Unveiling the Most Terrifying K-Drama Series & Movies: Must-Watch for Horror Enthusiasts!

To celebrate Halloween, we have curated a list of the most chilling and spine-tingling horror K-dramas available for streaming online. While many are familiar with acclaimed titles such as the zombie-infested Kingdom, the gripping All of Us Are Dead, and the terrifying Train to Busan, what truly defines a remarkable horror film beyond its horde of bloodthirsty zombies?

Here are some of the top horror K-dramas and movies that captivate audiences with their tales of haunting, monstrous creatures, and even the terrifying idea that your neighbor could be a serial killer. Devoted fans of K-content understand that the essence of horror lies not in the bloody violence, but in the darkness that lurks within. Discover a list of must-watch classics like The Wailing and chilling K-dramas, along with information on where to stream them.

The Guest has a priest face the world’s darkness

In The Guest, a disbelieving detective, a rational Catholic priest, and a psychic become involved in a chilling tale of demonic possession and death. Yoon Hwa-pyung, born into a shaman family with psychic powers, discovers the existence of a malevolent demon named "Son" or "Guest." This demon has the power to manipulate other demons and possess vulnerable individuals. Hwa-pyung himself falls victim to possession and receives help from a seasoned priest and his apprentice, Priest Choi, in performing an exorcism.

Priest Choi becomes possessed and brutally kills his own family before encountering a policewoman and her daughter. Two decades later, Hwa-pyung harnesses his psychic abilities to detect demons, while Priest Choi continues his role as an exorcist. The once young girl has now grown into an adult and works as a detective.

As a series of similar murders resurface, fate brings the three together to collaborate and eradicate the malevolent demon before it wreaks further havoc.

Where to watch: Netflix

Thirst is described as an erotic-horror movie

Thirst scratches the itch K-drama and movie fans may have for a vampire horror, but with some added twists and comedic tones to balance everything out.

Sang-hyun, a highly respected Catholic priest known for his unwavering faith, volunteers as a test subject for a new vaccine designed to combat the Emmanuel Virus while working at the hospital. However, the experiment takes a disastrous turn, leaving Sang-hyun with an uncontrollable craving for both blood and sexual desires.

Despite being hailed as a miraculous survivor of the virus, Sang-hyun finds it increasingly difficult to suppress his insatiable thirst for blood. Only by consuming human blood can the symptoms of the virus temporarily subside. Along his journey, he embarks on an illicit affair with Tae-ju, a woman trapped in an unhappy marriage. As the plot unfolds, Thirst explores Sang-hyun's relentless struggle to hold onto his morality.

Where to watch: Peacock and Apple TV+

Sweet Home has tenants turn into monsters based on their desires

Song Kang’s Sweet Home K-drama has been praised for its gory and monstrous storylines of an apocalyptic outbreak as humans turn into grotesque monsters.

Netflix's Sweet Home is a highly popular K-drama horror thriller that has captured the hearts of fans. The show revolves around Cha Hyun-soo (played by Song Kang), a quiet teenager who has recently experienced the tragic loss of his entire family and moves into a new apartment complex. However, their lives take a terrifying turn overnight when the tenants find themselves trapped inside the building, facing an apocalyptic scenario. The once-human inhabitants have transformed into horrifying monsters, reflecting their deepest desires.

Amidst the chaos, the tenants struggle to survive and maintain their unity, but Hyun-soo discovers that he possesses a unique quality. Despite showing signs of transformation, he manages to retain his humanity. Sweet Home becomes a gripping tale of epic battles against monstrous creatures, as Hyun-soo fights fiercely to protect his newfound friends while also battling the inner monster within himself.

Sweet Home will return with a second and third season.

Where to watch: Netflix

White: Melody of Death is a Korean horror movie about K-Pop idols

In White: Melody of Death, the glamorous world of K-Pop fame is shattered when a female group experiences terrifying accidents following the viewing of a haunting VHS tape.

Similar to The Ring, the storyline of White: Melody of Death revolves around the theme of being cursed after watching a tape. The Pink Dolls, a K-Pop group, have struggled to find success since their debut. Eun-ju (portrayed by Ham Eun-jeong) is relentlessly bullied by the remaining three members due to her relationship with a sponsor. As the story unfolds, the label and group relocate to a new building with a dark history – it was devastated by a fire 15 years ago.

Eun-ju stumbles upon a VHS tape labeled "White" during her cleaning duties in the rehearsal room. Intrigued, she shows it to the sponsor who insists that the group should remake the song as their own. Surprisingly, their popularity skyrockets overnight, catapulting them into stardom. However, as they delve deeper into the mysterious tape, they uncover its haunting connection to a string of unfortunate accidents that have occurred on set. It becomes evident that their newfound success is tainted by a malevolent curse.

Watch "White" on Tubi.

