10 Best K-Dramas Like Park Seo-joon & Han So-hees Gyeongseong Creature

Before Han So-hee and Park Seo-joon’s Gyeongseong Creature season 2 makes its way to Netflix later this year, there are plenty of other shows to watch. Gyeongseong Creature was one of Netflix’s ambitious original K-dramas to date, as it came with a hefty production budget of 70 billion won ($53 million). The story that mixes a dark historical context with a thrilling supernatural mystery made an interesting combination that makes Gyeongseong Creature‘s upcoming second season one of the most exciting K-dramas releasing in 2024.

Gyeongseong Creature‘s second season will take the two K-drama stars out of the confines of 1945 and thrust them into present-day Seoul. As a result, the K-drama will take an entirely different tone from its first season while also continuing to expand Gyeongseong Creature‘s universe. While little else is known about the next installation of the thriller K-drama, what is certain is that there are several K-dramas with similar themes to Gyeongseong Creature that are perfect to help pass the time until then.

10 Pachinko

An Epic Historical Family K-drama

Based on the novel by Lee Min-jin, Pachinko follows four generations of one Korean family as they leave their homeland in an attempt to start life anew in Japan. The series delves into multiple different time periods and even continents as different members of the same family lives are laid bare on screen through raw emotion and incredible cinematography. These combined elements, as well as spectacular performances and a well-adapted script, make Pachinko a Korean historical epic like no other.

Pachinko’s timeline intersects with Gyeongseong Creature‘s and focuses on similar themes of discrimination against the Korean people by the Japanese at that time. This makes it an ideal watch for those looking for an alternative perspective on the real-life historical context that Gyeongseong Creature delivered. Plus, its family-centered dynamic puts Pachinko in a totally different realm to the horror K-drama and is a refreshing watch after the tense thrills that Gyeongseong Creature delivers.

9 Parasyte: The Grey

A Tale Seeped In Humanity

Parasyte: The Grey

“Parasyte: The Grey” imagines a world where alien parasites begin taking over human hosts, blending horror with psychological drama. The story follows a young man who forms a symbiotic relationship with his alien parasite, leading to a morally complex journey as they confront other parasites threatening humanity. This adaptation adds a unique twist, focusing on the grey areas of survival, identity, and the essence of being human.

Cast

Jeon So Nee , Koo Kyo Hwan , Lee Jung Hyun , Kwon Hae Hyo , Kim In Kwon

Release Date

April 5, 2024

Seasons

1

Directors

Yeon Sang Ho

Parasyte: The Grey is the latest adaptation of the Parasyte manga and is the first to take place outside of Japan. The series focuses on Jeong Su-in (Jeon So-nee), who, after a traumatic event, becomes infected with a mysterious parasite that attempts to take over her brain – but ultimately fails. This leads them to live co-dependently and uncover secrets behind the parasite’s invasion of Earth.

Fans of Gyeongseong Creature will love this decidedly human tale. Though the police squad “The Grey” makes significant efforts to eradicate the parasites, Su-in’s unique predicament gives the series an emotional angle it desperately needs. Plus, the parasites are an intriguing foe that adds a great level of suspense to this tale of humans vs monsters. Much like Gyeongseong Creature, Parasyte: The Grey is full of great action scenes and unanswered questions that consistently keep it moving towards an impactful conclusion.

8 Hellbound

One of Netflix’s Biggest K-dramas

Hellbound

Netflix’s Hellbound is a Korean Drama and Dark Fantasy series that is directed by Yeon Sang-ho and based on his graphic novel, The Hellbound Volume 1. The series takes place in a modern fantastical version of Korea in which strange creatures pick and choose individuals to send to Hell.

Cast

Yoo Ah-in , Kim Hyun-joo , Park Jeong-min , Won Jin-ah , Yang Ik-Joon , Kim Do-yoon , Kim Shin-rock , Ryu Kyung-soo

Release Date

November 19, 2021

Seasons

1

Directors

Yeon Sang-ho

Starring Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hyun-joo, and Park Jeong-min, Hellbound sees otherworldly beings come down to Earth and condemn people to Hell in the future. These condemnations can come at any time. This can be anywhere from just a few seconds in the future, or many years later. However, the time frame remains unknown until it happens. Alongside this, Hellbound weaves together several decidedly human stories that focus on humans battling survival in a place that now feels like Hell itself.

Hellbound is one of Netflix’s most successful K-dramas to date, with an incredible 14 awards to its name. The supernatural K-drama features an array of exceptional performances that anchor the series’ spell-bounding premises into something very human and unique. Fans of Gyeongseong Creature will love the thrills and tension that come from its characters’ fate as well as the coinciding storylines that really make this K-drama worthy of its critical acclaim.

7 Revenant

A Thrilling Tale About The Supernatural

Revenant

San-yeong, haunted by a demon after receiving a relic from her late father, joins forces with a professor who can see spirits and a detective investigating mysterious deaths. Together, they uncover dark secrets and confront the malevolent entity threatening their lives.

