Nothing can beat the thrill that Korean dramas give us. They are packed with a lot of romance, suspense, action, and comedy. With an increasing number of viewers around the world, Kdramas are now more popular.
The availability of dramas on streaming platforms is also a factor in their popularity. No matter what the genre, they will keep you entertained throughout the episodes. Many times, dramas that are good to watch remain underrated.
Underrated Action Kdramas
When it comes to action scenes like fighting, chasing, and racing, Korean dramas never let you down. With dramas like Healer, Vagabond, and The K2, the standards set are high. And there are more dramas like this that haven’t been watched by many people.
A lot of good action dramas have received low viewership and, hence, low ratings. It doesn’t mean that they aren’t worth watching. Find out all the underrated Kdramas with action and thrills to keep you hooked.
1. Stealer: The Treasure Keeper
Hangul: 스틸러
Year: 2023
Dae Myung, a government employee, is suddenly suspected of having something to do with Skunk, a mystery individual who steals cultural items. He joins an unofficial team to track down the thief and fight those who cannot be caught by the law.
Rating:
Main Cast (Characters):
- Joo Won as Hwang Dae Myung
- Lee Joo Woo as Choi Min Woo
- Jo Han Chul as Jung Tae In
- Kim Jae Won as Shin Chang Hoon
No. Of Episodes: 12 (60 min. each)
Streaming Options (region-specific):
2. Yong Pal
Hangul: 용팔이
Year: 2015
Tae Hyeon, a gifted surgeon, uses the alias Yong Pal to provide his medical skills to gangsters and criminals to pay for his sister’s medical bills. He rescues a chaebol heiress from a medically induced coma, which has unexpected consequences.
Rating:
Main Cast (Characters):
- Joo Won as Yong Pal / Kim Tae Hyun
- Kim Tae Hee as Han Yeo Jin
- Jo Hyun Jae as Han Do Joon
- Chae Jung An as Lee Chae Yeong
No. Of Episodes: 18 (65 min. each)
Streaming Options (region-specific):
3. IRIS
When the National Security Service (NSS) recruits two best friends, they give them the job of stopping a secret terrorist group called IRIS. But they find out quickly that IRIS has gotten into the NSS and that their lives are in danger.
4. The Three Musketeers
A young man joins the Crown Prince’s personal guard and eventually joins the Three Musketeers, a group of warriors that defend the nation from adversaries and battle for justice under a Joseon dynasty ruled by a weak king.
Cast –
- Jung Yong Hwa as Park Dal Hyang
- Lee Jin Wook as Crown Prince So Hyun
- Yang Dong Geun as Heo Seung Po
- Jung Hae In as Ahn Min Seo
No. Of Episodes – 12
Watch On – MX Player
5. Tracer
Dong Joo is the chief of taxation division at the National Tax Service. He works hard to trace money that is hidden from the tax. His team includes Hye Young and his boss is Oh Young. Tae Joon is the director of a regional tax office.
Cast –
- Im Si Wan as Hwang Dong Joo
- Son Hyun Joo as In Tae Joon
- Go Ah Sung as Seo Hye Young
- Park Yong Woo as Oh Young
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Viki, Prime Video
6. Different Dreams
A Korean surgeon joins the provisional government as a spy during the Japanese occupation of Korea. She develops feelings for a freedom warrior, but their romance is hindered by their different ideologies and the dangers of their job.
Cast –
- Lee Yo Won as Lee Young Jin
- Yoo Ji Tae as Kim Won Bong
- Im Joo Hwan as Fukuda Saburo
- Nam Gyu Ri as Miki
No. Of Episodes – 20
Watch On – Kocowa
7. You’re All Surrounded
Hangul: 너희들은 포위됐다
Year: 2014
Four new detectives join the Gangnam Police Station’s violent crimes squad. They must learn to work together and overcome personal issues in order to solve cases and put criminals to justice. They also create deep relationships of friendship.
Rating:
Main Cast (Characters):
- Lee Seung Gi as Eun Dae Gu
- Go Ah Ra as Eo Soo Sun
- Cha Seung Won as Seo Pan Seok
- Oh Yoon Ah as Kim Sa Kyung
No. Of Episodes: 20 (60 min. each)
Streaming Options (region-specific):
8. Time Between Dog and Wolf
Soo Hyun is an NIS officer, admired by his peers & adored by his family. But his bright future darkens when he learns that the murderer of his parents is now the key figure in a narcotics ring. He infiltrates the gang for revenge but mystery awaits.
