Among concepts and genres of dramas with horror, mystery, and supernatural elements, probably one of the most wanted and most popular elements would be zombies. Domestic and international fans alike appreciate and anticipate zombie shows the most, whether in films or drama series. It makes it better as the zombie elements fit right into various storylines, no matter what setting and no matter which character, providing interesting versions despite similar concepts. Sometimes, the unique play and take on the zombie concept capture many viewers, making it popular even among non-fans and becoming one of the staple zombie shows.

Here's a list of Korean dramas and films which play on the concept of zombies and bring excitement through the stories of the undead!

1. 'Train to Busan'

Probably one if not the most famous zombie films not only in Korea but worldwide, 'Train to Busan' tells the story of how the passengers try to survive while riding the high-speed train from Seoul to Busan as a life-threatening zombie apocalypse suddenly breaks out in the country and threatens their safety. The film becomes the first Korean film of 2016 to break the audience record of over 10 million theatergoers. It also received several nominations and accolades from various prestigious award-giving bodies, such as the Baeksang Arts Awards, Blue Dragon Film Awards, Chunsa Film Awards, Fangoria Chainsaw Awards, and the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards, to name a few.

Cast: Gong Yoo, Jung Yu Mi, Ma Dong Seok, Kim Su An, Choi Woo Shik, Ahn So Hee, Kim Eui Sung

2. 'All of Us Are Dead'

Based on the webtoon 'Now at our School' by Joo Dong Geun, 'All of Us Are Dead' is a South Korean coming-of-age zombie apocalypse centered around the students of Hyosan High School attempting to survive from the sudden zombie breakout within their own school. This happened after a tragically failed experiment of a professor infects the students within the school, with the government trying to contain the virus by closing off the school despite the presence of remaining survivors. The show received worldwide viewership on the streaming platform, resulting in higher demand, with the show now set to have a second season. 

Cast: Park Ji Hu, Yoon Chan Young, Cho Yi Hyun, Park Solomon, Yoo In Soo, Lee Yoo Mi, Kim Byung Chul, Lee Kyu Hyung, Jeon Bae Soo

3. 'Kingdom'

'Kingdom' is a political period horror thriller series which is set in the 16th century, telling the story of how Crown Prince Lee Chang attempts to investigate the unknown illness afflicting the King, only to realize that the Kingdom of Joseon is in greater danger,  facing a deadly epidemic. While trying to save the kingdom from the plague, he must also stop the people from seizing the throne. The story of their fight was narrated during the series' two seasons, while a special feature-length episode of the series titled 'Ashin of the North' was centered on Ashin, the mysterious woman who Lee Chang's group encountered on their journey towards the north to discover the origins of the epidemic. A second special episode focusing on the Crown Prince is reported to be in the works and scheduled for release in 2023.

Cast: Ju Ji Hoon, Ryu Seung Ryong, Bae Doo Na, Kim Sang Ho, Kim Sung Kyu, Kim Hye Jun, Jun Ji Hyun

Season 1

Season 2

Ashin of the North

4. '#Alive'

'#Alive' is a zombie film that revolves around Joon Woo, a video game live streamer who fights for his survival while he is left alone in his Seoul apartment amid a zombie apocalypse. At the moment when he feels that surviving is almost futile, he tries to take his own life until he gets saved by a mysterious woman, a survivor situated parallel to his apartment's building. The movie attracted 204,071 people in total and garnered 62 percent of the box office, making it the highest-grossing opening day movie since February 2020, when COVID-19 broke out in South Korea. It also became the first Korean film to top the Netflix Movies Worldwide chart.

Cast: Yoo Ah In, Park Shin Hye

5. 'Happiness'

Set in a time in which infectious diseases have become the new norm, 'Happiness' is an apocalyptic zombie drama series where the failed treatment has resulted in the mad person's disease. Sae Bom, a  member of a Special Operation Unit police squad, seems to be immune to the said disease, but a crisis to secure an apartment leads her to pretend to be married to her high school friend, Yi Hyun. Together, they try to learn and encounter the secrets behind the infectious disease. 

Cast: Han Hyo Joo, Park Hyung Sik, Jo Woo Jin

6. 'Zombie Detective'

A fantasy mystery drama series, 'Zombie Detective,' tells the story of a zombie and a writer who team up to solve crimes. When Kang Min Ho wakes up, he finds himself to be a zombie with no memory of his previous life. In an effort to unravel the mystery of his origin, he learns how to move and speak like a human, disguises his scars with makeup, and goes by the name Kim Moo Young, a private investigator. Former investigative journalist Gong Sun Ji is employed as Moo Young's part-time assistant. She learns Moo Young's zombie young's secret, and the two work together to solve murders and unravel the reason for the zombies' existence.

