Summary
Before Han So-hee and Park Seo-joon’sGyeongseong Creatureseason 2 makes its way to Netflix later this year, there are plenty of other shows to watch.Gyeongseong Creaturewas one of Netflix’s ambitious original K-dramas to date, as it came with a hefty production budget of 70 billion won ($53 million). The story that mixes a dark historical context with a thrilling supernatural mystery made an interesting combination that makesGyeongseong Creature’s upcoming second season one of themost exciting K-dramas releasing in 2024.
Gyeongseong Creature’s second season will take the two K-drama stars out of the confines of 1945 and thrust them into present-day Seoul. As a result,the K-drama will take an entirely different tone from its first season while also continuing to expandGyeongseong Creature’s universe.While little else is known about the next installation of thethriller K-drama, what is certain is that there are several K-dramas with similar themes toGyeongseong Creaturethat are perfect to help pass the time until then.
Pachinko
Cast
Created by Soo Hugh, Pachinko is a Drama series created for Apple TV that was released in 2022. The series stars Soji Arai, Jun-woo Han, and Jin Ha. The series follows multiple characters as they attempt to navigate their lives in New York, Japan, and Korea.
Based on the novel by Lee Min-jin,Pachinkofollows four generations of one Korean familyas they leave their homeland in an attempt to start life anew in Japan. The series delves into multiple different time periods and even continents as different members of the same family lives are laid bare on screen through raw emotion and incredible cinematography. These combined elements, as well as spectacular performances and a well-adapted script, makePachinkoa Korean historical epic like no other.
Pachinko’s timeline intersects withGyeongseong Creature’s and focuses on similar themes of discrimination against the Korean people by the Japanese at that time.This makes it an ideal watch for those looking for an alternative perspective on the real-life historical context thatGyeongseong Creaturedelivered.Plus, its family-centered dynamic putsPachinkoin a totally different realm to thehorror K-dramaand is a refreshing watch after the tense thrills thatGyeongseong Creaturedelivers.
Parasyte: The Grey
“Parasyte: The Grey” imagines a world where alien parasites begin taking over human hosts, blending horror with psychological drama. The story follows a young man who forms a symbiotic relationship with his alien parasite, leading to a morally complex journey as they confront other parasites threatening humanity. This adaptation adds a unique twist, focusing on the grey areas of survival, identity, and the essence of being human.
Parasyte: The Greyis the latest adaptation of theParasytemanga and is the first to take place outside of Japan.The series focuses on Jeong Su-in (Jeon So-nee), who, after a traumatic event, becomes infected with a mysterious parasitethat attempts to take over her brain - but ultimately fails. This leads them to live co-dependently and uncover secrets behind the parasite’s invasion of Earth.
Fans ofGyeongseong Creaturewill love this decidedly human tale. Though the police squad “The Grey” makes significant efforts to eradicate the parasites, Su-in’s unique predicament gives the series an emotional angle it desperately needs. Plus, the parasites are an intriguing foe that adds a great level of suspense to this tale of humans vs monsters. Much likeGyeongseong Creature,Parasyte: The Greyis full of great action scenes and unanswered questionsthat consistently keep it moving towards an impactful conclusion.
Hellbound
Netflix’s Hellbound is a Korean Drama and Dark Fantasy series that is directed by Yeon Sang-ho and based on his graphic novel, The Hellbound Volume 1. The series takes place in a modern fantastical version of Korea in which strange creatures pick and choose individuals to send to Hell.
Starring Yoo Ah-in, Kim Hyun-joo, and Park Jeong-min,Hellboundsees otherworldly beings come down to Earth and condemn people to Hell in the future.These condemnations can come at any time. This can be anywhere from just a few seconds in the future, or many years later. However, the time frame remains unknown until it happens. Alongside this,Hellboundweaves together several decidedly human stories that focus on humans battling survival in a place that now feels like Hell itself.