Cast –
- Lee Joon Gi as Lee Soo Hyun
- Jung Kyung Ho as Kang Min Ki
- Nam Sang Mi as Seo Ji Woo
- Choi Jae Sung as Liwarat Mao
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Viki
9. The Good Detective
The drama is about two detectives, Oh Ji Hyuk and Han Yeo Jin, who work together to solve a series of murders that don’t seem to be connected. As they get closer to finding the truth, they find out about a dark conspiracy that could ruin their lives.
10. Player
Hangul: 플레이어
Year: 2018
A con artist, a fighter, an expert hacker, and a skilled driver make up an elite team that works with a good prosecutor to solve crimes. Together, they get rid of illegal money and make sure that people who make money by breaking the law are caught.
Rating:
Main Cast (Characters):
- Song Seung Heon as Kang Ha Ri
- Krystal as Cha Ah Ryung
- Lee Si Eon as Im Byung Min
- Tae Won Seok as Do Jin Woong
No. Of Episodes: 14 (65 min. each)
Streaming Options (region-specific):
11. Team Bulldog: Off-duty Investigation
To solve cold cases, a detective and a TV producer work together. The producer is concerned about justice, while the investigator is known for his unconventional techniques. Together, they make a powerful team to bring criminals to justice.
Cast –
- Cha Tae Hyun as Jin Kang Ho
- Lee Sun Bin as Kang Moo Young
- Jung Sang Hoon as Lee Ban Seok
- Yoon Gyung Ho as Teddy Jung
No. Of Episodes – 12
Watch On – Viki
12. The Guardians
Hangul: 파수꾼
Year: 2017
The story of a group of five people who come together to serve justice after losing loved ones to criminals. They keep an eye on offenders around the clock and rescue potential victims before the crime has been committed.
Rating:
Main Cast (Characters):
- Lee Si Young as Jo Soo Ji
- Kim Young Kwang as Jang Do Han
- Kim Tae Hoon as Kim Eun Joong
- Kim Seul Gi as Seo Bo Mi
No. Of Episodes: 16 (70 min. each)
Streaming Options (region-specific):
13. Kill It
A policewoman looking for her lost brother meets a skilled killer who works for a private security company and is also a veterinarian. They work together to find out about a secret plot. They put themselves in danger the closer they get to the truth.
14. Bridal Mask
Hangul: 각시탈
Year: 2012
In the 1930s, Lee Kang To lives in Korea, which is oppressed by Japanese Imperial rule. Even though he is Korean, he works with the Japanese police to catch “Bridal Mask,” an unknown rebel fighting for Korean independence.
Rating:
Main Cast (Characters):
- Joo Won as Lee Kang To
- Jin Se Yeon as Oh Mok Dan
- Park Ki Woong as Kimura Shunji
- Han Chae Ah as Ueno Rie
No. Of Episodes: 28 (65 min. each)
Streaming Options (region-specific):
15. Memorist
Hangul: 메모리스트
Year: 2020
Dong Baek, a police detective with the ability to read people’s memories, solves murders. When a string of serial murders occurs, Dong Baek joins forces with talented criminal profiler Han Sun Mi to catch the killer and prevent more deaths.
Rating:
Main Cast (Characters):
- Yoo Seung Ho as Dong Baek
- Lee Se Young as Han Sun Mi
- Jo Sung Ha as Lee Shin Woong
- Ko Chang Seok as Goo Kyung Tan
No. Of Episodes: 16 (65 min. each)
Streaming Options (region-specific):
16. Mad Dog
Hangul: 매드 독
Year: 2017
After his wife and child are murdered in an aviation accident, a former investigator forms his own private investigation team to uncover insurance fraud cases. The Mad Dog Squad is made up of outcasts and oddballs who are all experts in their fields.
Rating:
Main Cast (Characters):
- Yoo Ji Tae as Choi Kang Woo
- Woo Do Hwan as Kim Min Joon
- Ryu Hwa Young as Jang Ha Ri
- Jo Jae Yoon as Park Soon Jung
No. Of Episodes: 16 (60 min. each)
Streaming Options (region-specific):
17. Rugal
A police officer whose attempt to bring down a criminal organization, results in killing his wife and cutting out both of his eyes. The NIS approaches him with an offer to become a member of Rugal. He receives two artificial eyes with biotechnology built into them.
Cast –
- Choi Jin Hyuk as Kang Ki Beom
- Park Sung Woong as Hwang Deuk Goo
- Jo Dong Hyuk as Han Tae Woong
- Jung Hye In as Song Mi Na
No. Of Episodes – 16
Watch On – Netflix
Wrapping Up
So these were some recommended action Kdramas that are highly underrated and people need to watch right now. You can discover more underrated dramas here that can be watched on Netflix, Viki, Prime Video, and more.
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