Cast: Choi Jin Hyuk, Park Ju Hyun, Kwon Hwa Woon

7. 'The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey'

'The Cursed: Dead Man's Prey' is an occult thriller film where it tells the story of a reporter, Im Jin Hee, who pursues the truth of an incident in which the culprit of a peculiar serial murder case turns out to be a revived corpse 'again.' According to Korean Film Council (Kofic) data, it is in 13th place among all the Korean films released in the year 2021, with a gross of US$1.31 million and 175,578 admissions, as of December 12, 2021.

Cast: Uhm Ji Won, Jung Ji So, Jung Moon Sung, Oh Yoon Ah

8. 'Peninsula'

'Peninsula' is a Korean action horror heist film that is a standalone sequel to the movie 'Train to Busan.' The story centers on a former soldier who is sent with a group to recover a truck full of cash from the Korean peninsula's wastelands, which are now home to a family, rogue militia, and zombies. Jung Seok, the former South Korean Marine Corps Captain, feels guilty for not saving his nephew and sister. The film received various nominations from the 6th Chunsa Film Art Awards and also went on to win Best Technical Award for its production design. 

Cast: Gang Dong Won, Lee Jung Hyun

9. 'Rampant'

Before 'Kingdom,' the movie 'Rampant' first took on the concept of a period action film alongside elements of zombies. Alongside the huge zombie plague in Joseon, the film tells the battle between Lee Chung, the current heir to the Joseon throne, who is arrogant and only wants to marry a girl to accompany to China, and Kim Ja Joon, the corrupt Minister of War who leads the Royal Family into believing Lee Chung is not the heir. They received promising critical responses and were a box office bomb, grossing 11.8 million dollars.

Cast: Hyun Bin, Jang Dong Gun

10. 'Dark Hole'

A group of survivors in the drama series 'Dark Hole' must fight for their lives against mutants that are produced when people inhale the enigmatic dark vapor from a sinkhole. This drama series was part of the lineup of OCN's  2021 drama slate in November 2020, which included the fifth installment of the 'Dramatic Cinema' project, which combines film and drama formats. 

Cast: Kim Ok Vin, Lee Joon Hyuk

11. 'Doomsday Book: A Brave New World'

The science-fiction anthology movie "Doomsday Book" from 2012 explores three distinct tales of human self-destruction in the high-tech era while exhibiting an alternate kind of genuine humanity and compassion. Among its parts, 'A Brave New World' focuses on the story of a zombie outbreak, where geeky research scientist his toxic trash ends up being the cause of the outbreak of flesh-eating zombies. It won the top prize at the 2012 Fantasia Festival with the Cheval Noir Award for best film for "its intelligence and originality."

Cast: Ryoo Seung Bum, Kim Roi Ha, Ma Dong Seok, Jung Woo, Kim Mu Yeol, Bong Joon Ho

12. 'Seoul Station'

Standing out among the other recommendations, 'Seoul Station' is an animated zombie movie that serves as the prequel to 'Train to Busan,' showing how the zombie epidemic began in South Korea before the latter's events. A young runaway woman must struggle to survive in a society that views her as disposable in this story, which is set in and around Seoul Station. Three main characters make up the plot: Suk Gyu, a father, looking for his runaway daughter Hye Sun, who he discovers is still alive and working as a prostitute. She is discovered by him because of Ki Woong, her boyfriend, who tried to sell her to him. Seoul experiences a zombie outbreak as he is ready to be reunited with her.

Cast: Shim Eun Kyung, Ryu Seung Ryong, Lee Joon

13. 'The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale'

Putting a twist on the usual takes of zombie movies, 'The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale' is a  zombie comedy film centered around the Park family, whose life is upended after the father, who is elderly, is bit by a zombie. The zombie came from a pharmaceutical company's illegal experiments, and the strange Park family tries to profit from it.
Cast: Jung Jae Young, Kim Nam Gil, Uhm Ji Won, Lee Soo Kyung, Jung Ga Ram, Park In Hwan

14. 'The Guard Post'

One GP506 soldier is still alive but in a vegetative state after being ruthlessly massacred with the other soldiers. A military police investigator only has only one night to find the truth but instead unearths a horrifying reality. They learn that a rabic-like virus infects the men, making them turn violent and kill each other, but they do not know how the infection spreads.

Cast: Chun Ho Jin, Lee Yeong Hoon, Lee Jeong Heon, Jo Hyun Jae

15. 'Zombie School' 

Although Chilsung School appears to be calm, nobody can foresee the terrible events that would shortly occur. Pigs that were buried alive during the foot-and-mouth illness panic have returned from the dead. Teachers get bitten by the zombie pigs and turn into zombies themselves as the students' band together to combat the teachers. Another novel experience in zombie movies made in Korea is promised by this movie.

Cast: Baek Seo Bin, Ha Eun Seol, Kim Seung Hwan, Kim Kyung Ryong, Park Jae Hoon

Here are some of the best zombie-themed shows, both dramas, and films, that you can rewatch in case you want to binge-watch some shows. Which among these is your favorite, and which among these would you suggest to new and interested viewers?