Sink Your Teeth Into the Ultimate Ranking of 15 Mesmerizing Vampire K-Dramas!

Summary

Vampire stories, especially those with a romantic element, remain profitable and popular in both literature and film.

K-dramas featuring vampire storylines present captivating interpretations of vampire mythology, blending them with diverse genres and cultural elements. Despite certain shows lacking creativity or being plagued by hasty conclusions, notable and critically acclaimed titles like "Scholar Who Walks The Night" and "Thirst" shine brightly.

The vampire genre never goes out of fashion. This fact is evident in the wide range of release years and settings of the best K-dramas featuring vampires. Since Bram Stoker's Dracula introduced the creature to popular consciousness, audiences and readers have been captivated by the mystical allure of vampires. While vampires have undergone various interpretations and modifications throughout the years, their essential need to consume human blood remains unchanged. Apart from this crucial aspect, writers have successfully adapted vampire mythology to fit different genres and cultures, including K-dramas.

Over the years, vampire stories have often been entwined with tales of love. Blockbusters like the Twilight movies and True Blood delve into the realm of dark and immortal romance. In short, vampires and the fictional narratives revolving around them not only captivate audiences but also prove to be highly lucrative, ensuring their enduring popularity. Regardless of whether the storyline focuses on love or not, vampires continue to be fascinating mythical creatures, with their ability to seamlessly adapt within the realm of fiction. Here are the finest K-dramas featuring a vampire narrative.

15 Vampire Flower (2014)

Stream Vampire Flower on MyAsianTV, a K-drama from 2014 adapted from Shin Ji Eun's web novel. Unfortunately, it is considered one of the weakest K-dramas with a vampire theme, often compared to Twilight by fans. With only six episodes, the drama closely parallels the romance between Bella and Edward. However, this strong resemblance to Twilight is the main reason for its low ranking.

14 Kissable Lips (2022)

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Louis (Seo Jae Hyung) is an ageless vampire who maintains the appearance of a youthful teenager. In a twist of fate, Louis encounters Seo Young (Kim Ga Eun), whose intriguingly unique and exceptionally fragrant blood captivates him. As their love blossoms, the couple confronts perilous situations. United, Louis and Seo Young embark on a hazardous journey into the vampire realm to acquire a rare Vampire Flower. Regrettably, Vampire Flower's lack of originality overshadows its promising storyline and commendable performances, placing it as the least esteemed K-drama on the list.

Available to stream on Rakuten Viki

There is a limited selection of K-dramas that offer meaningful LGBTQ+ representation, but Kissable Lips stands out by depicting a romantic relationship between two male leads. Despite not receiving high recognition in the vampire-themed K-dramas, the story takes place at a university and revolves around Jun Ho, a vampire nearing his demise, and Min Hyun, a rebellious human who is also Jun Ho's classmate.

Jun Ho's survival depends on consuming pure blood, and fortunately, Min Hyun possesses the necessary blood type to save him. However, in order to access it, Jun Ho must first develop a close bond and attract his classmate. While the series is worth watching, the ending is disappointingly abrupt, and there are moments in the romantic K-drama where the acting feels forced.

13 The Sweet Blood (2021)

Stream The Sweet Blood on Rakuten Viki

The Sweet Blood is a K-drama series consisting of exceptionally brief episodes. While it may not be considered among the top Korean vampire dramas, it remains highly entertaining to watch consecutively. Yeon Seo (played by Song Chae Yoon) is a 118-year-old vampire who was born to a human mother and a vampire father. Despite her extraordinary powers and stunning appearance, she desires to lead an ordinary existence and seamlessly integrates herself with high school students.

12 Immortal Goddess (2016)

Her dreams of graduating high school are put on hold and her entire life is flipped upside down when she catches a whiff of Song Meo Roo's (Kim Eo Jin) blood. Meo Roo's enticing aroma doesn't just captivate Yeon Seo, but also every vampire and werewolf around, drawing comparisons to Twilight. Yeon Seo makes a pledge to safeguard him while battling against the urge to have a taste. Regrettably, the resolution unfolds too abruptly, resulting in a rushed conclusion.

Available to stream on MyAsianTV

In 2016, the world of vampire K-dramas experienced a notable shift. Unlike the typical portrayal of vampires as invincible beings, Immortal Goddess delves into the lives of vampires who are not inherently physically superior to humans.

Instead, these vampires possess varying abilities. Some possess quick healing powers and age without succumbing to human illnesses, while others suffer from immune disorders that cause physical signs of aging. This concept is intertwined with the story of two vampire sisters, each representing opposite ends of the vampire health spectrum, who embark on a journey selling a cosmetics line and befriend various individuals along the way. This K-drama presents a truly distinctive perspective on the vampire theme.

11 Bite Sisters (2021)

Stream the K-drama Bite Sisters on MyAsianTV. This captivating series delves into the lives of three vampires who masquerade as sisters. The spotlight is on Han Yi-Na, a 821-year-old vampire and renowned internet influencer.

