despite this, he was convicted and sentenced to death; this sentence was commuted to a life sentence with the possibility of parole after 20 years, in 1995. 

On September 18, 2019, police announced that Lee Choon-jae had been named a suspect in the serial killings. DNA linked him to one of the victims’ underwear and subsequent testing confirmed DNA matches with 4 other crime scenes. At this time, Lee was already serving a life sentence at the Busan Prison and initially denied any involvement in the murders. He later confessed to killing 15 people, including all 10 victims of the Hwaseong serial murders and 5 others, in addition to more than 30 rapes and attempted rapes. Despite police reaching the conclusion that Lee is guilty of all of these crimes, the statute of limitations for these murders has ended, so he cannot be charged with any of them!

[awesometeennews]

South Korean man confesses to Hwaseong murders; won't be prosecuted

South Korean man confesses to Hwaseong murders; won’t be prosecuted

[ad_1]

A new confession has come up in one of the most brutal serial killings in South Korea. Ten women were raped and brutally killed in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, between 1986 and 1991.

After years, a South Korean man has confessed to the murder of the women from these infamous killings, alongwith murder of few other women. 

However, the local police has stated that the confessor will not…

[hellodainiknews]

Hwaseong murders: Man confesses to decades-old serial...

Hwaseong murders: Man confesses to decades-old serial…

[ad_1]

Last month, police said they believed they had identified the man behind at least three of 10 killings which took place in Hwaseong, a city south of Seoul, between 1986 and 1991.

On Friday, a police official told CNN a man had confessed to nine of the killings. He also confessed to an additional five murders and about 30 sexual assaults. One of the 10 Hwaseong deaths is now believed to…

[ruanbaijie]

Thank you so much for your blog, love reading it..... do you mind if I ask recs for either cnovel or cdrama or kdrama? I actually start from an anime/manga lover and now want to try other things.... Do you know manga Akatsuki no Yona? It's about a princess that was running away with her bodyguard in search for the 4 dragons (that turns out to be in human form and become her extra bodyguards)....She tried to take over again her kingdom from her cousin and along the way getting to know and helping the people of her kingdom.... Do you know either media (novel or drama) that had premise like this...? Sorry for the long ask...Thanks again....

ahhh okay first of all, all my apologies for taking eons to respond to this (ノ*°▽°*) I’ve had a hectic past few weeks and I didn’t want to rush through a response for this, so I finally managed to find some time this weekend hehe

welcome to cdramas and kdramas! (o^▽^o) I’ve done a rec for danmei (bl cnovels) here before; I don’t know enough non-bl cnovels to be able to recommend any but I’m currently slowly reading my way through quan zhi gao shou (the king’s avatar) which is about esports >5 million words rip me

I’ve watched akatsuki no yona! wwaaaaayyy back, and I really enjoyed it too! I don’t know if there are any media that have a similar premise to it though... so what I’m gonna do below is to just recommend kdramas I feel are worth the watch and also add in a point or two if I feel there are any similarities! someone else asked me about cdrama recs too shortly after your ask and I’ve answered them here, also putting in a point on two for any similarities

disclaimers!

I haven’t watched a lot of kdramas recently (as compared to past few years) so a lot of the recs you’ll see here are from a few years ago

I prefer shows with action, mystery, monsters (think vampires and zombies), sci-fi, crime, so if you’re looking for romcoms and slice of life, I’m the last person you should be asking (⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)

nevertheless, I’ve split the recs below according to completed, plan to watch, and shows I’m not planning to watch now but I know that are very highly recommended

synopses, genres, and tags from mydramalist

completed + MY FAVES (i.e. I will scream at you to watch it now)

Fifteen years ago, a young girl was kidnapped on the way from school, and Park Hae Yeong, who was an elementary school student at that time, witnessed the crime. A few days later, the girl was found dead, and the police were not able to find the culprit. As time went by, Hae Yeong started distrusting the police. Fifteen years later, Hae Yeong is now a police officer and criminal profiler. One day, he finds a walkie-talkie that allows him to get in contact with Detective Lee Jae Han who is in the past. Police officers Hae Yeong, Jae Han, and Cha So Hyun then set out on a journey to solve cold cases.

Genres: thriller, mystery, sci-fi

Tags: different timelines, Hwaseong Serial Murders, murder, criminal profiler, serial killer, investigation, death, tragic past, corruption, suspense

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsdJLm7Swkw

this show is so fucking good like

you know a show is good when it inspires not one, not two, but THREE remakes (japanese, chinese, thai)

I also personally like to think that it inspired a lot of kdramas with a similar premise (crime solving + serial killer + past-present wibbly wobbly timey wimey stuff) that came after it

Kim Shin was once an unbeatable general in Goryeo's military who died a tragic death. He now possesses immortality but is tired of living while everyone else around him dies. For 900 years, Kim Shin has searched for his bride, a mortal who can pull out the sword and end his life. One day, he encounters Ji Eun Tak, a positive, upbeat high school student who can see the dead and has gone through tragic events, yet still stays strong. She claims to be the Goblin's bride who can end his immortal life, but what appears to be an easy task, only gets complicated, as the two fall in love.

Genres: comedy, romance, fantasy, melodrama

Tags: supernatural, interspecies romance, dokkaebi, fate, tearjerker, bromance, death, heartfelt, true love

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tOxnroOTWU

I was obsessed with this when it was airing and I happened to also be in south korea at that time and it was such an experience getting the merch and seeing posters everywhere and going all the way to the filming locations to geek out (lol)

might be similar to ANY because of... bickering bromance (idk now that I think about it kim shin and wang yeo low key remind me of hak and jaeha)

As the leader of a crime investigation team, Han Tae Joo has propelled his career and risen through the ranks by trusting data over all else. One day, while investigating a serial murder case, he has an accident. When he wakes up, he suddenly finds himself in the winter of 1988. He doesn't know why, but he's now a detective appointed to work at a police station in a small city. To get back to the present day, Han Tae Joo tries to solve the case.

