Seven (7) Korean Dramas Based On or Inspired by the Hwaseong Serial Murders

The Hwaseong Serial Murders were a series of brutal crimes committed in rural South Korea between 1986 and 1991, in which at least 10 women were assaulted and murdered in the area around Hwaseong.

• The case became one of the country’s most infamous, unsolved mysteries for decades, marked by investigative missteps and public fear. It was finally linked in 2019 to Lee Choon-Jae through DNA evidence, bringing long-awaited answers to a case that had deeply shaped South Korea’s criminal justice system and popular culture.
• It’s unfortunate, but these murders might likely have been solved faster were it not for the serious weaknesses in South Korea’s law enforcement / investigative practices and procedures at the time. Police relied heavily on coerced confessions, lacked modern forensic tools, and struggled with coordination. This led to wrongful arrests and missed evidence.
• Because of these murders, authorities modernized their approach to solving crimes. The use of DNA analysis was expanded, procedures for preserving evidence were improved, and standardized investigative procedures were introduced. In addition, reforms were aimed at protecting suspects’ rights and reducing reliance on forced confessions.
• But the most significant change was that the serial murders played a key role in pushing South Korea to adopt criminal profiling as a formal investigative tool. Together, all of these changes transformed South Korea’s policing. Investigating, particularly investigations of major crimes, became a more scientifically grounded and accountable system.

Several K-drama series and films have been directly based on or inspired by the real-life Hwaseong serial murders. Below is a listing of seven (7) Korean dramas inspired by the Hwaseong Serial Murders. Fortunately, they are ALL fiction.

Five (5) Korean Drama Series Based on the Case

1. Gap Dong (2014)

A crime thriller explicitly inspired by the Hwaseong case. The story follows a detective whose father was once a suspect in the “Gap Dong” murders; he later pursues the real killer after new clues emerge.

Gap Dong: Korean Drama Review | Kdrama Love

TRAILER/TEASER: ENM Global. “Gabdong.” YouTube, 30 May 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifHVqNpnX2E.

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2. Signal (2016)

The story begins with a criminal profiler who doesn’t trust the police. A classmate was kidnapped and murdered, and the case was mishandled by authorities. Since then he has been skeptical and his ,mistrust in the institutions shapes his career and how he approaches investigations.

This acclaimed drama is inspired by real-life criminal cases in South Korea, including the infamous Hwaseong serial murders.

• A Season 2 with the original lead cast was confirmed. However, as of April 2026, the project has faced uncertainty and the potential removal of one of the cast members.

TRAILER/TEASER: iflix Malaysia. “Signal Trailer.” YouTube, 22 Mar. 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=RsdJLm7Swkw&feature=youtu.be.

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3. Tunnel (2017)

The year was 1986, and all of a sudden, it’s 2016, and the detective, who was chasing a serial killer, doesn’t know how he arrived in the future. What’s worse is that it’s been 30 years, and the serial killer still hasn’t been caught! So! He continues the investigation and hopes to figure out how to return to the past. The serial killer case in the drama draws from the Hwaseong murders.

Why ‘Tunnel’ Is the Perfect Korean Drama for Fans of the Crime/Thriller Genre | Criminal |Criminal | Vocal.Media

TRAILER/TEASER: CJ ENM WATCH. “Tunnel (Scripted Trailer) CJ ENM.” YouTube Video. YouTube, August 4, 2017. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p82a5KZswCQ.

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4. Partners for Justice (2018)

A forensic-focused crime series that includes cases inspired by the Hwaseong killings. The writers for this Korean drama series clearly paid attention to scientific details. So much so that the “Partners For Justice” Series Screenwriter Received an Award From Korean Journal of Legal Medicine.  (2 Seasons.)

TRAILER/TEASER: KOCOWA TV. “Jung Yu Mi Goes to Work for the First Time with Positive Energy! [Partners for Justice Ep 1].” YouTube Video. YouTube, May 16, 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBLfgenGYFI&list=PLEPoYg6Tp6FagXeRo8gftAqCjfu-fmcuC.

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5. The most recent series is “The Scarecrow” (released April 2026).

This series is still On Air as of the date of this content.  Interesting trivia.  DID YOU KNOW?  Law enforcement would sometimes mark areas where violent crimes had been committed by putting up a scarecrow to warn people.

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Two (2) Korean Films Based on the Case

1. Memories of Murder (2003)

This film is the most famous adaptation of the Hwaseong murders.

2. Confession of Murder (2012)

Inspired by the case’s statute-of-limitations issues. The statute of limitations expired on a string of brutal murders. Then a man published a bestselling book confessing to the crimes. It’s a deadly game of truth and deception. Because if he’s not the killer, what happens if the real killer shows up?

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FINAL NOTE

If interested, there is a 2-part documentary about this case: “Catching a Killer.”

• CNA Insider. “Catching A Killer: The Hwaseong Murders.” YouTube, Oct. 2021, https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkMf14VQEvTb967VoumxuZHJ83ncwtO-X.

PART 1 ~ Testimony from witnesses and the man convicted of the serial murders.

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PART 2 ~ A forensic deconstruction of the evidence and events.

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