Best Shows With Superpowers (2026)
The honest truth: superhero K-dramas are one of the rarest, most underappreciated niches in television. While the genre is not flooded with options, the shows that exist are genuinely exceptional — and most Western superhero fans have no idea they exist. This guide covers every notable superhero Korean drama, ranked and filtered so you can find your perfect match. Whether you love the Avengers' team-up energy, The Boys' dark moral ambiguity, or X-Men's hereditary power mythology, there is a K-drama built exactly for you.
What counts as a “superhero K-drama”?
For this guide: shows where superpowers are central to the plot — not just a side element. No mild magic-realism romance dramas where a character “feels emotions deeply.” Real powers. Real stakes.
Table of Contents
- Full Comparison Table (All Shows at a Glance)
- Best Superhero K-Dramas for Action Fans
- Best Superhero K-Dramas for Romance Fans
- Best Superhero K-Dramas for Crime Thriller Fans
- K-Dramas Like The Boys (Dark & Gritty)
- Shows by Power Type
- Underrated Picks Most Lists Miss
- Which Should YOU Watch First?
- Where to Watch Every Show
- FAQ — All Questions Answered
Full Show Comparison Table
Use this table to instantly compare every superhero K-drama by platform, power type, tone, and which Western fan it suits best.
| Show | Platform | Power Type | Tone | Episodes | Rating | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moving | Disney+ | Flight, Healing, Super Speed | Epic Thriller | 20 | ★★★★★ | MCU fans, Action lovers |
| The Wonderfools | Netflix | Multiple / Mixed | Action Comedy | 12 | ★★★★★ | Avengers fans, Beginners |
| The Uncanny Counter | Netflix | Telekinesis, Super Strength, Healing | Action / Dark | 16 + 16 | ★★★★★ | Action fans, Found family |
| Vigilante | Disney+ | Peak Human / Vigilante Skills | Dark / Gritty | 8 | ★★★★☆ | The Boys fans, Batman fans |
| Strong Girl Bong-soon | Viki | Super Strength | Rom-Com | 16 | ★★★★★ | Romance fans, Fun tone |
| I Can Hear Your Voice | Viki | Telepathy | Legal Drama / Romance | 18 | ★★★★★ | Legal drama fans, Classics |
| Memorist | Viki | Memory Reading | Crime Thriller | 16 | ★★★★☆ | Crime fans, Procedural lovers |
| He Is Psychometric | Netflix | Psychometry | Mystery / Romance | 16 | ★★★★☆ | Romance + mystery fans |
| Behind Your Touch | Netflix | Psychometry | Comedy / Crime | 16 | ★★★★☆ | Comedy fans, Cozy crime |
| A Girl Who Sees Smells | Viki | Synesthesia | Rom-Com / Procedural | 16 | ★★★★☆ | Underrated gem seekers |
| The Atypical Family | Netflix | Time Travel, Precognition, Flight | Drama / Romance | 12 | ★★★★☆ | X-Men fans (power loss angle) |
| Extraordinary | Disney+ | Various (entire world has powers) | Satire / Dark Comedy | 8 | ★★★★☆ | The Boys / Umbrella Academy fans |
| Rugal | Viki | Cybernetic Enhancements | Sci-Fi / Action | 16 | ★★★☆☆ | Sci-fi fans, Niche picks |
| Alice | Viki | Time Travel | Sci-Fi Thriller | 16 | ★★★☆☆ | Sci-fi fans, Time loop lovers |
Best Superhero K-Dramas for Action Fans
1. Moving (Disney+)
Premise: Three Super-Powered Families Must Outrun a Government That Made Them
Platform: Disney+ | Episodes: 20 | Power Types: Flight, Regenerative Healing, Super Speed | Season 2: In Development
Moving is the benchmark. It has the biggest budget, the most cinematic direction, and arguably the most emotionally complex narrative of any superhero K-drama ever made. When three teenagers start manifesting superhuman abilities, their parents — former black-ops super agents for the Korean government — are pulled out of hiding to protect them.
What makes Moving genuinely special is its structure: the first half is told almost entirely from the parents' perspective, building out a tragic espionage backstory, before seamlessly merging with the teenagers' present-day storyline. The action sequences — especially the corridor fight scenes — rival anything in Western action cinema.
Key power types: Superhuman flight, regenerative healing (fastest on record), super speed, and peak-human combat. The hereditary mechanic — children inherit their parent's power but often in a mutated form — is one of the most original takes on power origin in the genre.
Marvel Match: If you loved the MCU's approach to multi-generational hero mythology (especially Captain America and Black Widow), Moving is your Korean equivalent — except it hits harder emotionally and takes more creative risks.
