Best 3 Dramas by Kim Eun-hee, the Master of Genre and Writer of 'Kingdom'

Kim Eun-hee, a renowned Korean drama writer nicknamed “the Agatha Christie of Korea,” gained global recognition in 2019 with the Netflix series “Kingdom.” We recommend three of her intriguing works, considered masterpieces in the thriller, crime, and mystery genres.

“Sign” (싸인) (2011)

Kim Eun-hee rose to prominence in 2011 with the drama “Sign.” Set in the National Forensic Service (NFS), the drama delves into the stories of forensic scientists. It was the first Korean drama to feature the NFS as its backdrop. It follows the investigation of various cases, including the mysterious death of an idol. Unlike other Korean dramas at the time that often emphasized romance, “Sign” minimized romance and focused on the cases, earning widespread acclaim. The main characters are Yoon Ji-hoon, a genius forensic scientist, and Go Da-kyung, a newly recruited forensic scientist. In 2019, it was remade in Japan as “Sign – The Case of Forensic Scientist Yuzuki Takashi.”

You can watch the Korean drama “Sign” on Wavve and Watcha. You can also find a 16-part subtitled summary of the entire story on SBS’s official YouTube channel, ‘SBS Catch.’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHs0SWKQN3U

“Phantom” (유령) (2012)

Released a year after “Sign,” “Phantom” focuses on the Cyber Investigation Unit. In 2012, when smartphones were just becoming widespread, people lacked awareness of issues like personal information leaks and cyber ethics. As they used the internet for work, financial transactions, and even journaling, various social problems arose. The drama uses the tagline “Evidence hidden between 0 and 1” and incorporates ‘0’ and ‘1’ into the title font, reflecting the show's theme of cyber investigation. The drama begins with the pursuit of the genius hacker ‘Hades.’ While created by the same production team as “Sign,” it tackles a completely different subject matter, preventing it from feeling repetitive or overly similar.

You can watch the Korean drama “Phantom” on Wavve and Watcha. You can also find a 16-part subtitled summary of the entire story on SBS’s official YouTube channel, ‘SBS Catch.’

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghuBvPBvTuQ

“Signal” (시그널) (2016)

Many Koreans consider “Signal” their ‘life drama.’ It's a crime drama with a touch of fantasy. The protagonist, Park Hae-young, stumbles upon a walkie-talkie that allows him to communicate with a detective from the past, Lee Jae-han. The drama follows their journey of solving long-unsolved cases through this walkie-talkie. Uncovering how Lee Jae-han gained the ability to communicate with the future and the story behind his connection to the present is another crucial aspect of the plot. The drama also draws inspiration from real-life cases in Korea that remained unsolved for years and eventually expired due to the statute of limitations.

“Signal” has been remade in Japan, China, and Thailand. Due to its open ending, there’s a strong demand for a second season. After repeated discussions about a possible sequel, Kim Eun-hee recently mentioned it herself, rekindling hope among many fans.

You can watch the Korean drama “Signal” on TVING, Wavve, and Disney+.