17 K-Dramas With A Vampire Storyline, Ranked

Vampires will never go out of style, and to prove it, the best K-dramas with a vampire storyline run the gamut of release years and settings. The dreaded vampire has bewitched the minds of audiences and readers ever since Bram Stoker’s Dracula hit the shelves and brought the creature into popular consciousness. While there have been many iterations and changes made to vampires over the years, the one thing that remains the same is that in order to survive, they must drink the blood of humans. Outside of that, writers have really been able to adapt vampire lore to their chosen genre or culture, and that’s true of K-dramas as well.

Vampire stories have been intertwined with love stories more often than not over the years. Huge hits like the Twilight movies and True Blood zero in on dark and romantic immortal love. In short, vampires and the fiction surrounding them are quite profitable and will remain so for the foreseeable future. Love story or not, vampires are intriguing mythical creatures, and their mutability within fiction is part of what makes them so fascinating. These are the best K-dramas with a vampire storyline.

17 Vampire Flower (2014)

Vampire Flower is a K-drama from 2014 based on a web novel by Shin Ji Eun, and unfortunately, the worst of the K-dramas with a vampire storyline. Many fans dub the short drama as Korea’s version of Twilight. The six-episode drama follows a similar storyline to Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward’s (Robert Pattinson) relationship. However, it’s precisely its alignment with Twilight that it ranks so low.

Louis (Seo Jae Hyung) is a centuries-old vampire who still looks like a youthful teenager. Louis soon meets Seo Young (Kim Ga Eun) who entices him with her unique and extraordinarily smelling blood. As they fall deeper and deeper in love, they’re faced with dangerous situations. Together, Louis and Seo Youn make the treacherous journey through the land of vampires to retrieve a rare Vampire Flower. Unfortunately, Vampire Flower‘s lack of originality overshadows its promising storyline and decent acting, which is why it’s the lowest-ranking K-drama on the list.

16 Freeze (2006)

Featuring The Unthawing Of Vampire Emotions

Freeze often gets overlooked when it comes to K-dramas about vampires simply because the 2006 series is actually a miniseries. With only five episodes, it’s shorter than the usual K-drama, and for fans who might prefer longer story arcs, it often gets skipped without learning to much more about it, but the series is a darker romance with a serial killer subplot and characters with rich backstory that makes it a great watch.

The story follows a man who saves a woman from being burned at the stake by villagers. She happens to be a vampire, and saves his life when he falls off a cliff not long after. While she has feelings for him hundreds of years later as they run a wine bar together, he’s closed himself off to love completely – until he meets the daughter of a human woman he broke up with 20 years earlier. The vampire who turned him has to watch his frozen emotions thaw for someone new.

15 Bulgasal: Immortal Souls (2021)

A More Traditional Korean Vampire Story

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls (2021)

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls is a South Korean fantasy drama that centers around a man cursed with immortality and a woman who has undergone numerous reincarnations over centuries. The series, starring Lee Jin-wook and Kwon Nara, delves into their intertwined fates and their quest for redemption. Directed by Jang Young-woo, the storyline traverses ancient and modern times, blending mythological elements with deep emotional conflicts.

Cast: Lee Jin-Wook , Nara , Lee Joon , Gong Seung-Yeon , Jung Jin-young , Kim Woo-seok , Eom Ji-man , Jo Ji-hyun
Release Date: December 18, 2021
Seasons: 1

Bulgasal is very different from the typical Western vampire stories, and that’s in large part because it doesn’t deal with the idea of vampires that have persisted in European and American literature since Dracula was published. Instead, it focuses on a bit of Korean folklore. The creature it’s inspired by in folklore, however, consumes metal, while the one in the television series consumes blood.

In folklore, the Pulgasari or Bulgasari is created by a Buddhist monk on the run. He forms a creature from grains of rice and feeds it needles while being pursued for practicing his religion. The more metal the creature consumes, the larger and more powerful it becomes. The series uses this same idea, but for a man who becomes immortal 600 years before the events of the series takes place. In order to maintain his life and power, he must consume blood.

The series sees a man who became immortal trying to live his life in the modern day, only to cross paths with a woman who used to be immortal, but has since become human. It creates a modern vampire tale fused with a unique myth to make for an interesting series.

14 Kissable Lips (2022)

There aren’t a lot of K-dramas with great LGBTQ+ representation. However, Kissable Lips manages to feature two leading men in a romantic relationship, despite being so low on the K-dramas with a vampire storyline ranked list. Set in a university, the K-drama is about two students, Jun Ho (Kim Ji-Woong), a vampire who feels that he is nearing his death, and Min Hyun (Yoon Seo-Bin), a rebellious human who is classmates with Jun Ho.

Jun Ho needs to drink pure blood in order to survive his ordeal. Thankfully, Min Hyun possesses the type of blood that can save Jun Ho, but in order to get to it, he must first get close and attract his classmate. While it’s a watchable series, the ending is far too abrupt, and the acting in the romantic K-drama feels forced in certain moments.

