There’s just so much to say about K-Drama villains!

Now let me ask, have you ever finished a drama and thought, “Wait, the villain was actually making sense.” Because honestly, same here.

Sometimes these so-called “bad guys” are way more interesting than the leads. They’ve got the drip, the trauma, and the best lines. Give me their version and perception of the story, and I’m seated, popcorn in hand.

So here’s my chaotic little wish list: five K-dramas I’d totally binge if they were told from the villain’s side.

The Evil CEO With Daddy Issues - The Innocent Man

Okay, hear me out. Everyone was so busy crying for Kang Ma-ru, but can we talk about Han Jae-hee? The woman was clawing her way out of poverty, made one soul-crushing decision, and suddenly she's the villain? If we saw this from her side, it’s a survival drama about a woman doing what she had to do in a world that doesn’t give second chances. Betrayal? Yes. Justified? Possibly. Rootable? Low-key, yes.

That One Villainess Who Honestly Had a Point - Cheongdam-dong Alice

Seo Yoon-joo is the K-Drama version of “don’t hate the player, hate the game.” She married rich, figured the system out, and played it better than anyone. But instead of getting applause, she gets shade? If this were her story, it would be a smart, gritty take on social climbing and what it costs women to win in a world that’s already rigged. I’d watch it for the fashion and the feminism.

The Forgotten Brother With a Revenge Arc - The Penthouse

Look, Joo Seok-hoon wasn’t your typical villain, but the boy had issues. Growing up under a dad like Joo Dan-tae? Therapy couldn't even keep up. From messed-up family dinners to watching people fall off balconies (literally), he’s been through it. Give him the spotlight and we’re getting trauma, revenge, and probably a piano solo or two. Sign me up.

The Corrupt Lawyer Who’s Low-Key the Star - Vincenzo

Choi Myung-hee is unhinged in the best way. One minute she’s dancing to Bubble Pop, the next she’s covering up crimes and sipping tea like nothing happened. Was she awful? Yes. Was she also completely magnetic on screen? Also yes. A spin-off about her rise from civil servant to chaos queen would serve camp, power plays, and maybe even a little courtroom drama. I'd eat it up.

The Other Woman Who Was Just... Lost - The World of the Married

Ah, Yeo Da-kyung. The “mistress” with a thousand facial expressions and a whole lot of delusion. But instead of dragging her, what if we followed her journey from “pretty daughter of a rich family” to “accidental home-wrecker with attachment issues”? It’s giving a tragic romance. It’s giving bad choices. It’s giving… spin-off potential (yeah, right).

Villains get hate, but they also get the best backstories. Honestly, sometimes they just needed a hug and a little therapy, not a redemption arc. And maybe if more dramas were told from their perspective, we’d stop pretending the leads are always right.

So tell me, what K-Drama villain do you secretly root for? Don’t lie. I know you have one.