8 Action & Thriller K-Dramas Every Bloodhounds Fan Needs To Watch

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Bloodhounds season 2 Gun-woo in the ring

Published Apr 13, 2026, 9:00 PM EDT

An experienced Editor representing Canada via Screen Rant's Team Anime, J.R. has been reading manga since the first printing of Shonen Jump in North America. This passion drove him to write about anime, manga, and manhwa since 2022, having recently served as Lead Anime Editor for ComicBook.com.

His favorite moments in media coverage include reviewing the series premieres of Zom 100 and Bleach: TYBW Part 2 back-to-back and briefly meeting Junji Ito at a VIZ gallery event in 2023.

One of the finest returns for action-thriller fans outside of Disney+'s Daredevil: Born Again, Netflix's Bloodhounds brought the heat and mayhem for a knockout second season. Its returning stars Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi proved their onscreen brotherly chemistry hasn't skipped a beat, even against the deadly IKFC and the vast resources they use to pull Kim Gun-woo into its shady boxing ring.

But beyond the seven-episode return, Bloodhounds fans may be chomping at the bit for similarly excellent content. While a straight replacement might be a tall order, Bloodhounds' unique right hook can easily be rivaled by some truly excellent content on or off Netflix. Some offerings match the grittier visual elements Bloodhounds fans may enjoy, while others match its high stakes and horrific opponents to overcome. The result is dozens of hours of binge-worthy action-thrillers in the world of K-dramas, with these eight in particular being easy recommendations for newcomers and veterans with a backlog to check out.

8 Weak Hero

Weak Hero’s characters fighting in season 2

Year(s) Released: 2022-2025
Episodes: 16
Where to Watch: Netflix

A natural choice for those seeking similar close combat and manhwa adaptations, Seopass and Kim Jin-seok's series translates exceptionally into a concise pair of eight-episode seasons on Netflix. This K-drama features methodically-planned action sequences as its physically weak protagonist, Yeon Si-eun, is surprisingly not meek against his school's bullies. Despite being among the top of his class, Si-eun is inevitably pulled into numerous brawls as he fights to survive in his literal school of hard knocks.

Weak Hero is far more than simply students standing up for themselves, though. Si-eun's situational awareness make each fight an engaging, thought-out affair, in which a clicking pen becomes a Pavlovian warning of imminent violence. Si-eun gives bullies every chance to back down in each of the schools he attends in both seasons, but as he befriends fellow students and his enemies refuse to let his slights go, each episode brings the pressure-cooker tension to a new level.

7 Mouse

Year(s) Released: 2021
Episodes: 20
Where to Watch: Viki, Prime Video, Tubi

Erring more on the side of thriller than outright persistent action, Mouse's premise was conceived following a real-life murder trial from 2017, for which its defendant felt no remorse. The series follows Lee Seung-gi as Jung Ba-reum, a rookie officer whose fateful encounter with a similarly psychopathic serial killer sets the tone for the rest of the series.

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Bloodhounds follows two young boxers who become entangled in the dangerous world of predatory loan sharks in Seoul. The two main protagonists are Gun-woo and Woo-jin. Which actors star as this duo?

APark Seo-joon and Choi Woo-shik BWoo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi CSong Joong-ki and Park Bo-gum DNam Joo-hyuk and Lee Je-hoon

✓ Correct! Woo Do-hwan stars as Kim Gun-woo and Lee Sang-yi plays Hong Woo-jin. Their chemistry as the two young boxers turned reluctant vigilantes was widely praised and formed the emotional core of the series.

✗ That answer took a knockout punch! The answer is Woo Do-hwan and Lee Sang-yi. Woo Do-hwan brings raw intensity to Gun-woo while Lee Sang-yi portrays the more experienced and composed Woo-jin. Together they deliver one of the best buddy dynamics in recent K-drama history.

In Bloodhounds, the two young boxers get drawn into the criminal underworld when they try to help someone victimized by a ruthless loan shark operation. What drives Gun-woo to confront the loan sharks in the first place?

ARevenge for his father’s murder BHis mother falls into debt with them CHe wants to become a gangster DHe is recruited by the police

✓ Correct! Gun-woo’s mother becomes trapped in the predatory lending scheme, forcing him into a desperate confrontation with the loan sharks. This personal stake grounds the entire series and makes Gun-woo’s fight deeply emotional rather than simply heroic.

