8 Shows Like Bloodhounds You Must See

Netflix’s ‘Bloodhounds’ or ‘Sanyanggaedeul’ revolves around the life of aspiring boxer Kim Gun-woo (Woo Do-hwan), who hopes for a brighter future for himself and his mother. Things take a turn when the mother falls prey to the predatory tactics of Smile Capital, a loan shark group owned by Kim Myeong-gil (Park Sung-woong). Gun-woo crosses paths with Choi Tae-ho (Huh Joon-ho), an ethical financier for poor people. Gun-woo also joins forces with Hong Woo-jin, a former marine with a shared history in the ring. The three men forge a powerful alliance, united by a fierce commitment to justice.

Gun-woo and Woo-jin decide to use their boxing skills and counter the thugs who work for Myeong-gil. As street-level battles unfold and the two boxers target the core of Smile Capital’s business, chaos ensues. Created by Jeong Chan, the South Korean action drama series is based on his eponymous webtoon. You can check out this list of binge-worthy shows similar to ‘Bloodhounds,’ which are adrenaline-fueled, intricately layered, and engrossing.

8. No Way Out: The Roulette (2024)

Written by Lee Soo-jin, ‘No Way Out: The Roulette’ focuses on the struggles of a notorious criminal named Kim Guk-ho (Yoo Jae-myung), who is released after more than a decade in prison. With a massive bounty placed on his head, Guk-ho finds himself in unexpected danger. Police officer Baek Joong-sik (Cho Jin-woong) is forced to protect Guk-ho from assassins. As politicians and the public become involved in this puzzling situation, Guk-ho’s ordeal receives media coverage, further complicating matters.

Despite multiple threats, the targeted man must somehow escape to survive, while still remaining clueless about who placed the bounty. Directed by Choi Kook-hee and Lee Hoo-bin, the South Korean mystery thriller series is an engaging tale. It reflects the themes of ‘Bloodhounds’ through its visually enriching narration of a fight against injustice, cat-and-mouse scenarios, and brutal action sequences.

7. Warrior (2019-2023)

Based on an original concept by Bruce Lee, ‘Warrior’ follows the difficult journey of Ah Sahm (Andrew Koji), a Chinese immigrant and martial arts prodigy who arrives in San Francisco’s Chinatown in the 19th century. Harboring secrets of his own, he soon realizes that the city is facing brutal gang wars. His fighting skills make him a useful asset as a hit man for a powerful organized crime family. As he earns the trust of brothel runner Ah Toy (Olivia Cheng), he also gets involved in vicious battles against dangerous people, with forces working against him. Sahm must define his legacy with his own strength. Created by Jonathan Tropper, the martial arts crime drama show, akin to ‘Bloodhounds,’ follows individuals drawn into fights bigger than themselves in urban spaces where crime is prevalent.

6. Trigger (2025)

Netflix’s ‘Trigger’ or ‘Teurigeo’ is a South Korean action thriller series that plunges viewers into a riveting game of chases and betrayals, set against a sudden rise in illegal gun distribution in South Korea. The principled police officer Lee Do (Kim Nam-gil) fights against the calculating criminal Moon Baek (Kim Young-kwang), both deeply entrenched in the dangerous underworld of firearms. While the police officer intends to use the guns to achieve peace in the country, the criminal hopes to be an agent of chaos. As the game between them holds the power to determine the nation’s future, secrets lurk in the shadows. Written and directed by Kwon Oh-seung, the show, through its portrayal of a fight for justice, armed fights, and fast-paced action scenes, is related to the thematic and visual spirit of ‘Bloodhounds.’

