Many people watch K-dramas for good vibes and leisure. However, there are evil characters in K-dramas that get in the way of protagonists and cause stress to viewers. These villains come in various forms, each with different motivations, characteristics, and relationships with other characters.
Here are notable villains in K-dramas that made the audience hate their existence:
1. Yoon Eun Sung (Queen of Tears)
Yoon Eun Sung (Park Sung Hoon) is the main antagonist in the recently-concluded hit series, Queen of Tears. The show is about the marriage of Hong Hae In (Kim Ji Won), a fierce conglomerate heiress, and Baek Hyun Woo (Kim Soo Hyun), a country boy who became a lawyer.
In the series, Eun Sung is Hae In’s university friend, who comes back into the picture after a certain series of events. Eun Sung’s twisted love for Hae In and his tireless attempts to steal her from Hyun Woo frustrate viewers.
Eun Sung also has psychopathic tendencies and carries out despicable plans to take over the company of Hae In’s family. It turns out Eun Sung’s mother was the mistress of Hae In’s grandfather. Wickedness really runs in their blood!
2. Park Yeon Jin (The Glory)
Park Yeon Jin (Lim Ji Yeon/Shin Ye Eun) is the main villain in the revenge thriller series, The Glory. Yeon Jin is the sworn enemy of Moon Dong Eun (Song Hye Kyo), the show’s protagonist, who seeks revenge for the suffering she experienced.
Throughout Dong Eun’s teenage years, her high school days were a torment because of the bullying she received from Yeon Jin and other classmates. Yeon Jin’s smug looks and lack of remorse while dealing physical harm to Dong Eun are horrifying.
On top of that, Yeon Jin also committed murders and tried to get away with her crimes. That’s what makes Dong Eun’s revenge on her satisfying to watch.
3. Jang Han Seok (Vincenzo)
Jang Han Seok (Ok Taecyeon) is the antagonist in the crime noir series, Vincenzo. He first appears in the show as Jang Jun Woo, a clumsy lawyer who works closely with Hong Cha Young (Jeon Yeo Been).
The reveal of Han Seok’s true nature as the heinous mastermind behind illegal drug dealing activities is truly shocking. The way he pretended to help Cha Young and Vincenzo (Song Joong Ki) while actually being the person who drove Cha Young’s father to his death is terrifying.
Han Seok is also especially cruel to his own younger brother, Jang Han Seo (Kwak Dong Yeon), even resorting to physical abuse.
4. Do Hui Jae (It’s Okay to Not be Okay)
Do Hui Jae (Jang Young Nam) is the villain in the psychological rom-com series, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. Hui Jae first appears in the show as the head nurse of a psychiatric hospital named Park Haeng Ja.
Later on, it is revealed that she is the one who murdered the mother of Moon Kang Tae (Kim Soo Hyun) and Moon Sang Tae (Oh Jung Se). Her portrayal of a psychopathic and twisted mother is chilling.
Hui Jae also turns out to be the mother of Ko Mun Yeong (Seo Ye Ji), who suffers emotional trauma because of her. Hui Jae’s sadistic and cynical personality towards the main characters and her patients can really send chills down one’s spine.
5. Joo Dan Tae (The Penthouse: War in Life)
Joo Dan Tae (Uhm Ki Joon) is the main antagonist in the thriller drama series The Penthouse: War in Life. The show is about the residents of a luxury penthouse apartment who fight each other for money and power as they climb their way to the top of the hierarchy.
Dan Tae is a greedy and manipulative individual who resides in the penthouse. He is self-centered and quick to abuse his family when he doesn’t get what he wants. Although there are other characters like this in the show, what makes Dan Tae one of the worst is that he is a cold-blooded murderer who finds pleasure in others’ suffering.
Though these K-drama villains get all the hate for their actions, their presence in the show gives depth to the plot and ultimately makes the series more interesting.
