WhileThe Gloryis certainly unique as a K-drama, there are some other great TV shows in that genre with a similar appeal.The Gloryfollows Moon Dong-eun, a young woman who was mercilessly bullied by a group of students led by Park Yeon-jin when she was a high school student. After dropping out of school, Dong-eun makes it her dream to make the people who tormented her pay for what they did.
AlthoughThe Gloryhas a basis in reality, the show’s creator, Kim Eun-sook, added some fictional elements to the series. With its thrilling plotline and engaging characters,The Gloryquickly became one ofNetflix’s best K-dramasand even won the Baeksang Arts Awards for Best Drama. There are several K-dramas that were released before and afterThe Glorythat have similar themes as the psychological thriller. K-dramas that are about retribution, bullying, or have a high school setting are perfect for audiences who enjoyedThe Glory.
Hierarchy
Cast
Hierarchy is set in Jooshin High School, where the top 0.01% of students dictate law and order. This film explores the disruption caused by a secretive transfer student who challenges the status quo within their elite realm.
Hierarchy’s cast includes Lee Chae-minwho takes on the role of Kang Ha, a student who transfers to Jooshin on a scholarship program. Due to the fact that he isn’t as wealthy as the other students, Kang Ha is bullied, but he knew that was what his school life would be like, seeing as that’s what his brother went through. AlthoughHierarchyis about revenge, it differs fromThe Gloryin that Kang Ha is seeking retribution on his brother’s behalf. Its high school setting and revenge plot make it a worthwhile watch for fans ofThe Glory.
Mouse
A rookie police officer and a veteran detective confront a terrifying psychopath whose serial killings have plunged the nation into fear and chaos. As they pursue justice, the encounter with the killer profoundly alters their lives, challenging their beliefs and revealing shocking truths.
Starring Lee Seung-gi and Lee Hee-joon, who play Jeong Bae-reum and Ko Moo-chi, respectively,Mousefollows the two characters as they hunt for a notorious serial killer. Similar toThe Glory,Mousesees Detective Moo-chi, whose family was murdered by a serial killer, trying to avenge their deaths. While the two shows have the theme of revenge, they differ in thatThe Gloryfocuses on making bullies pay while Mouseis about finding a serial killer. However,Mouse’s intricate storyline that it combines with a revenge story is what makes it a great show for fans ofThe Glory.
The King of Pigs
The King of Pigs (2022) is a South Korean thriller series directed by Kim Dae-jin, focusing on themes of bullying, psychological trauma, and revenge. The show follows former schoolmates who are brought back together by a series of violent events years after enduring brutal bullying during their schooldays, raising complex questions about the cycle of violence.
Based on the web series,The King of Pigsby Yeon Sang-ho, the K-drama sees Kyung Min and Detective Jong Suk being dragged into the past after receiving a message from an old friend. During their time in high school, Kyung Min and Jong Suk were bullied by the students who were “at the top of the food chain.”The King of Pigsemploys the theme of high school bullying likeThe Glory. However, the series’ main premise isn’t really about revenge, but the impact that bullying can have on its victims.
My Name
My Name is a South Korean television series starring Han So-hee as Ji-woo, a revenge-driven woman who infiltrates a drug cartel to avenge her father’s death. As she rises through the ranks, Ji-woo must navigate the dangerous underworld of organized crime and confront her own morality.
The intense thriller,My Name, follows Yoon Ji-woo, a police officer who witnesses her father’s death and vows to get justice for him. Like Dong-eun, Ji-woo infiltrates the criminal organization that is behind her father’s death as an undercover police officer.My Nameelevates the revenge theme by adding another layer to it as it shows Ji-woo struggling with her two identities. The moral conundrum that Ji-woo finds herself in will be interesting to fans ofThe Gloryas it shows a police officer who is supposed to uphold the law being on the other side of it.
11Eve (2022)
Similar toThe Glory,Eve’s primary protagonist is a young woman who is out to seek justice for the pain she was put through. The K-drama follows Lee Ra-el as she plans to go against a powerful family who was responsible for her father’s assassination. Ra-el has the same patience asThe Glory’s Dong-eun, as she lies dormant for 13 years before putting her retribution plan into action. WhileEvehas a theme that has been used countless times in K-dramas, the show sets itself apart with its creativity and impressive cast performances.
