Lee Do-hyun and Song Hye-kyo star in ‘The Glory.’
The saying that revenge is sweet holds especially true for the creators of a recent Korean drama about revenge. The Glory, starring Song Hye-kyo, aired the first eight episodes in Dec. 2022, reaching the top of the viewing charts in 26 countries. The remaining eight episodes aired on March 10 and within days entered the streaming platform’s Non-English TV most popular list in the #9 spot. There it joins three other Korean series, namely Squid Game, All Of Us Are Dead and Extraordinary Attorney Woo. According to Netflix
In The Glory, Song plays a woman who was brutally abused by her rich cruel classmates. She dedicates her life to exacting revenge against those who bullied her. As adults they have not reformed and show no remorse for their past crimes, so Song’s character Dong-eun ruins their lives. Beautifully photographed and thoughtfully directed the drama might leave viewers with a taste for revenge, at least in Korean dramas. So, what revenge dramas might be next on the watch list?
There are so many to choose from. The first months of 2023, not only delivered the second half of The Glory, but Pandora, Payback and the second season of Taxi Driver. Here are a few more to satisfy the revenge craving.
Song Joong-ki plays dual roles in ‘Reborn Rich.’
Reborn Rich
Hyun-woo, played by Song Joong-ki is a loyal conglomerate employee, who is killed by the ungrateful conglomerate he works for. However, he’s reincarnated into the body of the youngest grandson of the conglomerate family, knowing everything he knew before. He uses his knowledge of the future to exact revenge and command the company that used him so shamelessly. The drama delivers great performances by Song and Lee Sung-min as the man who created the conglomerate.
Song Joong-ki plays a Korean-born Mafia consigliere in ‘Vincenzo.’
Vincenzo
Song Joong-ki has a knack for revenge. In this drama he plays the Korean-born Vincenzo Cassano, a cold-hearted, flawlessly-stylish Mafia consigliere, who returns to Korea to find some hidden treasure. Not sure Vincenzo completely fits into the category of a revenge drama, as revenge is not the driving force behindthe storyline, but the style with which he delivers revenge against his rivals is applause worthy. Vincenzo also stars Jeon Yeo-been and Ok Taecyeon.
Lee Je-hoon drives a cab that delivers revenge in ‘Taxi Driver.’
Taxi Driver
“Don’t kill yourself. Take revenge. We’ll do it for you.” These words are written on a taxi sticker attached to the railing of a bridge that is often the location for suicide attempts. In the SBS drama Taxi Driver revenge arrives in the form of a taxi driven by the character Kim Do-ki. The driver, played by Lee Je-hoon, is ready to get revenge for victims and help criminals get the punishment they deserve. The drama’s first season aired in 2021 and the second season aired in 2023.
Lee Sang-yeob and Seo Yea-ji star in ‘Eve.’
Eve
This drama requires some suspension of disbelief, because in real life the revenge would take several lifetimes to plan and execute, but if you ever wished for a Vogue fashion spread about revenge, this one might be just your style. Couture-clad Seo Yea-ji looks ethereally glamorous in every scene of a plot so convoluted it’s just makjang fun. The drama also stars Park Byung-eun as the chaebol she hopes to ensnare in her complicated spider web of plans and Lee Sang-yeob, a lawyer who risks everything to help her.
Park Seo-joon plays Park Saeroyi in ‘Itaewon Class.’
Itaewon Class
The focus of this drama is the determination and eventual success of its main character, Park Saeroyi, played endearingly by Park Seo-joon. But in defying the odds, he more than achieves justice for the injustice that was done to him and eventually makes those enemies bow to him. He gets revenge against the system that says he dare not dream. Even better, he fulfills his 15-year-revenge plan while staying true to his principles and never becomes bitter or cruel.
Han So-hee plays a woman out for revenge in ‘My Name.’
My Name
In My Name Han So-hee plays Ji-woo, a tough girl, whose life is dramatically changed when her father is murdered. Driven to revenge, Ji-woo joins the gang of a crime boss who knew her father. She wants to learn how to fight to kill and then goes undercover as a police officer to find the killer. To get revenge she must fight more than a few bloody battles.
The best revenge may be the revenge you can live through vicariously while watching Korean dramas.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanmacdonald/2023/03/15/if-the-glory-left-a-longing-for-revenge-consider-these-k-dramas/