I don’t think I can remember when I was this upset, shocked, and always thinking, “What if this was really happening somewhere in the world?” as 아이쇼핑 did from the start. It’s not entertainment, it’s a wake-up call on just how far human beings will go for perfection. That’s why I started looking for Kdramas like The Defects, the kind of dramas that unsettle you, make you think, and perhaps a little bit heartbroken.
Based on the webtoon Child Shopping, Korean drama The Defects addresses one of the darkest TV topics: child trafficking under the cover of illegal adoption. It’s a chilling mix of social commentary and high-suspense tension. The drama tracks Kim Se-hui, a respected hospital chief with an illegal adoption ring as a side business, who believes only “superior genes” should thrive.
When children are not good enough, they are disposed of — permanently. Kim Ah-hyeon, one of the few survivors of the brutal system, is the leader of a gang of children who seek justice and revenge. With tour-de-force performances by Yeom Jung-ah, Won Jin-ah, Choi Young-joon, DEX, Ahn Ji-ho, Lee Na-eun, and Oh Seung-jun, the drama hooks its viewers with emotional depth and nail-biting action.
What makes this series so memorable to me is the way it weaves together adrenaline-packed plot turns, such as casino heists and nail-biting rescue operations, with emotional gut punches. It’s depressing, it’s bleak, and it challenges society’s pursuit of perfection. If you’ve binge-watched it and you need something as exciting, here are five Kdramas similar to The Defects that provide edge-of-your-seat storytelling, complex characters, and powerful messages.
Kdramas Like The Defects
Children of Nobody
This psychological thriller follows the life of child counsellor Cha Woo-kyung, played by Kim Sun-a, whose life seems perfect until a horrific accident ruins it. When she becomes involved in the middle of a series of unexplainable events, she is introduced to battered and abandoned children, which forces her to confront the harsh reality. With the help of performances by Lee Yi-kyung and Nam Gyu-ri, the drama seamlessly weaves mystery and emotion, and thus becomes one of the most riveting Kdramas such as The Defects in tone and message.
I would strongly recommend it because it is not shy about dealing with sensitive topics, revealing how trauma affects individuals’ decisions. Every scene is deliberate, with nothing extra, tough storytelling that makes you wonder about the lives of individuals otherwise left out of the equation. It is sad, but there is a sense of justice that makes the whole thing worth it.
SKY Castle
Set in an exclusive luxury neighbourhood, SKY Castle chronicles the lives of wealthy families whose children’s admission to the finest universities is their sole dream. Headlined by a top-notch cast of Yum Jung-ah, Kim Seo-hyung, and Lee Tae-ran, the series depicts how far parents go in the name of education. The show may be filmed in a different setting, but it is just as acid-tongued in its social commentary on pressure and children as tools of parental ambition that we have in The Defects.
I enjoyed this drama for its clever writing and complex characters. If you’re in the mood for a Korean drama such as The Defects, tense with blistering social commentary, this is a must-watch. The stakes are grades rather than survival, but the emotional cost is just as steep.
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The Penthouse: War in Life
This octane soap opera sweeps you into the opulent but cutthroat universe of South Korea’s elite. With Lee Ji-ah, Kim So-yeon, and Eugene, it is the drama of the dwellers of an apartment building penthouse whose lives are propelled by ambition, competitiveness, and scandal. Like The Defects, it explores how far parents will go to secure their children’s future, and at what cost that ambition comes.
I’m suggesting The Penthouse for its hooking story and unapologetically over-the-top plot twists. It’s garish and frenetic and, yes, totally binge-watchy, but it also digs to the richer notion that power has a devastatingly personal price.
Save Me
In this tense thriller, Seo Ye-ji plays Im Sang-mi, a young woman who gets herself into a cult religion when her family disintegrates. Her rescuer is the man who will do anything to save her, and that sets up a chain of tense showdowns along the way. Although the story is not about religion and manipulation, but adoption, it has a similar theme of power-hungry people manipulating vulnerable individuals as in The Defects.
I highly recommend this one because it’s a rollercoaster ride that gets across the suffocating grip of control and the courage it demands to break free. For Kdrama enthusiasts like The Defects, where cult behaviour and psychological suspense take centre stage, Save Me does not disappoint.
The Kidnapping Day
Yoon Kye-sang plays Kim Myung-joon, a desperate dad who “kidnaps” a little girl — but wait, he’s a guardian protecting her from individuals who will take advantage of her genius. Park Sung-hoon is the relentless detective on the manhunt to uncover the facts. The drama is able to blend suspense with some tender moments, and we see that in a grey area of a scenario, kindness prevails.
I enjoyed The Kidnapping Day for its blend of suspense, humour, and a surprising heart. It is a strong reminder that all crimes are not as they appear, that occasionally the “bad guy” is the one and only one who will obey the rules. If you’re looking for something similar to Kdramas such as The Defects but lighter in tone, this is a good option.
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