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Tatler Asia
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
9 K-dramas with shocking plot twists fans never saw coming
2. 'Mouse' Above Is Lee Seung-gi an innocent police officer or a serial killer? (Photo: tvN) This K-drama kept fans on their toes, trying to keep up with the countless plot twists and figure out who the real killer is. Is police officer Jeong Ba-reum (Lee Seung-gi) as innocent as he seems? Is Sung Yo-han (Kwon Hwa-woon) a serial killer like his infamous father, Han Seo-joon (Ahn Jae-wook)? An identity swap experiment and a brain transplant further complicate the story and leave audiences guessing about who the real killer is until the very end. See also: 12 K-dramas where the leading lady does all the saving 3. 'Flower of Evil' Above Lee Joon-gi has a hidden identity in 'Flower of Evil'. (Photo: tvN) The premise of the drama is tailor-made for plot twists: Cha Ji-won (Moon Chae-won) is a homicide detective married to Baek Hee-sung (Lee Joon-gi), a timid, loving and devoted husband and father. But Baek Hee-sung is living under a stolen identity and hiding a dark, violent past. Throughout the drama, viewers are left in suspense, questioning whether he's a reformed man or a cold-blooded killer. The search for the truth leads to a locked basement, where shocking revelations about his past—and the real Baek Hee-sung—change everything. 4. 'Lovely Runner' Above He fell first and fell harder. (Photo: tvN) Not all K-dramas with a shocking plot twist are thrillers. Lovely Runner , a romantic comedy time-slip drama, packs a sweet and swoon-worthy surprise. While Im Sol (Kim Hye-yoon) spends much of the series travelling back in time to try and save Ryu Sun-jae (Byeon Woo-seok) from his tragic fate, audiences learn that it's actually Sun-jae who fell in love first and fell harder, long before she ever travelled back in time. Don't miss: Romantic K-drama male leads who were created by female screenwriters 5. 'When the Phone Rings' Above You can expect plenty of plot twists when the phone rings. (Photo: MBC) There's no shortage of jaw-dropping reveals in When the Phone Rings , a mystery romance that kept audiences guessing until the very end. Early on, viewers discover that Baek Sa-eon (Yoo Yeon-seok) was the one who arranged his marriage to his wife, Hong Hee-joo (Chae Soo-bin). Later on, they learn Hee-joo's selective mutism is just a ruse her mother came up with to save her skin. And when the kidnapper is finally unmasked, it's the identity of his accomplice that truly shocks fans of the drama. 6. 'It's Okay to Not Be Okay' Above Someone has been hiding in plain sight in 'It's Okay to Not be Okay'. (Photo: tvN) Pulsing steadily beneath the surface of this healing gothic romance is a psychological thriller that ties together Ko Moon-yeong's (Seo Yea-ji) tragic family history and the Moon brothers' (Kim Soo-hyun and Oh Jung-se) traumatic past. Audiences were stunned to discover that Moon-yeong's abusive and mentally unhinged mother is not only alive and hiding in plain sight, but also the one responsible for the murder of the Moons' mother. See also: 9 fan-favourite K-drama opening credits you wouldn't want to skip 7. 'Vincenzo' Above Watch for the shocking heel reveal in 'Vincenzo'. (Photo: tvN) In this K-drama starring Song Joong-ki as Vincenzo, an Italian mafia consigliere who returns to South Korea in search of hidden gold, the big plot twist isn't so much a heel turn as it is a heel reveal. Although a key character's death early in the series delivers a gut punch, the real shocker is the revelation that a Zumba-loving attorney and a bumbling and seemingly harmless law firm intern are ruthless criminal masterminds. Later, the death of a redeemed fan-favourite character delivers yet another emotional blow fans didn't see coming. 8. 'The Light Shop' Above Prepare yourself for the most heartbreaking plot twist. (Photo: IMDb) There are plenty of plot twists in this supernatural K-drama—from the fate of couple Yoon Sun-hae (Kim Min-ha) and Park Hye-won (Kim Sun-hwa), who choose to make their home in the place in between life and death, to Lee Ji-young's (Seol Hyun) haunting pursuit of Kim Hyun-min (Um Tae-goo), the man she cannot bring herself to let go of. But perhaps the most surprising and heartbreaking of them all is the tragic backstory of Jung Won-young (Ju Ji-hoon), the mysterious light shop keeper, and his hidden connection to mother-and-daughter duo Jung Yoo-hee (Lee Jung-eun) and Joo Hyun-ju (Shin Eun-soo). See also: 10 anticipated K-drama Season 2 releases you shouldn't miss 9. 'Heavenly Ever After' Above There are plot twists even in Heaven. (Photo: JTBC) In the K-drama set in Heaven, the appearance of Som I, a young woman with unknown ties to Lee Hae-sook's (Kim Hye-ja) husband Ko Nak-joon (Son Suk-ku), throws everyone for a loop, especially when it's implied that there's a romantic connection between the two. But audiences later learn that Som I is not a separate person but the manifestation of Hae-sook's grief and guilt over the son they lost, which leads to another emotional bombshell: the kindly pastor who befriends Hae-sook turns out to have a much deeper connection to her than she ever imagined.
