17 K-Dramas with Traumatic Childhood

The cast: Ji Sung, Hwang Jung Eum, Park Seo Joon, Kim Yoo Ri & Oh Min Suk

The story: Cha Do Hyun (Ji Sung) is the son of a wealthy family, who suffers from a dissociative identity disorder (DID). In his case, he has 7 different personalities. One day, he meets a resident in psychiatry named Oh Ri Jin (Hwang Jung Eum). She becomes her secret doctor, while they start falling in love.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: A young boy witnesses the abuse committed by his father on a young girl, who gets punished in his stead. His guilt leads him to develop a severe personality disorder.

The long version: Cha Do Hyun and Oh Ri Jin used to live in the same house as kids, raised by Do Hyun’s father, after the death of Ri Jin’s mother (who also happened to be the ex-wife of Do Hyun’s father). Each time Do Hyun misbehaved, his father would beat Ri Jin up. The girl was also locked up in the basement and hidden from the rest of the world. Mentally broken by the constant abuse, Do Hyun developed an alter ego, called Se Gi, to protect Ri Jin and himself. One day, Do Hyun (or should I say Se Gi) sets the basement on fire to get free from the violence. But, Do Hyun’s father rescues his son and leaves Ri Jin for dead in the burning house. She is eventually saved by the employees of the house, aware that she’s living in the basement. After the accident, Do Hun loses his memory, while Ri Jin gets adopted. They reunite years after as adults, and discover the dark secret they share.

The mental trauma: Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

The cast: Jang Ki Young, Jin Ki Joo & Heo Jun Ho

The story: Chae Do Jin (Jang Ki Young) works as a detective, who takes extra care of victims’ bereaved families. When he was in high school, he was in love with Han Jae Yi (Jin Ki Joo). But, the murder of Jae Yi’s parents separated them. They reunite years later.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: The good son of a cold-blooded psychopath tries to atone for his father’s brutal murder of his first love’s family.

The long version: Chae Do Jin used to keep his distance with his high school classmates, as he’d always suspected his father to be a gruesome serial killer. Despite knowing that, he and his sister had no other option, but to remain in their father’s house, while fearing his dangerous behavior. So, Do Jin led a lonely life until he met the lovely and kind Han Jae Yi. Quickly, they became each other’s first love. Upon realizing that he was loosing his grip on his son, and thus control over him, his father chose to brutally murder Jae Yi’s parents. This horrible crime split the lovers, and left an indelible scar in Jae Yi’s mind, who suffers from post-traumatic stress even years after the tragic event.

The mental trauma: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The cast: Park Seo Joon, Park Min Young & Lee Tae Hwan

The story: Lee Young Joon (Park Seo Joon) is the son of a conglomerate family. He’s smart, rich and arrogant. His secretary, Kim Mi So (Park Min Young), has worked with him for years. One day, she decides to quit. Young Joon tries to-reconquer her.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: A young boy and girl are kidnapped. When the young boy is rescued, he pretends not to remember anything, because his brother convinced himself he is the actual victim.

The long version: Lee Young Joon is the genius second son of a conglomerate family. He’s so smart that he ends up in the same class as his older brother in school. The latter, named Lee Sung Yeon, gets jealous and decides to abandon him one day in a deserted street. That same day, a woman passes by Young Joon, kidnaps him, and locks him up in a house. There, he meets 5-year-old Kim Mi So who has also been lured into the house by the same woman. Still, they manage to escape. Young Joon brings Mi So home, promises to visit her again, and collapses due to trauma. He wakes up in the hospital, and then goes back home. But, the story doesn’t end there. Upon returning to his house, Young Joon discovers that his brother thinks he is the one who has been kidnapped. Indeed, he felt so guilty for abandoning his little brother that he turned himself into the victim. In order to avoid further conflicts, and remove a burden from his parents’ shoulders, Young Joon faints and pretends not to remember anything. This will lead to even more confusion between characters in the future.

The mental trauma: Cognitive disorder (CD); Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The cast: Yeo Jin Goo & Moon Ga Young

The story: 20 years ago, Eun Gye Hoon’s (Yeo Jin Goo) twin sister disappeared. No one really knew what happened to her. Now an adult, he comes back to the town of the disappearance as a chef opening a new restaurant. While investigating the past, he meets No Da Hyun (Moon Ga Young) with whom he seems to share an emotional connection.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: Two little girls are kidnapped by a serial killer. When they finally manage to escape, one of them abandons the other one unable to run. The surviving kid forgets the incident ever happened.

