With several promising K-dramas on the way, the year 2021 is turning out to be an exciting one indeed. Among the list of highly anticipated shows include zombie thrillers with post-apocalyptic themes that have turned out to be quite the popular genre for adrenaline-loving junkies. Titles such as Kingdom and Train to Busan have particularly received positive acclaim, not just from die-hard K-drama viewers, but from critics around the world as well, giving us all the more reason to tune in and give similar stories like them a chance.
That said, if you’re looking for another genre to jump on and binge-watch, or if you simply love being kept on the edge of your seat, we’ve compiled a list of K-dramas and movies about zombies that are sure to make your heart-race in suspense.
TV Shows
1. Kingdom
Watch on: Netflix
A mysterious plague befalls Joseon-era Korea, bringing the dead back to life as a result. Controversy begins to spiral as the Crown Prince Lee Chang tries to juggle his efforts to stop the spread of the plague, save his people, and find out what really happened to his father, the King, who’s rumored death has led the kingdom into a state of frenzy.
Starring: Ju Ji Hoon, Bae Doo Na, Ryoo Seung Ryong, Kim Hye Jun, Kim Sang Ho
2. Kingdom: Ashin of the North
Coming soon to Netflix this 2021
An origin story to the Kingdom series, the sidequel revolves around the heir to a Northern tribe village, Ashin, who was introduced by the end of the show's second season. It will also feature the much-anticipated reveal to the truth about the resurrection plant.
Starring: Jun Ji Hyun, Park Byeong Eun
3. Sweet Home
Watch on: Netflix
While it doesn’t center exclusively on the topic of zombies, Sweet Home is just as much a thrilling watch as the rest. This webtoon-based series tells the tale of a monster apocalypse as humans mysteriously start to turn into gruesome beasts. Caught in the chaos, an orphaned teenager, along with his neighbors, all scramble for survival.
Starring: Song Kang, Lee Si Young, Lee Do Hyun, Go Min Si, Park Gyu Young
4. All of Us Are Dead
Coming soon to Netflix this 2021
All of Us Are Dead is based on a popular webtoon titled Now at Our School. Trapped in their high school in the middle of a zombie infection, a bunch of students all persist to stay alive and stay away from the virus wreaking havoc across the institution.
Starring: Park Solomon, Park Ji Hoo, Chan Young Yoon, Yoo In Soo
5. Zombie Detective
Watch on: Viu, Viki
Kim Moo-young is secretly a zombie in disguise. Upon rising from his grave, he feigns being human and starts to work as a detective, using his newfound ability to retrieve missing dead bodies. Seon-ji is a former TV writer who soon works alongside Moo-young and inevitably finds out his secret. Together, the unlikely pair team up to solve crimes, all while Seon-ji helps Moo-young recover his lost memories prior to being a zombie.
Starring: Park Ju Hyun, Choi Jin Hyuk, Kim Yo Han, Kwon Hwa Woon
Movies
6. Train to Busan
Watch on: Netflix
A man and his daughter embark on a train from Seoul to Busan. However, what’s supposed to be a smooth and easy journey suddenly takes a turn for the worst when a sudden zombie apocalypse breaks out in South Korea. Stuck inside the train, the pair must fight to stay alive no matter the cost.
Starring: Gong Yoo, Jung Yu Mi, Ma Dong Seok, Kim Soo Ah, Kim Eui Sung
7. Peninsula
A sequel to Train to Busan, Peninsula is set four years after the award-winning 2016 film. This time, the story is centered around Marine Captain Jung-seok and his team as they’re sent out on a mission to the Korean Peninsula, despite the evident danger of zombies lurking around. Tasked to retrieve a food truck containing $20 million, the group stop at nothing to bring home the ludicrous fortune.
Starring: Gang Dong Won, Lee Re, Lee Jung Hyun, Koo Kyo Hwan
8. #Alive
Watch on: Netflix
A strange virus outbreak takes place in modern-day Seoul, leaving the city in pure and utter mayhem. Trapped in the same apartment building, neighbors Joon-woo and Yoo-bin team up and help each other stay alive throughout the harrowing ordeal.
Starring: Park Shin Hye, Yoo Ah In, Lee Hyun Wook, Joo Boo Bi
9. The Odd Family: Zombies on Sale
A man and his family’s peaceful life in their small, countryside village is disturbed when they find an individual who is later revealed to be a victim of the illegal experiments aimed to create zombies. Despite the clear dangers, they take in the lone undead and find a way to profit off him.
Starring: Jung Ga Ram, Kim Nam Gil, Uhm Ji Won, Jung Jae Young
10. Rampant
Set in the Joseon dynasty, Prince Lee Chung was imprisoned abroad for more than a decade. When his older brother and heir to the throne, Prince Lee Young, helps him return, his homecoming is cut short by a zombie plague that has spread around the kingdom. Together with his countrymen, Lee Chung fights to rid his homeland of the monsters running rampant at night.
Starring: Hyun Bin, Jang Dong Gun, Lee Sun Bin, Seo Ji Hye
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