Introduction
While big-city romances often dominate the world of K-dramas, there’s something uniquely gripping about village-set Korean dramas with intense action and mystery. These shows pair serene settings with high-stakes plots, uncovering secrets, showcasing thrilling chases, and delivering powerful emotional moments.
Whether you love detective stories, cult thrillers, or psychological mysteries, here are the 9 best K-drama village action series that are sure to keep you glued to the screen.
1. The Good Detective (2020–2022)
- Setting: Incheon and smaller towns
- Genre: Crime, Thriller, Action
This gritty police drama follows two detectives digging into a web of corruption. While urban-centered, many scenes take place in smaller towns that evoke a dark village aesthetic.
Why Watch: Sharp storytelling, suspenseful plot, and haunting countryside visuals.
2. When the Camellia Blooms (2019)
- Setting: Ongsan Village
- Genre: Romance, Comedy, Thriller
Dongbaek’s life in a tight-knit village takes a dark turn with the arrival of a serial killer. This series blends heartwarming relationships with chilling suspense.
Why Watch: Strong lead performance, village charm, and a gripping mystery.
3. Beyond Evil (2021)
- Setting: Manyang (fictional village)
- Genre: Psychological Thriller, Crime
A dark, slow-burn drama set in a sleepy village hiding monstrous secrets. The tension builds through every quiet alley and empty street.
Why Watch: Twisted plot, breathtaking cinematography, and powerful action.
4. Save Me (2017)
- Setting: Muji County
- Genre: Thriller, Cult Drama
When a girl trapped in a cult whispers “Save me,” her former classmates begin a dangerous mission against a terrifying organization in a remote village.
Why Watch: Intense performances, psychological warfare, and village-based horror.
5. Missing: The Other Side (2020–2023)
- Setting: Duon Village (mystical)
- Genre: Fantasy, Action, Mystery
A man stumbles upon a hidden village that houses the souls of the missing. Together with a small team, he uncovers unsolved cases and delivers justice.
Why Watch: Fantastical plot, great pacing, and emotional depth.
6. Chief Kim (2017)
- Setting: Small-town office branches
- Genre: Office Drama, Action, Comedy
Though mainly set in offices, Chief Kim’s antics in smaller branch towns deliver both laughs and justice-packed action with hilarious confrontations.
Why Watch: Underdog charm, comedic action, and heart.
7. Bloodhounds (2023)
- Setting: Urban and rural mix
- Genre: Crime, Action
This fast-paced thriller showcases epic hand-to-hand combat while exploring the darker side of loan sharking—often retreating to countryside hideouts for dramatic showdowns.
Why Watch: Adrenaline-pumping action, brotherhood, and redemption.
8. Welcome to Waikiki 2 (2019)
- Setting: Seoul suburb (village-like neighborhood)
- Genre: Comedy, Slice of Life, Light Action
A light-hearted drama with nostalgic village visits and unexpectedly heartfelt action scenes that highlight the characters’ backstories.
Why Watch: Fun, light action, and strong emotional payoff.
9. The Village: Achiara’s Secret (2015)
- Setting: Achiara Village
- Genre: Thriller, Suspense
A mysterious corpse leads to dark village secrets and hidden traumas. This eerie thriller explores what happens when a peaceful facade begins to crack.
Why Watch: Moody setting, great mystery, and suspenseful pacing.
Conclusion
Whether you’re looking for intense mysteries, psychological suspense, or supernatural twists, these village action K-dramas will leave you hooked. Their rural settings enhance the drama, making the action feel more personal and the stakes even higher.
Have a favorite K-drama set in a village? Share it in the comments below!
