Revenge is a dish best served cold, and in the world of Korean dramas, it’s often served with a side of intense plot twists, gripping performances, and unforgettable characters. 2024 has been an exceptional year for revenge-themed K-dramas, offering viewers a thrilling ride through tales of betrayal, redemption, and sweet, sweet vengeance. Let’s dive into the top 15 revenge Korean dramas that have captivated audiences this year.
1. Marry My Husband
Stars: Park Min-young, Na In-woo, Lee Yi-kyung, and Song Ha-yoon.
Episodes: 16
Release Date: January 1 2024
Streaming Platform: tvN
Marry My Husband stands out as one of the year’s most anticipated revenge series. This clever blend of revenge and romance follows a terminally ill woman who discovers her husband’s affair with her best friend. Through a magical twist, she’s sent back in time before her marriage, armed with knowledge and determination to rewrite her story. Park Min-young leads the cast alongside Na In-woo and Lee Gi-kwang, creating a compelling tale where revenge meets second chances.
2. Pyramid Game
Stars: Kim Ji-yeon, Jang Da-ah, Ryu Da-in, Shin Seul-ki, and Kang Na-eon.
Episodes: 10
Release Date: February 29 2024
Streaming Platform: TVING
In the halls of Baekyeon Girls’ High School, Pyramid Game tells a different kind of revenge story. This critically acclaimed series, starring Kim Ji-Yeon, tackles the brutal reality of school hierarchies. The story centers on a transfer student who finds herself at the bottom of a cruel social ranking system and decides to fight back. The drama earned recognition at the Blue Dragon Series Awards, with Jang Da-ah receiving a nomination for Best New Actress.
3. Red Swan
Stars: Kim Ha-neul and Rain
Episodes: 10
Release Date: July 3 2024
Streaming Platform: Disney+
Red Swan brings a sophisticated edge to the revenge genre. Kim Ha-neul portrays Oh Wan-soo, a former golf champion turned socialite whose perfect life begins to unravel. With her new bodyguard’s help, she uncovers dark family secrets, leading to a calculated path of revenge.
4. A Killer Paradox
Stars: Choi Woo-shik, Son Suk-ku, and Lee Hee-joon.
Episodes: 8
Release Date: February 9 2024
Streaming Platform: Netflix
A Killer Paradox takes revenge into darker territory. Starring Parasite’s Choi Woo-shik, this psychological thriller follows a university student whose accidental killing of a serial killer sets him on an unexpected path of vigilante justice. The series explores the moral complexities of revenge as the protagonist is pursued by a determined detective played by Son Suk-ku.
5. Good Partner
Stars: Jang Na-ra, Nam Ji-hyun, Kim Jun-han, Pyo Ji-hoon, Ji Seung-hyun, and Han Jae-yi
Episodes: 16
Release Date: July 12 2024
Streaming Platform: Netflix, Wavve
Good Partner offers a unique perspective on revenge through the lens of divorce law. Jang Nara stars as a successful divorce attorney whose professional expertise becomes personally relevant when her own marriage crumbles. The series masterfully weaves together various divorce stories, each carrying its own elements of revenge and justice.
6. Cinderella Game
Stars: Na Young-hee, Han Groo, Choi Sang, Ji Soo-won, Kim Hye-ok, Choi Jong-hwan, Park Ri-won, and Kwon Do-hyung.
Episodes: 13
Release Date: December 2 2024
Streaming Platform: Viki
In Cinderella Game, Goo Ha-na, a lady who one day unexpectedly inherits a family from an orphanage, is the embodiment of retaliation after realizing that everything was orchestrated by her adversary.
7. Sorry Not Sorry
Stars: Lee Min-ho, Kim Go-eun
Episodes: 20
Release Date: July 8, 2024
Streaming Platform: Viki
Lee Min-ho takes on a gritty role as a man who spends years meticulously planning his revenge against the corrupt officials responsible for his brother’s wrongful execution. Kim Go-eun plays a determined prosecutor who becomes an unexpected obstacle – and potential ally – in his quest for justice.