Webtoon origin: Yes — based on the manhwa by Kang Full.
2. The Wonderfools (Netflix) — Trending May 2026
Premise: Four Unlikely Heroes Become B-Team Superheroes During the Peak of Y2K Panic
Platform: Netflix | Episodes: 12 | Released: May 15, 2026 | Starring: Park Eun-bin, Cha Eun-woo
Despite releasing in May 2026, The Wonderfools is already an instant classic. Three social outcasts — Eun Chae-ni (Park Eun-bin), Kang Ro-bin (Im Seong-jae), and Son Gyeong-hun (Choi Dae-hoon) — fall into toxic waste and wake up with bizarre, mismatched superpowers. With mysterious new arrival Lee Un-jeong (Cha Eun-woo) completing their squad, the four must band together against a nefarious secret organization threatening their town and the world.
The show is set in the Y2K era — late 90s Korea, complete with the aesthetic and the cultural anxiety of the millennium bug — which gives it a wonderfully distinctive backdrop that separates it from every other superhero K-drama. The writing is funny, self-aware, and emotionally grounded simultaneously.
Why it matters: The Wonderfools does not take itself too seriously, which is actually its greatest strength. The powers are weird and specific, the team chemistry is electric, and it is the most genuinely fun superhero K-drama since Strong Girl Bong-soon.
Marvel Match: Early Guardians of the Galaxy energy — a found-family team of misfits who should not work together but somehow absolutely do. Multiple reviewers have also called it Netflix's perfect replacement for The Boys.
3. The Uncanny Counter (Netflix)
Premise: A Ragtag Band of Misfits Hunt Down Evil Spirits From Their Noodle Shop Headquarters
Platform: Netflix | Episodes: 16 (Season 1) + 16 (Season 2) | Webtoon-based: Yes
Based on the acclaimed webtoon Amazing Rumor by Jang Yi, The Uncanny Counter follows So Mun (Jo Byeong-kyu), a high school student who gets drafted into a secret team of paranormal crime-fighters called the Counters. By day, they run a noodle shop. By night, they banish evil spirits to the underworld.
What sets the show apart is the depth of its ensemble cast. Each Counter has a different power, a different trauma, and a different reason for fighting — and the show spends real time developing all of them.
Character powers
| Character | Powers |
|---|---|
| So Mun | Super Speed, Telekinesis, Spirit Sense |
| Do Ha-na | Super Strength, Psychometry, Memory Reading |
| Chu Mae-ok | Super Healing |
| Ga Mo-tak | Super Strength, Psychometry |
| Na Jeok-bong | Superhuman Smell |
Marvel Match: Think X-Men meets neighborhood-level Spider-Man. Each team member has a specific power, a trauma origin, and a community they are protecting. The team dynamics are the heart of the show.
Best Superhero K-Dramas for Romance Fans
These shows use superpowers as a backdrop for genuinely compelling love stories. The powers are not decoration — they are the engine of the romantic conflict.
4. Strong Girl Bong-Soon (Viki)
Premise: A Woman With Hereditary Super Strength Gets Hired as a CEO's Bodyguard
Platform: Viki | Episodes: 16 | Starring: Park Bo-young, Park Hyung-sik
One of the most iconic K-drama rom-coms of the 2010s. Do Bong-soon inherits a matrilineal gift of superhuman strength, and is bound by a rule: use her power for evil, and she loses it forever. She becomes the bodyguard of Ahn Min-hyuk (Park Hyung-sik), a charming high-powered CEO who is immediately smitten.
The comedy is broad and delightful. The romance is genuinely sweet. And Bong-soon's navigation of her own power — when to use it, when to hide it, what it means for her identity — gives the show surprising emotional depth. There is also a dark crime subplot that provides real stakes alongside the comedy.
Marvel Match: If you like She-Hulk's mix of comedy, female empowerment, and superhero identity struggles — Strong Girl Bong-soon does it better and arrived years earlier.
5. I Can Hear Your Voice (Viki)
Premise: A High School Student Who Can Read Minds Teams Up With a Defense Lawyer to Solve Cases
Platform: Viki | Episodes: 18 | Awards: Won 20 out of 33 nominations | Starring: Lee Jong-suk, Lee Bo-young
Park Soo-ha (Lee Jong-suk) can read anyone's mind through eye contact — a power he develops after a family tragedy. When he crosses paths with defense lawyer Jang Hye-sung, the two form an unlikely partnership for high-stakes legal cases. The chemistry between the leads is magnetic, and the romance that develops is one of the most beloved in K-drama history.