Graceful Family
Graceful Family (2019) is a South Korean television drama that explores the dark secrets and power struggles within the MC Group, a wealthy conglomerate. The story revolves around Mo Seok-hee (Im Soo-hyang), an heiress who seeks to uncover the truth behind her mother’s murder while navigating corporate intrigue and familial deception. She is assisted by Heo Yoon-do (Lee Jang-woo), a lawyer who becomes entangled in the family’s complex dynamics.
The critically acclaimed K-drama,Graceful Family, is another show that resemblesThe Glory. The series follows Mo Seok-hee, a woman who witnesses her mother’s death. After leaving South Korea for fifteen years, Seok-hee returns to avenge her mother and take her rightful place in her family’s company. Similar toThe Glory’s Dong-eun, Seok-hee teams up with a lawyer who helps with her plan. While revenge is at the core ofGraceful Family, it also includes family drama, betrayal, and corruption.
Reborn Rich
Reborn Rich is a South Korean drama series centered around a young man who, after being betrayed and murdered by his employers, finds himself reborn into the wealthy family he once served. Using his newfound position and knowledge of future events, he seeks to uncover the truth behind his death and exact revenge. Starring Song Joong-ki, Lee Sung-min, and Shin Hyun-bin, the series unfolds within the high-stakes world of corporate intrigue.
Like other revenge K-dramas,Reborn Richhas murder at its core. The series follows Yoo Hyun-woo, an employee of the Soonyang group who is killed for witnessing something he shouldn’t have. Hyun-woo is resurrected as the youngest grandchild of the Soonyang family, Ji Do-jun. Similar to Dong-eun, Do-jun uses the knowledge he has of his enemies in order to exact revenge on them. WhileReborn RichandThe Glorydo not have a lot in common, as the former has a sci-fi element, the revenge plot in the K-drama is something that audiences who enjoyedThe Glorymight like.
Itaewon Class
Itaewon Class is a South Korean television series that premiered in 2020. The show revolves around Park Sae-ro-yi, a young entrepreneur who seeks revenge against the corrupt businessman who wronged him and his family. Alongside a group of misfits, Sae-ro-yi establishes a bar in Itaewon, a popular nightlife district in Seoul, and together they navigate love, friendship, and ambition.
The award-winning K-drama,Itaewon Class, sees Park Sae-ro-yi open a restaurant in order to seek revenge against the Jangga Group.Itaewon Classnot only has the same theme of revenge seen inThe Glory, but it also has people helping Sae-ro-yi with his plan in the same way that Dong-eun had people on her side. There’s a lot to like aboutItaewon Class, from its stellar cast performances, to the primary protagonists’ complex emotions. The revenge plot coupled with an intriguing storyline makesItaewon Class the kind of show fans ofThe Glorywould likely enjoy.
Marry My Husband
Kang Ji-won, a terminally ill cancer patient, is brutally murdered by her husband, Park Min-hwan, and her best friend, Jeong Su-min, after discovering their affair. Miraculously, Ji-won is transported ten years into the past, giving her a second chance at life and revenge. Determined to alter her fate, she partners with Yoo Ji-hyuk, a director at her company, and sets out to prevent her tragic end by exposing and dismantling the lives of her betrayers.
What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim’sPark Min-young takes on the roleof Kang Ji-won inMarry My Husband, a woman who is accidentally killed by her husband and best friend. Ji-won is resurrected 10 years before the events of her death, and she resorts to avoiding the mistakes she made while also punishing those who wronged her. Other than the revenge theme,Marry My Husbandalso includes a love story for audiences ofThe Glorywho want a subplot with romance.
Again My Life
Again My Life (2022): Again My Life follows prosecutor Kim Hee Woo, who gets a second chance at life after being unjustly killed. He uses his revived existence to seek justice and take down the corrupt political figures that led to his demise. The series combines elements of legal drama and fantasy as Hee Woo navigates his new opportunities to correct the wrongs of his past.
In the thriller,Again My Life, the plot includes revenge combined with supernatural elements. Kim Hee-woo gets too close to uncovering the wrongdoings of a powerful politician, and he dies as a result of his involvement, but is resurrected in his 18-year-old body. Hee-woo and Dong-eun both painstakingly plan their revenge, and are prepared to get vengeance, no matter how long it takes. The complex game that the characters fromThe GloryandAgain My Lifeare willing to play to get what they want not only makes them similar, but is also the reason they are both incredible K-dramas.
