7 Most Anticipated K-Thrillers of 2026, Ranked

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A man in a business suit talks on a landline phone with a serious expression in Made in Korea.

Published Jan 24, 2026, 6:30 PM EST

Dyah (pronounced Dee-yah) is a Senior Author at Collider, responsible for both writing and transcription duties. She joined the website in 2022 as a Resource Writer before stepping into her current role in April 2023. As a Senior Author, she writes Features and Lists covering TV, music, and movies, making her a true Jill of all trades. In addition to her writing, Dyah also serves as an interview transcriber, primarily for events such as San Diego Comic-Con, the Toronto International Film Festival, and the Sundance Film Festival.

Dyah graduated from Satya Wacana Christian University in October 2019 with a Bachelor's degree in English Literature, concentrating on Creative Writing. She is currently completing her Master's degree in English Literature Studies, with a thesis on intersectionality in postcolonial-feminist studies in Asian literary works, and is expected to graduate in 2026.

Born and raised between Indonesia and Singapore, Dyah is no stranger to different cultures. She now resides in the small town of Kendal with her husband and four cats, where she spends her free time cooking or cycling.

New year, new K-thrillers. The South Korean entertainment industry has proven time and again that it excels in the art of suspenseful, mind-blowing stories. These creators are capable of keeping audiences on the edge of their seats. More importantly, they also present localized stories that stay true to their cultural roots, while delivering universal themes that resonate with viewers anywhere in the world.

As 2026 kicks off, viewers can look forward to the return of beloved series alongside a slate of exciting new releases. From K-thriller reimaginings of classic French literature to a thrilling second season of a high school zombie apocalypse, the year promises more heart-pounding plot twists. Without further ado, here are our most anticipated K-thrillers of 2026, ranked.

7 'All of Us Are Dead' Season 2

A ragged bunch of people look shocked on a street in All of Us Are Dead.

The high school version of The Last of Us, its K-drama counterpart, All of Us Are Dead, is just as gruesome. Season 2 continues the story after the bombing of Hyosan, where a failed science experiment unleashed a zombie virus inside a high school. With the infection directly happening in the hallways, surviving students watch their fellow peers get mutated into flesh-eating creatures before their very own eyes. Suddenly, they're learning things they aren't taught in classrooms: loss, trauma, and a world that no longer feels safe.

While much of Season 1 takes place in Hyosan High School, Season 2 is expected to explore the aftermath outside the gates. Now living in quarantine camps, On-jo (Park Ji-hu) and the others try to return to normal life, only to realize the virus was never fully contained. The military closely monitors "half-zombies" like Nam-ra (Cho Yi-hyun), indicating that there are unique hybrids who remain human-like but still possess dangerous qualities. With Cheong-san's (Yoon Chan-young) fate still in the air, Season 2 of All of Us Are Dead might explore the idea of a human-zombie coexistence.

6 'A Shop for Killers' Season 2

Lee Dong-wook and Kim Hye-ju posing as uncle and niece in a poster for A Shop for Killers.

A Shop for Killers follows Jeong Ji-an (Kim Hye-jun), a young woman who inherits her late uncle's seemingly ordinary shopping mall, only to discover it is a front for a secret weapons market serving elite assassins. Following the explosive season finale cliffhanger, Season 2 might pick up with Ji-an no longer fighting to survive, but eventually getting used to having her own sense of authority. After surviving a deadly showdown with Lee Seong-Jo (Seo Hyun-woo) and forcing Babylon's operatives to retreat, Ji-an proves she has grown into an intelligent strategist.

However, the biggest plot twist arrived when her uncle, Jeong-Jin-man (Lee Dong-wook), was revealed to be alive. Old wounds are reopened, and Ji-an is forced to confront some uncomfortable truths about his past. They'll have to soak in their reunion another time. Babylon remains active, former allies like Pasin (Kim Min) and So Min-Hye (Geum Hae-na) are missing, and old enemies are closing in. Once again, Ji-an must face the music of running a marketplace built on blood and violence, while watching her back for enemies who refuse to let her get away.

5 'Gold Land'

Park Bo-young and Lee Hyun-wook looking at each other in Gold Land.

Gold Land follows Kim Hee-ju (Park Bo-young), a security agent at an international airport, whose life turns upside down after she accidentally receives gold from a smuggling ring, all because of her boyfriend, co-pilot Lee Do-kyeong (Lee Hyun-wook). However, the gold only draws the attention of the wrong crowd, putting the two into immense danger.