Cast

Kim Tae-ri , Oh Jung-se , Kyung Hong , Kim Hae-sook , Jin Seon-kyu , Kim Shin-bi , Shin Hyun-jong , Pyo Ye-jin

Release Date

June 23, 2023

Seasons

1

Revenant is one of 2023’s best K-dramas and is a perfect next watch for those who loved the elements of mystery and horror that Gyeongseong Creature brought to the forefront. Starring K-drama veterans Kim Tae-ri and Oh Jung-se, the series follows a folklore professor, Yeom Hae-sang (Oh), and a woman named Gu San-young (Kim), who seems to be followed by a string of mysterious deaths. Together, they attempt to find the truth behind a series of strange deaths in the city. However, San-young is possessed by an evil ghost, which makes things much more terrifying.

Writer Kim Eun-hee continues to prove just how adept she is at writing horror on-screen with Revenant. The series concept is fraught with intricate details as she delves into the complications and consequences that come with the supernatural. Revenant is also beautifully shot, creating contrasting feelings of awe and terror within every scene. Yet, what makes the series so special is the stand-out performances of the leading cast. Kim Tae-ri in particular is a stand-out in the series and proves just why she is such a well-revered actress in the K-drama industry with her intense and horrifying performance.

6 Mr. Sunshine

A Political K-drama About The Japanese Invasion

Mr. Sunshine (2018)

Mr. Sunshine is a historical drama television series that takes place in the late 19th century during the late Joseon Dynasty in Korea. The story follows Eugene Choi, a young boy who travels to the United States and returns to Korea as an American soldier, and Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-sin, an aristocrat’s daughter who dreams of modernizing Korea.

Cast

Lee Byung-hun , Kim Tae-ri , Yoo Yeon-seok , Kim Min-jung , Byun Yo-han

Release Date

July 7, 2018

Seasons

1

For fans who thought the real-life political context was one of the best parts of Gyeongseong Creature, then Mr. Sunshine is the perfect next watch. Mr. Sunshine takes away the supernatural suspense that comes with Gyeongseong Creature and focuses more on politics and international relations to create a riveting story that heralds critical acclaim. Coincidentally, it also stars Kim Tae-ri and features one of her best performances to date.

Mr. Sunshine focuses primarily on Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-hun), who returns to Korea after escaping to the United States as a child. When he arrives, he uncovers a plot to colonize Korea by the Japanese and quickly becomes embroiled in a battle for the survival of his home nation. Mr. Sunshine is a well-revered K-drama that excels because of its strong female characters and well-crafted storyline. Though, much like Gyeongseong Creature, its strength comes in its cinematography as it adds an intense grandeur to the series.

5 Search

A Military K-drama About A Mysterious Monster

Search‘s premise is very similar to that of Gyeongseong Creature, but it’s different enough to still be enticing. While Gyeongseong Creature emphasizes outsiders exposing the atrocities of Imperial Japanese Unit 731, Search takes a military perspective as soldiers aim to discover more about a mysterious monster lurking in the DMZ. As a result, their search seems to become a battle for survival as they attempt to answer questions about a strange death that occurred in the area.

The military K-drama is led by Jang Dong-yoon and Krystal, who have great chemistry on-screen together as a leading pair. They give convincing performances and help to add a sense of believability to an almost unbelievable situation. Search is an action-packed K-drama with plenty of scenes that heighten the tension of the series and give it the same exciting appeal as Gyeongseong Creature’s similarly thrilling tale of monsters and humans.

4 Kingdom

A Historical Take on Zombie Storytelling

Kingdom (2019)

Based on the webtoon The Kingdom of the Gods, Kingdom is a 2019 South Korean historical drama-horror series created for Netflix. Lee Chang, the crown prince of a fictional interpretation of 16th-century Korea, is forced to stand in for his ailing father as a plague begins to ravage their homeland, all while fighting off would-be-usurpers to the throne.

Cast

Ju Ji-Hoon , Ryu Seung-ryong , Kim Sang-Ho , Kim Sung-kyun , Bae Doo-na , Kim Hye-jun

Release Date

January 25, 2019

Seasons

2

Directors

Kim Seong-hun , Park In-je

Kingdom takes a lot of Gyeongseong Creature‘s themes and twists it into an exciting new story that sees storytelling at its very best. The horror K-drama takes place during Korea’s Joseon era, which ended shortly before the events of Gyeongseong Creature, and uses its historical context to full effect. As such, what ensues is an intensely horrifying yet gripping tale of royal politics, class criticism, and gruesome zombies that reflect modern-day anxieties in a story rooted in the past.

