Netflix's 'Karma': A Chilling Tale of Interconnected Fates and Moral Corruption

The Shocking Premise of 'Karma': A Father's Life for Debt Relief

Netflix's latest Korean thriller series 'Karma' (Korean title: 악연) has taken the streaming world by storm since its release on April 4, 2025. The six-episode series, directed by Lee Il-hyung of 'The Prosecutor's Offense' fame, explores the dark and twisted connections between six individuals whose lives become fatefully intertwined through their morally corrupt choices.

The first episode introduces us to a debt-ridden man played brilliantly by Lee Hee-jun, whose character is drowning in loan shark debt after failed cryptocurrency investments. When we first meet him, he's being threatened by loan sharks who give him just one month to repay his debts or face deadly consequences. In a particularly chilling scene, the loan sharks even take him to witness an illegal organ harvesting operation - a not-so-subtle hint at what awaits him if he fails to pay.

The true horror of the story emerges when this desperate man discovers his father has a life insurance policy worth 500 million won (approximately $375,000). What follows is perhaps one of the most disturbing premises in recent Korean drama - he decides to hire someone to murder his own father to collect the insurance money. The cold, calculated way he plans this patricide, even practicing fake crying in preparation for the police notification, creates an immediate moral revulsion that hooks viewers from the start.

A Masterclass in Character Development and Moral Decay

What makes 'Karma' particularly compelling is how it doesn't rush to vilify its protagonist completely. Instead, it methodically shows his descent into moral bankruptcy. Lee Hee-jun delivers a nuanced performance that somehow manages to convey both the character's desperation and his complete moral failure.

The show excels at creating uncomfortable moments that force viewers to confront the darkest aspects of human nature. When the main character contacts a former coworker of Chinese-Korean descent (played by Kim Sung-kyun) to carry out the murder, their negotiation over the price of a human life - his father's life - is portrayed with such casual coldness that it becomes almost unbearable to watch.

Director Lee Il-hyung, who also wrote the screenplay, mentioned in an interview on April 8th: "I wanted to portray extreme forms of evil in a way that viewers could experience as a form of entertainment." This approach is evident in how the first episode balances its dark subject matter with moments of twisted humor and irony, creating a viewing experience that's as intellectually engaging as it is emotionally disturbing.

When Plans Go Awry: The Perfect Crime Unravels

The brilliance of 'Karma's' first episode lies in its third act twist. After meticulously planning his father's murder to look like a hit-and-run accident and establishing a solid alibi for himself, our protagonist receives the news of his father's death - but not in the way he expected. Instead of the planned traffic accident, his father's body is discovered buried in the mountains, immediately raising police suspicions of murder rather than an accident.

This development not only derails the insurance payout plan but also sets up the interconnected web of consequences that will drive the remaining episodes. The look of genuine shock and horror on Lee Hee-jun's face when he realizes his plan has gone terribly wrong is a masterclass in acting, showing that even in his moral corruption, he hadn't anticipated just how far his hired killer would go.

The episode ends with this perfect cliffhanger - the protagonist trapped in a situation far worse than his original debt problem, now potentially implicated in a murder investigation with no insurance money to show for it. This setup brilliantly establishes the show's central theme: karma - the inevitable consequences of one's actions that cannot be escaped.

Visual Storytelling and Cinematic Excellence

Beyond its compelling narrative, 'Karma' stands out for its exceptional visual storytelling. The series employs a dark, moody aesthetic with carefully controlled lighting that enhances the moral murkiness of its story. The contrast between the sterile hospital scenes where we first meet a burned, unrecognizable patient (whose identity becomes significant later) and the grimy, shadowy world of debt and crime creates a visual language that supports the show's themes.

The direction shows cinematic influences from both Korean thriller traditions and international noir, with tight framing that often makes scenes feel claustrophobic - mirroring the protagonist's increasingly trapped situation. The camera work during key moments, such as when the main character discovers the insurance policy, uses subtle techniques to heighten tension without resorting to obvious tricks.

The series also makes excellent use of Seoul's urban landscape, contrasting wealthy Gangnam areas with the more desperate corners of the city, visually representing the economic disparities that drive some of the characters' motivations. This attention to visual detail elevates 'Karma' beyond typical thriller fare into something more artistically substantial.

The Interconnected Web: Setting Up the Series

While the first episode primarily focuses on Lee Hee-jun's character, it skillfully introduces or hints at the other five main characters who will become central to the story. We get glimpses of Park Hae-soo as a mysterious witness, Shin Min-a as a doctor with past trauma, Kim Sung-kyun as the hired killer, Lee Kwang-soo as a man involved in a hit-and-run accident, and Gong Seung-yeon as a femme fatale figure.

The structure of the series becomes apparent by the end of the first episode - each subsequent episode will focus on one of these characters, gradually revealing how their stories interconnect in unexpected ways. This narrative approach creates a puzzle-like viewing experience where each new episode adds context and depth to events we've already witnessed from different perspectives.

The first episode also introduces the concept of the mysterious 'Park Jae-young' - a name that clearly disturbs Shin Min-a's doctor character when she hears it from a burn victim. This narrative thread, only briefly touched upon in the premiere, promises to be a central mystery that ties the disparate characters together.

Critical Reception and Audience Response

Since its release, 'Karma' has received overwhelming positive reception from both critics and audiences. Within just three days of its release, it climbed to the #1 position on Netflix's Korean charts, displacing the long-running hit 'Culprit Is You.' According to FlixPatrol data, by May 5, 2025, 'Karma' had reached the global top 10 on Netflix, ranking particularly high in Asian markets.

Critics have praised the show's tightly constructed narrative and the exceptional performances of its ensemble cast. Lee Hee-jun's portrayal of the morally bankrupt protagonist has been singled out for particular praise, with many noting how he manages to create a character who is simultaneously repulsive and yet somehow understandable in his desperate circumstances.

Audience reactions on social media have been equally enthusiastic, with many viewers expressing shock at the show's dark premise while admitting they couldn't stop watching. On Reddit's r/KDRAMA community, users have been actively discussing theories about how the characters connect and expressing appreciation for the show's unflinching approach to dark subject matter. One user commented, "Been a while since I'm really into kdrama. They are really good when it comes to this murderous revenge plot."

The Cultural Context: 'Karma' in Korean Drama Landscape

What makes 'Karma' particularly significant in the current Korean drama landscape is how it pushes boundaries even further than previous dark thrillers. While Korean content has gained international recognition for its willingness to explore darker themes than many Western productions, 'Karma' takes this tendency to new extremes.

The series comes at a time when Korean content continues to dominate global streaming platforms, following the massive success of shows like 'Squid Game' and films like 'Parasite.' 'Karma' continues this tradition of using genre storytelling to explore social issues - in this case, economic desperation, moral corruption, and the consequences of unchecked greed.

Director Lee Il-hyung mentioned in interviews that he wanted viewers to observe the characters' extreme behaviors from a distance, creating a viewing experience that's both engaging and thought-provoking. This approach reflects a sophisticated understanding of how thriller narratives can function as social commentary while still delivering entertainment value.

For international viewers unfamiliar with Korean drama conventions, 'Karma' serves as an excellent introduction to the psychological depth and moral complexity that characterizes the best of Korean thriller storytelling. The show demonstrates why Korean content continues to find success globally - it combines universal themes with distinctive cultural perspectives and exceptional production values.