Hee-Ju gets caught up with loan shark Jang Wook (Kim Sung-cheol), detective Kim Jin-Man (Kim Hee-won), and Executive Park (Lee Kwang-soo) from the Geumsung gang tied to the Gold Land hotel casino. As she tries to stay alive and protect herself, Hee-Ju must figure out who she can trust.

4 'Perfect Job'

Lee Jae-wook at the script reading for 'Perfect Job'.

Perfect Job follows Hyeok-joon (Lee Jae-wook), a young man struggling with debt, who takes a part-time job through the mysterious Spyder Human Resource Center. The job promises 50 times the normal hourly wage, but what seems perfect quickly turns into a nightmare as he encounters strange and terrifying events. The agency's boss, the mysterious Sr. S (Lee Hee-joon), hides secrets that make the job even more dangerous, and Hyeok-joon finds himself caught in situations he never imagined.

At the same time, Yeon-joo (Go Min-si), an accident investigator, begins looking into the strange occurrences at Spyder Human Resource Center, determined to uncover the truth. Hyuk-Joon's younger sister, Ji-yoon (Minha Kim), is worried about him and often argues with him, living by her motto: "Poverty is scarier than ghosts." As the story unfolds, Hyeok-joon must confront both the supernatural and the consequences of pursuing easy money while navigating the growing mysteries surrounding the agency and its employees.

3 'In the Net'

Kim Seon-ho smiling and looking ahead in 'Can This Love Be Translated?'

In the Net is a crime story based on Chan Ho-kei's novel Second Sister, set in the fast-moving digital world of Hong Kong. The story begins when Siu-man, a schoolgirl and orphan, dies by jumping from her apartment window. Her older sister, Nga-yee, refuses to believe it was suicide, sensing that something is wrong. Determined to find out the truth, she hires N. (Kim Seon-ho), a mysterious hacker and cybersecurity expert, to investigate.

Together, Nga-yee and N. dig through online gossip, social media attacks, and the hidden corners of the city's digital world. Their investigation uncovers a mix of suspects and subplots — from high school students with secret agendas to tech entrepreneurs, Triads, and ordinary people in Sai Wan. As the story reveals itself, the sisters discover who really pushed Siu-Man to her death and why. At the same time, the story raises questions about the dangers of online harassment and how difficult it is to achieve accountability when perpetrators can comfortably hide behind their screens.

2 'The Scandal'

Son Ye-jin at a table with a kid looking slightly to the distance in 'No Other Choice'.

Based on the 2003 film Untold Scandal, The Scandal guarantees to cause controversy amidst a conservative society. This Joseon-era, K-drama reimagining of the French novel Les Liaisons dangereuses is told through Lady Cho (Son Ye-jin), a clever and talented woman confined by the strict rules of her society. Frustrated by the limitations placed on women, she secretly devises a seductive game to gain control over those around her. When she challenges her admirer, Cho Won (Ji Chang-wook), a charming playboy who seeks pleasure over honor, he accepts her bet.

Together, they engage in a strategic contest of desire and manipulation, all while avoiding the imminent disgrace of traditional Confucian values. At the same time, widow Hui-yeon (Nana), who has vowed to remain chaste after losing her husband, struggles with her feelings when Cho Won pursues her. Challenging class, gender, and local expectations to the extremes, The Scandal is sure to be the talk of the town, for all the wrong reasons.

1 'Made in Korea' Season 2

A man in a business suit with a drink sits on a patio with a large city behind, looking contemplative in Made in Korea.

Made in Korea follows Baek Ki-tae (Hyun Bin), a clever and ambitious KCIA agent who secretly runs criminal networks. His underworld is under fire; the honest prosecutor, Jang Geon-young (Jung Woo-sung), is driven to expose corruption in the government and law enforcement. In this espionage game of cat-and-mouse, the two get involved in the ugly world of politics and crime when Ki-tae and Geon-young try to get one step ahead of each other.

Season 2 picks up after the unfortunate death of Kang Dae-il (Kang Gil-woo), which automatically makes him a convenient tool. As for Ki-tae, he takes the opportunity to rise higher. He joins the Ikeda drug cartel, and if that isn't enough, he is promoted as the new director of the KCIA. Luck isn't on Geon-young's side. In his pursuit of justice, he is faced with bribery accusations connected to Dae-il's criminal network. With him and his family under potential scrutiny and unwanted danger, Season 2 is when Geon-young has to be his most relentless. As for Ki-tae, he had better watch his back. He might have bigger enemies than Geon-young.