Picture Credits: Netflix
You always figure out the killer’s identity before the detective in the book does. You’re out of the escape room in record time. If you love hunting for clues, there’s a subgenre of Korean unscripted television that is right up your alley.
“Variety shows” are a broad category of programs from South Korea that include everything from cooking competitions like Culinary Class Wars to dating shows like Single’s Inferno. A popular variety subgenre gives a cast of celebrities a fictional setup, then tasks them with solving riddles to reach a predetermined outcome. There might be games or puzzles involved, but the fun is in watching the cast interact as they bumble their way toward success (or failure).
Netflix has multiple Original shows in this subgenre, and series often span multiple seasons. Netflix’s newest series Crime Scene Zero dates back more than a decade. Three seasons of Crime Scene aired on network TV in South Korea between 2014-2017. A hit fourth season in 2024 called Crime Scene Returns on streamer TVING prompted Netflix to announce it was taking the show global earlier this year. Crime Scene Zero debuted on Netflix on September 23. For each “crime,” one cast member plays a detective while the others take on the roles of suspects in a murder case. They search a massive set recreating the crime scene for clues to the killer’s identity, all while the real murderer among them tries to steer them in the wrong direction.
If you’re not convinced that watching celebrities solve fake crimes is your jam, don’t worry. Netflix also has plenty of fictional whodunits to feed your inner Sherlock Holmes. Here are some of our favorite unscripted and scripted Korean mystery series on Netflix.
Be sure to check out our list of Our Most Anticipated K-Dramas Coming to Netflix in 2026.
N = Netflix Original
Best Unscripted Korean Series for Mystery Fans
Crime Scene Zero (2025) N
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 10
Creators: Yun Hyun-joon & Hwang Seol-woo
Cast: Jang Jin, Park Ji-yoon, Jang Dong-min, Kim Ji-hun, Ahn Yu-jin
Netflix’s new season brings back a fixed cast of Crime Scene veterans, including movie director Jang Jin, TV presenter Park Ji-yoon, comedian Jang Dong-min, actor Kim Ji-hoon (Ballerina), and singer Ahn Yu-jin of the band Ive. The show is played for laughs, and having a cast with a great rapport yields some really funny moments. The first two episodes find Detective Jang Jin leading the investigation into a murder in abandoned hospital. The regular cast is joined by guest star Park Sung-woong (Bloodhounds), who plays one of five suspects with a connection to the victim. After an initial investigation of the scene, the detective and suspects reconvene to share their findings. Accusations fly and secrets are revealed before they head back into the field to find more clues. Will they catch the killer, or will the murderer (the only player who can lie) frame an innocent person? Future guests include Joo Hyun-young (Extraordinary Attorney Woo), Hwang In-youp (The Sound of Magic), Ha Seok-jin (Crash Landing on You), and Jeon So-min (Something About 1%). Four episodes are available now, with four more coming on September 30, followed by the final two episodes on October 7.
Agents of Mystery (2024) N
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 6
Creator: Jeong Jong-yeon
Cast: Lee Hye-Ri, Lee Yong-jin, John Park, Lee Eun-ji, Kim Do-hoon, Karina
While still a show with humor at its core, Agents of Mystery adds a suspense element by setting the cast within an active crime scene with supernatural overtones. Over the course of the first three episodes, the agents search an abandoned factory for three missing women, only to find themselves trying to escape a Satanic ritual. In the next three episodes, the agents board a submarine to discover why the crew’s vital signs disappeared — without meeting the same grisly fate. Season 2 of Agents of Mystery is poised to return with most of its original cast in February, 2026, with dancer and choreographer Gabee taking over for comedian Lee Eun-ji.