10 Vampire Idol (2011)

Yi-Na utilizes her fame to discreetly aid those who have suffered from injustice. Additionally, she unexpectedly develops affection for a human named Jung Sung-Min (played by Lee Shin Young), contributing to Bite Sisters' fusion of fantasy and romance, akin to renowned K-dramas such as Hotel Del Luna and Goblin. Due to its untimely conclusion, the show did not attain notable rankings. Although the series was ripe for further development, it unfortunately only had a single season.

Available to stream through OnDemandKorea

Vampire Idol is a vampire-themed K-drama that caters to K-Pop fans. It revolves around a lighthearted comedy sitcom that showcases the lives of vampires. The story follows a naive vampire prince who hails from a distant vampire planet. Driven by his love for K-Pop and idols, he embarks on a journey to Earth to witness the performances of his favorite idols. Accompanying him are his three loyal servants.

However, a twist of fate strands the prince on Earth, preventing him from returning home. This turn of events becomes his chance to finally fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a renowned idol. Yet, his path is riddled with challenges, as he struggles with not being deemed attractive by Earth standards and grapples with the obstacles that come with adolescence and human interactions. Unfortunately, Vampire Idol, a K-drama in the K-pop style with a vampire narrative, fails to achieve a higher ranking on the list of K-dramas with vampire storylines. This is primarily due to its subpar CGI and multiple cringe-worthy moments.

9 The Vampire Lives Next Door To Us (2015)

This short film, not your typical vampire K-drama, will surely surprise and delight fans of the undead. The eccentric storyline revolves around a lonely vampire named Seong Ji, who resides in a morgue. While he usually seeks to punish those he considers "bad people," everything takes a turn when a girl, who died from drowning, arrives at the morgue, and their destinies unexpectedly intertwine. Currently not available for streaming.

The Vampire Lives Next Door to Us is undeniably an eccentric offering, yet its concise duration makes it a breezy viewing experience. Seong Ji effortlessly oscillates between being scrumptiously comedic and utterly terrifying as the vampire, with several viewers acknowledging the portrayal's evident inspiration from Johnny Depp's cinematic performances. The sole drawback preventing this film from attaining a higher status is its rightful need to be a full-length feature, allowing for an enhanced exploration of Seong Ji's captivating vampire persona.

8 HeartBeat (2023)

Available to stream on Prime Video

There have been numerous interpretations of love stories in the realm of vampires, and this particular vampire-themed K-drama falls into that category. Set in 2023, the series revolves around a man named Ok Teac-yeon, who is a mixture of both vampire and human, yet yearns to exclusively be human. He devises a plan to undergo a transformation into a human and forsake his vampire nature, but this plan involves him sleeping for a span of 100 years. However, his slumber is abruptly disrupted when he encounters a young woman named Won Ji-an, who works as a school nurse.

These two individuals come from entirely different worlds and time periods, and they also have contrasting life goals. However, circumstances force them to collaborate and work together. Along their journey, they find themselves falling in love with each other. In contrast to potentially dark undertones, the series presents their tale as a romantic comedy, adding a lighter and more enjoyable touch to this vampire narrative.

7 Vampire Prosecutor (2011-2012)

Stream Vampire Prosecutor now on Prime Video. This captivating K-drama stood out among others and gained a second volume due to its immense popularity. While it is one of the few K-dramas to have a second season, it may not have received critical acclaim. Although it maintained solid ratings, there are other shows that have fared even better with both audiences and critics. The storyline of this 2011 drama revolves around Min Tae-Yeon, a respected prosecutor who undergoes a transformation into a vampire.

Tae-Yeon possesses a valuable yet agonizing ability. Through consuming the blood of those who have passed away, he gains the ability to delve into their past experiences, aiding him in locating the individual responsible for their demise. However, this gift comes at a cost, inflicting unbearable pain upon him when consuming the blood of the victims. A particular case captures his attention, speculating that the culprit might be a vampire, leading Tae-Yeon to question the circumstances surrounding his own transformation.

6 The Vampire Detective (2016)

Available to stream on Prime Video

The Vampire Detective is a captivating K-drama that incorporates common storylines and popular tropes. Despite these familiar elements, it stands out as an engrossing vampire-themed show. Yoon San, portrayed by Lee Joon, works alongside his friend as a private detective, using his skills to solve various cases. However, everything changes when Yoon San unexpectedly transforms into a vampire, leaving him with unanswered questions about his transformation.

Embracing his newfound vampire abilities, Yoon San delves into solving more cases, with a much larger storyline unfolding alongside. Amidst the indulgence in K-drama tropes, the series takes a unique direction as it centers around Yoon San's quest to uncover his mysterious past and the reasons behind his transformation. Although the show only consists of 12 episodes, the gripping storyline left some fans wishing for a more conclusive ending. Notably, The Vampire Detective received recognition for its success and earned a nomination for the Most Popular Actor (Lee Joon) Award at the 52nd Paeksang Arts Awards, although it unfortunately did not secure the win.

