11 Spooky Supernatural And Korean Ghost Dramas 2023
In this article, you can find a list of the best Korean ghost dramas on Netflix, Viu, Viki, and other streaming platforms.
I love all things supernatural! Zombies, Werewolves, Vampires. But do you know what supernatural creatures are underrated? Ghosts!
Seriously! Remember movies like The Ring that managed to be so scary. Or Beetlejuice and Casper which were sweet heartwarming stories?
Ghosts are very versatile. And Korean dramas (when terrifying you with zombies and demons from hell) make such wonderful ghost stories.
What I liked best about these Korean ghost dramas is that they aren’t necessarily hide-your-face-with-your-hands scary.
The plot of these K-dramas are so layered and the genres range from horror to romance and even comedy, despite being about ghosts.
So what are the best Korean ghost dramas? Here is a list I’ve made of all my f ones and where you can watch them.
Best Korean Ghost Drama | Best Place To Watch It | My Rating |
Ghost Detective | Viki, Dramacool | 5/5 |
The Master’s Sun | Netflix, Viki | 4.5/5 |
Oh My Ghost | Netflix, Viki | 4/5 |
Goedam | Netflix | 3.5/5 |
49 Days | Amazon Prime, Viu | 4/5 |
Bring It On, Ghost | Viki | 4/5 |
Arang And The Magistrate | Amazon Prime, Viki | 4/5 |
Hotel Del Luna | Netflix, Viki, Viu | 5/5 |
Sell Your Haunted House | Viki, Viu | 3.5/5 |
Black | Netflix, Viu | 4.5/5 |
Top Korean Ghost Drama 2023
Ghost Detective
- Number Of Episodes: 32
- Cast: Choi Daniel, Park Eun-Bin, Lee Ji-ah
- Where To Watch: Viki, Dramacool
Would you like to live in a world where ghosts, demons, etc. are all real? This type of world is exactly where the show Ghost Detective is based.
Just like there’s police to help catch criminals who are human, this world has cops for ghosts too!
And one person is the former military man Lee Da Il who works as a private investigator hunting ghosts alongside his assistant Jung Yeo-wool.
If you love crime-based shows with a spooky twist, you’ll love this show. It has elements that remind you of shows like Lucifer and Supernatural.
Ghost Detective is a show with a lot of action and suspense. It has elements that remind you of the supernatural genre but it also has comedy, romance, and drama all in one.
The characters are great; they have good chemistry between each other which makes watching their journey to find out what’s going on even more fun!
I am not a big fan of shows that have a lot of comedy and are centered around the main characters’ lives, but this show was different. It is based on an interesting concept and has elements that remind you of Sherlock (which I like).
The most memorable thing about this series is definitely its comical twist to the crime genre. The drama had me laughing out loud at times, which made it all the more enjoyable for me as well. In addition to being fun to watch, Ghost Detective also has good chemistry between its two lead actors who play off each other really well!
- Related: List Of Korean Horror Movies
- Related: Best Korean Detective Dramas
- Related: List Of Korean Zombie Movies
The Master’s Sun
- Number Of Episodes: 17
- Cast: So Ji-sub, Gong Hyo-jin
- Where To Watch: Netflix, Viki
This 2013 K-drama combines a classic ghost story with romance, fantasy and comedy elements.
It follows Gong-shil, a young woman who is blessed (or rather cursed) with the ability to see ghosts following a life-threatening accident.
These ghosts hound her continually seeking her help to fulfil their last wishes. However, all this ghostly interference takes a toll on Gong-shil’s daily life and she becomes a recluse.
Until one day, she meets self-centred CEO Joo Joong-won who makes her ghosts disappear… quite literally!
He keeps her by his side hoping to use her supernatural ability for his gain. She agrees as Joong-won’s presence keeps the ghosts away.
But this marriage of convenience takes a different turn when they actually begin to fall in love with each other. No surprises there!
I really like the Master’s Sun as the show combines many genres. It is an exhilarating adventure, it has it’s spooky moments, and it also
I was in the mood for a good ghost story, and this drama delivers. It’s quite different from other dramas I’ve watched because it has many elements that you don’t normally see in an Asian TV drama. Firstly, it is not all about ghosts or spirits; there are plenty of human characters as well!
Secondly, Gong-shil is not just some “damsel in distress” who falls into trouble and needs to be saved by her handsome man character; she plays a big part in helping solve the mystery at hand.
Thirdly, while yes there are ghosts involved (as mentioned above), they’re actually very realistic.
The acting is phenomenal in this drama, particularly Park Hae-il who plays Gong-shil’s boyfriend Yoo Chang-woong (not Jaejoong).
He portrays his character so well that you really feel like he could be your best friend. The slow burn romance between them makes you want to see how things turn out for their relationship which keeps you glued to the screen every week!
Oh My Ghost
- Number Of Episodes: 16
- Cast: Park Bo-young, Jo Jung-suk, Lim Ju-hwan, Kim Seul-gi
- Where To Watch: Netflix, Viki
Now not all ghost stories need to be scary! If you’re looking for the best ghost comedy Korean drama, then Oh My Ghost is the one.