Genres: action, mystery, psychological, comedy

Tags: 1980s, police procedural, bromance, strong friendship, hallucination, serial killer, coma

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBfKn188dmE

another really good detective show that involves time stuff! but this one is a remake of the UK drama of the same name

ends in a cliffhanger that I found absolutely delicious

might be similar to ANY because of... found family

No sooner does the Joseon King succumb to smallpox, do the rumours of his death begin. The Cho Clan, the clan of the pregnant Queen and her father, Chief State Councillor Cho Hak Joo, declares the Crown Prince a traitor. Questioning the circumstances surrounding the King’s death, the Crown Prince and his guard, Moo Young, set forth to locate Lee Seung Hui, the last physician to treat his father. But the two end up stuck with Assistant Physician Seo Bi and a mysterious man named Young Shin in a village plagued with a terrifying disease.

Genres: thriller, historical, horror, political

Tags: Joseon Dynasty, power struggle, gore, survival, corruption, zombies

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4l-yByZpaaM

really clever take on zombies!

and because it’s a sageuk (historical kdrama) of course they had to somehow weave some form of political struggle into it as well

also has a second season, a movie, and an upcoming third season

might be similar to ANY because of... badass female lead who absolutely kicks ass and also uses a bow and arrow (though she only appeared in the movie so far), political struggle for the crown

Kim Hae Il is a Catholic priest. He makes spiteful remarks and he can be rude to others. Koo Dae Young is a detective. He talks a lot and he is also timid. Park Kyung Sun is a prosecutor. She is smart and beautiful. She is also ambitious as a prosecutor and good at her job. The three of them team up and work together to solve a murder case involving a senior Catholic priest.

Genres: action, mystery, comedy, crime

Tags: bromance, church, strong friendship, PTSD, sismance, corruption

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-qk-Xqf-B0

look, there are many kdramas with the “comedy” genre tagged to them

but this one is just absolutely fucking funny

the king of them all (tied with mr. queen - see below) 

loads of action, loads of humour!

might be similar to ANY because of... found family

A zombie and a writer team up to solve crimes in this thrilling drama that explores what happens when someone actually comes back to life. After being secretly buried on a hill, Moo Young comes back to life as a zombie thanks to illegally dumped medical waste. With his memory gone, he eventually accepts reality and does whatever he can to walk and look like a human. Luckily, his peculiarly developed sense of smell allows him to position himself as one of the prominent businesses in the field of private investigation, finding the bodies of those who are reported missing. Sun Ji, who once was a writer for a TV show that deals with issues regarding current affairs, is employed as a part-time assistant at Moo Young’s agency. While being emotional, hot-tempered, and willing to stamp out justice at all costs, Sun Ji finds out that Moo Young is a zombie. As she helps the zombie detective look for the traces of his lost memories, she comes to realise how Moo Young is related to one of her previous cases.

Genres: thriller, mystery, comedy, fantasy

Tags: investigation, writer, suspense, zombies, drama, horror, detective fiction

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyTSICDokjE

it says zombie but this drama is an entirely different ball game from kingdom

kingdom is what you can expect from a traditional zombie show: horror, suspense, gore

this one... is a more sanitised, human version

also really funny (ah gotta love kdrama comedies) with an underlying mystery!

Jang Bong Hwan is a South Korean chef who has risen up the ranks to cook for the country’s top politicians in the Blue House’s presidential residences. After a serious accident, he finds himself in the body of the young queen, Kim So Yong, when whisked away to an era deep in Korea’s past. While Queen Kim So Yong’s husband is the reigning monarch, King Cheol Jong, he is so in name only. The late King Sunjo’s Queen, Sun Won, has taken advantage of King Cheol Jong’s better nature, and is ruling the realm in his name. And she faces competition from her own brother, Kim Jwa Guen, who also has designs on power. Queen Kim So Yong will come to discover that her husband harbours some secrets, and is not as gentle and meek as he seems…

Genres: historical, comedy, romance, fantasy

Tags: transmigration, Joseon Dynasty, time travel, body swap, gender swap, power struggle

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dImREPX_Pbk

one of the best, most ridiculous, most hilarious sageuks I’ve watched

kdramas have this uncanny ability of making you really hate the antagonists (which this one had too of course), but the main female (well...) lead was just too damn hilarious

might be similar to ANY because of... badass female lead who kicks ass

Following the death of his family in an accident, loner Cha Hyun Soo moves to a new apartment. His quiet life is soon disturbed by strange incidents that start occurring in his apartment, and throughout Korea. As people start to turn into monsters, Hyun Soo and the other residents try to survive.

Genres: horror, drama, sci-fi, supernatural

Tags: monsters, gore, survival, character development, supernatural phenomena, trauma, school bullying, attempted suicide

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcH81Bzuxz0

because I am a sucker for monster shows (especially where the main lead happens to be the monster who is Trying To Hide Their Identity or Trying To Restrain Themselves Around The Normal Humans) this one was absolutely up my alley

nose bleeding is a huge part of the show though, so if you can’t take very bloody scenes, it’s best to sit this one out

there’s going to be a second season!

Yoon Sae Bom is a special agent with quick wits and reflexes and another special quality. She earns the opportunity to move into a new apartment set aside for civil servants in a coveted apartment complex by pretending to marry high school friend Jung Yi Hyun. Yi Hyun is a detective investigating the spread of a mysterious disease. They are trapped in their apartment building when Han Tae Seok, head of the task force to control the spread of the disease, orders the complex to be sealed off from the rest of the city. Quarantine and disease reveal a social caste system, bringing out the best and worst of the apartment residents.

