(Based on the 피폐물 tag in KR webnovel world) According to Namu Wiki's definition of 피폐물: "A novel genre in which the main character goes crazy because of the desperate circumstances around them. Whether it's about love, ill-fated family relationships, or misunderstandings, the MC is constantly ab*sed, tormented, and forced into a mentally and physically hopeless situation."

Despite being highly regarded in KR thanks to their raw, genuine depictions of pain, sorrow and conflicting feelings with excellent narratives, this genre isn't well-received in international fandoms. NU readers tend to prefer novels without triggering elements, and translators also rarely pick up this genre because of how difficult it is to translate. So this list is made to honor the brave translators who bring out something new and challenging, and also to compile some works for readers' reference.

You can refer to this list either to try out some dark and angsty reading, or to mark it as a 'red flag' list never to be opened. Readers' discretion is advised; remember that the works don't reflect the authors' real-life mindsets and that translators aren't responsible for your mental health.