The greatest villains in kdrama

Jul 31, 2021 09:31 pm

I'm watching Empress Ki for the 2nd time, and the main villain is so great that it blows almost everybody else out of the water.
I'm talking about Jeon Gook Hwan in the role as Yeon Chul, the grand councilor. He's so scary, brutal and overwhelming that I can't think of any other villain character on the same level. He's my all time favorite villain, almost like the sidious emperor in Star Wars.

And also in Empress Ki is Baek Jin Hee as Tanashili (empress), a totally wicked character that is out of her mind, but at the same time a little pitiful character.

Another great character, in a sageuk drama, is Go Hyun Jung as Lady Mi Shil in Queen Seon Duk. In a way she's a similar character as Yeon Chul, just the female version really. I didn't find her as scary and brutal, but a villain for sure, and a little pitiful character.

Other noteworthy are:

Ok Taec Yeon as Jang Jun Woo in Vincenzo, a total sociopath.

Lee Jung Jin as Yi Rim | Lee Sung Jae in The King: Eternal Monarch , great villain but not like a insane guy or a sociopath, just a smart villain.

Yoon Je Moon as John Mayer / Kim Bong Goo in King2Hearts , a james bond level (Spectre) main villain.

Shin Sung Rok as Lee Hyuk (the emperor) in The Last Empress , a total psychopath with a nice guy facade and a totally wicked psyche.

Kim Mi Sook as Paek Seong Hee in Shining Inheritance , a totally wicked step-mother that makes you grind your teeth with her evil doings.

Czakhareina

Aug 1, 2021 08:40 am

ohhh interesting picks....

and so agree with s Go Hyun Jung as Lady Mi Shil in Queen Seon Duk. She is such a badass LADYLORD villain that ever was...

Lee JungJin was super Hot in The King: Eternal Monarch. but sadly he was under used in narrative and character development. he stayed one dimensional when he could have been so much more.

Yoon JeMoon in King2Hearts is one of my fave insane villains. he was such unhinged and fun to watch.

others that I can think of are:

Kim Kangwoo as Chae Dowoo in A Story of a Man. He was one awesome character in the drama
Song YoonAh as Choi Yoojin in The K2. She and the ML was mesmerizing and sizzling together. Until now I have my own alternate ending for them. but still as a villain she was great.
Lee Yoori as Yeon MinJung in Come, Jang Bori is Here. she was insane and there were some funny times but she was what made that drama memorable for me
Lee Dongwook as Seo MoonJo in Strangers from Hell. the characters in the drama were psychootic and he was the king and overlord of them all
Park Kiwoong as Kimura Shinji in Teh Bridal Mas. I've always been a fan of those types of friends--to-enemies dynamic. Gaksital tension is definitely that much memorable because of their narrative
Heo JoonHo as Yoon HeeJae in Come and Hug me. his brand of serial killer is so effective plus he just carried that aura like he owned it
Oh Manseok as Cho CheolGang in Crash Landing into you. I can't make a villain list with Oh manseok. I am a fan thus he is here.
Jo Soohyang as Kang Soyoung in School 2015. As bullies go, she is one I will forever remember
Lee Sungmin as Heo Jae in Money Game. The layers of Heo Jae displayed by Lee Sungmin-nim is one reason. he was just so good

kardasx

Aug 1, 2021 10:41 am

Chun Ho Jin as minister Kim Heon in Love in the Moonlight; and also as Jang Tae Soo in House of Bluebird.

OneAjhussi

Aug 11, 2021 10:43 am

For the dramas I have seen:

- Baek Hee Sung in Fower of Evil.

- The Dr Mok in Tunnel.

- The pair of killers in Suspicious partner

burhaa aadmi VIP

Aug 11, 2021 11:49 am

I guess a lot depends on how one defines "great" in a villain.

In my view, A LOT, and I mean A LOT A LOT of K Drama villains are cartoonish caricatures that could fill in for Dr Evil in the Austin Powers films. For me, a truly great villain is rational, calm, in control, and realistic. IOW, someone who seems to have read and digested the "Evil Overlord" list . I also prefer villains who are demonstrably human, making occasional mistakes and misjudgements, not seemingly superhuman until the magicked happy ending.

For those reasons, the villain who stands out as most credible, and most threatening, is Lee Kyung Young's Character in Forest of Secrets Season 1, with Jo Jae Hyun's Lee Tae Jun in Punch and Choi Jung Won's "elder" mastermind in Healer rounding out the top 3.

ArniA

Aug 11, 2021 04:28 pm

burhaaadmi:
I guess a lot depends on how one defines "great" in a villain.
In my view, A LOT, and I mean A LOT A LOT of K Drama villains are cartoonish caricatures that could fill in for Dr Evil in the Austin Powers films. For me, a truly great villain is rational, calm, in control, and realistic. IOW, someone who seems to have read and digested the "Evil Overlord" list . I also prefer villains who are demonstrably human, making occasional mistakes and misjudgements, not seemingly superhuman until the magicked happy ending.
For those reasons, the villain who stands out as most credible, and most threatening, is Lee Kyung Young's Character in Forest of Secrets Season 1, with Jo Jae Hyun's Lee Tae Jun in Punch and Choi Jung Won's "elder" mastermind in Healer rounding out the top 3.

Well, it's subjective what is a villain.

Is Thanos from Avengers a villain? For some, he's the ultimate environmentalist, just misunderstood :)

John Smith

Aug 12, 2021 06:39 am

Madame Han and the TOP crisis management team from Graceful Family.

burhaa aadmi VIP

Aug 12, 2021 07:41 am

John Smith:
Madame Han and the TOP crisis management team from Graceful Family.

EXCELLENT example, thanks for the reminder!

John Smith

Aug 13, 2021 08:55 pm

burhaaadmi:
EXCELLENT example, thanks for the reminder!

No problem. It was one that sticks with me because of how real, but not real, but maybe real, but hopefully not, but would not be surprised, type of villain that was written. I watched the drama because I think Im Soo Hyang is talented (and beautiful), and ended up enjoying the drama overall.