142 Essential Korean Films to Watch
141 titles
- 101
1987: When the Day ComesMovie · 2017 · 129m · Drama, History, ThrillerIn January 1987, a 22-year-old college student dies while being interrogated by the police. Director Park orders the body to be cremated to conceal evidence. Public Prosecutor Choi objects and demands an autopsy. The police claim the death was accidental, caused by shock. However, the autopsy reveals torture as the cause of death. A journalist named Yoon reports the death resulted from asphyxiation during torture. Director Park tries to bury the truth by closing the case and arresting detectives, including Inspector Cho. While imprisoned, Inspector Cho tells a prison guard, Han Byung-yong, the truth, and Han undertakes a risky mission to pass the information to an opposition politician through his niece, Yeon-hee.IMDb 7.7TMDB 8.1 - 102
Dark Figure of CrimeMovie · 2018 · 111m · Crime, DramaWhen a serial killer is apprehended for his seventh victim, a detective attempts to reconstruct the killer's previous six murders with the killer's cooperation. As the investigation progresses, the detective grows increasingly suspicious that the killer has hidden agendas. Based on a true story.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.6 - 103
The VillainessMovie · 2017 · 129m · Action, Crime, DramaSook-hee was trained from a young age to be a deadly assassin by a criminal group. After a decade of service, she's offered freedom. But hidden truths from her past shatter her carefully constructed life, leading her to unleash a furious quest for revenge.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.9 - 104
War of the ArrowsMovie · 2011 · 122m · Drama, Action, HistoryFollowing their father's death, two siblings are raised by their father's closest friend. Their lives are upended when one of them is kidnapped just before her wedding, prompting the other to rebel against the Manchus.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.2 - 105
Joint Security AreaMovie · 2000 · 108m · Drama, Thriller, ActionThe deaths of two North Korean soldiers near the border spark an investigation by an independent panel. The soldier who fired the weapon is identified, but the Swiss-Korean lead investigator receives conflicting stories from both North and South Korea.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.8 - 106
PandoraMovie · 2016 · 136m · Thriller, Drama, ActionA man races against time to prevent a national catastrophe after an earthquake strikes a Korean village near a decaying nuclear power plant.IMDb 6.7TMDB 7.5 - 107
Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of WarMovie · 2004 · 148m · Action, Adventure, DramaDuring the Korean War, two brothers find themselves fighting on opposite sides. The older brother consistently volunteers for the most dangerous assignments, hoping to keep his younger sibling safe from combat.IMDb 8.0TMDB 8.0 - 108
RevengerMovie · 2018 · 102m · Action, Crime, ThrillerDriven by revenge for his family's murder, a former detective goes undercover on a secluded island prison housing dangerous inmates on death row.IMDb 5.7TMDB 5.5 - 109
V.I.P.Movie · 2017 · 128m · Crime, Thriller, ActionThe son of a powerful North Korean official embarks on a global killing spree. The film follows the escalating pursuit of the man as South Korea, North Korea, and Interpol join forces to track him down.IMDb 6.6TMDB 7.7 - 110
Hard HitMovie · 2021 · 94m · Action, Crime, DramaWhile driving to work, a bank manager gets a phone call from an anonymous source. The caller claims a bomb is hidden under his car seat, threatening to detonate if he or anyone else leaves the vehicle. The caller demands a ransom for the bomb's disarming.IMDb 6.3TMDB 7.5 - 111
DecibelMovie · 2022 · 110mA veteran Navy officer haunted by his past is forced to confront an extremist who has planted a bomb designed to detonate with sound.IMDb 6.1TMDB 6.6 - 112
Take PointMovie · 2018 · 124m · Action, ThrillerDuring the 2024 U.S. presidential election, a group of highly skilled mercenaries are sent on a covert CIA mission. Their objective: to capture a North Korean politician hidden in an underground bunker near the Korean Demilitarized Zone. The mission quickly spirals out of control as they become entangled in a dangerous conflict, pushing international tensions to the edge of global war.IMDb 5.4TMDB 6.9 - 113