This is a legitimately all-time great show — not just for superhero fans. The telepathy mechanic is used with real creativity: courtroom scenes where the ability shifts the entire legal dynamic, and quiet intimate moments where the power creates unbearable emotional tension.
Marvel Match: Like a grounded K-drama version of Professor X's telepathy applied to the legal system. Fans of Daredevil's courtroom drama will find a lot to love here.
6. The Atypical Family (Netflix)
Premise: Members of a Superhero Dynasty Begin Losing Their Renowned Powers
Platform: Netflix | Episodes: 12 | Starring: Jang Ki-yong
Unlike most superhero shows that focus on a hero's genesis, The Atypical Family centers on the illustrious Bok dynasty, who have been revered for generations due to their powers. In the modern day, protagonist Bok Gwi-ju and his family have all lost their special skills due to ailments like insomnia, depression, and addiction to technology.
The main characters previously defined themselves by their precognition, time travel, and flight — and must now find a new sense of self-worth as people rather than superheroes. It is one of the most unique twists on the traditional superhero plot in the genre.
Marvel Match: Closest to an X-Men "loss of powers" storyline — specifically the emotional weight of what it means when an identity defined by ability is suddenly stripped away.
Best Superhero K-Dramas for Crime Thriller Fans
These shows pair superpowers with procedural crime investigation. The power is a direct tool in solving murders, catching serial killers, and cracking cold cases.
7. Memorist (Viki)
Premise: A Detective Who Reads Memories With a Single Touch Hunts a Serial Killer
Platform: Viki | Episodes: 16 | Starring: Yoo Seung-ho, Lee Se-young
Detective Dong Baek (Yoo Seung-ho) can physically touch a person and instantly access their memories. To stop a dangerous serial killer, he teams up with criminal profiler Han Sun-mi (Lee Se-young). What makes Memorist exceptional in the super-powered crime genre is how completely the two elements integrate — the murder investigation is never just a backdrop for the power showcase, and the power never overshadows the actual detective work.
The serial killer plot is genuinely gripping and builds with real tension. The lead performances are fantastic, and the show never wastes an episode. If you are a fan of crime procedurals who wants superpowers baked into the actual investigative logic — this is your show.
Marvel Match: Jessica Jones meets The Mentalist. The grim, relentless tone and the power-as-investigative-tool mechanic will appeal to fans of Marvel's grounded Netflix era.
8. He Is Psychometric (Netflix)
Premise: An Orphan With Psychometry Powers Reads the Secrets Hidden in Every Object He Touches
Platform: Netflix | Episodes: 16 | Starring: Park Jin-young, Shin Ye-eun
Lee Ahn (Park Jin-young) survives a traumatic accident that kills his parents and leaves him with psychometry — the ability to read the history and memories embedded in physical objects. He channels this into criminal investigations with the help of police officer Yoon Jae-in (Shin Ye-eun). The show strikes a delicate balance between police procedural and heartfelt romance, with a central mystery that deepens significantly in its back half.
For newcomers to the "psychometry crime" K-drama subgenre, He Is Psychometric is the most accessible starting point — lighter in tone, with strong character chemistry and a satisfying resolution.
9. Behind Your Touch (Netflix)
Premise: A Veterinarian's Uncanny Psychometry Ability Helps Her Solve Crimes in a Small Town
Platform: Netflix | Episodes: 16 | Starring: Han Ji-min, Lee Min-ki
Behind Your Touch puts a creative spin on the well-worn psychometry formula by making its super-powered main character a veterinarian. Bong Ye-bun (Han Ji-min) initially uses her supernatural skills on the animals she treats. When a killer begins wreaking havoc on her small town, she and disgraced detective Moon Jang-yeol (Lee Min-ki) begin working together as an unexpectedly dynamic duo.
The show is funnier than its premise suggests, and Han Ji-min carries the role with excellent comic timing. A strong pick for fans who want their crime drama cozy rather than grim.
10. A Girl Who Sees Smells (Viki)
Premise: A Coma Survivor Who Can Visualize Scents Helps Crack a Decades-Old Barcode Murder Case
Platform: Viki | Episodes: 16 | Starring: Shin Se-kyung, Park Yoo-chun
After losing her entire family in a gruesome murder, Choi Eun-seol falls into a deep coma. When she wakes, she has a new identity and an extraordinary form of synesthesia: she can visualize scents as vivid trails of color and trackable shapes. Detective Choi Moo-gak, who ironically lost his sense of smell due to his own trauma, teams up with her. The complementary disability and power dynamic is one of the cleverest in the genre.
Massively underrated. The crime plot is strong, the romance is charming, and the synesthesia power is visualized in ways that are creative and unlike anything in Western superhero TV.
