Are you ready for a K-drama that dives deep into fate, consequences, and shocking choices? Netflix’s new crime thriller Karma is the latest sensation in the K-drama world — and for good reason.
Plot Summary: How One Bad Decision Changes Everything
Karma tells the gripping story of six strangers whose lives become deeply connected through a single, tragic event. Each of them makes a choice they think will solve their problems — but instead, it leads to a dangerous chain of consequences.
- Park Jae-yeong (Lee Hee-joon) is drowning in debt from failed crypto investments. Desperate for money, he plots to kill his estranged father for the insurance payout.
- Jang Gil-ryong (Kim Sung-kyun) is an ex-gangster who just lost his job. He gets hired to do the dirty work.
- Kim Beom-jun (Park Hae-soo) witnesses something he shouldn’t and is pulled into a spiral of lies, fear, and guilt.
- Dr. Lee Ju-yeon (Shin Min-a) is a respected doctor, but she’s hiding a painful past. When people from her childhood show up, her calm life falls apart.
- Han Sang-hun (Lee Kwang-soo) and Lee Yu-jeong (Gong Seung-yeon) find themselves caught in the middle, each facing life-changing choices of their own.
This drama explores a powerful theme: what goes around, comes around. Every decision has a consequence, and every action echoes back — sometimes in the worst way.
Why Viewers Are Obsessed with Karma
The series only has six episodes, but each one is packed with mystery, suspense, and emotional twists. It uses a non-linear style, meaning the story jumps around in time — which keeps you guessing and glued to the screen
What Critics and Fans Are Saying
Since its release on April 4, 2025, Karma has been getting great reviews from both fans and critics:
- It has an 80% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
- Reviewers call it “addictive, emotional, and brilliantly written.”
- Fans love the fast pace, deep themes, and twists you never see coming.
Symbolism and Visuals That Hit Deep
One of the coolest parts of Karma is its use of symbolism. The main poster shows the six characters connected by red threads — symbolizing how their fates are tied together by karma. It’s a subtle but powerful visual that reflects the show’s core message: you can’t outrun what you’ve done.
Is Karma Worth Watching?
Absolutely. Karma is one of those rare K-dramas that grabs you from the first episode and doesn’t let go. With its mix of crime, drama, and emotional depth, it’s a must-watch for anyone who loves stories about fate, revenge, and redemption.
Full Episode Guide & Breakdown
Episode 1: “The Debt”
The story kicks off with Park Jae-yeong, a failed crypto investor drowning in debt. Desperate to escape his financial nightmare, he hatches a sinister plan: kill his estranged father for life insurance. Meanwhile, Jang Gil-ryong, a recently fired ex-gangster, is introduced as the man Jae-yeong hires to carry out the hit. A chilling tone is set — and we realize that nothing in this story is simple.
Key Themes: Desperation, greed, moral collapse
Cliffhanger: Jae-yeong receives a mysterious call that may change everything.
Episode 2: “Witness”
Enter Kim Beom-jun, an ordinary man who witnesses something he shouldn’t have. Haunted and panicked, he chooses silence — but karma starts working behind the scenes. At the same time, tension builds as the hired murder plan takes a deadly turn no one expected.
Key Themes: Guilt, fear, choices
Cliffhanger: A blood-stained object is left at Beom-jun’s doorstep.
Episode 3: “The Doctor’s Past”
We meet Dr. Lee Ju-yeon, a respected surgeon with a trauma she buried long ago. Her world begins to unravel when she sees someone from her past connected to the crime. Flashbacks hint at abuse, betrayal, and something she might be hiding. The pace slows slightly, but the emotional depth increases.
Key Themes: Trauma, memory, buried secrets
Cliffhanger: A patient comes in… and she recognizes him instantly.
Episode 4: “Red Thread”
As police begin investigating the murder, the six characters’ lives start to intersect. Han Sang-hun and Lee Yu-jeong are introduced more fully — both have secrets, and both are trying to protect people they love. The episode title refers to the red thread of fate that connects them all, shown visually in eerie scenes.
Key Themes: Destiny, connection, foreshadowing
Cliffhanger: Detective finds a red thread tied around a victim’s finger.
Episode 5: “Truth Uncovered”
The layers start peeling back. We learn who really ordered the murder — and who’s been manipulating things from behind the scenes. Betrayals are revealed. Someone gets arrested. Someone vanishes. One of the six is not who they appear to be.
Key Themes: Betrayal, justice, karma in action
Cliffhanger: A hidden camera reveals the real killer — but it’s someone no one suspected.
Episode 6 (Finale): “What Goes Around”
Everything comes full circle. All secrets are out. Each character faces the consequences of their actions — some are punished, others redeemed. In a haunting final montage, we see moments from each character’s life… and how fate brought them together. No one leaves unchanged.
Key Themes: Closure, reckoning, fate
Ending Note: “In the end, it wasn’t the crime that ruined them. It was the lie they told themselves to justify it.”
Main Cast
1. Park Hae-soo as Kim Beom-jun
Known for his breakout role in Squid Game, Park Hae-soo plays Kim Beom-jun — a regular man who witnesses a horrifying crime. Park brings emotional depth to a character torn between doing what’s right and protecting himself. His performance is both haunting and relatable.
2. Shin Min-a as Dr. Lee Ju-yeon
Shin Min-a transforms into a doctor with a dark past that slowly resurfaces. Known for her roles in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha and My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, she brings emotional vulnerability and strength in equal measure.
3. Lee Hee-joon as Park Jae-yeong
Lee Hee-joon plays a desperate man who sees no way out of his financial ruin. His portrayal of Jae-yeong is gripping — a character you want to hate, but can’t stop understanding.
4. Kim Sung-kyun as Jang Gil-ryong
Kim plays the hired hitman with a quiet, cold presence. A former gang member who’s trying to survive in a world that doesn’t care, his role adds danger and tension to the story.
5. Lee Kwang-soo as Han Sang-hun
Lee brings both charm and unpredictability to his role. Known for his comedic work in Running Man, he surprises fans here with a serious and layered performance.
6. Gong Seung-yeon as Lee Yu-jeong
Gong plays a woman whose life is slowly unraveling due to the choices of others. Her calm exterior hides a storm of secrets, and she plays it to perfection.
This kdrama is worth watching……comment below if you have an alternative view
