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Mafia K-dramas are popular genres of Korean cinema. These stories explore the grueling world of crime and the struggles of those caught in the web of the crime underworld. Mafia K-dramas, more often than not, depict the exploits of ruthless, yet charismatic protagonists who undergo positive character developments and redeem themselves in the eye of viewers.
This genre of K-dramas teaches valuable lessons and is a satire of the lawlessness, greed, corruption of public officers, extortion, and crime, prevalent in modern society. Some of these Mafia K-dramas also explore romance and how it thrives in the most unlikely places.
Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer's opinion and is ranked in no particular order.
7 Best Mafia K-dramas to Watch in 2024
These Mafia K-dramas have been praised for their storylines and acting.
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- Vincenzo
- My Name
- Kill It
- My Sweet Mobster
- Heartless City
- The Worst of Evil
- My Beautiful Bride
1. Vincenzo
Vincenzo, the popular Mafia K-drama series, premiered in 2021 and stars Song Joong-ki, Jeon Yeo-been, Ok Taec-yeon, Kwak Dong-yeon, Yoo Jae-myung, Jo Han-chul, and Kin Yeo-jin, amongst others.
The series follows the story of the eponymous character, Vincenzo (Song Joong-ki), an Italian mafia consigliere who flees back to Korea after an attempt on his life. After escaping the dangers of Italy, he finds himself in an entanglement with the Babel conglomerate when he tries to claim his hidden stash of gold.
He also meets the quirky and somewhat morally ambiguous lawyer, Hong Cha-young (Jeon Yeo-been), and together they embark on a thrilling mission to take down the conglomerate using mafia tactics and legal expertise. Vincenzo is ranked fourth on the Forbes Watch Korean series of 2021 and was the winner of the 2021 Best Drama Series at the Asian Television Awards.
2. My Name
My Name was released in 2021 to critical acclaim and stars Han So-hee, Ahn Bo-hyun, Chang Ryul, Park Hee-soon, Moon Sang-min, and Lee Hak-joo, amongst others. My Name explores the gritty tale of revenge.
The series follows the journey of Yoon Ji-woo (Han So-hee), a young woman who is driven by the relentless pursuit of revenge after the sudden death of her father leaves her devastated. To achieve her goal, she joins a powerful crime organization where she undergoes rigorous training.
She then infiltrates the police force, where she works closely with Detective Jeon Pil-do (Ahn Bo-hyun). Her double life is filled with danger as she navigates through the world of organized crime while simultaneously trying to uncover truths about her father’s death. My Name was nominated four times for APAN Star Awards, once for the Baeksang Art Awards, and thrice for the Blue Dragon Series Awards.
3. Kill It
Kill It is a 2019 series starring Nana, Jang Ki-yong, Roh Jeong-eui, David Lee Mclnnis, Jung Hae-kyun, and Ji Il-jo amongst others. The series revolves around two characters- Do Hyun-jin (Nana), a brilliant detective, and Kim Soo-hyun (Jang Ki-yong), a kind-hearted veterinarian and highly skilled assassin.
The story unfolds as Hyun-jin digs into Soo-hyun’s mysterious past and uncovers a web of secrets and conspiracies. It soon becomes apparent that they are connected by a shared past that involves an orphanage and a powerful crime organization.
They work together to solve the mystery and their relationship evolves, creating a unique dynamic between killer and detective. The series Kill It has a high review rating of 9.3 / 10 on Viki and 7.7/10 on IMDb.
4. My Sweet Mobster
My Sweet Mobster is an ongoing rom-com television drama that stars, Han Sunhwa, Uhm Tae-goo, Kim Hyeon-jin, Kwon Yul, Park Jae-chan, and Moon Ji-in, amongst others.
The series takes an unconventional approach to the mafia genre. It revolves around an unlikely pair- a reformed gangster and a children’s content creator. The series follows the story of Seo Ji-hwan (Uhm Tae-goo), a reformed gangster who is now the CEO of a food company and Go Eun-ha (Han Sunhwa), a cheerful and optimistic YouTuber who creates kid content on her channel.
The Mafia K-drama series explores themes of love, forgiveness, and unexpected pairing. My Sweet Mobster series has been well received by viewers and boasts a high rating of 9.7/10 on Viki. It is currently the fifth most searched rom-com show on Streaming Today.
5. Heartless City
Heartless City premiered in 2013 and stars Jung Kyung-ho, Nam Gyu-ri, Hyun-min Yoon, Lee Jae-yoon, Kim Yoo-mi, and Go Na Eun amongst others. The Mafia K-drama delves into the nitty-gritty world of organized crime.
The Mafia K-drama series follows the story of Yoon Soo-min (Nam Gyu-ri), a young woman driven by the desire to avenge the murder of her undercover police best friend. She infiltrates a powerful drug syndicate to find those involved in the murder, putting her own life at risk.
The journey brings her in contact with the mysterious Doctor’s Son (Jung Kyung-ho) who may be the key to unraveling the mystery surrounding Lee Kyung-mi’s (Go Na Eun) murder. The drama explores the love and struggle of individuals entangled in the web of drugs, power, and betrayal. Heartless City boasts an 8.5/10 review rating on MyDramaList and 9.3/10 on Viki.
6. The Worst of Evil
The Worst of Evil stars Ji Chang-wook, Wi Ha-joon, BIBI, Im Se-mi, Lee Shin-ki, and Ji Seung-hyun amongst others, was released in 2023. The South Korean crime series set in the 1990s tells the story of a dedicated police officer, Park Jun-mo (Ji Chang-wook), who infiltrates a massive criminal organization whose illegal drug business cuts across South Korea, China, and Japan.
Jun-mo adopts a new identity and goes deep into the world of crime. His wife, Yoo Eui-jeong (Im Se-mi) who is also a police officer, immerses herself in the investigation as well but is unaware of his undercover operation.
The Mafia K-drama series presents a realistic portrayal of the criminal underworld. The Worst of Evil had three nominations at the 2024 Baeksang Arts Awards.
7. My Beautiful Bride
My Beautiful Bride is a 2015 South Korean television series starring Lee Si-young, Kim Mu-yeol, Ryu Seung Su, Ko Sung-hee, Park Hae-joon, and Jo Han-chul amongst others.
The drama follows the story of Do-hyeong (Kim Mu-yeol), a man whose life is disrupted when his fiancée, Jo-kyung (Ko Sung-hee) mysteriously disappears without a trace. In his desperation to find her, he becomes entangled with a dangerous underground organization, and resorts to violence to unravel the truth.
The Mafia K-drama explores themes of love, loss, obsession, and the lengths people would go to protect those they love. My Beautiful Bride has a rating of 7.9/10 on MyDramaList and 7.2/10 rating on IMDb.
Some of these Mafia K-dramas have received multiple awards and are great movies to add to the watchlist.
