It’s reasonable to argue that South Korea is rapidly dominating the entertainment sector. What comes after the success of Korean dramas on streaming services, the emergence of K-pop and the big worldwide accolades Korean movies have garnered? Korea has established itself as a major power in the film industry with worldwide successes like Parasite, The Handmaiden, and Train to Busan, to mention a few.
The nation consistently produces successes, and although Korean filmmakers have a flair for some genres, such as zombie flicks and psychological thrillers, there are many excellent Korean films across the board. Therefore, have a look at these fantastic Korean films that Netflix has available if you’re seeking something to watch as you browse the service.
20th Century Girl
https://www.netflix.com/title/81472752
Description
The lovely and exquisitely filmed Korean Movie 20th Century Girl was written and directed by Woo-ri Bang. 20th Century Girl, set in 1999 just before the year 2000, centres on Na Bo-Ra (Kim Yoo-jeong), a loving and compassionate adolescent with a vivid imagination. Na Bo-Ra is enthralled with an unexpected relationship after her closest friend asks her to watch a popular boy in her class. 20th Century Girl plays with contemporary clichés through a nostalgic perspective, allowing viewers to remember simpler times in terms of society and experiencing that first infatuation by highlighting the usage of antiquated technologies from the late 1990s.
- Director – Bang Woo-ri
- Actors – Kim Yoo-Jung, Park Jung-woo, Roh Yoon-Seo
- Story Writer – Bang Woo-ri
- Age Restriction – U/A 13+
Rating
IMDB: 7.3/10 (8K+ Votes)
Rotten tomato: 86% (7 Votes)
Veteran
https://www.netflix.com/title/80068011
Description
Veteran follows a well-known plot: despite enormous odds, tough police investigator Seo Do-Cheol is eager to bring haughty wealthy Jo Tae-oh, who heads his own criminal organisation and attempted to kill Hwang’s buddy, to justice. Veteran, nevertheless, avoids becoming cliched by fusing a potent blend of tension and action with its own distinct cast of characters. Veteran examines power abuses and social divides in Korean culture and has a strong moral foundation. The movie deftly blends comedy and drama, making it entertaining despite the weighty subjects it addresses.
- Director – Ryoo Seung-wan
- Actors – Hwang Jung-min, Yoo Ah-in, Oh Dal-su
- Story Writer – Ryoo Seung-wan
- Age Restriction – U/A 16+
Rating
IMDB: 7.0/10 (150K+ Votes)
Rotten tomato: 90% (10 Votes)
Night in Paradise
https://www.netflix.com/title/81342504
Description
Under the direction of Park Hoon-jung, Uhm Tae-goo plays Park Tae-goo, a gangster who murders his whole family after turning down an invitation to join the rival Bukseong gang. After taking revenge and murdering the guilty guys, Tae-goo escapes to the stunning island of Jeju. There, he meets Kim Jae-yeon, a lady with a fatal disease and little time to live, and they become friends. Sadly, Tae-goo’s problems follow him to the island since the Bukseong gang is trying to find him.
Tae-goo is a talented assassin whose life is flipped upside down when his allegiance is betrayed, and the one thing that matters to him is his family. Tae-goo meets someone in Jae-yeon who has experienced a similar circumstance and ends up alone but doesn’t want to be, and the two of them start living together. Their bond turns into the focal point of an intense, violent, action-packed tale of revenge.
- Director – Park Hoon-Jung
- Actors – Uhm Tae-goo, Jeon Yeo-been, Cha Seung-won
- Story Writer – Park Hoon-Jung
- Age Restriction – A
Rating
IMDB: 6.8/10 (8K+ Votes)
Rotten tomato: 70% (20 Votes)
Tune in for Love
https://www.netflix.com/title/81165326
Description
Tune in for Love, a charming love story that spans years and follows star-crossed lovers Hyun-woo and Mi-soo through all of the highs and lows of their relationship, stars Jung Hae-in as Hyun-woo and Kim Go-Eun. When they first met in 1994 in the bakery where Mi-soo works, they became close, but odd circumstances constantly seemed to pull them apart. The two never seem to be able to get a break, whether it’s a broken phone, a lost email password, or even jail time. Despite this, Mi-soo and Hyun-woo have been looking for each other for years, determined to be with one another no matter what challenges life throws at them.
- Director – Jung Ji-woo
- Actors – Kim Go-Eun, Jung Hae-in
- Story Writer – Lee Suk-yeon
- Age Restriction – U/A 16+
Rating
IMDB: 7.1/10 (5K+ Votes)
Rotten tomato: 75% (44 Votes)
Okja
https://www.netflix.com/title/80091936
Description
Okja, which was co-written and directed by Bong Joon Ho, tells the tale of Ahn Seo-hyun’s character Mija, a young child, who decides she has to save “Okja,” the “super pig” she reared. The animal is part of a large-scale meat business experiment headed by a power-hungry American firm, with Okja’s eating as the ultimate aim. It is undoubtedly a critique of American capitalism and the cruel treatment of animals, particularly pigs, in the food business. The heartbreaking, humorous, and beautiful tale of Okja makes you consider the kinds of food we eat and how it travels from the farm to our plates.