Tatler Asia
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
8 K-dramas with jaw-dropping cinematography
2. 'My Mister' (2018) Above 'My Mister' (Photo: IMDB) Starring: Lee Sun-kyun, IU Bleak but beautiful, My Mister uses its dim lighting like an emotional thermometer. The greyness isn't just a vibe. Rather, it's a visual expression of burnout, loneliness and resilience. Industrial alleys, cramped homes and office cubicles are shot with the same care as a glossy K-pop video. Yet somehow, it all feels poetic. 3. 'Goblin / Guardian: The Lonely and Great God' (2016) Above 'Goblin' (Photo: IMDB) Starring: Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun You know a show has cinematographic chops when a scarf flying through the air becomes iconic. Goblin leans into romance-fantasy visuals with cathedral lighting, slow-mo snowfalls and surreal transitions. There's always a gust of wind at just the right time, and every flashback looks like it's been colour-graded for maximum heartbreak. 4. 'Pachinko' (2022) Above 'Pachinko' (Photo: IMDB) Starring: Kim Min-ha, Lee Min-ho, Youn Yuh-jung Technically an Apple TV+ production, but with a Korean soul, Pachinko is lush and layered. It was shot in Japan, Korea and the US, and absolutely stunning in every frame. Thanks to cinematographers Florian Hoffmeister and Ante Cheng, each timeline has its own colour language, with pastel memories and saturated heartbreaks. This is a visual epic that earns every sweeping camera movement. 5. 'Squid Game' (2021) Above 'Squid Game' (Photo: Netflix) Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo Weird, wild and washed in candy colours, Squid Game uses surreal set design and visual contrast to perfection. Neon pink stairs, creepy giant dolls and sterile white dormitories create an atmosphere that's part fever dream, part social commentary. It's not just stylised—it's psychological warfare in aesthetic form. Lee Hyung-deok was responsible for its eerie, child-like surrealism in the first season, while Kim Ji-yong took over for Season 2. 6. 'Arthdal Chronicles' (2019) Above 'Arthdal Chronicles' (Photo: IMDB) Starring: Song Joong-ki, Kim Ji-won, Jang Dong-gun Arthdal Chronicles stands out for its ambitious world-building and high production values. The series boasts stunning cinematography that captures the mythical land of Arth with sweeping landscapes and meticulously designed sets. The visual storytelling enhances the epic narrative, immersing viewers in a richly imagined ancient civilisation. See more: 10 most expensive Korean dramas to make 7. 'Flower of Evil' (2020) Above 'Flower of Evil' (Photo: VIU) Starring: Lee Joon-gi, Moon Chae-won Flower of Evil employs a cinematic approach that elevates its suspenseful and emotional narrative. The series utilises thoughtful framing and lighting to accentuate the psychological tension between characters. The director's intention to highlight hidden contrasts is evident in the impactful visual compositions throughout the show. There's something about the cinematography that makes it even more of a must-watch. 8. 'Move to Heaven' (2021) Above 'Move to Heaven' (Photo: IMDB) Starring: Lee Je-hoon, Tang Jun-sang Move to Heaven is lauded for its poignant storytelling complemented by exquisite cinematography. The series features beautifully composed shots that underscore the emotional depth of each episode. The visual aesthetics contribute to the show's heartfelt exploration of life, death and the memories left behind.