Deliver Us from EvilMovie · 2020 · 108m · Crime, Action, DramaA former hitman is drawn back into violence when a young girl is abducted by human traffickers. He becomes her only hope, using his skills and weapons to fight back against the gangs who took her.IMDb 6.8TMDB 6.9 - 114
The FluMovie · 2013 · 122m · Action, Science Fiction, ThrillerWhat starts as a flu outbreak rapidly escalates into a global pandemic. With rising fatalities and widespread fear, the government prepares drastic measures to control the spread.IMDb 6.6TMDB 7.5 - 115
The Gangster, the Cop, the DevilMovie · 2019 · 110m · Crime, Action, ThrillerFollowing a near-fatal attack by a sadistic serial killer, crime boss Jang Dong-su is left deeply humiliated. Driven to find the killer known as K, he reluctantly partners with Jung Tae-seok, a dedicated and honest detective who frequently interferes with his criminal activities. While Jang Dong-su wants K eliminated, Jung Tae-seok aims to bring him to justice. They agree on a deal: whoever captures K first gets to decide his destiny. The hunt commences, increasingly confusing the boundaries between crime and law.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.8 - 116
The Man from NowhereMovie · 2010 · 119m · Action, Thriller, CrimeA former special agent becomes entangled in a complex world of drug trafficking. He must protect the innocent daughter of a drug smuggler who is caught in the crossfire of her parents' conflict.IMDb 7.7TMDB 7.7 - 117
Public EnemyMovie · 2002 · 138m · Action, CrimeA disgraced police officer, known for his corruption, gets a chance at redemption when he's assigned to a serial killer case. The killer's motive is deeply personal: he murdered his own parents.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.2 - 118
Nameless GangsterMovie · 2012 · 133m · Crime, ThrillerA customs official with a hidden agenda teams up with a ruthless gangster, creating a formidable criminal alliance that dominates Busan.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.9 - 119
The RestlessMovie · 2006 · 102m · FantasyWhen his fiancée is killed by demons, Yi Gwak joins the royal demon-hunting squad and becomes a celebrated hero. Though he ultimately perishes in battle, his journey continues. His spirit is taken to Joong-cheon, a realm between heaven and earth where souls await rebirth. There, the ultimate battle between good and evil will take place.IMDb 6.1TMDB 5.9 - 120
6/45Movie · 2022 · 113mA humorous incident occurs when soldiers from North and South Korea unexpectedly meet over a 5.7 billion won lottery ticket carried by the wind across the military border.IMDb 7.0TMDB 6.8 - 121
Detective K: Secret of Virtuous WidowMovie · 2011 · 115m · Mystery, Action, HistoryIn 1782, King Jeong-jo of Joseon tasks detective K with investigating a series of murders linked to government corruption.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.6 - 122
TyphoonMovie · 2005 · 124m · Action, ThrillerDriven by vengeance, a refugee who became a pirate plans to unleash a devastating attack on both Koreas, creating a "Nuclear Typhoon." A high-ranking South Korean naval officer is tasked with stopping him and bringing him to justice.IMDb 5.7TMDB 6.0 - 123
Fists of LegendMovie · 2013 · 153m · Action, DramaThree men with a history compete on a reality show centered around mixed martial arts. They face off against other contestants in fights for a chance to win prize money.IMDb 6.8TMDB 7.2 - 124
Tidal WaveMovie · 2009 · 120m · Action, Drama, ThrillerOn Haeundae Beach, a fisherman burdened by guilt cares for a woman whose father died in an accident. A scientist reconnects with his ex-wife and daughter, who doesn't remember him. Meanwhile, a rescue worker falls for a wealthy city woman. Their lives intertwine when they discover a massive tsunami is approaching, giving them just ten minutes to escape.IMDb 5.5TMDB 6.9 - 125
PsychokinesisMovie · 2018 · 101m · Fantasy, ActionA regular guy unexpectedly develops superpowers, allowing him to assist his lively daughter and those around him. However, using these abilities also leads him into unforeseen difficulties.IMDb 6.0TMDB 6.3 - 126
Along with the Gods: The Last 49 DaysMovie · 2018 · 141m · Action, Adventure, FantasyJa-hong, a spirit who has died, and his three protectors are nearing the end of their journey before being reborn. But as they face their final challenges, the protectors confront the painful reality of their past lives on Earth, a thousand years ago.IMDb 7.1TMDB 8.0 - 127
