Toxic relationships aren’t uncommon in K-dramas, and the manipulations often get on our nerves like no other. That situation is known as gaslighting; when a character makes their partner question their feelings, sanity, or existence in general.

While some do it to assert control, some believe that it’s the genuine way of protecting their loved ones, which is quite burdensome. Let’s brush over five notable K-drama gaslighters and how their partners were affected by it.

Lee Joon Young – Hello Monster (2015)

What a terrible and intelligent psychopath. Not only did he commit the heinous crimes as a serial killer, his gaslighting game was extreme. He erased memories, twisted the truths, and made the people around him almost lose their minds, especially Cha Ji Ahn and Jung Sun Ho. He made Sun Ho question the perception of right and wrong, influencing their emotions and making Ji Ahn doubt her investigative instincts.

Joo Dan Tae – The Penthouse (2020–2021)

If not the most devious character K-drama has ever had, he’s one of them. His gaslighting game was far more than everyone. He made Shim Su Ryeon believe in bubbles and made others restless with the hold he had on them. Whenever she suspected his crimes, he manipulated evidence, isolated people who could put him out, and controlled the narratives to keep her in the bubbles of delusion. She was trapped and helpless in her own home, with her partner, and this pushed the betrayal button harder when she finally realized. No wonder she didn’t stop at anything in order to get justice.  

Min Hyuk – The World of the Married (2020)

In this drama, infidelity shook hands with emotional abuse tightly. He constantly took his affair with his mistress lightly when it comes to his wife reacting to it, making her feel she was overacting. He didn’t stop there; he made her seem paranoid and played the victim when she confronted him. This damaged her self-esteem and tormented her mentally, leading to anxiety and a painful journey of reclaiming her self-worth.

Park Jae Eon – Nevertheless (2021)

Although he wasn’t a villain, he was definitely a walking red flag in the brightest shade to exist. Yoo Na Bi struggled with her feelings thanks to his mixed signals. One minute, he was all in, and the next, he made her desperate emotionally. No one came close to his game of push and pull. He pulls her back in when she tries to break away from him with attention just enough to doubt herself and her feelings, and this leaves her in emotional turmoil because she isn’t sure of where she stands. What a jerk!

Kwon Min Woo – Business Proposal (2022)

While this chef was not as toxic as others on the list, he had a perfectly subtle way of gaslighting Shin Ha Ri. He made her think she was not good enough and belittled her ambitions by flipping the situation whenever she stood up for herself, making her believe she was the wrong one. This, of course, ruined Ha Ri’s confidence until she met Tae Moon, who opened her eyes to knowing that she deserves better.

While watching these characters on the screen might make the drama more intense and jaw-dropping, it is important to note that this is a serious situation in reality. Emotional abuse is something no one deserves, and thankfully, many K-dramas show how the abused character grows strongly to influence any viewer in the same situation. This is to let them know that no one has to stay in a toxic relationship forever, no matter the heights of love.

Gaslighting in K-dramas often makes for compelling drama, but it’s important to recognize its real-world consequences. Watching these characters manipulate their partners might be entertaining on screen, but in real life, emotional abuse is serious. Thankfully, many K-dramas also show strong character growth, proving that no one has to stay in a toxic relationship forever.

So, which of these gaslighters annoyed you the most? Or do you have another pick?