7 New Korean Dramas In October 2021 That Will Send Shivers Down Your Spine

Korean dramas in October 2021

October is the spookiest month of the year, which perhaps explains why this month is packed with suspenseful thriller K-dramas. Here are seven Korean dramas in October 2021 you must watch to immerse yourself in the spooky season.

1. The King’s Affection

Image credit: @kbsdrama

Main Cast:

• Park Eun-bin as Lee Hwi
• Ro Woon as Jung Ji-woon
• Nam Yoon-su as Lee Hyun
• Bae Yoon-kyung as Shin So-eun
• Choi Byung-chan as Kim Ga-on

Twins are usually considered a blessing, but that isn’t the case in The King’s Affection. The Crown Prince’s wife gives birth to a baby boy and a baby girl. However, twins are a symbol of threat and doom to the royals, and the twin girl is eventually ordered to be killed.

The Crown Prince’s wife is desperate to save her daughter’s life, but the best she could do is to hide her daughter from the public eye, and away from the palace.

Life goes on in the palace until Lee Hwi, the twin boy, dies a few years later due to a disease. He’s replaced by his twin sister, who returns to the palace. The Crown Prince’s wife raises her daughter as Prince Lee Hwi, played by Park Eun-bin.

Although Lee Hwi is now the crown prince, she lives in fear of her real identity being exposed. As a result, Lee Hwi hides her true self and emotions from others.

Catch the teaser of The King’s Affection here: 

The King's Affection | Official Teaser | Netflix [ENG SUB]

Video credit: The Swoon 

Korean title: 연모
Genre: Historical, romance
Airs on: 11th October 

2. Reflection of You

Image credit: JTBC

Main Cast:

• Go Hyun-jung as Jung Hee-joo
• Shin Hyun-bin as Goo Hae-won
• Kim Jae-young as Seo Woo-jae
• Choi Won-young as Ahn Hyung-sung

Reflection of You revolves around the themes of revenge, betrayal, and love. 

Jung Hee-joo, played by Go Hyun-jung, did not have a smooth-sailing youth. Although she used to be poor, she worked hard to make it as an essayist and painter. Now, it appears as though Hee-joo has it all – a successful career, a competent husband, and two wonderful children.

However, there’s more to Hee-joo than meets the eye. She finds no meaning and purpose in life, and there’s an emptiness in her that can’t seem to be filled. But one day, Hee-joo comes across a woman who reminds her of the past. 

Just like Hee-joo’s younger self, the woman is poor and has nothing. But there’s something dazzling about this stranger that captivates Hee-joo’s attention.

Watch the thrilling teaser of Reflection of You here: 

[티저] ＂나의 지옥은, 너 …＂ 《너를 닮은 사람》│10/13(수) 밤 10시 30분 첫 방송

Video credit: JTBC Drama

Korean title: 너를 닮은 사람
Genre: Thriller
Airs on: 13th October 

3. My Name

Image credit: Netflix 

Main Cast:

• Han So-hee as Yoon Ji-woo
• Ahn Bo-hyun as Jeon Pil-do
• Park Hee-soon as Choi Moo-jin

My Name follows Yoon Ji-woo, played by Han So-hee, who seeks revenge for her father’s murder. She becomes part of a gang as she believes that it will help her find more clues about her father’s murder. 

After Ji-woo joins a gang, she goes undercover as a police officer. This is carried out with the help of Moo-jin, played by Park Hee-soon, who is in control of the biggest drug scene in Korea. 

Now that Ji-woo is part of the police force, she works closely with other police officers. Later on, she is assigned to work with Pil-do, played by Ahn Bo-hyun, who is a detective in the Drug Investigation Unit. 

Catch the action-packed teaser of My Name here: 

마이 네임 | 공식 티저 예고편 | 넷플릭스

Video credit: Netflix Korea 넷플릭스 코리아

Korean title: 마이네임
Genre: Action, crime, noir
Airs on: 15th October 

4. Jirisan 

Image credit: tvN

Main Cast:

• Jun Ji-hyun as Seo Yi-kang
• Ju Ji-hoon as Kang Hyun-jo
• Sung Dong-il as Jo Dae-jin
• Oh Jung-se as Jung Goo-young

Jirisan follows the story of Seo Yi-kang, Kang Hyun-jo, and the mountain climbers who visit Jirisan.

Seo Yi-kang, played by Jun Ji-hyun, is a skilled and experienced park ranger. Kang Hyun-jo, played by Ju Ji-hoon, is a newbie park ranger. He may not be as competent as Yi-kang since he is a newbie, but he has a personal story that propels him to become a successful park ranger.