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13 The Sweet Blood (2021)

The Sweet Blood is a K-drama comprised of very short episodes. Though rarely high on any list of Korean vampire dramas, it’s still bingeable in its own right. Yeon Seo (Song Chae Yoon) is a 118-year-old vampire born to a human mother and vampire father. Despite her abilities and beauty, she wants to live a normal life and blends in with high schoolers.

Her desire to graduate high school is put on hold and her life gets turned upside down when she smells the blood of Song Meo Roo (Kim Eo Jin). Meo Roo’s sweet blood isn’t only attracting Yeon Seo, but every vampire and werewolf alike (prompting Twilight comparisons). Yeon Seo vows to protect him while trying to resist a taste. Unfortunately, the resolution came far too easily, leaving a hasty wrap-up at the end.

12 Immortal Goddess (2016)

There aren’t a ton of K-dramas to feature vampires out there, so 2016 was a good year for vampire K-dramas – and for some very different ones at that. While vampire stories tend to paint vampires as superior to humans, nearly impossible to kill, and incredibly strong and healthy, Immortal Goddess examines the lives of vampires who aren’t necessarily physically “better” than humans.

Instead, there is a difference in vampires as some are able to heal quickly and age beyond normal human illnesses, while others have what are essentially immune disorders that cause them to show physical signs of aging. This idea is combined with a pair of vampire sisters on either side of the vampire health spectrum who are selling a cosmetics line alongside the friends they make on their journey. It’s an incredibly unique take on the vampire theme in K-dramas.

11 Bite Sisters (2021)

If there’s one thing that vampire shows have revealed about the marvelous creatures, it’s that vampires are more likely to survive if they stick together instead of trying to live for hundreds of years in isolation. In the K-drama Bite Sisters, three vampires pretend to be sisters. It mainly focuses on Han Yi-Na (Kang Han-Na), an 821-year-old vampire who is also a very popular online influencer.

Yi-Na uses her popularity to secretly help victims of injustice. In the show, she also falls in love with a human named Jung Sung-Min (Lee Shin Young), which somewhat makes Bite Sisters a fantasy and romance K-drama similar to Hotel Del Luna andGoblin. The show doesn’t rank particularly high simply because it was cut short. The series really had room to grow, and should have been expanded beyond its one season.

10 Vampire Idol (2011)

Vampire Idol is a vampire K-drama for K-Pop fans as it is a youth comedy sitcom, but centered around vampires. The drama tells the story of a naive vampire prince from a distant vampire planet. Being a fan of K-Pop and idols, he travels to Earth to watch a performance of his favorite idols. Accompanying the Prince are his three trusted servants.

Something occurs and the Prince is unable to return home. He takes it as his opportunity to finally pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a famous idol. His journey isn’t easy as he’s not deemed attractive on Earth and has to deal with the adversaries of adolescence and humans. Unfortunately, the K-pop style K-dramaVampire Idol isn’t higher on the K-dramas with a vampire storyline ranked list because of its bad CGI and several cringe-worthy moments.

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9 The Vampire Lives Next Door To Us (2015)

Not a typical vampire K-drama, but instead a short film, the 20-minute vignette is sure to surprise and delight fans of the undead. The eccentric storyline follows a lonely vampire (Seong Ji) who lives in a morgue. While he usually looks to punish those he deems “bad people,” things change when a girl who died by drowning is checked in, and their fates miraculously intertwine.

The Vampire Lives Next Door to Us is definitely a quirky entry, but its short run time makes it an easy watch. Seong Ji is both deliciously comical and terrifying as the vampire, with many noting the portrayal’s clear influence from Johnny Depp’s movie performances. The only reason this film isn’t higher is that it deserves to be a full-length feature, and could’ve used the time to better explore Seong Ji’s vampire.

8 HeartBeat (2023)

There have been a lot of takes on love stories in the world of vampires, and this particular vampire K-drama is another one. The 2023 series is centered on a man (Ok Teac-yeon) who is half-vampire-half-human but longs to be fully human. He has a plan to transform into a human being and give up his vampire half, but it involves sleeping for 100 years. That sleep is interrupted by a young woman who works as a school nurse (Won Ji-an).

The duo come from completely different worlds and time periods, and they also have very different goals in life, but they find themselves having to work together. Along the way, they fall for one another. Though the series could have been a dark one, instead, their story plays like a romantic comedy, making it a lighter and more enjoyable vampire story.

7 Vampire Prosecutor (2011-2012)

Vampire Prosecutor is a must-watch vampire K-drama. It’s a rare show that got a second volume due to its popularity. While it’s one of the few K-dramas with a second season, it’s not ranked quite as well because the show itself isn’t critically acclaimed. Sure, it had solid ratings throughout its run, but other shows have done even better with audiences and critics. The 2011 drama centered around Min Tae-Yeon (Yeon Jung-Hoon, who appeared on the Korean variety show 2 Days 1 Night), a respected prosecutor who’s turned into a vampire.

Tae-Yeon’s abilities come with a useful yet painful perk. By drinking the blood of the deceased, he can see their pasts to help find the person responsible for their deaths. There’s a downside as drinking the victim’s blood causes him extreme pain. One case catches his attention as the perpetrator might be a vampire and Tae-Yeon starts to question why he was turned.

