While K-dramas always have a main character, a strong villain is often what truly makes a show memorable. A weak villain can ruin an otherwise great story, but the best K-dramas use compelling antagonists to create an epic and unforgettable clash between good and evil.
A K-drama’s success often depends on how well its villains are developed, regardless of whether the story ends with justice served or a darker resolution. While both satisfying and tragic endings can work, K-dramas truly shine when they give their villains compelling backstories and motivations.
20. Hyun Soo-ah
My ID Is Gangnam Beauty
While many remember My ID Is Gangnam Beauty for its romance, the drama also featured a particularly mean character, Hyun Soo-ah (played by Jo Woo-ri). Soo-ah was popular and well-regarded at school, known for both her beauty and seemingly kind personality.
Soo-ah pretended to be innocent to hurt the main character, and she bullied her because of her own insecurities. It was deeply unsettling how easily she could tear people down while still smiling.
19. Lee Yoo-beom
While You Were Sleeping
While You Were Sleeping is a K-drama with a legal focus and an intriguing supernatural element. The story centers around a prosecutor, a journalist, and a police officer who all share the ability to foresee terrible events, and must work together to either stop them from happening or solve the mysteries behind them. They are united in their efforts, and also share a common adversary: Lee Yoo-beom, played by Lee Sang-yeob.
Yoo-beom was a lawyer motivated only by money, with no regard for the law. He would routinely create false evidence, alter records, and twist the truth to win his cases. Instead of being honest and seeking justice, he would go to extreme, even dangerous, lengths to protect himself.
18. Kang Su-jin
True Beauty
Although True Beauty is a popular romantic comedy with a strong female character, it also featured a surprisingly mean villain. Kang Su-jin, played by Park Yoo-na, initially befriended Lim Ju-kyung (Moon Ga-young), but their relationship turned sour when Ju-kyung started seeing Su-jin’s longtime crush.
Su-jin felt deeply insecure due to her father’s abuse, and this led her to act irrationally and without compassion. She allied herself with people who had previously bullied Ju-kyung, hoping to reveal secrets from her past. While Ju-kyung ultimately succeeds by accepting herself as she is, Su-jin’s actions could have easily destroyed the main character’s life.
17. Park Joong-heon
Goblin/Guardian: The Lonely and Great God
Despite being a beloved fantasy drama, Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (often called Goblin) centers around a classic struggle: a fight for the royal throne. One of the supernatural characters, Park Joon-heon (played by Kim Byung-chul), was originally a palace eunuch who cleverly used his position to gain influence and control.
Ultimately, Park Joong-heon caused the main character’s death, and this happened only after he created suspicion and conflict within the royal court. Now brought back to life, the main character has the opportunity to get revenge on Joong-heon.
16. Jang Dae-hee
Itaewon Class
It’s easy to see why Itaewon Class, a popular K-drama about revenge, features such a compelling villain. Even though Jang Dae-hee (played by Yoo Jae-myung) succeeds in building his business through dedication and effort, he ultimately becomes a dishonest and unethical CEO.
Dae-hee showed no reaction when his son killed the main character’s father, and offered no comfort to the heartbroken teenager. Instead, he coldly ordered the son to kneel, demonstrating that the CEO had sacrificed his principles in his pursuit of total control.
15. Lee Lim
The King: Eternal Monarch
Even if you didn’t enjoy the K-drama The King: Eternal Monarch, it’s hard to deny that Lee Lim (played by Lee Jung-jin) is a compelling villain. The show jumps between modern-day South Korea and a historical kingdom, but Lee Lim causes trouble in both worlds.
Lee Lim’s actions in The King: Eternal Monarch – like killing his brother and even his counterpart from another world – reveal a truly irredeemable and malicious character. He demonstrated he’d kill anyone, even himself, to gain ultimate power, making him a frighteningly believable villain.
14. Min Joon-gook
I Can Hear Your Voice
Beyond the captivating romance, the K-drama I Can Hear Your Voice features a disturbing storyline centered around Min Joon-gook (Jung Woong-in). Initially a normal man, Joon-gook becomes a killer after his wife’s death – she didn’t receive a life-saving heart transplant. Driven by revenge, he then relentlessly pursues and attempts to kill the drama’s main characters.
Despite successfully avoiding arrest, manipulating the law, and falsely accusing someone else of murder, Min Joon-gook ultimately received the punishment he deserved: a life sentence. However, the image of his face during the trial is deeply unsettling and will likely remain with viewers long after the show is over.
13. Mok Jin-woo
Tunnel
This K-drama, Tunnel, offers a fresh take on a serial killer story with a time travel twist. The series follows a detective who begins chasing the ‘Fishnet Stocking Killer’ in 1986, and then continues the hunt in 2016 after both he and the killer are transported through a mysterious tunnel.
Mok Jin-woo (Kim Min-sang), the actual killer, was deeply troubled. Starting in 1986, he murdered women with fishing nets, claiming he was punishing them for being sexually active. Years later, in 2016, he became a forensic doctor and examined the bodies of the women he had killed. Disturbingly, even after being caught, Mok Jin-woo shows no regret for his actions.
12. Seo Moon-jo
Strangers from Hell/Hell Is Other People
The K-drama Strangers from Hell (also called Hell Is Other People) is widely considered one of the best adaptations of a webtoon. The story centers on a writer who moves into the Eden Dormitory and quickly becomes focused on his mysterious neighbor, Seo Moon-jo, played by Lee Dong-wook.
Dr. Moon-jo appears to be a friendly and charming dentist, but he’s actually a serial killer who’s been hiding in public. He’s also the mastermind behind a group committing multiple murders. While the show suggested he died, many viewers believe Moon-jo survived and is out there, looking for his next target.
11. Yoon Gwi-nam
All of Us Are Dead
The K-drama All of Us Are Dead is famous for its zombies, but the villain, Yoon Gwi-nam (played by Yoo In-soo), was cruel even before the outbreak. Before the apocalypse began, he was a heartless bully who didn’t hesitate to use violence.
Even after the zombie outbreak began, Gwi-nam didn’t stop his violent actions. He killed both zombies and uninfected people – even sacrificing his classmates and teachers. Remarkably, even a zombie bite couldn’t halt his relentless killing.
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2025-11-05 03:41