Ten Spooky KDramas on Viki/Kocowa
Last week I posted a video suggesting Ten Spooky Asian Dramas on Netflix/Amazon. This week we’ll be going over ten spookier kdramas currently on Viki or Kocowa. I kept it to Korean dramas just because it was easier (and there just weren’t enough options for any others that I wanted to include). Just like last time, this isn’t a list of my top dramas. It’s just a list of some dramas to check out. This list also still focuses on longer series.
I figured since this round we were on platforms that require you to have some sort of love of Asian dramas to commit to spending money on their services, you are much more willing to watch older dramas as well so I made sure I included some on the list. All of these dramas are on both services unless noted.
+ The Ghost Detective
Starring Choi Daniel and Park Eun Bin, Ghost Detective is about a detective who catches ghosts and solves the mysteries behind their deaths. It’s a lot more than that, but if you haven’t watched/read anything about this one I think keeping the mystery alive is for the best. This is a good option for those that want a little bit of humor in their darker dramas. I would place this in between Bring It On Ghost and Possessed (OCN) in terms of darkness, so this might be a great option for those that don’t want the gritty darkness of an OCN drama but also don’t want a full out comedy. This also includes one of the best Subway PPL’s out there.
+ The Lucifer
I told you I would be putting older dramas on the list, and this 2007 drama starring Shin Min Ah, Uhm Tae Woon, and Joo Ji Hoon is a pretty great option. Complete with over the top BGM, random shaky cam, and intense face zooms, this one has it all. And it’s also pretty decent. Tarot cards are being sent and left at sites where murders have been taken place and Detective Kang (Uhm Tae Woon) is trying to solve them. He joins forces with a psychic (Shin Min Ah) to figure out why the people are targeted. If you like your dramas a little more dramatic and in the makjang land, this one is a good option.
+ The Master’s Sun
I know that The Master’s Sun is always on these horror lists, but I still felt that I needed to add it just in case you haven’t heard of it, or just need a reminder. I’ve heard from multiple people that this is a great option if you aren’t into the horror genre, but need something a bit spooky. Gong Shil (Gong Hyo Jin) can see ghosts. Whenever Joong Won (So Ji Sub) touches her, they disappear. Together they work together to deal with past troubles. It’s definitely the closest romcom of the bunch that I’m going to suggest, so if you are normally a person who sticks in that genre, check this one out.
+ Possessed (aka Soul)
I wish Viki/Kocowa hadn’t changed the name of this drama, because now it gets confused with the OCN Possessed in searches, but this drama is nothing like that one. Another older drama, this is definitely worth a see because it is one of the closest to a classic horror/slasher that I’ve been able to find in kdrama land. This one is a little hard to summarize, and I feel like all the blurbs either get it wrong or spoil too much. What you need to know going in is that Ha Na (Im Ju Eun) sees ghosts. She can also be possessed by them, and help them carry out their vengeance. It’s surprisingly dark and bloody for an MBC drama (and for the drama if sets itself up to be) and I highly recommend this one. I couldn’t find a trailer, but here’s a clip of the first ~10 minutes.
+ Come and Hug Me
If you know me, then you knew that if there was a list that I could recommend Come and Hug Me on, I would. It’s my favorite drama, so I’m allowed to do this. While not a true horror and more thriller/crime, it is about a serial killer. And there’s lots of murder, so I think it falls under the spooky umbrella perfectly. This drama is about a lot of things including grief and dealing with past demons. It’s dark but has some really great moments and the acting is stellar from everyone.
+ Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho
I know I haven’t put a historical on here yet, and while there are several to choose from I decided that I wanted to recommend Grudge: The Revolt of Gumiho because I don’t hear a lot of people mention it as much as the other ones. While I’ve only watched the first episode of this one, it does have a fairly high rating on MDL. Again, this is more spooky than it is horror. The drama follows Goo San Daek (Han Da Gam), a gumiho who is betrayed by her husband and leaves with their daughter Yeon Yi (Kim Yoo Jung), who is just learning of her powers.
+ White Christmas
Despite what the title implies, this is not a Christmas drama. However, it is set during Christmas break at a boarding school. Starring a multitude of young actors who you all know and love, this drama is about a group of students who stay at their school during winter break when they all receive an anonymous letter that one of them is going to die. This is a great psychological thriller that keeps you guessing from the moment it starts onward.
+ Hotel Del Luna (only on Viki)
Man Wol (IU) runs a hotel for ghosts that aren’t quite ready to pass over. Chan Sung (Yeo Jin Goo), a human, is brought into to carry out all the human-world tasks. This one has it all. It’s funny, has varying levels of ghosts, a great found family, mystery. Great outfits. If you haven’t watched this yet, please get to it soon.
+ Korean Ghost Stories (2008/9)
This is another one they changed the title to, so you might recognize it as Hometown Legends. This is a recent addition to the Viki/Kocowa lineup, and I’m really excited that they chose to. This is more anthology series than it is anything else, as each episode is centered on a different legend and does not connect with the others. Another perfect choice for historical lovers, all of the stories are set in the past. While the 2008/2009 seasons are the ones uploaded, this drama first ran in Korea in 1977.
+ The Village: Achiara’s Secret
Last on the list is another drama that I haven’t seen past the first episodes, but is one that a lot of people recommend as a favorite. Han So Yoon (Moon Geun Young) leaves Canada for a teaching job on the island of Achiara. On one of her first days of teaching, she finds a corpse. A whole mystery unravels and the drama follows all the secrets of the village. I’m not going to lie to you, it’s a lot campier in the fx department so it isn’t going to give you full out horror vibes, but this one is also part crime drama, so if that’s you’re thing this might be a good choice.
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