Hellboundis one of Netflix’s most successful K-dramas to date, with an incredible 14 awards to its name. Thesupernatural K-dramafeatures an array of exceptional performances that anchor the series' spell-bounding premises into something very human and unique. Fans ofGyeongseong Creaturewill love the thrills and tension that come from its characters' fate as well as the coinciding storylines that really make this K-drama worthy of its critical acclaim.
Revenant
San-yeong, haunted by a demon after receiving a relic from her late father, joins forces with a professor who can see spirits and a detective investigating mysterious deaths. Together, they uncover dark secrets and confront the malevolent entity threatening their lives.
Revenantis one of 2023’s best K-dramas and isa perfect next watch for those who loved the elements of mystery and horror thatGyeongseong Creaturebrought to the forefront.Starring K-drama veterans Kim Tae-ri and Oh Jung-se, the series follows a folklore professor, Yeom Hae-sang (Oh), and a woman named Gu San-young (Kim), who seems to be followed by a string of mysterious deaths. Together, they attempt to find the truth behind a series of strange deaths in the city. However, San-young is possessed by an evil ghost, which makes things much more terrifying.
Writer Kim Eun-hee continues to prove just how adept she is at writing horror on-screenwithRevenant. The series concept is fraught with intricate details as she delves into the complications and consequences that come with the supernatural.Revenantis also beautifully shot, creating contrasting feelings of awe and terror within every scene. Yet, what makes the series so special is the stand-out performances of the leading cast. Kim Tae-ri in particular is a stand-out in the series and proves just why she is such a well-revered actress in the K-drama industry with her intense and horrifying performance.
Kim Tae-ri also appeared as Lee Ahn in the fantasy movieAlienoid(2022)
Mr. Sunshine
Mr. Sunshine is a historical drama television series that takes place in the late 19th century during the late Joseon Dynasty in Korea. The story follows Eugene Choi, a young boy who travels to the United States and returns to Korea as an American soldier, and Kim Tae-ri as Go Ae-sin, an aristocrat’s daughter who dreams of modernizing Korea.
For fans who thought the real-life political context was one of the best parts ofGyeongseong Creature, thenMr. Sunshineis the perfect next watch.Mr. Sunshinetakes away the supernatural suspense that comes withGyeongseong Creatureand focuses more on politics and international relationsto create a riveting story that heralds critical acclaim.Coincidentally, it also stars Kim Tae-ri and features one of her best performances to date.
Mr. Sunshinefocuses primarily on Eugene Choi (Lee Byung-hun), who returns to Korea after escaping to the United States as a child. When he arrives, he uncovers a plot to colonize Korea by the Japanese and quickly becomes embroiled in a battle for the survival of his home nation.Mr. Sunshineis a well-revered K-dramathat excels because of its strong female characters and well-crafted storyline. Though, much likeGyeongseong Creature, its strength comes in its cinematography as it adds an intense grandeur to the series.
Search
Search is a South Korean drama series set in the Demilitarized Zone, following a military search team as they encounter mysterious and deadly events. The show blends elements of suspense, action, and supernatural horror, while focusing on the team members' struggle for survival and the discovery of hidden truths.
Search’s premise is very similar to that ofGyeongseong Creature, but it’s different enough to still be enticing. WhileGyeongseong Creatureemphasizes outsiders exposing the atrocities of Imperial Japanese Unit 731,Searchtakes a military perspective as soldiers aim to discover more about a mysterious monster lurking in the DMZ. As a result, their search seems to become a battle for survival as they attempt to answer questions about a strange death that occurred in the area.
The military K-drama is led by Jang Dong-yoon and Krystal, who have great chemistry on-screen together as a leading pair. They give convincing performances and help to add a sense of believability to an almost unbelievable situation.Searchis anaction-packed K-dramawith plenty of scenes that heighten the tension of the seriesand give it the same exciting appeal asGyeongseong Creature’ssimilarly thrilling tale of monsters and humans.
4Kingdom
A Historical Take on Zombie Storytelling
Kingdomtakes a lot ofGyeongseong Creature’s themes and twists it into an exciting new story that sees storytelling at its very best. The horror K-drama takes place during Korea’s Joseon era, which ended shortly before the events ofGyeongseong Creature, and uses its historical context to full effect. As such,what ensues is an intensely horrifying yet gripping tale of royal politics, class criticism, and gruesome zombies that reflect modern-day anxietiesin a story rooted in the past.
