Let’s be honest. Romance is not for everyone, and even those who enjoy the romance genre will appreciate a change of pace now and then. Fortunately for K-drama fans, there are always K-dramas available that do not have a strong focus on the romance theme. Here are six of the best K-dramas to watch!
1. “Taxi Driver”
The SBS drama “Taxi Driver” follows Kim Do Gi (Lee Je Hoon), a taxi driver who is also a vigilante crime fighter. His main goal, as well as the goal of the taxi driving company for which he works, is to exact vengeance on behalf of the oppressed and the wronged. He joins a group of other vigilante crime fighters to bring justice to the streets of South Korea.
Despite the fact that there isn’t a single love story in this series, it’s an exhilarating and edge-of-your-seat watch. Something about watching Kim Do Gi kick some serious butt and put the villains in their place gives me a lot of satisfaction. You’ll strangely find yourself feeling refreshed and healed while watching these victims receive the justice they deserve. You’ll be completely satisfied with Do Gi’s ability to fight crime and how good he looks doing it, especially with all of the injustice going on in the world right now.
2. “Beyond Evil”
Han Joo Won (Yeo Jin Goo) is a police officer who is transferred from Seoul to a small town. To say the least, it’s an adjustment, and he doesn’t make friends easily. He soon becomes involved in a case, hoping to solve a mystery that occurred 20 years ago. Lee Dong Shik, his partner and fellow police officer, is the primary suspect (Shin Ha Kyun).
The unsettling aspect of this series is that everyone is a possible suspect. No one can be trusted, and with so much suspense and mystery, the lack of romance isn’t even a minor issue. Not to mention, Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo’s acting abilities will leave you wondering if they are in fact responsible for the murders in any way. The chemistry these two have throughout the series is unnerving, and it only serves to highlight how talented they are as actors. It’s also no surprise that Shin Ha Kyun won Best Actor at the 57th Baeksang Arts Awards – the man is a legend!
3. “Through the Darkness”
Kim Nam Gil plays Song Ha Young, a police officer who is recruited into the Criminal Behavior Analysis team in “Through the Darkness.” The show is based on the true story of South Korea’s first profiler and takes viewers on a journey through the various homicide cases he assisted in solving.
This series will undoubtedly keep viewers guessing about the outcomes of the cases, and the cliffhangers will make it an easy binge watch. The adrenaline-pumping and thrilling moments when Ha Young is on the verge of solving the cases are exhilarating. It’s also fascinating to see how he analyzes crime scenes, which leads him to various suspects. The drama gives viewers a bird’s-eye view of what profilers think and how they solve cases. There isn’t much romance in this series, but the anticipation of solving the cases will keep you entertained.
4. “The Guardian”
Lee Si Young portrays Jo Soo Ji, a cop who is out to avenge the death of her daughter Yu Na. Yoon Si Wan murdered her daughter, but he got away with it because his father, Yoon Seung Ro, is a well-known prosecutor. She seeks vengeance but is unsuccessful, and just as she is about to be imprisoned, she is taken in by Kim Young Kwang and his team of Kim Seul Gi, Key, and Shin Dong Wook. This is also the point at which the team begins to use their skills to bring down Yoon Seung Ro, as they all have a hidden agenda with him.
At first, there appears to be a potential love story between the two leads, but as the story progresses, you become completely invested in them simply getting revenge on Seung Ro. The entire team working together to bring down one truly evil man becomes the series’ driving force. And with exceptional acting, including a fantastic supporting cast led by Kim Seul Gi and Key, you can’t expect anything less than a fantastic series. It’s a thrilling watch, and the lack of romance isn’t even a problem!
5. “D.P.”
“D.P.” is a successful television series based on the popular webtoon of the same name. The series, titled “Deserter Pursuit,” follows two soldiers named Ahn Jun Ho (Jung Hae In) and Han Ho Yeol (Goo Kyo Hwan) who are assigned to find and return soldiers who have fled the military.
The success of this series and webtoon is solely due to the fact that there is never a dull moment with these two chasing soldiers – especially when it comes to the bromance between the two main characters. Seeing the soldiers they come across and have to bring back to the base may not seem like an exciting storyline, but some of these soldiers’ heartfelt stories will have you sympathizing with and understanding their reasons for fleeing. You’ll feel the bromance through the screen and realize why Goo Kyo Hwan rose to fame.
6. “Bad Guys”
“Bad Guys,” a K-drama starring Kim Sang Joong, Park Hae Jin, Jo Dong Hyuk, and Ma Dong Seok, is about a group of criminals who band together to help bring down more notorious criminals.
This series was such a success that it spawned a second season as well as a film. It’s uplifting and satisfying to see this diverse group of misfits band together to do good in the world. It moves quickly, and the action scenes are thrilling. The redemption and healing that these criminals experience while cooperating make the series a heartfelt watch. They are sure to win you over with their unique charms!
