Horror TV shows are popular worldwide, and it’s unlikely that this will change anytime soon. TV show creators realize this, offering multiple new horror series each year that span this diverse genre. What not all Western viewers know, however, is that some of the best horror shows come from South Korea. The country excels at making both movies and TV shows across various genres, and its special brand of horror is enough to draw in viewers no matter where they come from.
Korean horror shows combine elements from multiple genres, and at the same time, they still manage to be genuinely scary — at least the best of them do. Folks looking to dive into the world of Korean horror are certainly spoiled for choice. There are numerous shows that people can check out that cover a wide variety of horror tropes in an efficient and memorable manner. Suffice it to say, viewers who love horror of all shapes and forms will love what these shows have to offer.
Updated June 08, 2025, by Ritwik Mitra:Korean shows have become all the rage in modern times. Audiences love the beautiful cinematography and imaginative plotlines present in most shows. The sudden boom in the popularity when it comes to these TV series has led to many people seeking out a wealth of great Korean media that covers numerous genres. Suffice it to say, horror is one aspect that these shows touch upon extensively. Many K-dramas do a great job of creating tense atmospheres that captivate viewers for quite some time. With Halloween around the corner, this list has been updated with more shows for fans to check out, as well as information on where to watch them.
13Goedam
People who areinterested in Korean horror stories and urban legendswill love whatGoedamhas to offer. Each episode is extremely short, and offers insight into the many stories that pervade this culture. It’s a fascinating glimpse into these stories and just how chilling they are.
The short length of the episodes can sometimes work against the show, but they’re still great short stories that viewers can get invested in if they want to check out something short and sweet. Given how most Korean shows end up running for an hour or longer, this short length may actually be welcomed by people who don’t have too much time to spare.
12Nightmare High
The idea of combining the setting of a high school with nightmarish tropes and storylines is a winning combination thatNightmare Highexecutes perfectly. After an accident takes their current homeroom teacher out of commission, Han Bong-Gu takes over this role temporarily.
However, there’s more to this mysterious figure than what meets the eye, with the dreams of students becoming a reality in a truly horrifying manner. It’s up to Kang Ye Rim, the star student of the class, to figure out the secret behind Han Bong-Gu’s unique powers.
11The Guest
The classic tropes of exorcism are rife inThe Guest, a simple but riveting horror show. The story focuses on a boy called Yoon Hwa-pyung who can see ghosts. He gets possessed by a spirit, and this is followed up by the death of his mother and grandma.
Suffice it to say, what follows is a series of harrowing events as people try to exorcise the vengeful spirit from Yoon Hwa-pyung, leading to some disastrous events. It’s a great show that fans of Korean horror shows can watch, even if it may not be a must-watch per se.
10Hellbound
There was a time whenSquid Gamereigned supreme as one of the biggest Korean shows around… beforeHellboundcame into the picture and unseated this wildly popular show from its throne. The premise of this show involved nightmarish supernatural beings passing judgment on sinners.
The concept of hell and sin itself is explored beautifully in this show, making for a great time indeed. It’s a short and sweet watch thatfans of good horror shows should check out.
9All Of Us Are Dead
Korean shows and zombies are two elements that go hand-in-hand almost all the time. In fact, it’s downright incredible to see just how many Korean shows use zombies as a central focus for their plot.
This is the case inAll of Us Are Deadas well, where a high school becomes the hub for a vicious zombie outbreak. Watching a bunch of likable students trying to survive this epidemic is surprisingly entertaining, with the eerie zombies adding a ton of tension to some brilliantly shot scenes.
8Save Me
The idea of a haywire cult sowing seeds of discord within a close-knit family is pretty harrowing as is. However, it’s the manner in whichSave Meweaves its intricate plot line around this setting that makes it a brilliant show indeed.
Save Medoesn’t pull any punches when it comes to showingthe brutality of humankindin more ways than one. It’s one of the queasiest watches on this list, mainly because the monster that is terrorizing the characters of this show is also pretty human in their own right.
7Kingdom
Zombies are among the most popular horror creatures in all types of horror media, so it’s not much of a surprise that one of the best Korean horror shows,Kingdom, focuses on them. It takes place in a kingdom whose prince becomes the only hope against the mysterious sickness that is slowly engulfing the land.
Two seasons have premiered so far, each with six episodes, so it’s possible to finish watching the show quite fast. There’s a special episode too for people who are invested in this series. Available on Netflix,Kingdomhas it all, from captivating plotlines to intriguing characters to brutal action scenes.
6Master’s Sun
Some of the best horror stories manage to combine both drama and comedy, and the 2013 seriesMaster’s Sunis a good example of that. Its main heroine, Tae Gong Shil, doesn’t lead a peaceful life — because she can see ghosts almost everywhere. Things start to change when she meets the cold and arrogant Joo Joong Won. He’s the only person in whose company Tae feels normal, like everybody else.
The series incorporates humor in the dialogue exchange between the main duo, yet it’s also quite terrifying at times. For viewers who enjoy unusual romances, the series is worth checking out. Just likeKingdom,Master’s Sunis also currently streaming on Netflix.
5Hotel Del Luna
American Horror Story: Hotelisn’t the only scary series taking place in a hotel. However,Hotel Del Lunacouldn’t possibly be more different from the American show. It focuses on Jang Man-Wol who’s been leading the Del Luna hotel for over a thousand years. Unsurprisingly, this hotel is far from ordinary. Its guests are the souls of people who died but remained in the mortal world. It’s unusual for living people to stumble into the hotel, until one day when exactly that happens, and everything changes.
The show is full of fascinating concepts that make it worth watching. It has sixteen episodes in total and has since stopped airing, so it’s possible to binge-watch it without the need to wait for the story’s resolution. It manages to combine multiple genres, and its characters will keep the audience intrigued.
4Sweet Home
The Netflix horror showSweet Homeis based on a comic book. Hyun is a high school student who must fight for his life since monsters have seemed to take over the planet. Luckily, Hyun won’t be the only one who takes the monsters on.
Unlike other series thatwork with well-known monsters (such as zombies),Sweet Homefeatures a large variety of creatures. They keep the audience on the edge of their seats since they never know who or what will show up next. The heroes are sympathetic, and it’s easy to cheer them on.
