10 best K-survival TV shows like All of Us Are Dead
From historical thrillers like Kingdom to heart-pounding drama like Duty After School, these shows blend suspense, emotion, and social critique, making survival stories both gripping and thought-provoking.
Alice in Borderland: Korea Even being originally Japanese, this survival game idea finds its appeal in Korean adaptations and fan speculations. Picture players stuck in Seoul, fighting to survive in fatal games. Fans have also longed for a K-drama version with Korean narrative complexity, mixing survival intensity with emotional character arcs like Squid Game and All of Us Are Dead.
2/10
Squid Game (2021) The international phenomenon Squid Game features desperate individuals who are invited to play life-and-death children's games with a huge cash prize. The survival thriller hooked viewers with its gripping narrative, empathetic character development, and biting social critique of inequality.
3/10
Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula (Drama Version – 2020) Sequel to the hit movie, Peninsula opens up the zombie survival world in South Korea. This series captures how survivors endure years following the outbreak and blends emotional storytelling with intense fights for survival.
4/10
D-Day (2015) This disaster-medical drama depicts Seoul devastated by an enormous earthquake, leaving the city in shambles. Physicians, emergency personnel, and survivors fight to save lives amidst crumbling infrastructure and anarchy.
Pandora: Beneath the Paradise (2023) This thriller show focuses on a woman who has a seemingly flawless life until her memories come flooding back, propelling her into a survival game of survival against political conspiracies and lethal secrets. Pandora delves into betrayal, survival, and the struggle for justice, proving that survival is not just about the body but also the mind.
6/10
Sweet Home (2020) Set in a rundown apartment complex, Sweet Home revolves around the lives of people struggling with horrific transformations sweeping Korea. The origin story of every character gives depth to the story, where survival is not only about combating monsters but also overcoming inner demons.
7/10
Happiness (2021) In a near-future world hit by a viral outbreak, a high-rise apartment becomes the epicentre of survival. Happiness blends thriller, action, and romance as residents are forced to deal with the spread of a deadly infection while facing paranoia and mistrust.
8/10
Kingdom (2019–2020) Based in the Joseon dynasty, Kingdom is a blend of historical drama and zombie horror. When a mystifying plague hits Korea, the crown prince battles to find the cause of the outbreak. With breathtaking cinematography and politics, the series combines survival, history, and supernatural horror into a classic that set the genre back on its head for international viewers.
Duty After School (2023) This heart-pounding drama features high school students conscripted to fight in a survival war against unexplained alien beings. The series depicts bravery, camaraderie, and emotional tension between young people who are brought to a war zone where each day may be their last.
10/10
Hellbound (2021) Hellbound is a world where demons condemn humans to hell in ghastly public executions. With the genre of dark themes, gruesome visuals, and social commentary, the drama is a survival battle against fear, fanaticism, and the disintegration of humanity itself.
