Karma is a South Korean crime thriller TV series. Written and directed by Lee II-hyung, the series consists of six one-hour episodes. It premiered on Netflix on April 4th, 2025.
The series centers around six individuals caught in an unforeseen, tragic relationship, where they ultimately destroy one another while chasing their own desires and facing the consequences that follow. Karma is adapted from the 2019 Kakao webtoon III-Fated Relationship by Choi Hee-seon, which was serialized being transformed into a six-episode drama.
The first character that we’re introduced to is a son who after discovering his father’s life insurance policy decided to hire his ex-coworker to kill his father by car accident in the hopes of paying him a large lump sum of money. However, the man he hired ran into couple of issues and therefore decided to seek the help of another man he met while serving time in prison. Thus, the story starts getting really interesting when that same man he hired for assistance is also linked to raping a young teenager at the time who is now a doctor struggling to move on her past. From there, the story continues to showcase how all of the 6 individuals are intertwine together and the ripple effects of their actions, web of lies, deceits, past trauma, financial burden and desperation.
This series was incredibly impactful to watch. The storytelling, character development, and cinematography were all executed with remarkable creativity. It’s an intense, fast-paced show that delves deeply into the complexity of its characters. Additionally, the cast had great chemistry, with standout performances from Park Hae-soo, who once again excelled in portraying complicated emotions. His performance truly elevated the series.
The show is captivating from start to finish, steadily building tension and depth. It delivers a thought-provoking message about the consequences of actions and the human psyche. A truly satisfying psychological Korean thriller, Karma skillfully blends themes of fate and powerful revenge, ultimately illustrating that karma always catches up.
