What to Watch If You Loved Mercy for None: 10 Korean Revenge Stories That Cut Deep
If you’re still haunted by Mercy for None, its blood-soaked loyalty tests, seething betrayals, and the price of revenge, you’re not alone. The series leaves a bruise that doesn’t fade fast. But if you’re wondering what to watch if you loved Mercy for None, you’re in for a dark treat.
From gritty gangster sagas to undercover thrillers, these 10 Korean revenge stories echo that same intensity, moral ambiguity, and emotional gut punch. And yes, some may even outdo it.
1. New World (2013)
Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Choi Min-sik, Hwang Jung-min
Directed by: Park Hoon-jung
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
An undercover cop torn between loyalty and survival in a criminal empire, New World is brooding, slow-burning, and brutal. If Mercy for None left you obsessed with brotherhood on the brink, this delivers betrayal in layered doses.
2. The Man From Nowhere (2010)
Starring: Won Bin, Kim Sae-ron
Directed by: Lee Jeong-beom
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10
A pawnshop owner with a violent past. A kidnapped child. And a man with nothing left to lose. This stylish, tightly paced action thriller defines lone-wolf vengeance, quiet man, bloody path, unforgettable finale.
3. My Name (Netflix)
Starring: Han So-hee, Park Hee-soon, Ahn Bo-hyun
Directed by: Kim Jin-min
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
A grief-stricken daughter goes undercover in the police force under the orders of a drug lord. My Name is Mercy for None‘s younger, angrier sister, just as raw, just as personal, with a breakout performance by Han So-hee.
4. Bloodhounds (Netflix)
Starring: Woo Do-hwan, Lee Sang-yi, Park Sung-woong
Directed by: Kim Joo-hwan
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Two rookie boxers take on a loan shark empire in a world where justice bleeds. Bloodhounds pairs idealism with grit, imagine Mercy for None, but with bromance, body blows, and found family vibes.
5. Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time (2012)
Starring: Choi Min-sik, Ha Jung-woo
Directed by: Yoon Jong-bin
IMDb Rating: 7.0/10
Set in 1980s Busan, this rise-and-fall gangster tale captures how corruption seeps into every crack of society. If Mercy for None made you love morally gray antiheroes, here’s one buried in sleaze and desperation.
6. A Bittersweet Life (2005)
Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-a
Directed by: Kim Jee-woon
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
One act of mercy ignites chaos in this poetic, hyper-stylized gangster tale. Lee Byung-hun’s silent rage and elegant violence make it a spiritual predecessor to Mercy for None where loyalty is punished and revenge is beautiful.
7. I Saw the Devil (2010)
Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Choi Min-sik
Directed by: Kim Jee-woon
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Not just a revenge film, this is revenge weaponized. A government agent hunts a serial killer and slowly loses his soul in the process. Mercy for None fans who crave darkness without limits: proceed with caution.
8. Ballerina (2023)
Starring: Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Ji-hoon
Directed by: Lee Chung-hyun
IMDb Rating: 6.3/10
Minimalist, violent, and drenched in neon. A former bodyguard avenges her friend’s death in a sleek, aesthetic-heavy rampage. Think Mercy for None, distilled to pure, cold rage with ballet-sharp precision.
9. Night in Paradise (2020)
Starring: Um Tae-goo, Jeon Yeo-been, Cha Seung-won
Directed by: Park Hoon-jung
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
A terminally ill woman and a hunted gangster form a fragile bond in this slow-burn crime drama. It’s reflective, fatalistic, and devastating, perfect for Mercy for None fans who want their revenge stories with soul.
10. Quick-Fire Bonus Round
Perfect for fans still craving what to watch if you loved Mercy for None:
- The King (2017)
Starring: Zo In-sung | IMDb: 6.7
Swagger, corruption, and courtroom satire meet in this stylized political crime saga. - Coin Locker Girl (2015)
Starring: Kim Go-eun, Kim Hye-soo | IMDb: 6.8
A rare female-led noir that explores abandonment, brutality, and loyalty. - A Dirty Carnival (2006)
Starring: Jo In-sung | IMDb: 7.3
Gritty and grounded, this mob tale examines how ambition and betrayal rot everything. - A Model Family (2022, Netflix)
Starring: Jung Woo | IMDb: 6.6
When an average dad stumbles into drug money, survival becomes his only goal.
Still craving revenge?
Check out 10 Must-Watch Korean Revenge Dramas for more icy stares, double-crosses, and slow-burning justice.
Or take a deeper dive with our full Mercy for None K-drama review for breakdowns, theories, and favorite scenes.
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