Jirisan is no ordinary mountain as some of the mountain climbers don’t make it down alive. Some take their own lives on this mountain, while others are murdered. 

Catch the teaser of Jirisan here: 

Character Teaser: Yi-Gang | Jirisan | iQiyi Original

Video credit: iQIYI K-Drama

Korean title: 지리산
Genre: Action, mystery, thriller
Airs on: 23rd October 

5. Work Later, Drink Now 

Image credit: TVING

Main Cast: 

• Lee Sun-bin as Ahn So-hee
• Han Sun-hwa as Han Ji-yeon
• Jung Eun-ji as Kang Ji-gu
• Choi Si-won as Kang Book-goo

Adapted from the Korean webtoon of the same name, Work Later, Drink Now is centred on three single women in their 30s. They share a common motto in life, which is to drink a glass of alcohol after work. 

Ahn So-hee, played by Lee Su-bin, works as a writer in a broadcasting station. Kang Ji-gu, played by Jung Eun-ji, is an active YouTuber. Han Ji-yeon, played by Han Sun-hwa, works as a yoga instructor.

Kang Book-goo, played by Choi Si-won, is also part of their drinking gatherings. He is the producer of a Korean variety show. 

Unlike the other spine-chilling dramas on this list, Work Later, Drink Now is a light-hearted drama that will comfort your fatigued mind.

Watch the teaser of Work Later, Drink Now here:

[술꾼도시여자들] 이선빈X한선화X정은지 그리고 최시원🍻 본격_기승전술_드라마 | 티저 예고

Video credit: TVING

Korean title: 술꾼도시여자들
Genre: Slice of life
Airs on: 22nd October  

6. Crime Puzzle 

Image credit: seezn

Main Cast:

• Yoon Kye-sang as Han Seung-min
• Go Ah-sung as Yoo Hee 

Crime Puzzle is an adaptation of the Korean webtoon of the same title. This drama focuses on two protagonists, Han Seung-min and Yoo Hee. 

Han Seung-min, played by Yoon Kye-sang, is a criminal psychologist and professor. Yoo Hee, played by Go Ah-sung, is his ex-girlfriend. She works as a criminal profiler who compiles and analyses data to find out more about the criminals.

Out of the blue, Seung-min confesses that he murdered Yoo Hee’s father. As a result, he is sentenced to life imprisonment.

However, Yoo Hee knows that Seung-min is not the real culprit. She carries out a series of interviews with Seung-min and takes charge of his case to gather more clues. Seung-min and Yoo Hee, who were once in love, now meet as a criminal and a profiler. 

Crime Puzzle follows the journey of Seung-min and Yoo Hee, who piece together fragments of the murder case to complete the puzzle.

Korean title: 크라임 퍼즐
Genre: Psychological, mystery, thriller
Airs on: 29th October

7. Chimera

Images adapted from: BH Entertainment, YG Entertainment and BH Entertainment 

 Main Cast: 

• Park Hae-soo as Cha Jae-hwan
• Kim Soo-hyun as Yoo Jin
• Lee Hee-joon as Lee Joong-yeob

Chimera follows an unfortunate incident that resulted in a serial murder case in 1984. Since then, the murder case has been dubbed the “Chimera case”. 35 years later, an incident similar to the Chimera case takes place again.

The drama revolves around three protagonists, Cha Jae-hwan, Yoo Jin, and Lee Joong-yeob, who are eager to disclose the truth of the Chimera case. 

Cha Jae-hwan, played by Squid Games‘s Park Hae-soo, is a passionate detective. Yoo Jin, played by Kim Soo-hyun, used to work for the FBI in the US. Now, she works as a criminal profiler in Korea. Lee Joong-yeob, played by Lee Hee-joon, is a surgeon. As a child, he was adopted by a couple living in England. He returns to Korea, and begins to uncover the mystery of the Chimera case.

Watch the teaser of Chimera here: 

[1차티저] 괴물이 깨어났다! 누가 키마이라인가

Video credit: OCN

Korean title: 키마이라
Genre: Mystery, thriller
Airs on: 30th October  

Korean dramas to watch in October 2021

October 2021 is going to take you on a ride with many engrossing Korean dramas and a star-studded cast. In the meantime, you can binge watch the dramas that are currently airing in September, such as Squid Game, Yumi’s Cells, and The Veil.

Also check out:

• 8 best makjang dramas
• 20 thriller Korean dramas
• 21 Korean dramas about mental health
• 10 Korean medical dramas to binge-watch
• 11 workplace Korean dramas similar to Start-Up

Cover image adapted from: @kbsdrama, Netflix and TVING