The Judge From Hell and 4 Other Best Sci-Fi & Fantasy K-Dramas Released in 2024

Korean dramas are extremely popular around the world. They often tell stories of love and family relationships and address current social issues. However, their range of topics and genres does not end there.

Today, we are going to talk about the five best series with elements of fantasy and science fiction.

1. The Judge from Hell, 2024-...

A drama about a demoness who, as punishment for a careless mistake, was sent to earth to find ten criminals and send them to hell. She has one year to do everything. If she doesn't, the King of Hell will finish her off personally.

And everything goes well until she meets a detective and suddenly starts to feel sympathy for others – something demons are not supposed to do.

Instead of another soap opera romance, we get a colorful couple, bloody and spectacular fights, and a good dose of humor.

2. Parasyte: The Grey, 2024-...

The earth is full of aliens who enslave human bodies like parasites. But one of them fails to completely take over the girl's body. They have to coexist with each other, remaining outcasts among both humans and monsters.

Despite the alien invasion topic, the characters with their vivid stories and experiences remain in the foreground. In just six episodes, the writers explored several exciting themes: what makes us human and whether a monster is capable of emotions and feelings.

3. Light Shop, 2024

Actor Kim Hee-won, who starred in the most-watched Korean series on Disney+, Moving, made his directorial debut with the drama Light Shop in 2024.

It is based on Kang Full's webtoon of the same name about a mysterious shop that lights up a dark alley at night and attracts mysterious visitors.

From the very first episodes, the viewer understands that this is one of the best k-drama thrillers. The writers carefully and measuredly immerse each guest into the story so that viewers can experience the full range of emotions: fear, despair, sadness, and joy.

4. Midnight Photo Studio, 2024-...

A very cozy drama about a guy named Ki-joo who runs an unusual photo studio with his ghost friends. His clients are the ghosts of people who come to have their last photo taken before they pass on to the next world.

The main character also has a difficult fate: due to a curse, all members of his family die at the age of 35, and he himself has only 105 days to live. Already resigned to his imminent death, he meets a girl who gives him back his will to live.

5. Blood Free, 202-...

It's 2025, and the Korean market is dominated by BF Group, a biotech company that produces genetically modified meat. The goal seems noble – not to kill animals.

But the head of the company is under constant threat from farmers and those whose jobs and incomes have been stolen by this development. So she hires a former Marine as her bodyguard. But it's not for nothing that he tries to get closer to her.

Despite the slow pacing, it turns out to be an exciting experiment in futuristic themes, mixing several interesting directions at once – from cyberpunk to spy intrigue.