Genres: action, thriller, drama, fantasy

Tags: disease, virus, survival, fake marriage, discrimination, slow burn romance, infectious disease, illness

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2EiCIyY54I

I’m currently rewatching this hehehehe 

I first got interested in this because some people called it a zombie show

but looking at mdl, they’ve tagged it more as “disease”, “illness”; personally I felt the “monsters” in this show were more like vampires than zombies

repeating my point from sweet home since it completely applies to here as well: because I am a sucker for monster shows (especially where the main lead happens to be the monster who is Trying To Hide Their Identity or Trying To Restrain Themselves Around The Normal Humans) this one was absolutely up my alley

yoon sae bom and jung yi hyun (aka girlboss and malewife) are THE ABSOLUTE BEST I LOVE THEM SO MUCH YOUR HONOUR

might be similar to ANY because of... badass female lead who kicks A LOT of ass, found family

A high school becomes ground zero for a zombie virus outbreak. Trapped students must fight their way out — or turn into one of the rabid infected.

Genres: action, thriller, horror, sci-fi

Tags: zombies, survival, death, gore, school, virus, slight romance, zombie apocalypse, high school

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzD2DS1fe6Y

very bloody, very gory

a zombie show that is very true to the zombie genre (vs. zombie detective and happiness from above)

might be similar to ANY because of... badass female characters

completed

Geum Jan Di comes from a poor family who owns a dry-cleaning shop. One day, she visits Shinhwa High School, a prestigious school for the wealthy, and saves a student trying to commit suicide because of bullying. For her heroic act, Jan Di receives a swimming scholarship and starts attending the school. In Shinhwa High, she meets the notorious F4, the most popular and powerful group of boys at the school, consisting of Gu Jun Pyo; the leader of F4 and heir to the Shinhwa Group, Yoon Ji Hu; the grandson of a former president of Korea, So Yi Jung; a skilled potter who comes from a family that owns the country's biggest art museum, and Song Woo Bin; whose family runs the country's largest construction company. Her life at school starts out miserable, as she doesn't fit in with other students because of her status, and later becomes worse when she is labeled as the new bullying target of the F4.

Genres: comedy, romance, youth, drama

Tags: school bullying, love triangle, high school, evil parental figure, reverse-harem, first love

Fanmade trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FUuPWK01JZs

I wouldn’t normally recommend this but... I put it in because of the reverse harem trope that’s kinda similar to ANY... (ง ื▿ ื)ว

this was the second kdrama I ever watched (the first being jewel in the palace because my mum happened to be watching it lol)

remake of the japanese manga hana yori dango

After receiving an anonymous letter stating that someone will die, eight students at the elite boarding school, Susin High School, nicknamed "Prison High", decided to remain at school for the 8 days of winter break. To accompany them, a teacher is forced to remain. On their first night, a psychologist named Kim Yo Han takes refuge at the school after being involved in a car accident nearby. Due to the snowstorm, the roads are closed and he is forced to spend the winter holiday with them. However, at a time when everyone else is celebrating Christmas Eve, the students realise that the anonymous letters they each received were not the result of a harmless prank; and there is a murderer in their midst.

Genres: thriller, mystery, psychological, youth

Tags: Christmas, high school, student, moral ambiguity, psychologist, drug usage, trapped, depression, deafness

Fanmade trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCAc1soe3ZM

unlike what the name suggests, I found this drama quite “dark”

Shin Ji Hyun was enjoying absolute bliss as she was about to marry her fiancé, Kang Min Ho, but her perfect life is shattered when she gets into a car accident that leaves her in a coma. She is given a second chance at life by a person called The Scheduler, but it comes with a condition: she has to find three people outside of her family who would cry genuine tears for her. In order to do this, she borrows the body of Yi Kyung, a part-time employee at a convenience store for 49 days.

Genres: romance, drama, melodrama, supernatural

Tags: body swap, second chance, coma, death, car accident, flashback to past, depression, tragic past

Fanmade trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Em-pRRFI-Mk

will make you cry A LOT

not usually the genre I go for (I think I picked it up because of the supernatural aspect) but I found myself really enjoying it!

Choi Kang Chi is a half-human and half-mythical-creature who was adopted by the lord of the Hundred Years Inn. He was the son of Gu Wol Ryung, the guardian spirit of Jiri Mountain, and the human Yoon Seo Hwa. Dam Yeo Wool is a martial arts master and daughter of the leader of a secret organisation protecting the region. She was sent to the Hundred Years Inn to observe and protect its lord. They met at the Hundred Years Inn, the most popular inn in the region, and fell in love with each other despite Choi Kang Chi being a half-human. When their world turned into chaos, it is up to Choi Kang Chi to put it back into order; and up to Dam Yeo Wool to ensure that Choi Kang Chi's half-mythical-creature side does not get the best of him.

Genres: action, historical, romance, fantasy

Tags: interspecies romance, nine-tailed fox, superhuman strength, revenge, cross-dressing, love triangle, death of a parent

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itROM2-fy6Q

god I was so hyperfixated over this when I watched it

though tbh I preferred the secondary couple over the main couple and cried more over them than the latter ahaha

might be similar to ANY because of... badass female lead who kicks ass

Eun Dae Gu, Uh Soo Sun, Park Tae Il and Ji Gook - otherwise known as the P4 - are the new recruits in the violent crime unit at Gangnam Police Station. These rookies are neither enthusiastic nor passionate about their new jobs and have joined the crime squad for varying but unbefitting reasons. They are led by an erratic and hot-headed Seo Pan Suk who wants nothing more than to wash his hands of the incompetent new recruits.

Genres: action, mystery, comedy, drama

Tags: revenge, death of a parent, tragic past, childhood acquaintance, teamwork, police procedural, bromance, murder

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRSVxIMdrEo

A traumatic childhood experience leaves Cha Do Hyeon, suffering from memory loss and dissociation. The latter has resulted in the creation of seven distinct personalities. Wanting to regain control over his life, he asks Oh Ri Jin, a first-year psychiatric resident, to help him, but she eventually falls in love with one of his personalities. Ri Jin’s twin brother, Oh Ri On, a famous mystery novelist, investigates Do Hyeon and his family.