K-Dramas Like The Boys (Dark and Gritty)
The Boys fans want moral ambiguity, dark themes, deconstruction of superhero myths, and real consequences. These K-dramas deliver some version of that.
Vigilante (Disney+) — The Closest Match
Platform: Disney+ | Episodes: 8 | Year: 2023
The closest K-drama to The Boys. A law student by day secretly becomes a brutal vigilante punisher at night. Morally complex, violent, and genuinely unsettling. The show asks hard questions about justice without providing easy answers. Only 8 episodes — criminally under-discussed.
Extraordinary (Disney+)
Platform: Disney+ | Episodes: 8 | Year: 2022
Set in a world where almost everyone has a superpower except the protagonist. Like The Boys' satire of superhero culture applied to everyday Korean society — dark comedy, institutional critique, and a deeply human story at its core.
Moving (Disney+)
The government-as-villain angle and the brutal consequences of working as a state-sanctioned super agent bring in some of The Boys' political thriller energy. Less satirical but equally dark in its treatment of institutional power.
Rugal (Viki)
Platform: Viki | Episodes: 16 | Year: 2020
A detective is killed, his eyes surgically replaced with cybernetic implants, and he is forced to work for a shadowy government unit. Lower production values, but a genuinely dark tone and sci-fi body-horror elements that Boys fans will appreciate.
The Wonderfools (Netflix)
Multiple reviewers have called it Netflix's perfect replacement for The Boys. Not as dark, but the satirical edge, institutional antagonists, and anti-hero team dynamics scratch a similar itch in a more accessible package.
Superhero K-Dramas by Power Type
Looking for a specific type of superpower? This index maps every show by its primary power mechanic.
Telepathy / Mind Reading
- I Can Hear Your Voice
- The Uncanny Counter (partial)
- Moving (partial)
Psychometry (Reading memories through touch)
- He Is Psychometric
- Behind Your Touch
- Memorist (memory reading via touch)
- The Uncanny Counter (Ha-na character)
Super Strength
- Strong Girl Bong-soon
- The Uncanny Counter
- Moving
- The Wonderfools
Flight
- Moving
- The Atypical Family
- The Wonderfools
Time Travel / Precognition
- The Atypical Family
- Alice
Synesthesia / Unique Sensory Powers
- A Girl Who Sees Smells
- Behind Your Touch (touch-based)
Multiple / Team-Based Powers
- The Wonderfools
- The Uncanny Counter
- Moving
- Extraordinary
Cybernetic / Technology-Enhanced
- Rugal
- Vigilante (peak human conditioning)
Note: Many of these shows are adapted from Korean webtoons (manhwa) — the K-drama equivalent of Marvel comics adaptations. The Uncanny Counter, Moving, and Extraordinary all started life as popular online comics before becoming hit dramas.
Underrated Superhero K-Dramas Most Lists Miss
Every list covers Moving and Strong Girl Bong-soon. These are the ones that deserve far more attention.
Vigilante (2023) — Disney+
The darkest, most morally complex superhero K-drama. A law student becomes a brutal vigilante at night. Only 8 episodes — criminally under-discussed. Powers: Peak Human conditioning. Tone: Dark, gritty, morally ambiguous.
Extraordinary (2022) — Disney+
A world where everyone has powers except one girl. A biting satire of superhero culture that is also genuinely funny and emotionally honest. Massively underrated. Powers: Various world-building level abilities. Tone: Dark Comedy / Satire.
The Atypical Family (2024) — Netflix
A family that has been powerful for generations is now losing their abilities due to depression, insomnia, and tech addiction. A completely original angle on power loss and identity. Powers: Time travel, precognition, flight. Tone: Drama / Romance.
Behind Your Touch (2023) — Netflix
A veterinarian uses psychometry to help solve crimes in a small town. Funnier than it sounds. Han Ji-min is excellent. Powers: Psychometry. Tone: Comedy / Crime.
Rugal (2020) — Viki
Cybernetic eye implants, government conspiracies, and a betrayed detective seeking revenge. Niche and flawed, but it has a devoted following for a reason. Powers: Cybernetic enhancements. Tone: Sci-Fi Action.
Alice (2020) — Viki
A time-travel sci-fi thriller with a genuinely ambitious mythology. Uneven in places but rewarding for fans willing to commit to complex, lore-heavy storytelling. Powers: Time travel. Tone: Sci-Fi Thriller.
Which Superhero K-Drama Should YOU Watch First?
Not sure where to start? Match your existing superhero fandom to the K-drama most likely to hook you immediately.
