As much as we love unwinding to a romantic movie or a hilarious TV show—two genres most loved by Filipinos— K-dramas about revenge just bring on a different type of release. Nothing beats the satisfaction of watching a protagonist getting sweet vengeance after falling prey to devious relatives, cheating husbands, or the corrupt 1%. Whether you’ve experienced similar obstacles in real life or not, these types of shows always work to satiate our thirst for justice. Now, if you’re in the mood for this brand of gratification, we’ve got you covered.
Below are 15 must-watch revenge K-dramas that you can stream online.
1. The Innocent Man (2012)
Watch on: Netflix, Viu
When Kang Ma-ru’s older neighbor and first love, Han Jae-hee, leaves him to marry a rich CEO, he grows up years later into a heartless playboy out for vengeance. In order get back at the girl who broke her heart, he romances Seo Eun-gi, a cold, business-oriented chaebol heiress who also happens to be the daughter of the man Jae-hee married.
Starring: Song Joong Ki, Moon Chae Won, Park Si Yeon
2. Monster (2016)
Watch on: Viu
Lee Guk-choel, a spoiled heir from a wealthy family, loses everything overnight after a planned car accident kills his parents and leaves him blind. Years later, when he’s presented with an opportunity to gain back his sight, he takes advantage of the surgery to change his appearance as well. With a new face and identity, Guk-choel, who now goes by the name of Kang Ki-tan, establishes his own company to retaliate against the people who ruined his life.
Starring: Kang Ji Hwan, Sung Yoo Ri, Park Ki Woong
3. Tempted (2018)
Watch on: Netflix
Choi Su-ji, Kwon Si-hyun, and Lee Se-ju have been best friends for years. When Su-ji’s boyfriend breaks up with her and accuses her and her mother of using him to gain social prominence, she devices a plan with her friends to get revenge. To prove his loyalty to her, Su-ji asks Si-hyun to seduce her ex-boyfriend’s first love, Eun Tae-hee, before breaking her heart. The scheme, however, soon threatens to ruin the trio’s bond when Si-hyun starts to develop genuine feelings for Tae-hee.
Starring: Moon Ga Young, Woo Do Hwan, Red Velvet’s Joy, Kim Min Jae
4. Lawless Lawyer (2018)
Watch on: Netflix, Viu, iQiyi
Former gangster Bong Sang-pil leaves his violent past to become a lawyer in order to bring his mother’s tragic death to justice. In doing so, he turns a group of loan sharks into a law firm and soon learns to cunningly skirt through legal loopholes to win their cases.
Starring: Lee Joon Gi, Seo Ye Ji, Lee Hye Young
5. Doctor Prisoner (2019)
Watch on: Netfilx, Viu
Kind and compassionate, Na Yi-je is a well-respected doctor working in a university hospital’s emergency care center. His reputation is ruined when he's incriminated in a medical malpractice case that causes him to lose his job at the hospital. Certain of his innocence, Yi-je applies as an internist at a prison, where he plans to clear his name and gain retribution by climbing up the institution's ranks.
Starring: Nam Goong Min, Kwon Nara
6. The World of the Married (2020)
Watch on: Netflix, Viu, iQiyi
A revered medical doctor's seemingly perfect life is overturned when she discovers her husband's infidelity. In her pursuit to retaliate against his betrayal, a bitter back-and-forth ensues between the two as they both seek to exact revenge on the other. The World of the Married is currently known as the highest rated K-drama on Korean public TV, after garnering a viewer rate of 28.37% during its final episode.
Starring: Kim Hee Ae, Park Hae Joon, Han So Hee
7. Itaewon Class (2020)
Watch on: Netflix
Itaewon Class follows the calm but driven Park Saeroyi. The series starts off with the tragic death of his loving father whose case is never properly solved after Jang Dae-hee, the CEO of the multi-million food business Jangga Co., intervenes to keep his own son from being convicted. Enraged by this injustice, Saeroyi seeks vengeance through his own violent means, and ends up in prison soon after. Years later, he's released from his sentence and vows to establish the best pub in Itaewon if only to best Jangga Co. and take Jang Dae-hee down a peg.
Starring: Park Seo Joon, Kim Da Mi, Kwon Nara, Ahn Bo Hyun, Kim Dong Hee
8. Rugal (2020)
Watch on: Netflix
Based on a webtoon, this sci-fi action series follows Kang Gi-beom, a promising police detective whose wife is murdered by a terrorist group named ARGOS. When approached by a special organization dedicated to eradicating the very same people who killed his wife, he agrees to a risky operation that soon turns him into a deadly human weapon.