Genres: psychological, comedy, romance, drama

Tags: dissociative identity disorder, trauma, boss-employee relationship, mental health, PTSD, psychiatry

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkLlJk2hsoc

again, not my usual genres, but I started watching it back then because of all the really good reviews it was getting

in which ji sung acts like... at least 7 different characters

In 1986, Park Gwang Ho works as an excellent and enthusiastic detective. His life changes when he’s pursuing leads in a serial homicide case and then passes through a time portal, which transports him to present day Seoul. He meets a new partner Kim Sun Jae, an elite detective who happens to be a bit eccentric, but is one highly skilled investigator. The detective duo will also find help in psychology professor, Shin Jae Yi.

Genres: thriller, mystery, sci-fi, fantasy

Tags: time travel, murder, criminal profiler, serial killer, bromance, hidden identity, character development, slight romance

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WI0ukjqsKQ

another crime drama with sci-fi time elements!

also another really enjoyable and addictive one

Taking place in both the present year 2017 and in the year 2037, when people believe that their future depends on humans controlling and regulating their emotions, this drama is a sci-fi mystery. When alien visitors arrive on Earth, humans learn new skills from them and take advantage of them; what ensues is a story of alliance, resistance, and love. Each episode will contain two shorter stories, the first part set in 2017 and called “Beta Project,” with the second set in 2037 and called “Grand New World.”

Genres: thriller, mystery, sci-fi

Tags: future, alien, bromance, kidnapping, character development, human experimentation

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWlO0cQbuyg

Nestled deep in the heart of Seoul’s thriving downtown sits a curious hotel, the like of which no one has ever seen before. Old beyond measure, the building has stood for millennia, an ever-present testament to the fact that things are not always what they seem. Running this hotel is Jang Man Wol, a greedy, suspicious soul who has spent the past thousand years acting as the establishment’s CEO. Bound to the hotel by a deity who keeps her there to save her from going berserk and self-destruction with rage, hatred and thirst for revenge. Her only hope of escape is if she could let go of her resentment and hatred, and find love. Trapped in her resentment for a betrayal, Man Wol is doomed to spend all of the eternity running this odd establishment, catering to the needs of the most peculiar clientele. Things take an interesting turn when Goo Chan Sung shows up. Once the youngest assistant manager ever to work at a multinational hotel corporation, Chan Sung finds himself forced to manage the Hotel del Luna because of a deal his father made with Man Wol years ago. Excellent with managing money, he starts to put Jang's excessive spending and disastrous finance situation in order, that may be exactly what this odd establishment and its cursed CEO needs.

Genres: horror, comedy, romance, fantasy

Tags: boss-employee relationship, ghost, supernatural, hotel

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IjMTR2DxlA

Dong Baek has an extraordinary ability. He can peer into the memories of whoever he touches. With his supernatural power, get it done attitude, and eye-pleasing looks, he is fervently revered worldwide as a superstar detective. However, when his punches meet with suspects before words, he can be a bit of a headache to his comrades. Starting from the age of twenty, Han Sun Mi is the youngest to have passed the bar exam, obtain a doctorate in criminal psychology, and become a senior superintendent in the police force. Having solved five cold cases that even a detective with supernatural powers couldn't do, she is a genius profiler. She has a secret that drives her to do what she does. These two highly-skilled professionals meet their match—a serial killer with abilities that transcend theirs combined. It's going to be a fight worth watching.

Genres: action, thriller, mystery, supernatural

Tags: serial killer, criminal profiler, supernatural power, investigation, cult

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pq7APoxy3uA

one of the kdramas that I watched recently (past 1-2 years) that I really enjoyed!

though the antagonist (as you can see from the poster) was a bit creepy

A story where ten people get the chance to go back in time by one year, but unexpectedly mysterious situations start to arise when their fates are changed and twisted in the process. Ji Hyung Joo is a detective in the violent crimes division. He used to be part of the traffic police but was promoted when he arrested a wanted criminal. It's been seven years since the change, and he's a talented individual who always knows how to relax. Though he is happy at first to have the chance to go back in time by one year and "reset" his life, he begins to search for the truth when a series of mysterious events befall on the group of people he goes back in time with.

Genres: thriller, mystery, drama, fantasy

Tags: time travel, suspense, murder, fate, supernatural, lying, psychiatrist, bromance

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOqOBJpqVX0

I’m just gonna say... plot twist

Lee Gon is the third Korean emperor of his generation. His citizens regard him as the perfect leader. But behind this flawless appearance, hides a deep wound. When he was eight years old, his father was murdered before his eyes following a coup. Today, instead of respecting his filial duty, he prefers to escape the palace to attend university conferences. During one of his escapades, he sees himself propelled into a parallel world where he meets Jeong Tae Eul, an inspector with whom he teams up with to defeat the criminals but also close the door between their two worlds.

Genres: mystery, romance, drama, sci-fi

Tags: parallel universe, doppelganger, royal family, royalty, murder, monarchy, treason

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWRtVkheXVc

from the same writer as goblin, you can see her similar touch in terms of the romance and fantastical world building

“Mystic Pop-Up Bar” is based on a popular webtoon of the same name and tells the story of a mysterious pojangmacha (outdoor drinking establishment) run by a prickly woman and an innocent part-timer who visit customers in their dreams to help resolve their problems.

Genres: mystery, comedy, family, fantasy

Tags: afterlife, tragic past, grudge, spirit, special power, family relationship, flashback to past, food

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0RfpPHksRA

another drama with a familiar set-up (helping ghosts with their unresolved grudges), but I found this one in particular very hilarious yet also heartwarming 

The mythical nine-tailed fox, or gumiho, Lee Yeon had to settle in the city many centuries ago. Able to transform into human form, he eradicates supernatural beings that threaten the mortal world. His real aim is to find the reincarnation of his lost first love. The talented television producer Nam Ji Ah works in a show that features urban myths. In the past, her parents were involved in a mysterious car accident and disappeared, and she suspects that Lee Yeon might be connected with this accident. The half-brother to Lee Yeon is the captivating Lee Rang. Despite being half-human himself, he harbours a deep-seated contempt for all people. For sport, he will unleash his seductive prowess upon his human-du-jour, by promising to grant them their wishes, only to trick them into paying a hefty price for their earthly desires.