6 The Vampire Detective (2016)

The Vampire Detective follows a common storyline and many K-drama tropes, but it’s still a bingeworthy show and a great vampire K-drama. Yoon San (Lee Joon) works as a private detective with his friend solving cases for clients. One day, Yoon San is changed into a vampire, and he doesn’t know why.

Now a vampire, Yoon Joon uses his abilities to solve more cases. Despite its indulgence in K-drama tropes, the bigger storyline is unique as it revolves around Yoon Joon using his abilities to try and uncover his past and why he was turned. The show only has 12 episodes and some fans wished it got a proper ending that fit the thrilling storyline. The Vampire Detective did well enough to be nominated for a Most Popular Actor (Lee Joon) Award at the 52nd Paeksang Arts Awards, but unfortunately didn’t win.

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5 Blood (2015)

Blood is one of the most highly talked about K-dramas when it comes to the Korean dramas that contain vampires as well. Park Ji-Sang (Ahn Jae-Hyun) is a notorious doctor in his field as a hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeon. He hides a secret; Ji-Sang is a vampire who suppresses his bloodlust to save the lives of terminally ill patients.

Yoo Ri-Ta (Ku Hye-Sun) catches Ji-Sang’s attention for being snooty and arrogant just for being the niece of the group chairman. Despite this, he can’t help but be attracted to her. Underneath it all, there’s a story of the two-faced hospital director who has evil and dark ambitions for power. Blood has attracted praise from critics, even being nominated for four awards at the KBS Drama Awards, however, it didn’t take any wins home.

4 Hello Franceska (2005-2006)

The 2005 K-drama, Hello Franceska, has a bit of everything as it’s titled a sitcom, comedy, horror, and satire with the added flair of vampires. Fans might notice that the show is inspired by The Addams Family movies in terms of aesthetics and character dynamics. The cult-classic series is an excellent entry in the world of vampire K-dramas, as the oddball series is one to remember.

The last of the vampire families are sent off by their leader to different parts of the world. One family makes a mistake and ends up in South Korea where they meet an unlucky salaryman. After Franceska (Shim Hye-Jin) bites him, he turns, but they vow to turn him human again when their leader comes for them. Having no choice, they pretend to be a family and assimilate into human life.

3 Orange Marmalade (2015)

Orange Marmalade, easily one of the best vampire K-dramas, is a teen romance K-drama centered in a world where vampires exist hidden among human life. The show revolves around Ma-Ri (Seolhyun), a young recluse and teenage vampire who tries to keep her identity hidden due to a peace treaty signed by the government.

Things take a turn when Ma-Ri starts dozing off on the train and is enticed by the sweet smell of Jae-Min’s (Yeo Jin-Goo) blood. The same exact scene is seen in the drama’s original webtoon. From that moment, Ma-Ri falls in love with Jae-Min, and he can’t stay away from her. Their love story isn’t easy, as Jae-Min isn’t fond of vampires. Orange Marmalade scooped up two awards at the KBS drama awards, one for Best New Actor (Yeo Jin-goo) and Popularity Award – Actress for Kim Seol-hyun.

2 Scholar Who Walks The Night (2015)

Based on its original manhwa, Scholar Who Walks the Night is a famous historical K-drama set during the Joseon era and is nearly the best Korean vampire drama. Jo Yang-Sun (Lee Yu-Bi) and her family are disgraced when her father is framed for treason. In order to make money, she dresses as a man and becomes a bookseller. She soon meets the handsome and mysterious scholar Kim Sung-Yeol (Lee Joon-Gi).

Sung-Yeol has been a vampire for 120 years and a guardian who kills anyone who defies the rules. Sung-Yeol is aware of Yang-Sun’s secret and tasks her with finding a special book. Along the way, Sung-Yeol realizes there’s a vampire going after the throne, and with Sung-Yeol tries to stop him and seek revenge for his past.

Lee Yu-Bi’s (of the medical K-drama A Poem a Day) Scholar Who Walks the Night is critically acclaimed, having 4 awards to its name, with 3 of them from the MBC Drama Awards and a Best Historical Drama award from the 4th Annual DramaFever Awards.

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1 Thirst (2009)

While not for the faint of heart, the 2009 horror/K-drama, Thirst, is the best Korean vampire drama. One of the few feature films on the list, this is a passionate and steamy K-drama that brings forth the most accurate version of what a bloodthirsty vampire looks like according to folklore, all with stunning visuals, a dark and gritty tone, and a love story for the ages.

Thirst follows Catholic priest Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho) who volunteers for a vaccine development project with horrific results. After almost dying, he’s given an accidental transfusion of vampire blood and ends up giving up the collar for a life of earthly pleasures. Thirst won the Jury Prize at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and was even nominated for the Palm d’Or. The vampire K-drama has won 11 awards total, with accolades from the Director’s Cut Awards, the Asian Film Awards, and the 2009 Blue Dragon Film Awards.