15 Most Action-Packed K-Dramas, Ranked

Some of the best K-dramas push the boundaries of the genre and include many action-packed and gory sequences that even the most die-hard action fan would love. Violence is a tricky tool to master in movies and television, as it can be too brutal for some viewers, while others can't get enough. The key is to balance fast-paced, adrenaline-inducing scenes with compelling character dynamics that make the audience invested in the outcome of fight scenes and battles.

Action is a difficult genre to master and is often secondary to a series' main thrust, which is closer to the thriller, crime, horror, and drama genres. However, due to this, action is used as an essential element that elevates the other conflicts of a series and creates visually engaging sequences that leave the audience breathless. The best K-dramas hook the audience from the first episode, and those that involve fights, violence, and complicated battles are amazing at maintaining viewership and increasing the notoriety of K-dramas.

14 Life On Mars (2018)

The K-Drama Remake Of A Hit British Crime Show

One of the best action K-Dramas is also a remake of an equally acclaimed British crime show. The 2018 South-Korean version of Life On Mars one an Asian Academy Creative Award for Best Adaptation of an Existing Format, and the retelling of the original story stands out in its own right. Jung Kyong-ho stars as Han Tae-joo, a data-obsessed forensics officer in present-day South Korea. As well as being action-packed, Life on Mars is also among the best time-travel K-Dramas.

Following an accident, Han finds himself transported back to the 1970s. What's more, many people seem to know who he is. He finds himself as a member of the homicide team of a small town. The crime-busting is nonstop in Life on Mars, and working alongside the rough-round-the-edges '70s cop Kang Dong-chul (Park Sung-woong) ensures Han has to adapt to using intuition and direct action instead of statistics and data.

13 Terrius Behind Me (2018)

A Grieving Widow Follows An NIS Agent To Unravel Deep Conspiracies

Also known as My Secret Terrius in some territories, the 2018 spy-thriller Terius Behind Me is as action-packed as any blockbuster movie about intrigue, espionage, and conspiracies. The action K-Drama from creator Kae Dae-sun has an incredibly gripping conspiracy that unravels at masterful pace across its 32 episodes. Not only is it full of high-octane excitement and setpieces, it's also incredibly gripping, with the plot ensuring viewers will resisting binge-watching difficult.

The plot focuses on Go Ae-rin (played by Jung In-sun). After losing her husband and becoming a widow, she starts to question the circumstances of his death. After digging a little deeper, Go Ae-rin discovered her spouse was embroiled in a web of conspiracy so deep it defies comprehension. Fortunately, she is being helped by Kim Bon (So Ji-sub), a former NIS black-ops agetn with plenty of secrets of his own.

12 The K2 (2016)

An Ex-Mercenary Has To Go On The Run

Not only is 2020's The K2 among the best revenge K-Dramas out there, it's also a genre-spanning show that mixes elements of military thrillers with that of crime dramas. After being accused of killing his wife while living in Iraq, Blackstone PMC mercenary (Choi Sung-hoo) manages to escape imprisonment and smuggle himself back to South Korea.

Upon his return, he becomes employed by Choi Yoo-jin (Song Yoon-ah), the owner of a security firm. He quickly finds it difficult to balance protecting Go An-na (Im Yoon-Ah), the illegitimate daughter of a presidential candidate, and those who had him falsely accused of murdering his wife during his career as a mercenary. With attempts on Goon An-na's life abound, The K2 has plenty of impressive chase scenes and shoot-out sequences, ranking it among the best action K-Dramas of recent years.

11 City Hunter (2011)

An Action-Filled Revenge Saga

2011's City Hunter is a South Korean adaptation of Japanese author Tsukasa Hojo's 1985-1991 manga of the same name, and manages to capture the intense action of the source material while fine-tuning it into a slick and highly pulse-pounding K-Drama. Like The K2 and many of the best action K-Dramas, City Hunter is a revenge story at its core, though it's also a great political thriller as it focuses on a group of soldiers crossing the border into North Korea.

The performances of the cast are a particular highlight of City Hunter, especially Lee Min-ho as Lee Yoon-sung (the special ops soldier from whose codename the show gets its title). He won the Best Actor category at the 4th Korea Drama Awards for his work on the show. Not only that, but Jin Hyuk (director), Park Min-young (actress), Kim Sang-ho (supporting actor), and Hwang Sun-hee (supporting actress) also all receiving nominations in their respective categories.

10 Two Weeks (2013)

A Story Of Gang Violence And Political Conspiracy

Many of the best action K-Dramas manage to blend subgenres in ways that many shows in the US don't manage (or often even attempt to), and a standout example is 2013's Two Weeks. Written and co-directed by So Hyun-Kyung, Two Weeks is both a gritty tale of gang violence, and a political spy-thriller. The story focuses on Jang Tae-san, a gang member who leaves prison only to find himself framed for the murder of a government agent.