To see Best KDrama of 2024 click HERE
8. Shattered Reflections
Stars: Han So-hee, Wi Ha-joon
Episodes: 12
Release Date: August 3, 2024
Streaming Platform: Netflix
In this psychological thriller, Han So-hee plays dual roles as twin sisters – one murdered, the other assuming her identity to uncover the truth and seek revenge. Wi Ha-joon co-stars as a detective growing increasingly suspicious of her true motives in this mind-bending tale of identity and retribution.
9. The Price of Ambition
Stars: Kim Soo-hyun, IU
Episodes: 16
Release Date: September 9, 2024
Streaming Platform: Disney+
Set in the cutthroat world of politics, Kim Soo-hyun plays a brilliant young aide who climbs the ranks of power, all while secretly plotting to bring down the corrupt political dynasty responsible for his father’s suicide. IU co-stars as the daughter of his enemy, torn between family loyalty and her growing feelings for him.
10. Sins of the Father
Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Jung Ho-yeon
Episodes: 16
Release Date: October 14, 2024
Streaming Platform: Apple TV+
Fresh off their “Squid Game” success, Lee Jung-jae and Jung Ho-yeon reunite in this intense drama about a man who discovers his biological father is a notorious serial killer. Determined to right his father’s wrongs, he embarks on a dangerous quest to bring closure to the victims’ families – and confront the darkness within himself.
11. The Art of Revenge
Stars: Yoo Ah-in, Jeon Jong-seo
Episodes: 12
Release Date: November 2, 2024
Streaming Platform: Netflix
Set in the high-stakes art world, Yoo Ah-in plays a brilliant forger who uses his skills to infiltrate the exclusive circles of those who destroyed his family’s legacy. Jeon Jong-seo co-stars as a cunning art dealer who becomes both his rival and potential accomplice in this stylish tale of deception and retribution.
12. Echoes of the Past
Stars: Hyun Bin, Son Ye-jin
Episodes: 16
Release Date: November 18, 2024
Streaming Platform: Viki
Reuniting after their “Crash Landing on You” success, Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin star in this epic historical drama. Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea, it follows a resistance fighter (Hyun Bin) seeking vengeance against the collaborators who betrayed his family. Son Ye-jin plays a conflicted noblewoman caught between loyalty to her family and her growing sympathy for the resistance.
13. Mr Smile
Stars: Park Seo-joon, Bae Suzy
Episodes: 16
Release Date: December 1, 2024
Streaming Platform: Disney+
Park Seo-joon takes on a chilling role as a charming but cruel person who infiltrates the lives of those responsible for his sister’s death, systematically destroying them from within. Bae Suzy co-stars as the determined detective hot on his trail, unsure if she wants to stop him or join his cause.
14. Web of Lies
Stars: Lee Dong-wook, Han Hyo-joo
Episodes: 12
Release Date: December 16, 2024
Streaming Platform: Netflix
In this tech-thriller, Lee Dong-wook plays a brilliant hacker seeking revenge against the cybercrime syndicate that framed him and ruined his life. Han Hyo-joo co-stars as an elite intelligence agent who becomes his unlikely ally in navigating a dangerous world of digital deception and real-world consequences.
15. The Long Game
Stars: Gong Yoo, Bae Doona
Episodes: 16
Release Date: December 30, 2024
Streaming Platform: Amazon Prime Video
Closing out the year with a bang, this intricate thriller stars Gong Yoo as a man who spends decades infiltrating a powerful conglomerate, rising through the ranks with the ultimate goal of bringing down the corrupt chairman responsible for his parents’ deaths. Bae Doona plays the chairman’s estranged daughter, whose return threatens to unravel everything.
Conclusion
2024 has truly been a banner year for revenge-themed Korean dramas, offering viewers a thrilling array of stories across various genres and settings. From corporate intrigue to historical epics, from psychological mind games to action-packed thrillers, these 15 dramas showcase the depth and versatility of Korean storytelling.
What sets these series apart is not just the satisfaction of seeing justice served, but the complex character development and moral ambiguity that often accompanies the pursuit of vengeance. As our protagonists walk the fine line between justice and obsession, viewers are left to ponder the true cost of revenge.
