We all love K-dramas that can make us laugh, cry, and comfort us in the best possible way. But have you ever heard of shows that can give you the goosebumps AND have you in fits of laughter at the same time? Although it's a pretty *rare* genre in South Korea, dark comedy dramas are worth adding to your watchlist. These series are good at tackling real-life issues like manipulation and violence, and they're injected with humor so they won't feel as ~disturbing~ as they sound.
Here are six dark comedy K-dramas on Netflix, Viu, and iQIYI:
1. Vincenzo (2021)
Where you can watch it: Netflix
It all starts when a mafia consigliere (Song Joong Ki) from Italy goes back to South Korea to ~retrieve~ his hidden gold in a building. He knows that it won't be easy to do so, especially since the place is already occupied by tenants. But what he didn't expect is that he would be seeking justice while in a chaotic situation! Vincenzo will have you wheezing at night from too much laughing because of its characters but beware—the villains here are so intense, you'll be watching some episodes with only one eye open. A CEO who smashes someone's head with an ice hockey stick, anyone?
2. The Fiery Priest (2017)
Where you can watch it: Netflix
The Fiery Priest is written by Park Jae Bum, who also wrote Vincenzo, so you're already sure that you're in for a rollercoaster of emotions. The story is about a hot-tempered priest (Kim Nam Gil) who looks for the truth when a clergyman died for some sketchy reason. Sounds dark, right? Mix that with a handful of hilarious personalities with an ~extraordinary~ backstory (like a gambler who became a nun) and you'll have a series you'll be binge-watching until 1 a.m.!
3. Prison Playbook (2017)
Where you can watch it: Netflix, Viu, iQIYI
Before Park Hae Soo became a Seoul National University graduate named Cho Sang Woo in Squid Game, he was first introduced as the star baseball player Kim Jae Hyuk in Prison Playbook. Here, he was supposed to make his Major League Baseball debut in the US until he was convicted of assault. Jae Hyuk's life took a 180-degree turn as he spend his days in prison with a bunch of inmates who are either planning to stab him to death or protect him at all costs. You'll love how he was able to make friends behind the bars, but also be sad about the truth when it comes to crimes.
4. SKY Castle (2019)
Where you can watch it: Netflix, Viu, iQIYI
SKY Castle has several layers of genres—from mystery to drama—and it's just right to include this masterpiece in our list. The series revolves around a posh neighborhood called SKY Castle where the most affluent live (think lawyers and doctors). But behind its glamorous facade, the families here are risking their mental health in order to get their children admitted to the top three universities in South Korea. SKY Castle is more unsettling than funny (it's actually a satirical show about SoKor's highly pressurized education system), but it's peppered with light scenes from time to time.
5. Zombie Detective (2020)
Where you can watch it: Netflix, Viu
If you want more laughter than goosebumps, Zombie Detective is the perfect drama for you! Far from the growling and flesh-eating zombies we're used to, Kang Min Ho (Choi Jin Hyuk) is less creepy and super adorable. Yes, he craves human flesh (although he's scared of people, LOL!) but he also loves covering his scars with bb cream and dancing to 2PM's "Heartbeat." When he's not doing these, you'll see him as a detective (he actually doesn't have any idea of his past and just assumed that he's a sleuth) solving crimes with his sidekick.
6. Lawless Lawyer (2018)
Where you can watch it: Netflix, Viu, iQIYI
Let's add a legal drama to your must-watch series: Lawless Lawyer is set in the courtroom and is about lawyers Bong Sang Pil (Lee Joon Gi) and Ha Jae Yi (Seo Ye Ji). They teamed up to establish the Lawless Law Firm, with the goal to take vengeance for what has happened to them in the past. They're also set to fight corruption in the process. Lawless Lawyer has a solid plot with adrenaline-filled fight scenes and witty banter, so you won't get bored of it. Promise!
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MORE K-DRAMA ROUNDUPS RIGHT HERE:
6 Must-Watch Dark And *Intense* K-Dramas
11 K-Dramas To Watch After Work That Won't Stress You Out, Promise