To make Two Weeks even more intense, Jang's daughter, Lee Chai-mi (Seo Soo-jin), has leukemia. If he can't be present for a bone marrow transplant in two weeks time from the first episode, her death will be assured. This adds significance to Jang's plight, and makes every episode seeing him try to unravel the conspiracy behind the false accusation and clear his name all the more emotionally impactful.

9 Descendants Of The Sun (2016)

A Fictional War Creates Real Conflict Amidst An Epic Love Story

The star-crossed lovers Yoo Si-jin (Song Joong-ki) and Kang Mo-yeon (Song Hye-kyo) find themselves constantly torn apart because of Yoo Si-jin's active role in the military and Kang Mo-yeon's busy professional life as a doctor. Moments of war and conflict are punctuated with a genuine love story between the pair, which elevates both aspects of the narrative.

There's something for both ends of the K-drama audience spectrum in this series. Audiences who are less interested in romance have great action scenes, but there are plenty of soft and sensual moments between the central couple for romance fans as well. However, Descendants of the Sun should not be overlooked as an action series just because of its love story. For the international audience, it provides an interesting look into the South Korean military.

The series has become an international hit as well, sold for distribution to 32 different countries. It was also broadcast in China and South Korea simultaneously after a Chinese network paid nearly 40% of the production costs for the show to have the broadcast rights. That was the first time for a K-drama to get that treatment.

8 Healer (2014 - 2015)

Journalistic Integrity, Freedom Of Speech, And A Series Of Murders Are Solved By One Man

Healer takes down corrupt media outlets and solves murders through the lens of Seo Jung-hoo (Ji Chang-wook), a man known by the moniker Healer, who has a reputation for getting things done. Even though he starts the series thinking only of himself, he soon builds a connection with Chae Young-shin (K-drama romance darling Park Min-young). The two of them quickly get caught up in a case Chae Young-shin is reporting on, and the secrets from her past start resurfacing.

This intrigue is paired well with the excellent fighting skills Seo Jung-hoo shows off and the high stakes of freedom of the press. The action scenes here are actually more like some of the traditional action scenes in modern-day thrillers, like rooftop chase sequences or hand-to-hand combat in close quarters. Fans of the fight scenes in the Bourne movies will likely love this one.

7 My Name (2021)

Vengeance Takes Many Forms In This Thriller About A Woman With An All-Consuming Goal

After her father is killed, Yoon Ji-woo (Han So-hee) aligns herself with a mob boss in the criminal underworld to catch her father’s murderer. Han So-hee is known for some of the best K-dramas, and My Name might be the greatest of all of her shows because of how lightning-fast the pacing is and how much material she has in portraying Yoon Ji-woo.

She grows into a fearsome warrior and trains herself to be a weapon in her single-minded quest. Things heat up beyond belief when she goes undercover within the police force to root out corruption as an agent for her criminal organization.

The show was incredibly well-received when it premiered in South Korea, but also around the world. It was nominated for several awards with Han So-hee in particular racking up nominations, though she, unfortunately, didn't take home any wins. New Musical Express out of the UK named the series one of the best Korean dramas of the year.

6 Train (2020)

Parallel Universes Change A Man's Perception Of Justice And The Woman He Loves

In one universe, Seo Do-won (Yoon Shi-yoon) tries to solve the murder of the woman he loves, while in the other, he works tirelessly to protect her. The magic systems and how Seo Do-won's mysterious abilities work are of less concern to Train than what he does with the opportunity to live two different lives across multiple realities. The way the two universes are different are just as fascinating as what they have in common.

It's difficult to keep track of who is alive in what universe, but it's never hard to spot when Seo Do-won is taking down an enemy because of the considerable time and attention the show gives to the amazing action sequences. Part thriller, part mystery, and definitely in the fantasy realm, the series has proven to fascinate international audiences as well. There is a British remake of the show in development.

5 Bloodhounds (2023)

Boxing, Bloodlust, And Fighting For The Weak Come Together In A Brilliant Story Of Friendship

In Bloodhounds, the bonds of friendship are on full display between Kim Geon-woo (Woo Do-hwan) and Hong Woo-jin (Lee Sang-yi), who use their talents as boxers to help those in need. Moneylending is the root of the conflict in the series as the men work to topple a man who uses his power as a loan shark to prey on those without money or resources. The bulk of the action takes place in the guise of boxing.

Even though the boxing is brutal, and the men don't pull any punches, the show is surprisingly nuanced and takes care to represent the issues of class and financial difficulties with empathy. As much as the series basks in action, it's also a crime drama and provides plenty of social commentary.

Though the series didn't see a lot of award show love in South Korea, Lee Sang-yi was awarded the Actor's Excellence Award at the Korea Drama Awards for his work in the show. Time also named it as one of the best Korean Dramas of 2023.