✗ That answer took a knockout punch! The answer is that his mother falls into debt with the loan sharks. Gun-woo’s fierce loyalty to his mother is what pulls him into the dangerous underworld — he’s not seeking power or revenge, but trying to protect the person he loves most.

The main antagonist of Bloodhounds is a terrifying and powerful loan shark boss who controls a vast illegal lending empire. Which veteran Korean actor plays this villain, Kim Myeong-gil?

ALee Sung-min BPark Sung-woong CHeo Joon-ho DKim Yun-seok

✓ Correct! Veteran actor Heo Joon-ho delivers a chilling performance as Kim Myeong-gil, the ruthless loan shark boss. His portrayal of cold, calculated menace made the character one of the most memorable K-drama villains in recent years.

✗ That answer took a knockout punch! The answer is Heo Joon-ho. While all four are respected Korean actors, it was Heo Joon-ho who brought the terrifying Kim Myeong-gil to life — a villain whose calm demeanor makes him even more frightening than any physical threat.

Both Gun-woo and Woo-jin are boxers, but they have very different fighting styles and backgrounds. What is Gun-woo’s key characteristic as a boxer at the start of the series?

AHe is an undefeated champion BHe has incredible natural talent and power but is relatively inexperienced CHe is a retired professional DHe fights in underground matches

✓ Correct! Gun-woo is defined by his raw, natural talent and devastating punching power, but he’s still relatively green in the ring. This combination of overwhelming physical ability and lack of experience mirrors his journey through the criminal underworld — powerful but vulnerable.

✗ That answer took a knockout punch! The answer is that Gun-woo has incredible natural talent and power but is relatively inexperienced. He’s not a seasoned champion or underground fighter — he’s a young man with extraordinary potential who hasn’t yet learned all the ropes.

Bloodhounds is based on a popular Korean webtoon of the same name. The series was released on which streaming platform in 2023?

ADisney+ BAmazon Prime CNetflix DApple TV+

✓ Correct! Bloodhounds was released as a Netflix original series in June 2023. It quickly became one of the most-watched non-English titles on the platform, proving the global appetite for Korean action thrillers continues to grow.

✗ That answer took a knockout punch! The answer is Netflix. Bloodhounds premiered on Netflix in 2023 and became a major hit for the platform. Netflix has been a key player in bringing Korean content to global audiences, and Bloodhounds was one of their standout K-drama releases.

In Bloodhounds, the two protagonists are taken under the wing of an older, wealthy businesswoman who helps them fight against the loan sharks. What is this character’s name?

AChoi Sung-hee BHong Sang-mi CKim Yeon-ji DPark Mi-young

✓ Correct! Choi Sung-hee is the wealthy CEO who becomes an unlikely ally to Gun-woo and Woo-jin. She has her own score to settle with the loan sharks and provides the resources the young boxers need to take on the criminal empire.

✗ That answer took a knockout punch! The answer is Choi Sung-hee. She is a crucial character who brings financial power and strategic thinking to complement the physical strength of the two boxers, creating a compelling alliance against the villainous loan shark operation.

The title “Bloodhounds” (사냥개들, literally “Hunting Dogs”) is a metaphor used in the series. What does the title refer to?

AThe police officers hunting criminals BThe loan sharks who hunt down debtors like prey CThe two protagonists who fight back against predators DThe boxers in the underground fight ring

✓ Correct! The “hunting dogs” of the title refers to Gun-woo and Woo-jin themselves — two young fighters who turn from prey into predators, hunting down the corrupt loan sharks who exploit the vulnerable. It’s a powerful metaphor for their transformation throughout the series.

✗ That answer took a knockout punch! The answer is the two protagonists who fight back against predators. The title captures the essence of Gun-woo and Woo-jin’s journey — they start as victims of the system but become the hunters, turning their boxing skills against the criminals who prey on the weak.

Bloodhounds Season 1 was a hit for Netflix, praised for its intense action sequences and compelling characters. How many episodes are in the first season?

A6 B8 C10 D12

✓ Correct! Bloodhounds Season 1 consists of 8 tightly-paced episodes, each running approximately 50–60 minutes. The compact episode count kept the story lean and intense, with no filler — every episode drives the action forward relentlessly.