The show revolves around a shy and timid chef called Na Bong-sun who gets possessed by a… ahem…rather horny virgin ghost called Shin Soon-ae, who is determined to do complete this one “unfinished business”.
Things get worse for Na Bong-sun when the ghost sets her eyes on Bong-sun’s arrogant boss, the star chef Kang Sun-woo.
I love this drama. It is one of the best Korean dramas I have ever watched and it has a great story that will make you laugh, cry or even scream!
The characters are so well developed and they are easy to relate with especially Bong-sun who’s just like us, he doesn’t know how to deal with ghosts but still tries his best to save people no matter what happens. I am obsessed by Shin Soon-ae because she’s very interesting character.
She is trying her hardest to help Na Bong-sun solve the problem of becoming human again while being stuck as a ghost in her body.
Oh My Ghost is a hilarious and fun show. The characters are all very lovable, the romance between the two main characters is adorable and there’s even an interesting new concept for romance in this one!
If you want a ghostly tale that will have you clutching your stomach in laughter rather than your face with fear, you can watch Oh My Ghost. It’s available on Netflix and Viki.
Goedam
- Number Of Episodes: 8
- Cast: Song Chae-Yoon, Han Su-ah, Shim So-Young, Yeong-gi Jeong
- Where To Watch: Netflix
Not to be confused with a Korean horror movie anthology of the same name, Goedam is a K-drama series based on urban legends.
Each episode of this anthology series is about a different spooky folk tale. So you can find more than ghost stories there.
The 1st, 2nd, and 8th stories are pure ghostly spook, you’ve come here for.
But the rest of the show is also quite interesting with tales about shamans, a folk monster called the Smiling Woman, and interdimensional beings.
49 Days
- Number Of Episodes: 20
- Cast: Lee Yo-won, Nam Gyu-ri, Jo Hyun-jae, Bae Soo-bin
- Where To Watch: Amazon Prime, Viu
The plot of this Korean ghost drama is a very interesting one. Shin Ji Hyun, a cheerful girl seemingly has everything going for her in her life.
She has loving parents, a handsome boyfriend who she’s about to marry, a great job. But all of that changes when she gets into an accident and ends up in a coma.
Ji Hyun refuses to give up on her life and makes a deal with the grim reaper. If she can find three people (who don’t know her) to cry genuine tears for her, he’ll let her live. And she has 49 days to accomplish her task.
To make this work, Ji Hyun’s ghost borrows the body of Yi Kyung, who works at a grocery store.
Will Ji-Hyun make it to the land of the living? Well, you have to see the K-drama in order to find out! It’s available on Viu and Amazon Prime.
Bring It On, Ghost
- Number Of Episodes: 16
- Cast: Ok Taecyeon, Kim So-hyun, Kwon Yul
- Where To Watch: Viki
Here’s another ghostly, romantic comedy for you! I love the chemistry between the main characters in this show.
There’s Park Bong-pa, a ghost-hunter who hates this ability and works as an exorcist in order to make money.
And on the other side there’s high school student Kim Hyun-ji who’s died prematurely and now wanders the earth as a restless spirit.
Kim Hyun-ji seeks Bong-pa’s help to find out why she’s still stuck on earth and eventually becomes his partner in ghostbusting.
And like in most K-drama’s this unusual couple falls in love!
But both are unaware of the dark spirit that’s haunting them and is the cause of both their troubles.
You can find this K-drama on Rakuten Viki.
Arang And The Magistrate
- Number Of Episodes: 20
- Cast: Lee Joon-gi, Shin Min-ah, Yeon Woo-jin
- Where To Watch: Amazon Prime, Viki
I do love a good historical show, especially the Joseon Korean dramas! And I further was enraptured with the supernatural elements in this one.
The story follows a nobleman Kim Eun-oh who comes to a village seeking his mother.
But instead, he finds the amnesiac ghost Arang who is desperately trying to find out how she died.
Eun-oh, now the magistrate reluctantly begins to help her as he finds clues linking Arang to his mother.
Hotel Del Luna
- Number Of Episodes: 16
- Cast: Lee Ji-Eun (IU), Yeo Jin-goo
- Where To Watch: Netflix, Viki, Viu
Probably one of the most popular Korean ghost drama on Netflix, Hotel Del Luna stars Kpop idol IU (who’s popular as Korea’s “little sister”).
The K-drama revolves around the titular Hotel which is reserved only for souls or ghosts that have unfinished business in this world and rarely appears to humans.
And IU plays the moody owner of the hotel Jang Man-wol who finds herself bound to the place as penance for a sin she committed a thousand years ago.
Things get interesting when Jang Man-wol makes a deal with a human and promises him 20 years of riches in exchange for 20 years of his son’s life.
So when the son Gu Chan-sung finally comes back to South Korea after his stint abroad he faces Jang Man-wol and the prospect of working at Hotel Del Luna instead of the cushy, normal hotel job he was expecting!