The Cursed is a horror K-drama worthy of a few scares

In The Cursed, an ambitious journalist named Im Jin-hee (Uhm Ji-won) is determined to unveil the hidden secrets of a major IT conglomerate. Along the way, she encounters a young girl who possesses extraordinary abilities. This captivating tale shines a light on the dark and shady practices of Forest, an IT company headed by CEO Jin Jong-hyun (Sung Dong-il), who, despite his outward success and reputation, heavily relies on shamanism.

As she delves into the connections between Forest and a spiritual consultation company, she comes across So-jin (Jung Ji-so), a woman who is anything but ordinary. So-jin is inhabited by a spirit that grants her the ability to cause death through photographs or personal items.

Available on: Netflix

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is Korea’s best found footage horror movie

Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum takes inspiration from an actual psychiatric hospital and employs found footage to chronicle the chilling journey of a web series crew delving into the mysteries of an abandoned asylum.

Similar to the acclaimed Megan is Missing and other well-received found footage films, the Korean rendition will instill fear in audiences by keeping them guessing about the lurking terrors. The infamous Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital has long been associated with haunting tales, stemming from the unexplained disappearance of its director, known for his love of ping-pong, in 1979, and the tragic suicides of his patients.

Ha-Joon, the owner of the YouTube channel "Horror Times," becomes intrigued when two teenagers mysteriously disappear from a hospital. Seeking an intense and terrifying experience, a group of six individuals decide to explore the haunted asylum and broadcast their chilling adventure live from within.

Streaming platforms: Tubi, Peacock, Amazon Prime Video.

Goedam focuses on eight urban legends turned horror

In Goeedam, the darkness of the night unveils a perilous realm where malicious entities emerge from the shadows, seeking to inflict harm upon unsuspecting humans. This K-drama ingeniously weaves together eight renowned urban legends, crafting chilling and captivating episodic tales of supernatural hauntings and horror. As night descends upon the city, otherworldly spirits and ghosts seize control, indulging in their sinister games with human prey. It is important to note that Goedam is classified as 18+, containing explicit scenes of gore and profanity.

Where to watch: Netflix

The Wailing is a South Korean horror movie classic

Directed by Na Hong-jin, The Wailing focuses on a police detective investigating a series of odd cases in a small town to help save his daughter.

In a thrilling narrative filled with twisted turns and horrifying events, the tranquil town of Gokseong is gripped by an onslaught of death when an enigmatic visitor arrives. The peaceful atmosphere is shattered as villagers mysteriously begin slaughtering their own families overnight.

Officer Jong-goo takes charge of the investigation, delving into the lives of the local townspeople. As he unravels the mystery, he uncovers rumors of a stranger with unsettling glowing red eyes, who a naked woman had ominously warned him about just days prior, claiming that a Japanese man was responsible before vanishing into thin air. As the investigation intensifies, Jong-goo's own daughter and partner become targets. With time running out, Jong-goo must unmask the true identity of the individual or entity behind this sinister chain of events, before it is too late.

Where to watch: Viki, Peacock, and Tubi

Hell is Other People will have you questioning your neighbors

A low-end and cheap residential building in Seoul has an intern weary of his neighbors as he feels watched and that they are hiding a horrible secret.

Known for his role as a romantic lead in Tale of the Nine-Tailed, Lee Dong-wook has also given fans a fright in Hell is Other People. Adapted from a popular webtoon, the show follows Yoon Jong-woo (Im Si-wan) as he takes on an internship in Seoul. Struggling financially, he can only afford a budget-friendly dormitory called Eden Studios.

Despite his efforts to keep to himself, Jong-woo's neighbors are the exact people he tries to avoid. Among them is the charming dentist Seo Moon-jo (played by Lee). As Jong-woo stays at the dormitory, he begins hearing strange noises at night and sensing that he's being watched. Soon, he uncovers the dark secrets surrounding the other tenants and Moon-jo.

Where to watch: Apple TV+ and Disney+

The Tale of Two Sisters is a 2003 South Korean psychological horror

One of the must-see examples of Korean horror cinema is The Tale of Two Sisters, directed by Kim Jee-won. In this film,

The Tale of Two Sisters, one of the most terrifying K-dramas and movies, is derived from a famous folklore from the Joseon era. Bae Su-mi (Im Soo-jung), who is undergoing treatment for psychosis and shock, returns to her family's secluded estate. There, she is reunited with her younger sister and has a less-than-warm encounter with her new stepmother, Eun-joo (Yum Jung-ah).

After returning home, Su-mi starts having dreams about her deceased mother and discovers that Eun-joo was her nurse during her mother's terminal illness. However, Su-mi is compelled to endure the situation for the sake of her father and to protect her sister. As time passes, Su-mi and her sister begin witnessing strange incidents within their home. Could Eun-joo be responsible?

Explore more K-drama content in our hub, discover the top K-drama thrillers, and delve into gripping serial killer documentaries. Additionally, don't miss our collection of Halloween horror content below.