✗ That answer took a knockout punch! The answer is 8 episodes. Bloodhounds kept its first season tight at 8 episodes, which many fans and critics praised for maintaining tension throughout without unnecessary padding — a hallmark of well-crafted Korean drama storytelling.

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Addressing nature vs. nurture questions about what makes a murderer, this series follows Ba-reum as he grapples with the notion of whether someone is born evil, or if something in their life brings them to this point. Paired wonderfully with Lee Hoo-joon's less scrupulous Ko Moo-chi, the series takes some truly wild twists by the end of its run, with viewers' understanding of Mouse's world, and its primary hero, drastically altered by the end.

6 Cashero

Year(s) Released: 2025
Episodes: 8
Where to Watch: Netflix

Maybe it's the superhero premise, or maybe it's the idea of its star, Junho, being presented as unkempt and poor, a wild deviation from his jet-setting hopeless romantic chaebol in King the Land; either way, Cashero felt delightfully novel as a K-drama. Junho plays Kang Sang-woong, a civil servant and utterly whipped boyfriend whose family secret is passed onto him: superhuman strength scaled to his cash on hand. But, as his frugal girlfriend soon points out, it's an impractical ability, especially when, after use, his cash dissolves into insultingly small sums of chump change. The only thing missing from this reverse River City Ransom is Sang-woong shouting "Barf!"

A minor aside about this series is the notion that a reseller would part with a PS5, dangled to Sang-woong by his girlfriend as a reward for cutting costs, for the low price of ₩450,000 (approx $300 USD), with at least three games included. Despite being about superheroes, this moment is one of the most hilariously unrealistic of an otherwise mundane exchange, especially for anybody who tried to buy a PS5 in the pandemic or even now.

But Cashero is brilliantly entertaining in its clever satire on the superhero genre. It has some wildly entertaining feats of strength, and shows the absurd lengths to which Sang-woong must go to not use his strength or boosted agility, because he is already strapped for cash. But as more characters emerge, their various prices or peculiar superpower "fuel" makes it clear Sang-woong isn't the only one with a raw deal. From booze-powered intangibility, to calorie-charged telekinesis, to prescience in exchange for memories, and more, Cashero is an engaging premise with an excellent cast as its disposal.

5 A Killer Paradox

Kim-Ji-eun, Choi Woo-sik, and Lee Jun-Young in a custom image

Year(s) Released: 2024
Episodes: 8
Where to Watch: Netflix

Convenience store worker Lee Tang is having a rough go at life following his military service, and in a dark twist, he accidentally finds himself in the middle of a complex situation when he gets into an altercation with a customer, ending in the customer's death. The strange twist, though, is that the customer turns out to be a serial killer, with Tang realizing he has a knack for spotting more like his first victim.

Netflix’s Gritty Action Thriller Becomes Global Smash Hit After Season 2 Release

Netflix's impressive action thriller series has finally returned after a long 3-year wait, and it is already dominating streaming charts worldwide.

Dexter fans know this premise well, but the dark comedy styling, and even elements of additional genres following its Kkomabi manhwa inspiration create quite the journey for viewers. It presents its titular morality paradox well, and understands what makes an engaging thriller as Tang falls in with sympathetic individuals and leaves no evidence of his involvement along the way. The best part is, for Mouse fans, Lee Hee-joon features as A Killer Paradox's relentless antagonist, a detective on the hunt for Tang.

4 The Uncanny Counter

Netflix Best Action Fantasy The Uncanny Counter Mun peeking

Year(s) Released: 2020-2023
Episodes: 28
Where to Watch: Netflix

In a similarly wholesome vein to Bloodhounds' found family dynamic which brings Lee Woo-jin into Gun-woo's home as a surrogate brother, The Uncanny Counter brings So Mun into a powerful group of demon hunters who call themselves Counters. Superpowered and aided by otherworldly spiritual companions from Yung, these Counters fight back against the evil spirits who possess murderers or those inclined toward murder in everyday society.

Bloodhounds fans might understandably crave a grittier affair than the superpowered action-fantasy elements of The Uncanny Counter, but this hit should absolutely not be slept-on. As they resolve the troubles of those afflicted by evil spirits, and bring peace to the spirits they save before sending them to the afterlife, The Uncanny Counter is full of cathartic tearjerker moments that make its core group a true fan-favorite.