Kingdom is a quintessential K-drama that is a must-watch for any K-drama fan. From its insanely talented cast to its equally brilliant direction, Kingdom does not fail to impress. The show gives a firm benchmark that only a few other K-dramas have managed to live up to and is a constant reminder as to how horror stories can be told, and told well. Plus, Kingdom‘s seasonal format gives more room to delve into its context and makes it a perfect next watch for fans who want to see a zombie story that excels in a historical setting.

3 All of Us Are Dead

A Refreshing Take on An Oversaturated Genre

All Of Us Are Dead

All of Us Are Dead is a horror-thriller series based on the webtoon from creator Jeon Bae-soo. Set in a South Korean high school, a scientist father trying to find a way to protect his son from bullies accidentally creates a serum that uses the fear within humans to turn them into zombies. Set loose in the school, the surviving students and staff find themselves cut off from the outside world and must now fight to survive the infected onslaught – and each other.

Cast

Park Solomon , Cho Yi-hyun , Park Ji-hoo , Yoo In-soo , Yoon Chan-young

Release Date

January 28, 2022

Seasons

1

All of Us Are Dead is one of Netflix’s most recent success stories as it translates a zombie invasion into a modern high-school setting. Starring a cast of fresh faces that includes Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, and Lomon, the K-drama puts action and character-based storytelling at the forefront to deliver an excellent rendition of a story that has often been repeated in fiction. While All of Us Are Dead‘s story isn’t the most original, its characters are its biggest strength and make the zombie K-drama a compelling series that is hard to stop watching.

While All of Us Are Dead‘s main cast is full of relatively new actors, the supporting cast stars some familiar faces. Squid Game fans can see another example of Lee Yoo-mi’s excellent acting talents as she portrays one of the series’ most interesting yet frustrating characters, Lee Na-yeon. However, Gyeongseong Creature lovers will also recognize Ahn Ji-ho, who plays one of the show’s minor antagonists, Kim Cheol-soo, and has an equally fascinating story as his co-star.

2 Tale of the Nine-Tailed

A Dark Urban Tale With Vastly Contrasting Seasons

Tale Of The Nine Tailed (2020)

Tale Of The Nine Tailed is a South Korean fantasy drama that premiered in 2020. The series stars Lee Dong-wook as a nine-tailed fox who has settled in the city and Nam Ji-ah, played by Jo Bo-ah, a television producer investigating supernatural phenomena. The show intricately weaves ancient folklore with urban life, as these characters navigate a world where myth and reality collide.

Cast

Lee Dong-wook , Jo Bo-ah , Kim Bum , Kim Yong-ji , Hwang Hee

Release Date

October 7, 2020

Creator(s)

Han Woo-ri

Tale of the Nine-Tailed has two unique seasons that tick all the right boxes for fans of Gyeongseong Creature. The dark urban fantasy series focuses on the story of Lee Yeon (Lee Dong-wook), a mountain spirit who turns into a gumiho after sacrificing his life for the woman he loves. The first season focuses on Lee Yeon’s love affair in the modern day, while its second season acts as a prequel, taking things back to 1938 in an exciting new twist on the series.

Tale of the Nine-Tailed reverses what Gyeongseong Creature season 2 is going to do. While there is a tense wait to see if such a drastic change to the series will work, Tale of the Nine-Tailed is proof that it can be done. Both seasons are led by Lee Dong-wook, who gives a much-needed link between the seasons and depicts his struggles to return to the present-day storyline. Yet, the diversion to the past refreshes the series and takes its leading characters on a bold new journey that respects the first season but allows it to be its own entity with resounding success.

1 Sweet Home

An Epic Tale of Humans Vs. Monsters

Sweet Home (2020)

Sweet Home follows the story of Hyun-soo, a reclusive high school student who moves into the Green Home apartment complex after losing his family. When a mysterious epidemic turns people into monstrous creatures, Hyun-soo and the residents of Green Home must band together to survive, confronting their inner demons and the horrifying threats outside.

Cast

Song Kang , Lee Jin-Wook , Lee Si-young , Park Gyu-young , Go Min-si , Kim Hee-jung , Kim Gook-hee , Lee Joon-woo

Release Date

December 18, 2020

Seasons

3

Directors

Lee Eung-bok , Jang Young-woo , Park So-hyun

For fans of Gyeongseong Creature, Sweet Home is the next best thing. Sweet Home takes Gyeongseong Creature‘s monstrous secret and thrusts it into the present day, which is perfect for fans anticipating what the upcoming season could look like. However, Sweet Home throws its cast directly into the fire as monsters are all around them and the only thing they need to do is survive without becoming one. Of course, this is easier said than done.

Sweet Home is a staple of Netflix’s K-drama slate. Its cast, which includes the likes of Song Kang, Go Min-si, and Lee Do-hyun, are regular faces on the streaming platform thanks to the series’ success and continue to show the very best of their acting skills in the third and final season. Although Sweet Home‘s story may finally be drawing to a close, it is a great addition to any K-drama watchlist, especially while waiting for Gyeongseong Creature season 2.