The long version: No Da Hyun and Eun Gye Hoon’s twin sister were kidnapped by a serial killer, when they were just kids. They were locked up in the basement of a house, scared and lonely. At some moment, both kids decided to run away. They escaped through an open window, and started running. Unfortunately, Eun Gye Young (Gye Hoon’s sister) was hurt at the foot. So, she asked No Da Hyun to leave her behind and to keep on running. Thinking about her survival, Da Hyun abandoned Gye Young, who was caught and killed by the criminal. Da Hyun fortunately survived, but the shock and the guilt made her forget the traumatic incident. Her mother and grandmother never talked about it again, as Da Hyun had no recollection of the events. Still, she kept on suffering from post-traumatic stress, yet unable to decipher the root of her fears. Until Gye Hoon’s arrival in the town brings her past back to the surface.

The mental trauma: Amnesia and Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The cast: Seo In Guk, Jang Na Ra & Park Bo Gum

The story: Lee Hyun (Seo In Guk) is a brilliant, but arrogant criminal profiler. He is tasked to work with elite detective Cha Ji An (Jang Na Ra). While solving cases, they start developing feelings for each other.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: The psychologist father of two sons believes his kids, especially the older one, have psychopathic tendencies. So, he locks the older brother up in the basement, until he’s rescued by a real serial killer.

The long version: Lee Hyun and Lee Min are brothers. Their father works as a psychologist who studies criminals. Both brothers are brilliant, but lack social understanding, and tend to ask disturbing questions/make unusual drawings. Thinking that his oldest son is more at risk of becoming a future ‘monster’, the father locks him up in the basement. A decision that bears terrible consequences, as the younger brother, Min, actually turns out to be worse, and the only reason he was still behaving properly was thanks to Hyun’s influence. The story takes a dark turn, when a real psychopath enters the family house to murder his shrink (the sons’ father). He frees Hyun from his prison (the basement) and stabs the father. When he escapes, the killer discovers that Min had found refuge in the backseat of his car. Realizing that Min is similar to him, the serial killer kidnaps him and raises him into a psychopath in his image. When brothers reunite, one is a criminal convinced that he’s brother abandoned him into the hands of a murderer; while the other is haunted by fragmented memories of his childhood in the basement, and the certainty his father considered him a monster.

The mental trauma: Amnesia, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Domestic abuse and Psychopathy

The cast: Lee Jun Ho, Won Jin Ah, Lee Ki Woo & Kang Han Na

The story: Lee Gang Doo (Lee Jun Ho) used to dream of becoming a soccer player, but an accident changed his life. Ever since the tragic event, he suffers from a profound trauma he struggles to overcome. Ha Moon Soo (Won Jin Ah) was in the same accident as Gang Doo. She also experiences difficulties moving on. Together, they start healing.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: 2 young people survived the collapse of the Sampoong Department Store, but still suffer from the aftermath of that tragedy.

The long version: Lee Gang Doo lost his father and his dream (being a soccer player) because of the collapse of the building. He spent years in rehab because of his crushed leg, and still experiences anxiety and stress, translated into panic attacks and nightmares. Ha Moon Soo also survived the catastrophe, but feels guilty as she lost her sibling in the event. Her mother fell into depression and alcoholism, unable to overcome pain and grief.

The mental trauma: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

The cast: Lee Seung Gi, Park Ju Hyun, Lee Hee Jun & Kyung Soo Jin

The story: Jung Ba Reum (Lee Seung Gi) is a kind and helpful police officer. After the murder of his best friend, he chases after the killer. They end up face-to-face and Ba Reum almost dies. He is barely saved but realizes afterwards that something is wrong with his head. This event changes his life.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: A little boy, his older brother and their parents are on winter holidays. On a deserted road, they ask for help. Only the little boy will survive the brutal events of the night.

The long version: Go Mu Chi is a detective with a tragic past. When he was just a kid, his entire family was assassinated by the famous serial killer named Headhunter. The worst part, is that his older brother hid him to protect him from the murderer, resulting in Mu Chi witnessing the bloodbath. During the investigation, the boy was able to recognize the killer and to denounce him to the police. Later, it’s revealed that Han Seo Joon, a respected and brilliant doctor, was behind those brutal murders. Other traumatic childhoods would be worth mentioning in the drama, like that of Sung Yo Han. He was supposedly born with the psychopath gene, putting him more at risk to kill someone. To avoid that, her mother exchanged him with the baby of another woman, who turned out to be Han Seo Joon’s pregnant wife at the time. Yo Han grew up thinking he was the son of a serial killer, before discovering he was switched and the reason behind. Meanwhile, Jung Ba Reum (Headhunter’s real son) grew up and turned into a psychopath, chased by Go Mu Chi. On another level, Oh Bong Yi should be mentioned when it comes to difficult upbringing. Bong Yi lost her parent early on in her life. She was raised by her grandmother, who got killed by her crush, Ba Reum, because the old lady had uncovered his identity. She was also assaulted as a child by a pervert, making her afraid of the rain.