- Director – Bong Joon Ho
- Actors – Ahn Seo-hyun, Byun Hee-bong, Tilda Swinton, Sheena Kamal
- Story Writer – Bong Joon Ho, Jon Ronson
- Age Restriction – U/A16+
Rating
IMDB: 7.3/10 (131 K+ Votes)
Rotten tomato: 86% (242 Votes)
Kill Boksoon
https://www.netflix.com/title/81478985
Description
The South Korean action movie Kill Boksoon is about a covert assassination group that would fit right in with the John Wick world. Jeon Do-Yeon plays Gil Bok-soon, also known as Kill Boksoon, the title character, and she uses punches, kicks, and stabs to get through the job. As a seasoned assassin who has never failed to hit a target, she finds herself watching over her shoulder more and more out of fear that she will lose the one thing she values most in life. Sadly, her fear is realised when the company she works for betrays her, forcing her to choose between killing and being killed.
- Director – Byeon Seonghyeon
- Actors – Jeon Do-Yeon, Esom, Koo Kyo-hwan, Hwang Jung-min
- Story Writer – Byeon Seonghyeon
- Age Restriction – A
Rating
IMDB: 6.6/10 (11K+ Votes)
Rotten tomato: 81% (190 Votes)
Sweet & Sour
https://www.netflix.com/title/81413901
Description
A charming Korean romantic comedy, Sweet & Sour delves into the common challenges and joys of dating. Jang Ki-Yong, Krystal Jung, and Chae Soo-bin are among the appealing young cast members of Sweet & Sour, which adapts traditional romantic comedy elements into a contemporary Korean context. Despite cultural disparities, a worldwide audience can easily see this movie. See this adorable couple’s journey as they try to maintain their long-distance romance and overcome obstacles like flirty coworkers. That’s just what Sweet & Sour is: a lovely ode to love.
- Director – Lee Gye-byeok
- Actors – Jang Ki-yong, Chae Soo-bin, Krystal Jung
- Story Writer – Lee Gye-byeok
- Age Restriction – U/A16+
Rating
IMDB: 6.6/10 (3K+ Votes)
Rotten tomato: 20% (5 Votes)
Space Sweepers
https://www.netflix.com/in/title/81094067
Description
Though the plot of Space Sweepers is less exciting than that of its star-hopping heroes, likeable characters and eye-catching effects prevent it from straying too far from its intended course. The crew of Spaceship Victory discovers a 7-year-old child aboard a wrecked space shuttle that they stole on the most recent debris run. They choose to demand a ransom in exchange after realising she’s the human-like robot that the UTS Space Guards are after.
- Actors – Song Joong-ki,Kim Tae-ri,Jin Seon-kyu,Yoo Hae-jin
- Director – Jo Sung-hee,
- Story writer – Yoon Seung-min, Yoo-Kang Seo-ae, Jo Sung-hee
- Age Restriction – A
Rating
IMDB: 6.5/10 (28K+ Votes)
Rotten tomato: 70% (27 Votes)
The Drug King
https://www.netflix.com/title/80236133
Description
The film, which was written and directed by Woo Min-ho, follows the story of Song’s character Lee Doo-sam, a low-level drug dealer who eventually becomes a notorious drug kingpin. The persona is based on a real-life guy of the same name who established a Busan-based narcotics empire in the 1970s. Bae portrays a powerful socialite lobbyist who develops feelings for Doo-sam and aids in his ascent to prominence. The Drug King is a gripping, visually striking film that really embraces the Korean backdrop of the 1970s while never sacrificing action or drama as Doo-sam struggles to hold onto his position of authority.
- Director – Woo Min-ho
- Actors -Song Kang-ho , Bae Doona
- Story Writer – Woo Min-ho, Lee Jimin
- Age Restriction – A
Rating
IMDB: 6.2/10 (3K+ Votes)
Rotten tomato: 71% (7 Votes)
Pandora
https://www.netflix.com/title/80158577
Description
A worker at a nearby power plant named Jae-hyeok (Kim Nam-Gil) is compelled to act in Pandora after an earthquake forces the reactor to boil. The film centres on his efforts to avert more disaster as events quickly go out of control, putting the town in danger and the country in a state of terror. At the Korea Grand Bell Awards, Pandora, a technically remarkable survival story with several outstanding performances, was nominated ten times.
- Director – Park Jung-woo
- Actors – Kim Nam-Gil, Moon Jeong-Hee, Kim Dae-Myung
- Story Writer – Park Jung-woo
- Age Restriction – U/A16+
Rating
IMDB: 6.6/10 (8K+ Votes)
Conclusion
The top Korean films available for Netflix streaming include almost every genre that exists in contemporary cinema. In order to attract a larger audience, Netflix has expanded its offerings in recent years to include South Korean films and K-dramas. While certain Korean films, such as Oldboy and Train to Busan, have gained cult status, there are plenty more that are equally good that you can watch on Netflix. Korean films are as well-known as South Korea’s immensely popular TV series worldwide, and several of them have won praise from critics throughout the world. Netflix has a large selection of Korean films available for streaming, ranging from comedies and romance to historical dramas, action, sci-fi, and horror.
