Watching movies is one of the most enjoyable ways to learn a language. In addition, watching Korean movies will help you understand Korean history and culture. Here are 15 Korean films to explore. The years below are their South Korean theatrical release years. Age ratings refer to the original South Korean releases; classifications elsewhere may differ. Historical films dramatize events and should not be treated as documentaries.
조작된 도시 (Fabricated City, 2017)
Genre: Action, Crime
Rating: 15 and over
“Fabricated City” is an action and crime movie. The main character, Kwon Yu, is unemployed and spends much of his time gaming. After finding a phone at a PC café, he returns it in response to a call.
He is subsequently framed for a woman’s murder and sent to prison. He tries to escape prison and discover the truth with his fellow gamers and hackers.
The film uses gaming imagery, hacking, and drones in an exaggerated action-thriller setting. If you like science fiction-themed action and crime movies, this movie will be the right choice.
공동경비구역 JSA (Joint Security Area, 2000)
Genre: Drama, Mystery
Rating: 15 and over
“Joint Security Area” is a movie about a murder case in the Joint Security Area, where both North and South Korean soldiers are stationed. The main character, “Sophie,” is a Korean-Swiss military investigator. She enters Korea to investigate the murder case and resolve disputes.
If you are interested in the division of Korea and the Joint Security Area, watch this movie. This fictional story offers a perspective on tensions between North and South Korea. The story explores friendship and suspicion across the divided border.
극한직업 (Extreme Job, 2019)
Genre: Comedy
Rating: 15 and over
“Extreme Job” is a comedy movie which attracted more than 16 million viewers in Korea. It is a movie where undercover cops open a fried chicken restaurant to hide their identities during the investigation.
The business, however, goes too well. Undercover cops start to forget their original mission: arresting international criminals. Now undercover cops are doing the “extreme job,” which is frying chicken and hunting criminals down at the same time.
This movie is one of the best Korean comedy movies. If you are a fan of comedy movies, you will love it. Its fast-paced humor may appeal to viewers who enjoy action comedies.
부산행 (TRAIN TO BUSAN, 2016)
Genre: Action, Thriller
Rating: 15 and over
“Train to Busan” follows passengers facing a zombie outbreak during a train journey. It became a major international success.
The film puts considerable emphasis on the people caught in the outbreak. Its suspense comes partly from conflicts among the survivors, alongside the violent zombie attacks. This thriller movie focuses on how people would react in the apocalyptic chaos.
If you have never watched a Korean movie before, this movie would show you the suspense and emotional drama that this film combines. If you are a fan of zombie movies, go watch it right now!
기생충 (PARASITE, 2019)
Genre: Drama
Rating: 15 and over
“Parasite” is one of the most internationally recognized Korean films. It attracted more than 10 million viewers in Korea. This movie also won tons of movie awards, including Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
I will not say much about the movie’s plot as it would be a spoiler for the movie. “Parasite” combines drama, comedy, and thriller elements. The shifts in tone are part of what makes the film distinctive.
신과함께-죄와 벌 (Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds, 2017)
Genre: Fantasy, Drama
Rating: 12 and over
“Along With the Gods” is a fantasy movie that attracted more than 10 million viewers in Korea. The film imagines seven afterlife trials, drawing on a webtoon and Buddhist-influenced ideas about judgment after death. Each trial judges if the person committed the sins of murder, sloth, lying, injustice, betrayal, and so on.
The main character, Ja-hong, is a firefighter who dies while rescuing someone. In the afterlife, he must face judgment before he can be reincarnated. The trials, however, show that he may deserve punishment in hell. Three afterlife guardians defend him and examine events from his life.
The film combines fantasy spectacle with family drama. Its afterlife is a fictional interpretation, rather than a statement of what all Koreans believe. You will love watching this movie and learning more about Korea.
택시운전사 (A Taxi Driver, 2017)
Genre: Drama, Family
Rating: 15 and over
“A Taxi Driver” is a movie set in the Gwangju Democratic Uprising in May 1980. The main character, “Man-seop,” decides to take a German reporter, “Jürgen Hinzpeter,” to Gwangju. The driver initially accepts the trip because of the promised fare, while the journalist wants to report on events in Gwangju.
This movie will help you understand the Gwangju Democratic Uprising and the military dictatorship in the 1980s. Even if you do not understand the historical background of this movie, it is still a good drama worth watching.
1987 (1987: When the Day Comes, 2017)
Genre: Drama
Rating: 15 and over
“1987: When the Day Comes” is a movie set in 1987. It depicts the death of Seoul National University student Park Jong-chul under police torture and the attempt to conceal what happened. The exposure of his death helped galvanize the pro-democracy movement. The June 1987 protests led to promises of constitutional reform and direct presidential elections. President Chun Doo-hwan remained in office until his term ended in February 1988.