The mental trauma: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Psychopathy

The cast: Kim Soo Hyun, Seo Ye Ji, Oh Jung Se & Park Gyu Young

The story: ​Moon Gang Tae (Kim Soo Hyun) is a young man, struggling in life. Indeed, he has to take care of his autistic brother, traumatized by the murder of their mother. While trying to keep afloat, he meets Ko Mun Yeong (Seo Ye Ji), who has a rather atypical personality. Gang Tae and Mun Yeong, while getting to know each other the rough way, discover they might actually share a common past. 

The childhood trauma:
The short version: A young boy and a young girl, both scarred by their respective parents, meet as adults and try to heal the wounds of the past together.

The long version: Moon Gang Tae escaped with his autistic older brother, after the latter witnessed the brutal murder of their mother. Ever since, Gang Tae has suppressed himself and his emotions, putting his brother’s trauma (and violent outbursts) first. As his mother once told him, Gang Tae’s main purpose in life is to take care of his brother after she’s gone. Go Mun Yeong also suffered from a traumatic past because of her mother. She was ‘peculiar’ to say the least, and forced her daughter to stay inside the house, prohibiting her from having relationships with other kids. Mun Yeong grew up isolated and lonely, while developing a sort of antisocial personality disorder. To add to her tough upbringing, Mun Yeong’s father tried to kill her, as she was the spitting image of his wife. As if it were not enough, Mun Yeong’s crazy mother comes back to haunt her years after.

The mental trauma: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); Antisocial personality disorder; Anxiety disorder; Domestic abuse

The cast: Yoon Kyun Sang, Kim Yoo Jung & Song Jae Rim

The story: Jang Sun Gyeol (Yoon Kyun Sang) has a condition called mysophobia, which is the fear of germs. He is also the CEO of a cleaning company. One day, he meets Gil Oh Sol (Kim Yoo Jung). She is a bright woman, who doesn’t mind getting dirty. With her help, Sun Gyeol learns how to overcome his condition, while falling in love.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: A boy developed mysophobia after being constantly forced to be clean.

The long version: Jang Sun Gyeol was a young boy, when he developed his fear of germs. As a normal kid, he used to play outside and come back home dirty. This sight was a horrifying one for his grandfather, who would can him and call him ‘a disgrace’ because of that. He would also force him to get cleaned up right away. Over the years, the scars developed into a disease with which Sun Gyeol is constantly battling, even more when Gil Oh Sol enters his life.

The mental trauma: Mysophobia

The cast: Hyun Bin, Han Ji Min, Hyeri & Sung Joon

The story: Goo Seo Jin (Hyun Bin) is the director of the amusement park called Wonderland. After a trauma, he has developed 2 different personalities: One is cold and distant, the other is warm and kind. One day, he meets Jang Ha Na (Han Ji Min) who works at the circus in Wonderland. Despite their feuds, they start falling in love.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: A young boy is kidnapped with his friend, and develops a disorder and trauma upon realizing he’s the only one who escaped.

The long version: When he was a child, Goo Seo Jin and his friend Yoon Tae Joo were kidnapped and locked up in the haunted house of Wonderland. In order to escape they decided to get out through a window. As they were small, they helped each other out to reach it. Seo Jin escaped the house. As he was trying to pull his friend out, the kidnapper arrived forcing Seo Jin to let go of his friend’s hand and run away. Since then, he’s developed another personality, Robin, to cope with his guilt. Contrary to the cold and distant Seo Jin, Robin is warm-hearted, kind to others, and empathetic. He only appears when Seo Jin’s heartbeat goes over a certain rhythm, which seems to happen often when Jang Ha Na is around.

The mental trauma: Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

The cast: Seo In Guk, Jung So Min & Park Sung Woong

The story: Kim Moo Young (Seo In Guk) is a young man with a mysterious past. He’s cold and somewhat dangerous. While detective Yoo Jin Kook (Park Sung Woong) investigates the murder case of a female university student, he discovers that his little sister, Yoo Jin Kang (Jung So Min), has developed a special connection with Moo Young, who turns out to be the prime suspect.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: 2 orphans grow up wounded by the scars of their childhood, connect as adults only to discover that their past is tragically catching up with them.

