Survival Korean dramas are very entertaining to watch, I enjoy watching zombie theme because they keep you engaged at the end. Rom-com dramas are the heartbeat but in recent years survival drama is also becoming popular among K-drama fans. We have listed down the top survival Korean dramas that you should watch, each story has a different storyline with a unique plot and theme.
All Of Us Are Dead
Episodes: 12
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Thriller, Zombies, School, Friendship
Cast: Park Ji Hu, Yoon Chan Young, Lomon, Cho Yi Hyun
In a small town where the zombie virus spreads throughout the entire town. During the whole incident, people are trying to fight for their lives. It shows the struggle to keep alive without any food, water, phone, and internet connection. Nam Oh Jo (Park Ji Hu) is a student and not so good at studies, she is the next-door neighbor of Cheong San. Cheong San (Yoon Chan Young) is the classmate and childhood friend of Oh Jo. He secretly likes Oh Jo.
Happiness
Episodes: 12
Genre: Fantasy, Suspense, Thriller, Horror
Cast: Park Hyung Sik, Han Hyo Joo, Jo Woo Jin
Infectious diseases are spreading all over the city. Yoon Sae Bom (Han Hyo Joo) is a member of a special police squad. She is very quick in making decisions, always curious, and can’t stand injustice. Her life is full of struggles since childhood so now she wants to live comfortably in her own house. Jung Yi Hyun (Park Hyung Sik) is a detective in charge of violent crimes. He used to be a baseball player but because of his knee injury had to quit. Sae Bom and Yi Hyun are friends since high school and he has a feeling for Sae Bom. One of the top 10 friend-to-lovers Korean dramas.
Squid Game
Episodes: 9
Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Game
Cast: Lee Jung Jae, Park Hae Soo, Jung Ho Yeon, Wi Ha Joon
A group of 456 people is invited to risk their lives in a mysterious survival game for 45.6 billion won prize money. All these people are in debt so they want money very desperately. Seong Gi Hun (Lee Jung Jae) gets fired from his job so he participates in the game. Cho Sang Woo (Park Hae Soo) is the head of an investment team at a securities company but now he is facing a financial crisis. Squid Game is one of the best survival Korean dramas that you should watch.
Kingdom
Episodes: 6 (Season 1), 6 (Season 2) + 1 Special Episode
Genre: Horror, Historical, Zombies, Suspense
Cast: Joo Ji Hoon, Ryu Seung Ryong, Bae Doo Na, Kim Sung Gyu
Queen Consort Cho (Kim Hye Jun) is born in Cho Clan where everyone is selfish. She is the stepmother of crown prince Lee Chang. Queen Consort Cho’s father Chief State Councillor Lord Cho Hak Joo (Ryu Seung Ryong) hides the King’s death until his daughter, Queen Consort Cho gives birth to the prince. Kingdom is one of the best survival Korean dramas that you should watch.
Sweet Home
Episodes: 10
Genres: Action, Thriller, Horror, Psychological, Supernatural, Tragedy
Cast: Song Kang, Lee Jin Wook, Lee Shi Young, Lee Do Hyun, Kim Nam Hee, Go Min Si, Park Gyu Young, Go Yoon Jung, Kim Gab Soo, Kim Sang Ho
Cha Hyun Su is a high school student. He moves into a Green Home Mansion, Apartment after the whole family dies in a tragic car accident and he was left all alone. Meanwhile, people are turning into a monster, and that is happening all around the world. Everyone is fighting against these monsters and trying to survive.
Search
Episodes: 10
Genre: Military, Suspense, Thriller, Mystery, Horror
Cast: Jang Dong Yoon, Krystal, Yoon Park, Lee Hyun Wook, Moon Jung Hee
It tells the desperate fight of military members against a mysterious creature and their struggles to get away from the DMZ. Koo Dong Jin is a sergeant and has little time left in the army, whereas Son Ye Rim is an elite officer and she has a secret about her birth. Meanwhile, there is a mystery about sector 21 which they find out together.
Strangers From Hell
Episodes: 10
Genre: Psychological, Thriller
Cast: Lee Dong Wook, In Si Wan, Lee Jung Eun, Lee Hyun Wook
Yoon Jong Woo (In Si Wan) moved to Seoul and now he is searching for a place to live. He finds a cheap place where he has to share the kitchen and bathroom with other residents. Jong Woo doesn’t like other residents as they seem very suspicious. Seo Moon Zo (Lee Dong Wook) is a dentist who looks very friendly but has an evil face
365 Days: Repeat The Year
Episodes: 12
Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Mystery, Drama, Fantasy
Cast: Lee Joon Hyuk, Nam Ji Hyun, Kim Jee Soo
365 Repeat the Year is one of the most underrated Korean dramas of 2020. It is the story of 10 people, who have a dream of a perfect life, and they got the chance to go back in time where they can rest their unperfect life to the perfect one. They got the chance to correct their past mistakes. After changing their life they are killed by someone one by one.
Hellbound
Episodes: 6
Genre: Mystery, Horror, Supernatural
Cast: Yoo Ah In, Kim Hyun Joo, Yang Ik Jun, Park Jung Min, Won Jin Ah
Hellbound is about where people know about the cause and time of their death by hearing some voice and at the time a dead angel appears and kills them. Jung Jin Soo (Yoo Ah In) is the head of the religious group Saejinrihwe. Bae Young Jae (Park Jung Min) is a PD at a broadcasting station. Song So Hyun (Won Jin A) is Young Jae’s wife. Min Hey Jin (Kim Hyun Joo) is a lawyer by profession whereas Jin Kyung Hoon (Yang Ik Jun) is a detective. Everyone is investigating the truth of Saejinrihwe.
Island
Episodes: 12
Genre: Fantasy, Mystery, Action
Cast: Lee Da Hee, Kim Nam Gil, Cha Eun Woo, Sung Joon
Won Mi Ho (Lee Da Hee) is a chaebol. But due to some trouble, now she works as a teacher on Jeju Island. Won Mi Ho gets involved in a case related to ghosts. Van (Kim Nam Gil) is raised to protect humans from evil. Johan (Cha Eun Woo) is a Catholic priest. Cha Eun-Woo is a member of the K-Pop boy band “Astro”.
Duty After School
Episode: 6
Genre: Action, Thriller, Drama, Sci-Fi
Cast: Shin Hyun Soo, Lee Soon Won
It is the story of high school students who are in the last year of their school and preparing for college admission but due to sphere attacks, they have to join the army and fight against the unknown creature. This drama is good but only season 1 is worth watching and season 2 disaster. Definitely, you can skip Part 2.
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