After all, despite the main hook of Bloodhounds being Gun-woo and Woo-jin's incredible brawls alongside allies against the criminal underworld, it's also incredibly sweet to see their friendship persevere while they free those around them from oppressive moneylenders or violent gangsters.

3 Vagabond

Vagabond's main characters look over their shoulders

Year(s) Released: 2019
Episodes: 16
Where to Watch: Netflix

As far as action-packed thrillers go, there's never a bad time to check out 2019's Vagabond. While it's built with a clear setup for a season 2 that never happened, this doesn't stop the series from presenting a taut spy thriller premise bringing industry icons Lee Seung-gi (My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho, Mouse) and Bae Suzy (Start-Up, Genie, Make a Wish) together in starring roles. Vagabond follows Leei as he plays Cha Dal-geon, an ex-stuntman whose adorable nephew, Cha Hoon, disapproves of his reckless career choices. But as Dal-geon coaxes Hoon into going on a trip to Morocco for a Taekwondo event, only for abject disaster to strike.

With over 200 innocent civilians aboard, a mysterious attacker is captured on video in a message sent by Hoon before the incident before sabotaging the plane, making it crash. Seemingly everyone aboard died, but as he travels to mourn his nephew, Dal-geon spots the assailant, beginning the unraveling of a massive web of conspiracies. Dal-geon is joined on this journey by Go Hae-ri, an intelligence agent of the NIS, as they get to the bottom of what caused the deadly plane crash.

2 My Name

Year(s) Released: 2021
Episodes: 8
Where to Watch: Netflix

It's wholly unsurprising that an incredible female-led action thriller K-drama would feature Han So-hee, a critical darling and future actor to portray Cha Hae-in in Netflix's live-action Solo Leveling series. My Name is a phenomenally layered thriller, balancing a tale of revenge, tragic romance, and some truly breathtaking, bloody brawls. Han plays Yoon Ji-woo in My Name, the first of many names she adopts in her quest to avenge her murdered father, Yoon Dong-hoon. Ji-woo's life as a student was a troubled one, consistently taunted with rumors and bullying about her gangster father.

Despite her longtime resentment of this life, a tearful phone call with Dong-hoon on her birthday brings him to her doorstep, only for Ji-woo to watch helplessly through her door's peephole as her dad is brutally shot to death. The plot kicks off here as Ji-woo falls in with the Dongcheon gang, refusing to be looked down on as a girl amid a sea of violent, dangerous men. Her determination feels raw, and her growth feels earned to behold as she is coached on targeting vitals in close combat to make up for her physical shortcomings. Ji-woo is a morally ambiguous character, and her journey isn't wholly sympathetic, but it is enthralling nonetheless.

As Ji-woo becomes hardened by the criminal group that takes her in, honing her natural fighting talents and genuine rage, the plot thickens, with Ji-woo even trying to infiltrate the police. Ji-woo makes plenty of enemies on her journey, but even the allies who get behind her aren't immune in this gritty revenge thriller.

1 The Manipulated

A prisoner is being held back in The Manipulated Season 1

Year(s) Released: 2025
Episodes: 12 idyllic
Where to Watch: Hulu/Disney+

Viewers may be in for a shock to the system as they see a seemingly idyllic premise of a delivery driver, who despite clearly being overworked, never spares a moment to help those in need. But in The Manipulated, no good deed truly goes unpunished, as Ji Chang-wook's character, Park Taejoong, is framed for a grisly sexual assault and murder he couldn't possibly commit. But as the culprit carefully contrives each of Taejoong's good deeds on that fateful day to absolutely undermine his defense in court, Taejoong is sentenced to life in prison, and even his most loyal friends and girlfriend are forced to look on in horror.

Choosing Ji Chang-wook to portray this role is a bold subversion of his softer, similarly warm-hearted roles like Cho Yang-pil in Welcome to Samdal-ri. But Chang-wook's performance is that of a man pushed past his breaking point where, practically right after landing in prison for a crime he didn't commit, he lashes out violently, especially once he gets the chance to escape prison and get his revenge.

The Manipulated's premiere alone is positively brilliant in shattering Taejoong's world, while the rest of this K-drama is a searing, bloody revenge tale verging on utterly insane, and an immensely worthwhile recommendation for those seeking something to fill that void left behind by Bloodhounds.