- If you love the MCU / Avengers → Watch Moving
- If you love Guardians of the Galaxy → Watch The Wonderfools
- If you love The Boys → Watch Vigilante
- If you love X-Men / Mutant teams → Watch The Uncanny Counter
- If you love Daredevil / Legal drama → Watch I Can Hear Your Voice
- If you love She-Hulk / Superhero comedy → Watch Strong Girl Bong-soon
- If you love Jessica Jones / Crime noir → Watch Memorist
- If you are brand new to K-dramas entirely → Watch The Wonderfools
- If you love X-Men power-loss storylines → Watch The Atypical Family
- If you love Umbrella Academy's tone → Watch Extraordinary
Where to Watch Every Superhero K-Drama
Netflix
- The Wonderfools
- The Uncanny Counter (Season 1 and Season 2)
- He Is Psychometric
- Behind Your Touch
- The Atypical Family
- Strong Girl Nam-soon (sequel series)
Disney+
- Moving
- Vigilante
- Extraordinary
- Connect
Viki (Rakuten Viki)
- Strong Girl Bong-soon
- I Can Hear Your Voice
- Memorist
- A Girl Who Sees Smells
- Rugal
- Alice
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best superhero K-drama?
Moving (Disney+) is the consensus gold standard — it has the biggest budget, most cinematic production, and deepest narrative. For newer viewers or those wanting a lighter entry point, The Wonderfools (Netflix, 2026) is the most accessible and currently the most talked-about.
Are there any K-dramas like Marvel?
Yes — several. Moving mirrors the MCU's multi-generational, family-driven storytelling. The Wonderfools has the found-family team dynamics of the early Avengers. The Uncanny Counter is closest to a neighborhood-hero Spider-Man story. The Atypical Family covers power-loss themes that echo X-Men storylines.
What K-dramas are based on webtoons with superpowers?
The Uncanny Counter (based on Amazing Rumor by Jang Yi), Moving (based on the manhwa by Kang Full), and Extraordinary are all webtoon adaptations. The manhwa pipeline is to K-dramas what Marvel comics are to the MCU — the primary source of superhero content.
Is The Wonderfools the best new superhero K-drama?
The Wonderfools (Netflix, May 2026) is the strongest new release in the genre since Moving. It blends Y2K nostalgia, found-family dynamics, genuine comedy, and high-stakes action. Multiple critics have called it an instant classic. It is currently trending globally on Netflix.
Where can I watch Moving K-drama?
Moving is exclusively on Disney+. All 20 episodes of Season 1 are available. Season 2 is in development but no release date has been confirmed as of May 2026.
Are there K-dramas like The Boys?
Vigilante (Disney+, 2023) is the closest match — morally ambiguous, dark, and focused on the cost of vigilante justice. Extraordinary delivers a similar institutional satire of superhero culture. Moving has some of The Boys' political thriller energy. For the closest tonal match without the extreme content, The Wonderfools has been widely compared to early Boys by reviewers.
Which superhero K-drama should I watch first?
It depends on your taste. Action fans should start with Moving. Romance fans should start with Strong Girl Bong-soon. Crime thriller fans should start with Memorist. Complete beginners new to K-dramas should start with The Wonderfools — it is the most beginner-friendly entry point in 2026.
What is psychometry in K-dramas?
Psychometry is the ability to read the history, memories, or emotions embedded in a physical object or person through touch. It is a recurring superpower in K-dramas — appearing in He Is Psychometric, Behind Your Touch, The Uncanny Counter, and Memorist. It is the signature K-drama superpower in much the same way telepathy dominates Western superhero fiction.
Are there superhero K-dramas with female leads?
Yes. Strong Girl Bong-soon (Park Bo-young) is the most iconic. A Girl Who Sees Smells (Shin Se-kyung) and Behind Your Touch (Han Ji-min) both feature female leads with central superpowers. The Wonderfools (Park Eun-bin) is the most recent example with a female co-lead.
What is the difference between Moving Season 1 and Season 2?
As of May 2026, Moving Season 2 is confirmed to be in development but no release date has been announced. Season 1 consists of 20 episodes and is a complete, satisfying story on its own.
Final Word
The superhero K-drama genre is small but exceptional. Unlike Western superhero media, which often prioritizes scale and spectacle over character, these shows use superpowers as emotional amplifiers — tools to explore grief, identity, justice, and human connection in ways that feel genuinely fresh.
If you are starting from zero: watch The Wonderfools first for pure fun, then Moving for the best the genre has to offer. If you are already a K-drama fan who has avoided superhero content: Memorist and Vigilante are your entry points through your existing genre preferences. And if you think you have seen it all — The Atypical Family and Extraordinary will prove you have not.