5. Bad and Crazy (2021-2022)

‘Bad and Crazy’ or ‘Baedeu aen keureiji’ delves into the trials and tribulations of Su-yeol (Lee Dong-wook), a police officer who is competent but morally questionable and driven by ambition. He often resorts to unethical means for success and rapid promotion, aiming to please superior officers and stay in the limelight. Su-yeol’s seemingly peaceful, privileged life is disrupted by the emergence of K (Wi Ha-joon), a man with a strong sense of justice. The moral gap between the two leads them into difficult situations that may incur a high cost. Created by Kim Je-hyeon, Kim Young-kyu, and Kang Hee-jun, the South Korean action drama series is a nuanced take on justice. This theme and the character dynamics between Su-yeol and K connect the show on a deeper level to the experiences of the boxers in ‘Bloodhounds.’

4. D.P. (2021-)

Created by Kim Bo-tong, Netflix’s ‘D.P.’ is a South Korean action series that is based on his webtoon ‘D.P Dog’s Day’. The narrative follows a military police unit, the Deserter Pursuit (D.P.) team, dedicated to tracking down deserters. The unit gains a new member named Private An Joon-Ho (Jung Hae-In), whose potential is recognized by Sergeant Park Beom-Goo (Kim Sung-Kyun). Joon-Ho works with Corporal Han Ho-Yeol (Koo Gyo-Hwan) to capture deserters and comes to realize the harsh reality endured by conscripted soldiers. As the soldiers’ journey becomes increasingly difficult, the truth may be hard to bear. As in ‘Bloodhounds,’ the concepts of justice, dignity, and truth are at the core of the series. The visual elements and action sequences connect the stories on a greater level.

3. Weak Hero (2022-)

‘Weak Hero’ or ‘Yakhanyeongung’ is an intense narrative that explores themes of bullying, adolescence, and survival, focusing on the fragile realities of teenage life and school. Based on the eponymous webtoon by Seopass and Kim Jin-seok, the South Korean drama series centers on Yeon Si-eun (Park Ji-hoon), a boy who becomes a target of bullying at school. However, he refuses to be a victim and instead chooses to fight back. His journey is characterized by struggles and lessons as he navigates the complexities of his life, supported by his friendships with Ahn Soo-ho (Choi Hyun-wook) and Oh Beom-seok (Hong Kyung). The series is written by Kim Jin-seok and Yoo Soo-min, who co-directed it with Park Dan-hee. The story reflects the philosophical theme of ‘Bloodhounds’ through its focus on standing up against injustice, fighting your own battles, and the value of friendship.

2. Taxi Driver (2021-)

Written by Oh Sang-ho and Lee Ji-hyun, ‘Taxi Driver’ is a South Korean action crime drama series that follows Kim Do-gi (Lee Je-hoon), a former special forces soldier. He works for the Rainbow Taxi Company, led by CEO Jang Sung-chul (Kim Eui-sung). Though this appears to be just a taxi service, the reality is far more complex. The so-called taxi business offers justice and revenge for victims let down by the law. While Do-gi confronts his past and comes to terms with the nature of his vigilante work, the legal and political forces also get involved.

Directed by Park Joon-woo and Kang Bo-seung, the show is based on the webtoon The Deluxe Taxi (Red Cage) by Carlos and Lee Jae-jin. The narrative shares similarities with ‘Bloodhounds’ in that it delves into the minds of those fighting against unfair systems and seeking to protect the weak from domination by the powerful.

1. My Name (2021)

‘My Name’ or ‘Mai Neim’, a Netflix Korean drama series, is a gripping tale written by Kim Ba-da and directed by Kim Jin-min. The story centers on the ups and downs in the life of Yoon Ji-woo (Han So-hee), a woman driven by profound trauma and sadness following her father’s sudden death. Her quest for the truth and revenge leads her into a dangerous criminal underworld. Using an alias to cover her identity and purpose, she finds an unlikely partner in this journey.

She teams up with Detective Jeon Pil-do (Ahn Bo-hyun) in the drug investigation unit, hoping to uncover the mystery of her father’s demise and confront those responsible. As the two continue their journey, they face unforeseen threats that could prove significant. The narrative is an intricate portrayal of complex social realities, which makes it complementary to ‘Bloodhounds.’ Both shows are spiritually connected by their commentary on the concept of justice and the courage required to stand up for oneself.