Confession of MurderMovie · 2012 · 119m · Action, ThrillerFifteen years after vanishing, a serial killer resurfaces with a book confessing to his murders. The detective who couldn't stop him before is now tasked with protecting him. The victims' families plot revenge. Amidst intense media attention, a masked figure known as "J" emerges, claiming responsibility for the crimes.IMDb 7.0TMDB 7.1 - 128
The Berlin FileMovie · 2013 · 120m · Action, Thriller, CrimeA secret weapons transaction turns disastrous, leaving North Korean agent Pyo Jong-seong hunted by both South Korean authorities and his superiors.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.7 - 129
My Girlfriend Is an AgentMovie · 2009 · 113m · Action, Comedy, RomanceAhn Soo-ji and Lee Jae-joon are in a doomed relationship, unaware that each other are secret agents. They cross paths again by chance three years later when they are both assigned to take down a common enemy.IMDb 6.3TMDB 6.3 - 130
Confidential AssignmentMovie · 2017 · 125m · Action, DramaA criminal group from North Korea enters South Korea, prompting a South Korean detective to team up with a North Korean detective to track them down.IMDb 6.7TMDB 6.9 - 131
Lady VengeanceMovie · 2005 · 115m · Drama, ThrillerAfter spending 13 years wrongly convicted and imprisoned, a woman starts putting her carefully planned revenge into action.IMDb 7.5TMDB 7.5 - 132
A Tale of Two SistersMovie · 2003 · 115m · Drama, Horror, MysteryTwo sisters come home from a mental institution and find themselves dealing with unsettling events and a difficult relationship with their stepmother. As strange things happen, long-hidden family secrets are revealed, making it hard to tell what's real and what's not.IMDb 7.1TMDB 7.1 - 133
Decision to LeaveMovie · 2022 · 139m · Thriller, Mystery, RomanceA man falls to his death from a South Korean mountaintop. Was it suicide, or something more sinister? Detective Hae-joon investigates, initially focusing on the deceased man’s wife, Seo-rae. However, the deeper he investigates, the more entangled he becomes in a complicated story of lies and hidden feelings.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.3 - 134
Kill BoksoonMovie · 2023 · 137m · Action, Drama, ThrillerBy day, she's a highly skilled assassin. By night, she's a single mother raising a teenage daughter. Taking lives comes naturally to her; raising a child, not so much.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.9 - 135
Dancing QueenMovie · 2012 · 124mIn this film, the wife of a mayoral candidate in Seoul unexpectedly becomes a dance singer. Hwang Jeong-min stars as a struggling lawyer who enters politics. Uhm Jung-hwa plays his wife, who secretly pursues a singing career, initially without her husband's knowledge.IMDb 6.4TMDB 6.3 - 136
Another Public EnemyMovie · 2005 · 148mA ruthless criminal with privileged roots finds himself targeted by Chul-jung Kang, a former classmate who disapproves of his life choices.IMDb 6.0TMDB 7.2 - 137
UnstoppableMovie · 2018 · 115m · Crime, Action, ThrillerDong-chul and Ji-soo are a happy couple. One day, Dong-chul returns home to discover his house has been ransacked and his wife is gone.IMDb 6.6TMDB 7.4 - 138
The OutlawsMovie · 2017 · 121m · Action, Crime, ThrillerIn Chinatown, the established order is shattered by the arrival of three ruthless Chinese gangsters who begin terrorizing residents and seizing control. The local gangsters, overwhelmed, are forced to collaborate with a dedicated police force led by the unconventional and determined Ma Seok-do to restore balance. Based on a true story.IMDb 7.2TMDB 7.7 - 139
The SwindlersMovie · 2017 · 117m · Crime, Action, ThrillerA team of con artists joins forces to track down a notorious swindler believed to be dead, each harboring their own secrets and schemes.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.7 - 140
A Company ManMovie · 2012 · 96m · Drama, Action, CrimeA hitman grows weary of his profession and chooses to protect his two newest targets. However, the organization he works for won't allow him to simply walk away.IMDb 6.6TMDB 6.8 - 141
A Dirty CarnivalMovie · 2006 · 141m · Crime, Drama, ActionA low-level debt collector for a local triad gang struggles with a conflict between his desire for a life of crime and his loyalty to his family.IMDb 7.3TMDB 7.0