Busted (2021) N
Seasons: 3
Episodes: 28
Creators: Cho Hyo-jin, Kim Joo-hyung, Go Min-seok
Cast: Yoo Jae-seok, Park Min-young, Lee Seung-gi, Kim Se-jeong, Lee Kwang-soo
For its first Original foray into this subgenre, Netflix tapped one of South Korea’ biggest celebrities — comedian and host Yoo Jae-seok (Korea No. 1) — to lead the show. In Episode 1, an enigmatic man named M summons Korea’s “best” detectives to form the ultimate investigative team. Each episode finds them prying into a new case, with a season-long narrative loosely holding things together and dozens of celebrity guests joining in on the fun. Yoo Jae-seok and Lee Kwang-soo (Sound of Your Heart) are renowned scaredy cats, so the investigations are frequently derailed by screaming until the two queens of romantic comedy — Park Min-young (Her Private Life) and Kim Se-jeong (Business Proposal) — come to the rescue.
The Devil’s Plan (2024) N
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 24
Creator: Jeong Jong-yeon
Cast: Ha Seok-jin, Seungkwan, Justin H. Min, Kang Ji-yeong
Okay, it’s a slight stretch to include The Devil’s Plan in this list, but it’s by the creator of Agents of Mystery. The Devil’s Plan locks contestants in a house for a week, forcing them to play games until an ultimate winner is decided. What makes these games so interesting is that there is often a loophole or critical detail hidden within the rules that can all but guarantee victory. It’s fun to play along at home to figure out the advantage before the players do. A third season of The Devil’s Plan is currently in production and is expected to debut in 2026.
Best Scripted Korean Series for Mystery Fans
Stranger (2020) N
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 32
Creators: Lee Su-yeon, Park Hyeon-seok, An Gil-ho
Cast: Cho Seung-woo, Doona Bae, Jeon Hye-jin
Dogged Police Lieutenant Han Yeo-jin (Bae Doona) finds an unexpectedly capable ally to help her solve a murder case: Prosecutor Hwang Si-mok (Cho Seong-woo), who lost his sense of empathy during brain surgery, making him strictly rational and immune to flattery. As the duo gets closer to the truth, their progress is thwarted by participants in a conspiracy with dire social and political consequences.
Beyond Evil (2021)
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 16
Creators: Sim Na-yeon, Kim Soo-jin
Cast: Shin Ha-kyun, Yeo Jin-goo, Choi Dae-hoon
Decades after a small town is shattered by a serial killer, a copycat appears in town, leaving death in his wake. An eager young police officer joins the local force, determined to solve the new and old crimes, but the officer assigned as his partner was one of the original suspects. Shin Ha-kyun is incredible as the former suspect turned cop. His chilling, layered performance in this limited series will stick with you for a long time.
Signal (2016)
Seasons: 1
Episodes: 16
Creators: Kim Won-suk, Kim Eun-hee
Cast: Kim Hye-soo, Lee Je-hoon, Cho Jin-woong
Criminal profiler Park Hae-young (Lee Je-hoon) is surprised when a discarded police walkie-talkie connects him with a person who claims to be speaking from the past. The voice on the other end gives Hae-young information that solves a case that’s been open for fifteen years. Hae-young is assigned to the police’s cold case team along with a detective with a connection to the man on the walkie-talkie.
The Good Detective (2022)
Seasons: 2
Episodes: 32
Creators: Cho Nam-guk, Choi Jin-won
Cast: Son Hyun-joo, Jang Seung-jo, Lee Elijah
A veteran cop working in his hometown of Incheon uses his connections and local knowledge to solve cases — a practice that’s at odds with his new, younger partner who relies on evidence and inquiry. Together, they investigate a 5-year-old murder conviction that may have left the real killer on the streets of Incheon.
Queen Mantis (2025)
Seasons: 1
Episodes: ongoing
Creators: Byun Young-joo, Lee Young-jong
Cast: Ko Hyun-jung, Jang Dong-yoon, Cho Seong-ha
When a copycat strikes, a young police officer joins forces with a dangerous ally to find the criminal: the serial killer who served time for the original murders — who is also the cop’s mother! New episodes of Queen Mantis air on Netflix on Fridays and Saturdays.
Which of these Korean mystery series are you excited for? Let us know in the comments below!
