Cover If you’re a fan of explosive action balanced with heartfelt found-family moments, these unforgettable K-dramas about unconventional guardians deserve a place on your watchlist (Photo: IMDb)
If you’re a fan of explosive action balanced with heartfelt found-family moments, these unforgettable K-dramas about unconventional guardians deserve a place on your watchlist (Photo: IMDb)
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If you enjoyed Agent Kim Reactivated, these K-dramas about unconventional guardians deserve a spot on your watchlist
One of the things K-dramas do exceptionally well is turning unlikely relationships into the emotional heart of a story. While parents are often portrayed as loving but overworked, distant or even absent, it’s not unusual for a guardian figure to step in instead. Sometimes it’s an older sibling, a grandparent or a teacher. Other times, it’s the last person you’d expect: a retired special forces operative, a legendary assassin or a former gangster with a dangerous past.
That’s exactly what makes this corner of the genre so addictive. These hardened fighters may know how to survive gunfights and criminal conspiracies, but looking after a teenager often proves to be their toughest mission yet. Watching battle-scarred characters slowly learn to care, protect and even parent creates the kind of emotional payoff that K-drama fans love just as much as the action itself.
Series like Agent Kim Reactivated have only fuelled the appeal of this trope, blending explosive fight scenes with heartfelt found-family moments. Whether the threat comes from organised crime, corrupt officials or supernatural forces, these stories show that family isn’t always defined by blood. Sometimes, the fiercest protector is the person who never expected to become a guardian at all.
Here are nine K-dramas and films where unconventional guardians put everything on the line to protect the young people in their care, along with their casts and where you can stream them.
Read more: K-dramas and Korean films about assassins, from ‘A Shop for Killers’ to ‘Kill Boksoon’
‘Agent Kim Reactivated’ (2026)
Above A former black-ops legend poses as a mild-mannered dad until his teenage daughter vanishes, forcing him back into action
So Ji-sub stars as Kim Do-hyeon, a seemingly ordinary bank manager raising his teenage daughter, Min-ji (Seo Su-min), as a single father. When Min-ji vanishes following an incident at school, his buried past as an elite covert operative known as Agent 66 is forced into the open. To track her down, he reactivates his tactical skills and collaborates with fellow operative fathers played by Choi Dae-hoon and Yoon Kyung-ho to dismantle organized crime syndicates and intelligence networks. The series aired on SBS TV and is available on local streaming platforms like Netflix.
‘Moving’ (2023)
Above Retired secret agents with superpowers go to extraordinary lengths to hide their abilities and shield their kids from dangerous agencies
Headlined by Ryu Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo and Zo In-sung, this series follows retired secret operatives possessing superhuman abilities who lead quiet lives to conceal their powers. Their primary objective is shielding their teenage children, who have inherited these genetic traits, from government agencies seeking to exploit them. The storyline details the lengths to which these parents go to maintain low profiles while confronting external threats. The series streams globally on Disney+ and Hulu.
Don’t miss: ‘Moving’ and beyond: how K-dramas make superpowers hit harder
‘A Shop for Killers’ (2024)
Above A college student inherits an underground arms depot from her mysterious uncle and must survive an onslaught of elite assassins
After her uncle Jeong Jin-man (Lee Dong-wook) unexpectedly dies, university student Jeong Ji-an (Kim Hye-jun) becomes the target of lethal mercenaries. She discovers that the agricultural supply business her uncle operated was actually a covert arms market for professional assassins. Through flashbacks, the narrative shows how Jin-man secretly trained his niece in survival tactics to prepare her for future attacks. The action thriller is available on Disney+ and Hulu.
‘My Secret Terrius’ (2018)
Above A top-secret operative on the run takes on his hardest cover assignment yet: babysitting his neighbour's mischievous twins
So Ji-sub portrays Kim Bon, a legendary National Intelligence Service operative living in secrecy following a compromised mission. He ends up becoming an unexpected babysitter for his widowed neighbour’s twin children, played by Jung In-sun as the mother. While managing daily childcare duties, he uses his intelligence skills to investigate a corporate conspiracy connected to the family. Viewers can stream the series on Viki and Kocowa.
‘Family: The Unbreakable Bond’ (2023)
Above An NIS sniper dad and his secret-agent wife balance lethal covert ops with the chaos of suburban parenting
Jang Hyuk stars as Kwon Do-hoon, a man leading a double life as a covert sniper for the National Intelligence Service while posing as a routine corporate employee. His wife, Kang Yoo-ra (Jang Na-ra), manages their household while harbouring her own hidden combat past. Both attempt to preserve their family dynamic while keeping their professional capabilities secret from one another. This title is featured among spy-themed K-dramas on Disney+ in selected regions.
‘Bad Papa’ (2018)
Above A disgraced former boxing champion enters dangerous underground fights to financially support and protect his family
Jang Hyuk plays Yoo Ji-cheol, a former champion boxer who lost his status and wealth following a career defeat. Facing financial distress and struggling to support his high school daughter (Shin Eun-soo), he participates in a trial for an experimental performance-enhancing drug. He enters underground fighting circuits to earn money, accepting physical risks to fulfill his paternal responsibilities. The drama is streamable on Viki and Prime Video.
‘Kill Boksoon’ (2023)
Above A legendary contract assassin finds navigating her rebellious teenage daughter far harder than taking out hit targets
Jeon Do-yeon stars as Gil Bok-soon, a top-ranked hitwoman employed by an elite assassination agency. Simultaneously, she is a single mother navigating a strained relationship with her teenage daughter (Kim Si-a). The film details the conflict between her professional obligations to execute targets and her efforts to manage domestic parenting challenges. As one of the high-profile action films alongside serialized K-dramas, it is available for global streaming on Netflix.
‘The Man from Nowhere’ (2010)
Above A quiet pawnshop keeper with a lethal past wages a ruthless one-man war to rescue a kidnapped young girl
Won Bin plays Cha Tae-sik, a quiet pawnshop owner with a military special forces background who lives in isolation. His only regular interaction is with So-mi (Kim Sae-ron), a young girl living nearby. When an organ trafficking syndicate abducts So-mi, Tae-sik uses his military expertise to track down the syndicate and secure her release. The iconic action film streams on Netflix, Prime Video and Tubi.
‘The Uncanny Counter’ (2020–2023)
Above Noodle shop workers double as demon hunters, serving as a fierce surrogate family for a newly recruited high schooler
Featuring Jo Byeong-kyu, Yoo Jun-sang, Kim Se-jeong and Yeom Hye-ran, a group of demon hunters known as Counters work disguised as staff at a local noodle restaurant. When high school student So Mun joins the group, the senior members act as surrogate guardians. The team balances supernatural combat against rogue spirits with providing emotional support and physical protection for their youngest member. Both seasons are available on Netflix.
Chonx Tibajia is a senior editor at Tatler Asia’s T-Labs team, where she writes widely on lifestyle subjects including beauty, style, entertainment and travel. She has a long career in journalism, including roles as a columnist at The Philippine Star, and is the founder of the creative platform Pineappleversed. Beyond Tatler, her bylines appear in regional lifestyle and business publications, showcasing a broad portfolio that spans beauty trends, travel guides and culture pieces.