Kingdomis a quintessential K-drama that is a must-watch for any K-drama fan. From its insanely talented cast to its equally brilliant direction, Kingdom does not fail to impress. The show gives a firm benchmark that only a few other K-dramas have managed to live up to and is a constant reminder as to how horror stories can be told, and told well. Plus,Kingdom’s seasonal format gives more room to delve into its contextand makes it a perfect next watch for fans who want to see a zombie story that excels in a historical setting.
The show gives a firm benchmark that only a few other K-dramas have managed to live up to and is a constant reminder as to how horror stories can be told.
All Of Us Are Dead
All of Us Are Dead is a South Korean series that centers on a high school overrun by a zombie virus outbreak. The students, facing an unprecedented crisis, must navigate survival while combating the threat of becoming part of the undead horde.
All of Us Are Deadis one of Netflix’s most recent success stories as it translates a zombie invasion into a modern high-school setting. Starring a cast of fresh faces that includes Park Ji-hu, Yoon Chan-young, Cho Yi-hyun, and Lomon, the K-drama puts action and character-based storytelling at the forefrontto deliver an excellent rendition of a story that has often been repeated in fiction.WhileAll of Us Are Dead’s story isn’t the most original, its characters are its biggest strength and make thezombie K-dramaa compelling series that is hard to stop watching.
WhileAll of Us Are Dead’s main cast is full of relatively new actors, the supporting cast stars some familiar faces.Squid Gamefans can see another example of Lee Yoo-mi’s excellent acting talents as she portrays one of the series' most interesting yet frustrating characters, Lee Na-yeon. However,Gyeongseong Creaturelovers will also recognize Ahn Ji-ho, who plays one of the show’s minor antagonists, Kim Cheol-soo, and has an equally fascinating story as his co-star.
Tale Of The Nine Tailed (2020)
Tale of the Nine-Tailedhas two unique seasonsthat tick all the right boxes for fans ofGyeongseong Creature. The dark urban fantasy series focuses on the story of Lee Yeon (Lee Dong-wook), a mountain spirit who turns into a gumiho after sacrificing his life for the woman he loves. The first season focuses on Lee Yeon’s love affair in the modern day, while its second season acts as a prequel, taking things back to 1938 in an exciting new twist on the series.
Tale of the Nine-Tailedreverses whatGyeongseong Creatureseason 2 is going to do. While there is a tense wait to see if such a drastic change to the series will work,Tale of the Nine-Tailedis proof that it can be done.Both seasons are led by Lee Dong-wook, who gives a much-needed link between the seasons and depicts his struggles to return to the present-day storyline. Yet, the diversion to the past refreshes the series and takes its leading characters on a bold new journey that respects the first season but allows it to be its own entity with resounding success.
Sweet Home
Sweet Home follows the story of Hyun-soo, a reclusive high school student who moves into the Green Home apartment complex after losing his family. When a mysterious epidemic turns people into monstrous creatures, Hyun-soo and the residents of Green Home must band together to survive, confronting their inner demons and the horrifying threats outside.
For fans ofGyeongseong Creature,Sweet Homeis the next best thing.Sweet HometakesGyeongseong Creature’s monstrous secret and thrusts it into the present day, which is perfect for fans anticipating what the upcoming season could look like. However,Sweet Homethrows its cast directly into the fire as monsters are all around them and the only thing they need to do is survive without becoming one. Of course, this is easier said than done.
Sweet Homeis a staple of Netflix’s K-drama slate. Its cast, which includes the likes of Song Kang, Go Min-si, and Lee Do-hyun, are regular faces on the streaming platform thanks to the series' success and continue to show the very best of their acting skills in the third and final season. AlthoughSweet Home’s story may finally be drawing to a close, it is a great addition to any K-drama watchlist, especially while waiting forGyeongseong Creatureseason 2.
