Korean TV Series with No/Little Romance
If you're looking for gripping Asian dramas that focus on thrilling mysteries, intense action, political intrigue, or deep character development without an overwhelming romantic subplot, this list is for you. From crime thrillers like Stranger to sci-fi survival stories like Alice in Borderland, discover some of the best Asian TV series that put love on the sidelines and deliver unforgettable storytelling.
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101. The Fiery Priest Season 2
Korean Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
Continuation of the adventures of the fiery priest and his allies as they tackle new challenges and crimes. The season maintains its focus on action and camaraderie, keeping romantic subplots to a minimum.
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102. The Frog
Korean Drama - 2024, 8 episodes
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103. The Glory
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
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104. The Glory Part 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
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105. The Good Bad Mother
Korean Drama - 2023, 14 episodes
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106. The Good Detective
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Detectives in Incheon collaborate to uncover the truth behind a series of crimes, facing moral dilemmas and systemic corruption. The narrative centers on crime-solving and the professional relationships between detectives, with limited emphasis on romance.
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107. The Good Detective Season 2
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
The detective duo returns to tackle new cases, delving deeper into the intricacies of crime and justice. The season continues to focus on investigative work, maintaining minimal romantic elements.
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108. The Guest
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
A psychic, a priest, and a detective team up to combat a powerful demonic entity wreaking havoc across the country. The plot centers on supernatural events and the trio's mission, with limited focus on romance. The strong bond formed among the three leads highlights a compelling bromance.
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109. The Killing Vote
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
A masked vigilante conducts nationwide polls to decide the fate of heinous criminals, executing those whom the majority deems deserving of death. The narrative emphasizes crime and societal issues, with minimal romantic elements.
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110. The King of Pigs
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
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111. The Lies Within
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Following her father's sudden death and her husband's disappearance, a woman joins the National Assembly to uncover the truth, teaming up with a detective. The narrative centers on mystery and political intrigue, with minimal focus on romance.
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112. The Silent Sea
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
Set in a dystopian future, a team of space explorers embarks on a perilous mission to retrieve mysterious samples from an abandoned lunar base. The science fiction series centers on survival and discovery, with minimal to no romantic elements.
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113. The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call
Korean Drama - 2025, 8 episodes
An elite team of trauma specialists at a university hospital navigates high-pressure situations to save lives, highlighting the challenges of emergency medical care. The plot centers on medical drama and teamwork, with minimal romantic subplots.
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114. The Tyrant
Korean Drama - 2024, 4 episodes
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115. The Uncanny Counter
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
A group of noodle shop employees moonlight as demon hunters, using special abilities to capture evil spirits terrorizing the mortal world. The series focuses on supernatural action and team camaraderie, with minimal focus on romance.
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116. The Uncanny Counter Season 2: Counter Punch
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
The Counters face stronger evil spirits and new challenges, strengthening their bonds and powers to protect humanity. The emphasis remains on action and teamwork, with little to no romantic subplots.
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117. The Veil
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
An elite National Intelligence Service agent returns after a year-long disappearance, seeking to uncover the traitor responsible for his downfall. The series centers on espionage and action, with minimal romantic involvement.
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118. The Worst of Evil
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
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119. Through the Darkness
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
Based on true events, the series follows South Korea's first criminal profiler as he delves into the minds of serial killers to solve cases. The crime thriller centers on psychological analysis and investigation, with little to no romantic subplots.
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120. Tomorrow
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
A group of grim reapers works to save suicidal individuals, offering them hope and a second chance at life. The series addresses profound themes of life and death, incorporating minimal romantic elements.
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121. Tracer
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
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122. Tracer Season 2
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
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123. Tunnel
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
The narrative follows Detective Park Gwang-ho, portrayed by Choi Jin-hyuk, who, while pursuing a serial killer in 1986, unexpectedly travels 30 years into the future to 2016. In this unfamiliar time, he teams up with Detective Kim Seon-jae and criminal psychologist Professor Shin Jae-yi to solve cold cases linked to the same murderer. The series emphasizes themes of justice, time-travel, and the relentless pursuit of truth, with minimal focus on romantic subplots.
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124. Uncle Samsik
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
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125. Under the Queen's Umbrella
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
"Under the Queen's Umbrella" is a South Korean television series set in a fictional period of the Joseon Dynasty. The narrative centers on Queen Im Hwa-ryeong, portrayed by Kim Hye-soo, who faces the challenge of reforming her troublemaking sons into proper princes. Departing from traditional royal protocols, the queen employs unconventional methods to educate and guide her sons, emphasizing personal growth and responsibility. The series primarily focuses on themes of motherhood, education, and royal duties, with minimal emphasis on romantic subplots.
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126. Unlock My Boss
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
A tech CEO's spirit gets trapped in his smartphone after an accident, and a young man discovers the device, leading to a unique partnership to run the company. The narrative emphasizes comedy and problem-solving, with minimal focus on romance.
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127. Unmasked
Korean Drama - 2025, 12 episodes
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128. Vagabond
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
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129. Vampire Detective
Korean Drama - 2016, 12 episodes
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130. Vigilante
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
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131. Vincenzo
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
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132. Voice
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
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133. Voice Season 2
Korean Drama - 2018, 12 episodes
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134. Voice Season 3: City of Accomplices
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
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135. Voice Season 4: Judgment Hour
Korean Drama - 2021, 14 episodes
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136. Weak Hero Class 1
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
A seemingly fragile high school student uses intelligence and strategy to stand up against bullies, challenging the school's social hierarchy. The series focuses on school dynamics and personal growth, with minimal romantic elements.
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137. Welcome to Waikiki
Korean Drama - 2018, 20 episodes
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138. Your Honor
Korean Drama - 2024, 10 episodes