Starring: Choi Jin Hyuk, Park Sung Woong, Jo Dong Hyuk, Han Ji Wan
9. Vincenzo (2021)
Watch on: Netflix
Vincenzo Casano, a South Korean-born Mafia lawyer in Italy, flees to his homeland after he finds himself caught in between two warring factions. While there, he sets out to reclaim a building owned by the Babel Group, where he had previously hidden 1.5 tons of gold for a Chinese tycoon who recently passed away. Vincenzo eventually meets and teams up with with Hong Cha-young, a lawyer seeking vengeance for his father’s death at the hands of the same company he’s going after.
Starring: Song Joong Ki, Jeon Yeo Bin, Ok Taecyeon, Kwak Dong Yeon
10. My Name (2021)
Watch on: Netflix
My Name is a Netflix Original that tells the story of Yoon Ji-woo, a vengeful member of a drug cartel who goes undercover as a police officer with the help of her boss, in the hopes of uncovering the secret behind her father’s unusual death.
Starring: Han So Hee, Ahn Bo Hyun, Park Hee Sun
11. The Glory (2022)
Watch on: Netflix
Moon Dong-Eun, once a high school aspirant with dreams of becoming an architect, fell victim to pervasive high school violence, compelling her to withdraw from academia. Now an adult, she meticulously awaits the moment when the orchestrator of her torment ties the knot and starts a family. Fast forward to the present, and the progeny of her tormentor is an elementary school student with Moon Dong-Eun as their homeroom teacher. In this intriguing twist of fate, Moon Dong-Eun initiates a calculated revenge strategy.
Starring: Song Hye Kyo, Lee Do Hyun, Lim Ji Yeon, Yum Hye Ran, Park Sung Hoon
12. Reborn Rich (2022)
Watch on: Viu
Yoon Hyun-woo is a committed employee within the vast Soonyang Group. His loyalty, however, becomes a liability when he is betrayed and met with a tragic end, all to conceal a tax evasion scheme within the Soonyang family. Hyun-woo's story takes an unexpected turn when he awakens in the year 1987, reincarnated into the body of Jin Do-jun, the youngest heir of the Soonyang legacy.
Capitalizing on this twist of fate, he initiates a calculated plan for revenge, strategically plotting a hostile takeover of Soonyang Group. Set against the backdrop of the influential chaebols and the turbulent 1997 Asian Financial crisis, Hyun-woo's journey unfolds, weaving together corporate intrigue and historical events.
Starring: Song Joong Ki, Lee Sung Min, Shin Hyun Been
13. Revenge of Others (2022)
Watch on: Disney+
Ok Chan-mi, a skilled shooting champion, refuses to accept her twin brother's apparent suicide. As the police approach a conclusion in the case, Chan-mi takes matters into her own hands, transferring to her brother's school to untangle the mysteries surrounding his demise. She crosses paths with Ji Soo-heon, a young man facing numerous adversities and pursuing justice through unconventional means. United by a common objective, they embark on a quest for revenge against those responsible, fully aware of the inherent risks involved.
Starring: Shin Ye Eun, Lomon
14. Taxi Driver (2021)
Watch on: Viu
Kim Do-Ki, a Naval Academy graduate turned UDT (underwater demolition team) official, experienced a life-altering event when his mother fell victim to a serial killer. Transitioning into a deluxe taxi driver role at Rainbow Taxi Company, he and his colleagues offer more than just transportation with a "revenge-call" service, with Do-Ki part of a team ready to carry out clients' requests for retribution.
Starring: Lee Je Hoon, Esom, Kim Eui Sung, Pyo Ye Jin, Jang Hyuk Jin
15. Remarriage and Desires (2022)
Watch on: Netflix
In the realm of elite matchmaking, the prestigious Rex company caters to the desires of the wealthiest high-class individuals. Positioned as a gateway to the upper echelons of society, Rex assists clients in either entering or upholding their status through strategic marriages or remarriages. Among its clientele are individuals like Seo Hye-Seung and Lee Hyung-Ju, each with their own distinct motives for engaging with Rex. In the case of Seo Hye-Seung, her objective is driven by a quest for revenge, adding a layer of intrigue to the dynamics of high-class connections orchestrated by Rex.
Starring: Kim Hee Sun, Lee Hyun Wook, Jung Yoo Jin, Cha Ji Yeon, Park Hoon
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