Sell Your Haunted House
- Number Of Episodes: 16
- Cast: Jang Na-ra, Jung Yong-hwa, Kang Hong-seok, Ahn Gil-kang
- Where To Watch: Viki, Viu
What happens you put a bonafide exorcist with the ability to see and banish ghosts with a con artist who simply pretends to do this?
Well, you can watch Sell Your Haunted House on Viki or Viu to find out. I’m not giving you any spoilers!
Hong Ji-ah is a real estate agent who sells haunted houses after getting rid of any supernatural creatures living in there.
But she can’t seem to understand the circumstances in which her mother died.
So she teams up with Oh In-beom, a conman whose uncle passed away in a similarly mysterious way to find out the secret behind the two deaths.
Black
- Number Of Episodes: 18
- Cast: Song Seung-heon, Go Ara, Lee El, Kim Dong-jun
- Where To Watch: Netflix, Viu
There have been several stories involving the Grim Reaper in Korean dramas. This is one of my favourite ones after Guardian.
The show follows Grim Reaper #444 who is now possessing the body of a former detective Han Moo-gang.
While doing his duties of ferrying the dead to the afterlife, the Grim Reaper discovers clues that can potentially solve a cold case from years ago.
And in the process, he also manages to fall in love with Moo-gang’s childhood friend Kang Ha-ram who coincidentally can see the death following people.
See You in My 19th Life
“See You in My 19th Life” is a captivating and innovative Korean drama that takes the concept of time travel to a whole new level, immersing viewers in a beautifully woven narrative of romance, destiny, and self-discovery. From its intriguing premise to its heartfelt performances, this drama keeps audiences on the edge of their seats, eager to uncover the mysteries that lie within the space-time continuum.
The plot centers around Ji Soo, portrayed by a talented actress, a young woman who finds herself inexplicably transported back to different points in her past lives, each time as her 19-year-old self. As she navigates through various eras, she must untangle the threads of fate that tie her to a mysterious young man named Min Jae, played brilliantly by a charismatic actor. Together, they embark on a journey to understand their connections across lifetimes and the impact of their choices on each other’s destinies.
What sets “See You in My 19th Life” apart from conventional time-travel dramas is its seamless blending of historical settings with modern storytelling. The drama effortlessly shifts between various time periods, and the attention to detail in recreating each era is commendable. The costume design, set pieces, and cinematography all contribute to the immersive experience, transporting viewers back in time with every leap.
The chemistry between the lead actors is undeniable, breathing life into their characters and making their love story all the more compelling. As their relationship evolves through time and space, their emotional journey tugs at the heartstrings, leaving viewers emotionally invested in their fate. Their performances are nuanced and heartfelt, making it easy for the audience to relate to their struggles, joys, and heartaches.
The writing of “See You in My 19th Life” is a standout feature of the drama. The intricate plot unfolds gradually, keeping the viewers engaged while revealing surprises and twists at just the right moments. The exploration of themes such as fate, reincarnation, and the power of love adds depth to the narrative, prompting thought-provoking reflections on life’s unpredictability and the choices we make.
Furthermore, the drama’s supporting cast plays a significant role in enhancing the overall experience. Each character’s unique personality and backstory contribute to the overarching plot, making the ensemble feel well-rounded and essential to the story’s progression.
If there’s one minor drawback to “See You in My 19th Life,” it is that some viewers might find the time-travel complexities a bit challenging to follow initially. However, as the pieces of the puzzle come together, the intricacies of the plot become clearer, rewarding those who stay invested.
In conclusion, “See You in My 19th Life” is a standout Korean drama that skillfully weaves romance, time travel, and profound themes into a mesmerizing narrative. With its remarkable performances, stunning visuals, and thought-provoking storytelling, it’s a drama that will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression on its viewers.
Whether you’re a fan of romance, fantasy, or simply enjoy a well-crafted storyline, this drama is a must-watch for its unique take on love transcending time and the power of destiny.
FAQs about Korean Supernatural Dramas
Is Bring it on ghost and let’s fight ghost the same?
Yes, these two K-dramas are the same. The TV show is called Bring It On Ghost” but it’s based on a manhwa or webtoon that is called “Let’s fight ghost”. The show stars Ok Taec-yeon, Kim So-hyun and Kwon Yul.
Is Hotel de Luna horror?
There is ample amount of supernatural themes in the Kdrama Hotel De Luna. But it’s never outright horror. It is more spooky than scary. The show blends humor and ghosts in a fantastic and entertaining way. But you can watch it night alone and not get the heebie jeebies that’s for sure.
Does Bring It On, Ghost has a happy ending?
Yes, thankfully it does. It might be based on supernatural themes, but this drama is not technically scary or even in the horror genre.
With the success of Netflix shows like Squid Games and Hellbound, there is a renewed interest in K-dramas.
A lot of people are now discovering that Korean dramas aren’t all about cutesy teen romances. There are several interesting genres you can find here.
And one such genre is the Korean ghost drama. These spooky tales are very popular as they aren’t your run of the mill horror stuff.
In one binge, these ghost K-dramas will scare you, make you laugh, and even cry.
Now that’s a great plan for a weekend indoors!
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