The uprising in 1987 is highly important in modern Korean history because it was a major turning point in South Korea’s democratization. If you are interested in Korean history, this movie will give you a more in-depth understanding of Korean politics.
광해, 왕이 된 남자 (Masquerade, 2012)
Genre: Drama
Rating: 15 and over
“Masquerade” is a movie about Gwanghaegun, the fifteenth king of the Joseon Dynasty. He is a complex historical figure. He appears to be a violent tyrant, but also heroic and diplomatic in overcoming international conflicts.
In this movie, Gwanghaegun becomes paranoid as he fears assassination. Consequently, he orders his underlings to find someone who will masquerade as king while Gwanghaegun hides from the threat.
The king’s advisers find Ha-seon, an entertainer who resembles him, to act as his double. Ha-seon takes the king’s place in this fictional story.
While many Korean movies set in the Joseon Dynasty tend to be serious, this movie contains humor and a heartwarming drama. If you are interested in the Joseon Dynasty and its culture, this movie will be the right choice for you.
도둑들 (The Thieves, 2012)
Genre: Crime, Action, Drama
Rating: 15 and over
“The Thieves” is one of the most popular Korean crime movies. The movie is about ten thieves who are trying to steal a diamond from a casino in Macau. This movie is action-packed and has interesting characters and plots.
If you are looking for an entertaining movie to watch with your friends or family, this movie will satisfy your needs for a good crime and action movie.
아저씨 (The Man from Nowhere, 2010)
Genre: Action, Crime, Drama
Rating: 18 and over
Some Korean action films feature graphic violence. “The Man from Nowhere” is one of the most famous Korean action movies. It attracted 6 million viewers in Korea even though it was rated for adults only.
This movie is about a former special-forces operative, “Tae-sik,” who lost his wife and lives a life of desolation. He meets a girl whose mother is a drug addict and feels close to her. One day, the girl is kidnapped by human traffickers, and he tries to find her.
The violence in this movie could be uncomfortable for some people. Yet, this movie deserves the best Korean action movie title. Its violent scenes are central to its style, though they will not suit every viewer.
전우치 (Jeon Woochi: The Taoist Wizard, 2009)
Genre: Action, Comedy, Adventure
Rating: 12 and over
“Jeon Woochi” is a Korean hero movie. The film combines fantasy, comedy, and action. It draws on the legendary Taoist magician Jeon Woochi and the classical tale associated with him, reimagining the character in an adventure that reaches modern-day Seoul. If you like hero movies and are interested in Korean lore, this movie will be the right choice for you.
살인자의 기억법 (Memoir of a Murderer, 2017)
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Rating: 15 and over
“Memoir of a Murderer” is a thriller movie based on a Korean novel with the same title. The main character, “Byeongsu,” was a serial killer at a young age and now has Alzheimer’s disease. He is trying to protect his daughter while his memory deteriorates.
One day, Byeongsu comes across a man named “Taeju” by chance. Byeongsu’s instincts tell him that “Taeju” is a serial killer as well. Byeongsu reports Taeju to the police, but nobody believes his words. As suspicion grows, Byeongsu struggles to distinguish reliable memories from uncertainty.
Although Byeongsu tries to catch Taeju, his dementia and amnesia keep him from remembering things. While he is confused with memories of his own murders, he must hunt Taeju down before his daughter gets hurt.
The film adapts Kim Young-ha’s novel, using uncertainty about memory to build suspense. If you are looking for a thriller movie with a thrilling plot, this movie will be the best choice for you.
명량 (ROARING CURRENTS, 2014)
Genre: Action, Drama
Rating: 15 and over
“Roaring Currents” is a movie set in the Japanese invasions of Korea from 1592 to 1598. It is about Admiral Yi Sun-sin, who is highly admired and praised as the best military general in Korean history.
The story centers on the Battle of Myeongnyang. The film dramatizes the Battle of Myeongnyang in 1597, in which Yi led a small fleet of 13 ships against a much larger Japanese force. Figures for the opposing fleet vary according to which vessels are counted.
Yi Sun-sin is a highly respected person. You can see his portrait engraved on 100-won coins as well. Watching this movie will give you an understanding of the Japanese invasions and Yi Sun-sin.
곤지암 (Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum, 2018)
Genre: Horror, Mystery
Rating: 15 and over
“Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum” is a horror movie about the deserted mental hospital “Gonjiam Asylum.” The film builds a fictional supernatural story around an abandoned hospital’s reputation. Rumors about a real building should not be treated as verified history. The film uses a found-footage style, following people recording a horror livestream, to create an immersive experience. If you are looking for a Korean horror movie, this movie will be the right choice for you.
Conclusion
These are the 15 must-watch Korean movies. Did you decide which movie you will watch this weekend? Watch these movies first, and you can find more interesting Korean movies yourself. Watching Korean films can make language practice enjoyable; try replaying short scenes and noting useful expressions.
You can also add these 10 Most Beautiful Native Korean Words to your vocabulary.