Genres: thriller, horror, romance, fantasy

Tags: nine-tailed fox, reincarnation, supernatural, sibling rivalry, immortal, interspecies romance, imoogi, death of a lover, mythical being

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCqhd_u2-xY

Tells the story of demon hunters called Counters who come to earth under the guise of being employees at a noodle restaurant in order to capture evil spirits that have returned to earth in pursuit of eternal life. So Moon is the youngest of the Counters. After suffering from a mysterious car accident as a child, he eventually becomes a central figure among the Counters. Do Ha Na has the ability to sense the locations of evil spirits, even those that are hundreds of kilometres away. She can also read memories of others through touch and works with So Moon to do away with evil spirits. Ga Mo Tak is a Counter with incredible strength. He’s a former police officer who lost his memory seven years ago after an accident and is unable to stand idle in the face of injustice. Ga Mo Tak is also So Moon’s mentor. Chu Mae Ok is a Counter with healing abilities. Outwardly, she’s the chef of the noodle restaurant, but among the Counters, she is the emotional pillar of the group. Choi Jang Mool is the oldest Counter. He’s in charge of all of the Counters’ expenses, and he is a living legend among the Counters in Korea.

Genres: action, mystery, drama, supernatural

Tags: special power, evil spirit, spirit, school bullying, childhood trauma

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI55SRM6uhs

A 70-year-old with a dream and a 23-year-old with a gift lift each other out of harsh realities and rise to the challenge of becoming ballerinos. Shim Deok Chool has had a life long dreaming of performing ballet. He is 70-years-old and retired from his job as a post office employee. Due to life situations, he put aside his dream of becoming a ballet dancer and worked a normal job to support his family. Now, Shim Deok Chool makes the decision to pursue his dream again. His family, including his wife and adult children, are not happy with his decision, but Shim Deok Chool does not waver in pursuing his life long dream. He joins a ballet company to learn ballet. There, he meets Lee Chae Rok. Lee Chae Rok is a 23-year-old man. While growing up, he played different sports like baseball, swimming, and soccer, but he wasn't talented in any of those activities. He then became interested in ballet. His mother was a ballet dancer, but she died from a disease when Lee Chae Rok was young. His father later went bankrupt. Lee Chae Rok learned that he has a talent for ballet, but, after pursuing ballet, he barely has contact with his father and he has a hard time supporting himself financially. Going through hard times, his desire for ballet fades away. At this time, Sim Deok Chool appears in front of him.

Genres: friendship, life, drama, family

Tags: ballet, dream, life lesson, old-young generation, unusual friendship, father-son relationship, second chance, grandpa-granddaughter relationship, married couple

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtK3Vtw4rno

I didn’t expect to start watching let alone complete this drama given how it’s not my usual genre (I started watching for song kang hahahahah)

but it’s a really heartwarming and touching drama (god the number of times I cried) and brings a fairly different take from other shows which are usually told from the perspective of much younger mains

Do Gi has lived more honestly than anyone else as an officer in the Special Forces. Yet, when a serial killer murders his mother, he spends his days in agony. While feeling wronged and broken, Do Gi meets Jang Sung Chul, who recruits Do Gi to work for his company, Rainbow Taxi. Far from an ordinary taxi service, Rainbow Taxi is a secret organization that avenges victims whom the law didn’t protect. Here, Do Gi becomes a star driver who delivers satisfying revenge. Meanwhile, Ha Na is a prosecutor who investigates Rainbow Taxi. She is furious with their lawless behaviour, but at the same time, she feels confused to see them solve cases that the law cannot. Between those who believe that revenge embodies true justice and those who pursue the outlaws, Do Gi seeks what justice truly means.

Genres: action, thriller, mystery, drama

Tags: revenge, investigation, secret organisation, antihero

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hnnhq_fTV5c

lee je hoon is A GEM in this

might be similar to ANY because of... the revenge theme. I can’t really remember if the revenge theme in ANY was a very important one (I’d watched it a while back) but in this kdrama, it’s the entire basis of the story

Set in a dystopian version of present-day Korea where daily life is chaos and society has collapsed to the point that people openly voice their distrust and hatred for their leaders. In this world bereft of law and order, Head Trial Judge Kang signals the need for change. His courtroom is the subject of a reality show where he mercilessly punishes the guilty, earning him the "Devil Judge" nickname. As a divisive figure with an aura of mystery that belies his true identity and ambitions, the public is unsure whether he is a true hero or someone, knowingly sowing the seeds of discontent in his courtroom. A bitter rivalry has taken shape between the "Devil Judge" and the highly ambitious Jung Sun Ah, who has risen from poverty to become a corporate social responsibility foundation director. Into this turbulent world enter two childhood friends on a quest for true justice: rookie Judge Kim Ga On and Police Officer Yoon Soo Hyun. Do they have what it takes to challenge both the scheming Jung Sun Ah and the notorious "Devil Judge"?

Genres: mystery, law, crime, drama

Tags: judge, tough past, dystopia, antihero, bromance, courtroom, corruption

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZKLRQBoXTs

tbh I found this a little too dramatic for my liking, but it’s an enjoyable watch nevertheless!

might be similar to ANY because of... revenge

plan to watch

Set during the end of the Goryeo period to the early Joseon period. Two friends aim their swords against one another due to differences in opinion about "my country." Seo Hwi is a warrior. His father Seo Geom is a famous commander. Seo Hwi does not compromise when it comes to injustice. His life devolves into a hellish existence, but he still holds a smile. Nam Sun Ho is smart and a talented figure. Because his mother was born into the lowest class, Nam Sun Ho is looked down upon by other people. He wants to pass the military service examination. Due to a corruption scandal involving his father, Nam Sun Ho loses his dream. Making things worse, he comes into conflict with Seo Hwi over a misunderstanding.

