The Whodunit K-Drama to Add to Your Netflix Watchlist

A small town vet, Bong Yebun, receives psychic powers after being struck by lightning. She can see into any animal or human's past whenever she touches their butt. A Seoul police detective, Moon Jangyeol comes to town as a demotion and plans to prove himself worthy of once again being a big city detective.

When people in the small coastal town begin to disappear and eventually turn up dead, the detective and the vet team up to find the killer—moving past their initial bad impressions of each other. Featuring Suho from EXO as a newcomer who works at the convenience store (and immediately catches the vet's eye), Behind Your Touch sounds—unique.

I won't lie, I almost stopped watching during the first episode. It's campy, verging on corny. Something kept me going—perhaps it was the underlying questions surrounding the main character's mother's death, the quirky villagers, the political subplot, or the great chemistry among the lead actors.

Balancing humor, absurdity, human connection, and a whodunit style mystery, the drama keeps you guessing. No character is saved from death, and the motivations of the villagers are often murky. An eccentric shaman, a trigger-happy best friend, a melancholy grandfather, a local politician, and a lonely farmer could all be the killer—or be killed next.

The romance between Yebun and Jangyeol burns slowly, but underlies their actions and decisions. They can only trust each other until the killer is caught. From accusing Yebun of being a pervert to working together to chase after a killer, they do not immediately like each other. But they come together (once Jangyeol accepts that she has psychic powers) to solve the series of murders that started not long after the lightning storm that changed Yebun's live.

While a love triangle does exist with the convenience store worker, Kim Seonwoo, the drama is not romance-heavy. And, the love triangle is not set up in a way that makes you believe Yebun will end up with anyone but Jangyeol. The subtle love triangle heightens the character's emotions and motivations, but does not overwhelm them.

The primary plot is not the romance between Yebun and Jangyeol. Behind Your Touch is perfect for viewers who want a well-balanced drama that comes with humor and intrigue, but is not focused on romance. The small town setting brings immense heart to the story, along with a sense of heightened urgency in finding the serial killer terrorizing the community.

By the end, Behind Your Touch became one of my favorite Korean dramas, and I recommend it often. I'll concede that it has its cringeworthy moments and that not all aspects of the ending are satisfying (spoilers). Still, the actual whodunit plot is worthy of an Agatha Christie novel. It has the right amount of red herrings and uncertainty, but it's also not impossible to guess who the killer is (though I didn't, and I think it's hard to do before the last few episodes).

Behind Your Touch masquerades as a lighthearted K-drama that features various animals, slapstick humor, and larger-than-life characters. Behind this mask lies a meaningful portrait of semi-rural Korean life and what being a community truly means.

I first watched the drama several months ago, but I continue to think about it. Few K-dramas have held my interest and intrigue for so long (another similar one, He Is Psychometric, starring GOT7's Park Jinyoung is also a favorite). Perhaps this is simply a favorite subgenre of Korean drama, but I truly believe that dramas like Behind Your Touch are among some of the most fun yet smart and fast-paced.

Available on Netflix and starring Han Jimin as Bong Yebun, Lee Minki as Moon Jangyeol, and Suho as Kim Seonwoo, 2023's Behind Your Touch will keep you laughing, yearning, and perplexed.