Several South Korean dramas center around supernatural elements like fairies, spirits, and the concepts of immortality and rebirth. Goblin is a prime example of such K-dramas. After attaining a worldwide following, Goblin opened a new world of fantasy series in South Korea and winning over audiences from all over. Such was its impact that even affected fashion trends and several parodies around the world.
These shows are often heartwarming, dramatic while playing around with local histories and folklore and tying this rich past with the country's contemporary times. Here are some of the best supernatural K-dramas with the same elements as Goblin.
Updated on April 10th, 2021 by Gabriela Silva: Fans have an array of binge-worthy K-dramas to indulge in from all genres, with mystical fantasy being hugely popular right now. These hit K-dramas have the riveting action to keep fans enthralled, the steamy romance, and a few magical beings ranging from ghosts, gods, and even demon-fighting heroes.
Black (2017)
Black is tagged as a K-drama thriller available on Netflix. The show is much more than a thriller as it entails a storyline between a grim reaper and a young woman who can see ghosts. Black (Song Seung-Heon) is a notorious grim reaper who is forced to go the mortal world to track down his figurative partner.
The story gets complicated when he gets involved in a series of cold case murders. Fans came to praise the show even further when Black meets a young woman plagued with the ability to see ghosts. No one suspected a cold reaper to fall in love, especially since it's forbidden.
He Is Psychometric (2019)
K-dramas fans are in for a treat with He is Psychometric. Fans of K-Pop got to see Got7 singer/songwriter, Jinyoung in the lead role as Lee Ahn. The 2019 K-dramas is a fantasy/supernatural mystery, while also including romantic elements.
Lee Ahn acquires the unique power of psychometry after the death of his parents in a fire. He has the ability to read people's past with physical touch. Ahn decides to use his new powers to combat criminals and solve a case that plagues his past as well as the other main characters.
The Uncanny Counter (2020)
The Uncanny Counter became a Netflix sensation when it debuted in 2020. Fans praised the drama for its riveting supernatural storyline, heartfelt and emotional moments, and character development. A crippled teen is plagued with the trauma of his parent's accident.
One day he gets the opportunity to a group of Counters, individuals with special supernatural abilities to fight off rogue demons. Along the way, his parent's death and the stories of other characters are interwoven as he hopes to one day reunite with his parents and eradicate a powerful demon.
Arang And The Magistrate (2012)
Fans might find storyline similarities between Arang and the Magistrate and Bring It On, Ghost. The 2012 K-drama tells the story of a noble searching for his mother. This nobleman isn't a normal individual as he has the ability to see, hear and touch spirits.
The nobleman refuses to accept his powers until coerced to help a young female spirit. The female spirit has lost all her memories of her suspicious death. Realizing she might be the clue to finding his mother, the nobleman accepts to help her as the newly appointed magistrate.
Blood (2015)
Vampires have been a favorite supernatural creature on the small and big screen for quite some time. Blood was a 2015 K-drama centered around a notable doctor who happens to be a vampire. His cold and aloof demeanor is only a front for his kind heart and desire to save human lives.
The doctor soon meets the arrogant Yoo Ri-Ta (Ku Hye-Sun), the niece of the group chairman who owns the hospital. Despite their constant bickering, the doctor finds himself falling for her. Intermixed is a story of evil as the hospital director has hidden and dark intentions.
Goblin (2016)
Possibly one of the greatest dramas in the pantheon of South Korean fantasy shows, Goblin (also known as Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) tells the story of Kim Shin (Gong Yoo). He's a decorated military general from the past who is cursed with immortality, in exchange for all the lives he took. At the age of 939 years, he becomes the Goblin, the guardian of souls seeking a bride for himself who can break his spell.
The show generated an immense cult following, becoming a cultural phenomenon in South Korea and one of the country's highest-rated series. The show also became noted for its memorable comedic moments.
Bring It On, Ghost (2016)
Bring It On, Ghost has a fun premise of an exorcist befriending a spirit. Lonely and disgruntled in his profession, the exorcist befriends a wandering spirit as his roommate and ghost-fighting partner, later sharing a romance with her.
The K-drama is filled with moments that can tug at viewers' heartstrings. The show, much like the webtoon it's inspired from, shows the potential of K-dramas to perfectly blend romance and everyday drama with fantasy elements.
Oh My Ghost (2015)
A light-hearted take on the supernatural genre, this 2015 show features a timid girl who gets possessed by the ghost of a much bolder young woman. This ghost attempts to fulfill all those desires that she otherwise couldn't in her mortal life. The situation gets further complicated when the ghost wishes to hook up with the girl's boss, a famous womanizing chef.
Oh My Ghost carries on the usual tropes of fantasy K-dramas while adding a heartfelt love triangle in the mix. A Thai remake of the same name premiered three years after its release.
My Love From The Star (2013)
Just like Goblin's aged protagonist, My Love From The Star also stars an extraterrestrial being (Kim Soo-Hyun) stranded on Earth for four centuries. Much like the other leads of the shows in this list, the hero Do Min-Joon is initially lonely and cynical until he starts spending time with a leading actress (Jun Ji-Hyun) of the current era. She changes his overall mindset as his faith in humanity gets restored.
The show was praised for its fast-paced plot and the performances of its two leads. It even went on to inspire a Filipino show of the same name in 2017. Fans of the drama also couldn't help but ire the female leads fashion sense.
Legend Of The Blue Sea (2016)
Inspired by South Korean folklore, Legend of the Blue Sea is a visually appealing, emotional drama dealing with the love story of a mermaid and a con-man. The mermaid belongs to the Joseon period of South Korean history. Like other fantasy K-dramas, the show occasionally shifts to an archaic past while connecting it to contemporary times.
Jun Ji-Hyun, in particular, drew great praise for playing the mermaid Se-Hwa with child-like innocence and charm.