Genres: action, historical, romance, drama

Tags: friendship, bromance, Joseon Dynasty, power struggle, war, first love, evil parental figure

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khANmq-3Too

Soo Yeol, the competent ‘bad boy’ on the police squad, regains his humanity after meeting K, the righteous but ‘crazy’ guy. Despite having a mere high school diploma, Soo Yeol is an accomplished member of the Anti Corruption Unit. He’s ambitious, so he chooses pet cases of his superiors and produces their desired outcomes. Often that means turning a blind eye to injustice, especially if it stands in the way of those preferred results. With promotion time looming and without anyone’s backing, Soo Yeol fears exclusion once again. Congressman Do Yoo Gon had given him some hope of advancement but dashed when the righteous but crazy K entered his life.

Genres: action, thriller, mystery

Tags: injustice, corruption, investigation, policeman, slight comedy, crime solving, antihero, police department

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC0M6aAJg-A

not currently in my to watch queue but that I’ve heard good reviews for

Bok Joo is a weightlifter who is pursuing her dream of winning the gold medal but she then finds romance for the first time in her life. While she is a woman who trains with heavy steel weights, she is also very feminine when it comes to relationships. Focusing solely on weightlifting would jeopardise her relationship but leaving her weightlifting career for love would keep her from attaining her dreams. Can she find a way to have love as well as glory at the age of 20? The characters within this drama are elite athletes in weightlifting, swimming and rhythmic gymnastics who work hard to reach their goals in life. It covers their coming-of-age stories and relationships through hectic life.

Genres: comedy, romance, youth, sports

Tags: college life, dream, friends to lovers, weightlifting, bantering relationship, campus romance, tomboy, swimming

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6t5dLenA85Y

The stories of people going through their days that are seemingly ordinary but actually special, at the hospital, a place known as the microcosm of life, where someone is being born and someone's life meets their ending. The five doctors are long-time friends of 20 years who started their undergrad in 1999 in the same medical school and now are colleagues in the same hospital and have a band together.

Genres: friendship, romance, life, medical

Tags: strong friendship, best friends, hospital, slow romance, multiple couples, slight romance, bromance

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqIM2cenBAs

Moon Gang Tae is a community health worker at a psychiatric ward who was blessed with everything including a great body, smarts, ability to sympathize with others, patience, ability to react quickly, stamina, and more. Meanwhile, Ko Moon Young is a popular writer of children’s literature who, due to suffering from an antisocial personality disorder, seems extremely selfish, arrogant, and rude. Moon Gang Tae denies love and Ko Moon Young doesn’t know it. The two defy fate and fall in love, finding their souls and identities in the process.

Genres: psychological, comedy, romance, drama

Tags: melodrama, mental health, emotionally wounded, healing, psychiatry, childhood connection

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89i-Fn2CqQg

At the age of eight, Park Joo Hyeong went to Italy after being adopted. He is now an adult and known as Vincenzo Cassano to the Mafia, who employs him as a consigliere. Because mafia factions are at war with each other, he flees to South Korea, where he gets involved with lawyer Hong Cha Young. She is the type of attorney who will do anything to win a case. Now back in his motherland, he gives an unrivalled conglomerate a taste of its own medicine with a side of justice.

Genres: comedy, law, crime, drama

Tags: mafia, revenge, injustice, bromance, father-daughter relationship

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S12-4mXCNj4

Geu Roo is a young autistic man. He works for his father’s business “Move To Heaven.” Their job is to arrange items left by deceased people. One day, Geu Roo's own father dies. Geu Roo is left alone, but his uncle Sang Koo suddenly appears in front of him. Sang Koo is a cold man. He was a martial artist who fought in underground matches. He went to prison because of what happened at his fight. Sang Koo now becomes Geu Roo’s guardian. They run “Move To Heaven” together.

Genres: life, drama, family

Tags: autism, uncle-nephew relationship, death, savant syndrome, mourning, tearjerker, father-son relationship, life lesson, ex-convict

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-er_AJioOA

[mgsapphire]

My K-drama recommendation master list Part 2

You can find part 1 here

Look, you gave us relatively new recommendations, what about ones older than 10 years? I'll give you my top 5

Princess Hours (2006) Is a modern Cinderella story. It's 24 episodes long. Available on Viki.

Personal Taste (2010) Honestly, problematic plot if you put your mind into it, but entertaining nonetheless. It's 16 episodes long, each one lasting a little over an hour, available on Viki.

Cinderella's Sister (2010) You hate every character, but there's still something that makes you watch it. Available on Viki.

Thank You (2007) was ahead of its time, it's about a single mother with a daughter who has an HIV+ diagnosis. 16 episodes long, each one lasting a little over an hour. Available on Viki.

Stairway to Heaven (2003) for a good melodrama.

What about romantic fantasies involving fantastic beings?

Guardian: The lonely and Great God(2016) A classic of the genre. It tells the story of a God who was once a man, and is being punished by immortality, unless he meets his bride, who just so happens to be a high schooler centuries later. Available on viki. 16 episodes long with 3 specials, all lasting about 75 minutes.

Hotel Del Luna (2019) it would be unfair to talk about Goblin, without talking about this other masterpiece about a being cursed into immortality and granted special availabilities along with it, but a curse is still a curse, and she must run a hotel meant for ghosts, where after centuries of being, meets a young man who is alive. Availability on Viki, 16 episodes long and each one lastz about 75 minutes.

Tale of the Nine Tailed (2020) You get to see Lee Dong Wook as another mystical being, and Kim Bum is his half brother. 16 episodes long and one special, each one lasting about 65 minutes. Available on Viki.

My roommate is a Gumiho (2021) what's up with gumihos? It's still airing. The title is self explanatory. Available on Viki and Qiyi.

Angel's last mission: Love (2019) is a cute and sad story about an angel who is about to ascend and a ballerina who has a cynical view of the world. Available on Viki. Each episode averages 30 minutes, with 32 episodes.