5 Blood (2015)

Now streaming on Rakuten Viki, Blood is a sensational K-drama that delves into the captivating world of Korean dramas with a vampire twist. Meet Park Ji-Sang (played by Ahn Jae-Hyun), a renowned hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeon known for his exceptional skills. But behind his remarkable career lies a hidden secret – Ji-Sang is a vampire, constantly fighting his instinctual bloodlust in order to safely care for patients on the brink of death.

4 Hello Franceska (2005-2006)

Yoo Ri-Ta (Ku Hye-Sun) captures Ji-Sang's attention with her snooty and arrogant demeanor, solely based on her status as the group chairman's niece. Yet, despite this, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to her. Beneath the surface, lies the tale of a two-faced hospital director, harboring malicious and sinister aspirations for power. Blood has garnered critical acclaim and even secured four nominations at the KBS Drama Awards, alas, it failed to secure any victories.

Stream on MyAsianTV

The 2005 K-drama, Hello Franceska, is a genre-blending series that combines elements of sitcom, comedy, horror, and satire, all with a unique twist of featuring vampires. Drawing inspiration from The Addams Family movies, the show showcases captivating aesthetics and compelling character dynamics. Considered a cult-classic, this vampire-themed K-drama offers a memorable and unconventional viewing experience.

In the series, the last existing vampire families are dispersed to different corners of the world under the orders of their leader. However, due to a mishap, one family accidentally ends up in South Korea, where they unexpectedly encounter an unlucky salaryman. After Franceska (played by Shim Hye-Jin) bites him, he undergoes a transformation, but the family pledges to restore his humanity once their leader retrieves them. With no other options, they assume fake identities as a family and adapt to human life.

3 Orange Marmalade (2015)

Stream the highly acclaimed K-drama "Orange Marmalade" on Kakuten Viki. This captivating teen romance series takes place in a world where vampires coexist secretly with humans. Follow the story of Ma-Ri (played by Seolhyun), a young and introverted vampire who must conceal her true nature to abide by a government-enforced peace treaty.

2 Scholar Who Walks The Night (2015)

: Ma-Ri's life takes a sudden turn when she accidentally falls asleep on the train and is captivated by the mesmerizing scent of Jae-Min's blood. To her surprise, this exact scenario had unfolded in the original webtoon of the drama. This encounter leads Ma-Ri to fall deeply in love with Jae-Min, even though their relationship faces obstacles due to his aversion to vampires. It's worth mentioning that Orange Marmalade garnered significant recognition at the KBS drama awards, with Yeo Jin-Goo winning the Best New Actor award and Kim Seol-hyun receiving the Popularity Award - Actress.

Available to stream on Rakuten Viki

Scholar Who Walks the Night, a popular K-drama set in the Joseon era, is a renowned historical series inspired by an original manhwa. Almost considered the finest Korean vampire drama, it tells the story of Jo Yang-Sun (played by Lee Yu-Bi) and her family's disgrace when her father is wrongly accused of treason. Yang-Sun disguises herself as a man and becomes a bookseller to support her family. It is during this time that she encounters the intriguing and enigmatic scholar Kim Sung-Yeol (portrayed by Lee Joon-Gi).

Sung-Yeol, who has been a vampire for 120 years and serves as a guardian, is responsible for eliminating those who defy the rules. Knowing Yang-Sun's secret, he entrusts her with the task of locating a special book. As their journey unfolds, Sung-Yeol uncovers the existence of a vampire vying for the throne. Together, they strive to thwart the vampire's plans and seek vengeance for Sung-Yeol's past. Scholar Who Walks the Night, led by Lee Yu-Bi (known for her role in the medical K-drama A Poem a Day), has garnered critical acclaim, winning a total of 4 prestigious awards, including 3 from the MBC Drama Awards and the Best Historical Drama award at the 4th Annual DramaFever Awards.

1 Thirst (2009)

Streaming on Shudder, Thirst (2009) stands out as the ultimate Korean vampire drama. It is not for the faint-hearted, offering a thrilling blend of horror and K-drama. This feature film showcases a passionate and steamy storyline, capturing the essence of folklore's bloodthirsty vampires through captivating visuals, a gritty atmosphere, and an unforgettable love tale.

Thirst tells the story of Sang-hyun, a Catholic priest (played by Song Kang-ho), who participates in a vaccine development project with disastrous consequences. Upon nearly losing his life, he inadvertently receives a transfusion of vampire blood, leading him to forsake his priestly duties in pursuit of worldly pleasures. Thirst received critical acclaim, winning the Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and receiving a nomination for the prestigious Palme d'Or. This vampire-themed K-drama has garnered a total of 11 awards, including recognition from the Director's Cut Awards, the Asian Film Awards, and the 2009 Blue Dragon Film Awards.