The long version: Kim Moo Young is an orphan who was raised in an orphanage, deprived of love and affection. As he grew up, he interiorized his emotions, which turned him sometimes into a cruel, brutal and dangerous individual. On top of that he also repressed some old memories leading him to behave like someone with an antisocial personality disorder would. Opposite to Moo Young, Yoo Jin Kang is also an orphan. But, she was raised and dotted on by her adoptive brother detective Yoo Jin Kook. The latter is intent on not letting Moo Young and Jin Kang develop feelings for each other, as he considers the young man to be a liability, involved in a woman’s death. However, the reason behind Jin Kook’s reluctance actually runs deeper than that. Indeed, Moo Young’s father killed Jin Kang’s biological parents years ago. The murderer was caught and shot by Jin Kook when he arrived at the murder scene. All in all, Moo Young’s father is the reason why Jin Kang is an orphan; while Jin Kook’s the reason why Moo Young is. This fateful connection leads to an even more tragic end, in which Moo Young and Jin Kang think they are siblings, pushing one another to put an end to their misery.

The mental trauma: Antisocial Personality Disorder; Guilt; Abandonment

The cast: Jo In Sung, Gong Hyo Jin, Sung Dong Il, Lee Kwang Soo, Jin Kyung & Lee Sung Kyung

The story: Jang Jae Yeol (Jo In Sung) is a famous writer and radio DJ. But, he also hides a dark past that upsets his current life. Ji Hae Soo (Gong Hyo Jin) is a psychiatrist, who also hides some secrets. Their respective life changes when they meet.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: A teenage boy, constantly beaten up by his father, develops an imaginary self to cope with his traumatic past. Meanwhile, a young girl develops an anxiety disorder and trust issues because of her mother’s infidelity.

The long version: Jang Jae Yeol used to be beaten up by his father as a child. Not only him, but his entire family (mother and brother) would suffer from the patriarch’s punches. One day, he’s so bruised that his older brother rushes him out for protection, leaving their parents inside the family house. In an act of self-defense, their mother sets the house on fire, killing their violent father in the meantime. After that, the older brother is accused of the murder, while the mother has erased that part of her memory. Jae Yeol also develops a trauma because of that tragic event. He creates an imaginary self in his image, named Han Kang Woo, whom he would support and protect when the boy he’s being beaten up by his (imaginary) father. But, Kang Woo is just a projection of Jae Yeol’s own agony and trauma he desperately tries to overcome in his own way. Years later, he realizes he has schizophrenia and that Kang Woo is not real thanks to the help of a psychiatrist called Ji Hae Soo. She also went through a lot as a young girl. Indeed, she developed huge anxiety when intimate with a man, after witnessing her mother’s infidelity, making it hard for her to have sex.

The mental trauma: Schizophrenia; Anxiety disorder

The cast: Ahn Eun Jin, Kim Kyung Nam, Joy & Kang Ye Won

The story: Pyo In Sook (Ahn Eun Jin) is a young woman, who has struggled her entire life and learns she doesn’t have much time left. So, she goes to a hospice where she meets a lonely housewife called Kang Se Yeon (Kang Ye Won) and a popular influencer named Sung Mi Do (Joy). One day, the three of them get involved in a murder case. While chased by the police, In Sook meets Min Woo Cheon (Kim Kyung Nam), another suspect. 

The childhood trauma:
The short version: A disabled young girl, bullied by her peers, rescues a young boy whose parents are trying to commit suicide.

The long version: As a kid, Pyo In Sook was abandoned by her father after the death of her mother. She was thus raised by her grandmother in great poverty. To add to her misfortune, In Sook was bullied for her familial situation, which resulted into an accident in which she lost part of her hearing. This disability created even more bullying for the young girl. Min Woo Cheon is a boy whose parents tried to commit suicide. They succeeded and died, asphyxiated by the smoke of charcoal in their car, but the boy miraculously survived. He then grew up only to go through new sufferings. One of his close friends died when he was still a teenager. The mother of the victim held him responsible, and thus prevented Woo Cheon from leading a normal life (getting a job…). Trapped, he had no other choice, but to resort to illegal means to survive (like killing people for money).

The mental trauma: Discrimination; Bullying; Abandonment

The cast: Im Si Wan & Seol Hyun

The story: Lee Yeo Reum (Seol Hyun) is a young woman, who struggles in life. After a series of unfortunate events, she decides to quit her job and move to the countryside. There, she meets the quiet town librarian, An Dae Bum (Im Si Wan). Though very kind, he hides a dark past. They start developing feelings for each other, while healing of their past wounds.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: A little boy goes back home and finds his sister’s dead body. During the investigation, he accuses his father, leading to the further destruction of his family.