Doom at your service (2021) About to finish airing. It tells the story of a dying woman who wishes doom upon the world, and the doom who answers her plea. Available on viki, 16 episodes long, each one lasting about an hour.

The Scholar Who walks the night (2015) another Lee Joon Gi entry, but I swear all of his works are great, it's a period drama that tells the story of a scholar who is a vampire and the young bookseller he meets. It's 20 episodes long, each one lasting about an hour. Available on viki. Also, if you've liked Lee Soo Hyuk in Doom at Your Service, I advise you check this one out.

Tale of Arang (2012) two Lee Joon Gi entries in a row? Girl, you have to stop. Anyways, this one is another period piece of a magistrate who can see ghosts and the ghost of a young woman who doesn't remember her life, nor the cause of her death. Available on viki, it's 20 episodes long, each one lasting a little over an hour.

Look, those are fine or whatever, but I started as a K-pop fan, where can I see some idol dramas? Don't worry, I came prepared

Full House (2004) with Rain as the main character is the og idol drama in my opinion. Available on Viki. 16 episodes long, each one lasting about 73 minutes.

Imitation (2021) is currently airing, and it's literally an idol drama about idols. You can find a looot of idols too: Jeong Yun Ho and Park Seong Hwa from Ateez, Chani and Hwi Young from SF9, Park Ji Yeon from T-ara, Lim Na Young from I.O.I and Pristin, and although Jeong Ji So is not an idol, she is the main lead, and I absolutely love her, she's also in Doom at your service. Available on Viki.

Miss Panda and Mr. Hedgehog (2012) features Donghae from Super Junior, and if I'm going to recommend a Super Junior drama, I would rather recommend one featuring him over Siwon.

At a Distance the Spring is Green (2021) is currently airing too, and only has four released episodes, but I've liked it so far. Featuring Park Ji Hoon, and Kwon Dun Bin. Also, I have a lot of opinions about this show. Available on Viki.

I was going to put an IU drama but, all her dramas are good, so go and watch them all, the woman has range.

Dream High (2011) is the king of idol dramas, in my opinion. It talksa about a high school for people who want to be idols. Another one with a long line up of idols, so let me start: Suzy, IU, Taecyeon, Nichkhun and Wooyoung from 2PM, Ham Eun Jung from T-ara. Leeteuk (SuJu and Chansung (2PM) make cameos. Similarly to Imitation, Kim Soo Hyun is not an idol, but he's the main lead. It's 16 episodes long, each one lasting about 65 minutes. Available on Viki.

Wow, quite a few, but they all seem rather popular, do you have some underrated gems? I'm going to have to go down memory lane, but I do

The Queen's Classroom (2013) This one feels like a fever dream, because I'm aware it exists, I watched it back when it first aired, but I can't find it anywhere now. It's based on a Japanese drama of the same name. It's about a strict but warm hearted teacher and her students' lives and struggles. 16 episodes long. DM me if you find anywhere to watch it.

1% of Something (2016) is a really cute drama, the chemistry is off the charts, and if you're looking for skinship, this one is the one for you, underrated arranged marriage kdrama, I'm telling you. It's 16 episodes long, averaging 45 minutes, and it's on Viki.

I'm not a Robot (2017) has a really cute plot, not underrated per se, but not hyped enough. It's 32 episodes long, each one averaging 30 minutes. Available on Viki.

Do you like Brahms? (2020) is a music themed kdrama, really cute and wholesome. If you like 2setviolin and watched their critique on their YouTube channel, let me tell you, the cast actually knows how to play violin and stuff, and there's an actual child prodigy in there. It got so much hate bc of that one yt video. It's 16 episode long, each one lasting about an hour. Available on Viki.

Solomon's Perjury (2016) a good reflection on youth and the pressure society has. 12 episodes long, lasting about 63 minutes each. Available on Viki.

The Greatest Love (2011) is a super entertaining TV show, and just supper funny and cute. 16 episodes long, each one lasting around 65 minutes. Available on Viki.

Two Cops (2017) if you like Kim Seon Ho, I think this was his TV acting debut. It's a hilarious action comedy TV show. 32 episodes long, lasting around 30 minutes. Available on viki.

Do you have any recommendations where time traveling or time is central to the story?

Alice (2020) look, I can't give you a full explanation because it's too mind bending. Let's leave it at detective meets his mother. Available on Viki.

Signal (2016) The premise is similar to that of the movie Frequency (2000) in which there's communication between the past and the present via technology. The plot is based on the real Hwaseong serial murders. Really interesting. Available on Netflix. If you like the premise of communicating with the past via technology Call (2020) is a Korean thriller movie available on Netflix.

Chicago Typewriter (2017) this one is about reincarnation but we get to see both timelines. Available on Netflix.

Tomorrow with you (2017) Time-traveling but make it ✨depressing ✨. The story of a man who time travels, and how that ability messes with his marriage. Available on Netflix.

What about historical dramas? I don't really watch those, but here are some I liked

The Moon Embracing the Sun (2012) is one of the few I've finished. It's really good, it follows the love story of a king. Available on viki. 20 episodes long, each one lasting about an hour.

Gunman in Joseon (2014) Am I recommending you this one because of Lee Joon Gi? Maybe. It has 22 episodes, each one lasting about an hour. Available on Viki.

The Crowned Clown (2019) a story of the Prince and the Pauper if I must give you a description that is relatable, but if you know the book titled Skogland, it's closer to that. It's 16 episodes long, each one lasting about 80 minutes. Available on Viki.

I'm a little ashamed to say this, but do you have any BL? I do, I do

To My Star (2021) is a story about an actor and a chef, and how they learn to cohabit after the actor is forced into hiding. You can watch either the movie version or the drama version, both available on viki.

Color Rush (2020) is a modern romance fantasy about people called Monos who can't see any color unless they meet their Probes, however this may turn dangerous as the Monos may experience obsessive behavior, so what happens when a young high schooler meets his probe?. You can either watch it on its drama or movie version. Both available on viki. By the way, if you're a long time deobi and was wandering what happened to Hwall, he's one of the main leads.

You Make Me Dance (2021) follows the story of a university dancer who is in debt and his debt collector. Available on viki in both versions. The movie is 107 minutes long.

Just Friends (2009) is a short film, but ahead of its time, if you can't tell by the year it was released on. It's a cute story about a man who visits his boyfriend in the military. I found it in dramacool.

That's all from me, if you have any specific genre or them you felt I didn't add in, do feel free to tell me.

[butternuggets-blog]

Remember Us.

List of unidentified SK cases below: Some of these cases are over a hundred years old, and may never be solved.

* CASES ARE A THEORY; THE POLICE AND/OR FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS REFUTE THE EXISTENCE OF A SERIAL KILLER

** MURDER AREA/SITE

Thames Torso Murderer                                                       1873 - 1889

Servant Girl Annihilator                                                        1884 - 1885

Whitechapel Murders                                                           1887 - 1901

Cumminsville Slayer                                                             1904 - 1910

Atlanta Ripper                                                                       1911 - 1913

Axeman of New Orleans                                                       1918 - 1919

Murder Swamp Killer                                                             1925 - 1939

Toledo Clubber                                                                      1925

Cleveland Torso Murderer                                                     1934 - 1950

German Wire Murders                                                           1935

Texarkana Moonlight Murders                                                1946

Atteridgeville Mutilator                                                            1956

Jack the Stripper                                                                    1959 - 1964

Boston Strangler                                                                   1962 - 1964

Zodiac Killer                                                                          1963 - 1970

Cincinnati Strangler                                                              1965 - 1966

Berger County Serial Killer*                                                 1965 - 1970

Bible John                                                                              1968 - 1969

Capital City Murders                                                             1968 - 1984

Monster of Florence                                                               1968 - 1985

Highway of Tears                                                                  1969 - 2011

Ironman                                                                                 1970s

Alphabet Murders                                                                 1971 - 1994

Freeway Phantom                                                                 1971 - 1994

Santa Rosa Hitchhiker Murders                                          1971 - 1979

Texas Killing Fields [murder site]                                        1971 - 2012

Charlie Chop-Off                                                                    1972 - 1974

Doodler                                                                                   1974 - 1975

Ivan the Ripper           ��                                                         1974

Oakland County Child Killer                                                1974 - 1977

Ann Arbor Hospital Murders                                               1975

Flat-Tire Murders                                                                  1975

Gypsy Hill Killings                                                                1976

Atlanta Lover’s Lane                                                            1977

Connecticut River Valley Killer                                           1978 - 1988

Atlanta Murders                                                                    1979 - 1981

BC Missing Women                                                               1979 – 2012

Family Murders                                                                     1979 - 1983

Ohio Lovers Killer                                                                 1979 - 1982

I-10 Serial Killer                                                                    1980 - 1990

Monster of Udine                                                                   1980 - 1989

Yakama Reservation Murders                                             1980 - 1992

Castration Serial Murders                                                     1981 - 1986

The Priest Murders                                                                1981 - 1984

Tylenol Poisoning                                                                  1982

Frankford Slasher                                                                  1985 - 1990

Honolulu Strangler                                                                1985 - 1986

Paraquat Murders                                                                 1985

Stoneman                                                                               1985 - 1987

Tube Sock Killings                                                                 1985

Colonial Parkway Killer                                                        1986 - 1989

Hwaseong Murders                                                                1986 - 1991

Negev Desert Psychopath                                                    1986 - 1997

Triangle of Death**

Twin Cities Killer                                                                   1986 - 1994

I-65 Murders                                                                          1987 - 1989

New Bedford Highway Murders                                          1988 - 1989

Bowraville Murders                                                               1990 - 1991

Glasgow Prostitute Slayer                                                    1991 - 2005

Rome’s Gay Killer                                                                 1991 - 1998

I-70 Killer                                                                               1992 - 1994

Lisbon Ripper                                                                        1992 - 1993

Smiley Face (murder theory)*                                              1992 - 2008

Ciudad Juárez Female Homicides                                        1993 - 2006

Eighth Street Killer                                                               1994

Bothell Skeletons                                                                   1995 - 1997

Butcher of Mons                                                                    1996 - 1997

Claremont Murders                                                               1996 - 1997

Long Island Serial Killer                                                       1996 - 2013

Werewolf Killer of India                                                       1996

Apulia Slasher                                                                        1997

Ontario County Cottage Murders                                        1998 - 1999

Leduc County Murders (murder theory)*                           2003 - 2005

West Mesa Murders                                                               2003 - 2009

Pusher (murder theory)*                                                      2004 - 2013

B1 Butcher                                                                             2005 - 2007

Daytona Beach Killer                                                            2005 - 2008

Edgecombe County Serial Killer                                          2005 - 2011

Jeff Davis 8                                                                            2005 - 2009

The Jennings Eight                                                               2005 - 2009

Beer Man*                                                                              2006 - 2007

Eastbound Strangler                                                             2006

Feb 9 Killer                                                                            2006 - 2008

Paturis Park Murders                                                           2007 - 2008

Jack the Pusher                                                                     2009 - 2015

Cuffe Parade Killer                                                                2012 - 2013

Bardstown Murders                                                               2013 - 2016

Chillicothe Missing Women                                                  2014 - 2015

Haryana Serial Killer                                                            2015

Yorkshire Dipper*                                                                 2016

I have been trying to find something to do with this last few years. I’m still not sure, so here. The cases listed above are mostly unsolved; some of the cases have been partially solved, with at least one perpetrator being caught, or with a suspect being arrested but with enough doubt surrounding them that the case is considered open by the public.

The Smiley Face, Beer Man, Pusher, and Yorkshire Dipper “cases” are JUST THEORIES, and theories that are not encouraged or believed by the police and/or the families of the victims.