The long version: An Dae Bum was around 8 years old, when his genius sister was strangled to death. On the day of the murder, he was going back home, and thought he’d seen his father running out of their house. When Dae Bum’s parents discover their daughter has been assassinated, his father blames him for not taking care of her, and tells him he wish it would’ve been him instead. Interrogated by the police, Dae Bum confesses his father was there, which results in him being arrested (and imprisoned for murder); as well as in his mother’s suicide. This incident leaves him all alone.

The mental trauma: Rejection; Abandonment; Verbal abuse; Guilt

The cast: Kim Sun Ah, Lee Yi Kyung, Nam Gyu Ri & Cha Hak Yeon

The story: Cha Woo Kyung (Kim Sun Ah) is a child psychologist who seems to lead the perfect life. But after an accident everything changes, as she starts digging up the truth about her past. Meanwhile, she teams up with detective Kang Ji Hun (Lee Yi Kyung) to solve cases involving child abuse.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: 4 very different people with traumatic childhoods meet and team up to solve cases related to child abuse.

The long version: Cha Woo Kyung is a child psychologist, who suffered from the death of her little sister when she was just a kid. The little girl was beaten up to death by their step-mother. The shock caused Woo Kyung to faint and forget. When she woke up from the coma, her father distorted her memory by introducing her step-mother’s real daughter as her sister. Lee Eun Ho was physically and sexually abused by his adoptive family, which caused him to go rogue and kill people responsible for child abuse. Kang Ji Hun used to be severely punished by his parents as a child. This led to a trauma and the fear of becoming like his parents with his own children. Hence, his reluctance to get close to any kid who comes his way. Jeon Soo Young used to be beaten up by her step-brother, but she was also ordered by her own mother to stay quiet in order to keep the peace in the family. Since then, she’s interiorized her anger and behaved like a lone wolf, unable to trust others even those closest to her. On top of their difficult past, these 4 characters come together to help abused children.

The mental trauma: Abuse

The cast: Ok Taecyeon, Ha Seok Jin & Jung Eun Ji

The story: Detective Ryu Sung Joon (Ok Taecyeon), judge Ryu Sung Hoon (Ha Seok Jin) and social worker Jo Eun Ki (Jung Eun Ji) team up to solve a series of murder cases involving jurors as the main victims. They gradually find out a darker truth.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: A group of young boys were locked up in a facility that was supposedly an orphanage. Behind closed doors, they were enslaved to do manual work, tortured physically and psychologically, and even killed if they tried to escape.

The long version: Detective Ryu Sung Joon has always thought he was adopted. Indeed, his parents seem to prefer his older brother Ryu Sung Hoon, as he is a successful and upright judge. But the truth is otherwise. While investigating a murder case involving jurors as victims, he slowly recovers the childhood memory he’d lost after an accident, and uncovers the ugly truth behind the murders. Years ago, his mother had struck a deal with guards, police officers, and reporters so they would cover up the existence of an orphanage in which young boys were brought (after being kidnapped for some) to do manual labor. Cruelty there knew no bounds, and the kids would also be tortured (and killed) if they misbehaved. Among these kids, Sung Hoon (the future judge) got close to Yoon Jae. Together they escaped. Sung Hoon and Yoon Jae became friends with Sung Joon, as Sung Hoon became part of his family. But one day, Yoon Jae pushed Sung Joon to his fall. As the latter had lost his memory, Sung Hoon and Yoon Jae tricked him into believing he was the actual Yoon Jae, who had suffered the abuse in the past, and was the future culprit of a series of murder.

The mental trauma: Cognitive Disorder (CD); Psychopathy

The cast: Kang Ji Hwan, Kim Ok Bin, Shim Hee Seop & Lee Elijah

The story: Cheon Jae In (Kang Ji Hwan) is an extremely smart detective, who follows facts and reason to solve his cases. One day, he meets detective Kim Dan (Kim Ok Bin). She possesses the ability to see the moment when victims die. They start working together to uncover a conspiracy involving a cult.

The childhood trauma:
The short version: 3 children are abused by a fanatic religious cult and have to live with the consequences of the abuse.

The long version: Kim Dan, Han Sang Goo and Joo Ha Min were all raised by a cult. Their parents were under the powerful influence of the guru called Pastor Wang. Therefore, they let him to whatever he wanted with them. To survive this hellish place, the 3 children, who went by the names Byul, Popeye and Apollo, promised never to forget each other even after they grow up. As adults, each has followed his/her own path, either repressing past memories or becoming an inherent part of the cult, following the organization’s orders and giving it more power within the political circles.

The mental trauma: Abuse; Brainwashing