20 Must-Watch Korean Movies of All Time

Lee Young Gu (Ryu Seung Ryong) is a man with a disability, living a simple yet joyful life with his only daughter, Lee Ye Seung (Gal So Won). Their happiness, however, is abruptly destroyed when Young Gu is wrongfully accused of the rape and murder of a young girl.

Despite being mentally disabled and unable to defend himself, Young Gu is sentenced to death. His 4-year-old daughter, Ye Seung, is left in an orphanage. While Young Gu is in prison, his cellmates always help him whenever he wants to meet with Ye Seung. But as the day of Young Gu's execution approaches, there is not much anyone can do.

As time goes by, Ye Seung (Park Shin Hye) grows up and decides to go to law school in order to prove her father's innocence. "Miracle in Cell No. 7" is a poignant film about love and sacrifice. This touching father-daughter story has resonated globally, inspiring remakes in various countries including Turkey, the Philippines, Arabia, Spain, India, Canada, and Indonesia.

In a cramped, damp semi-basement apartment lives a struggling family: father Gi Taek (Song Kang Ho), mother Choong Sook (Jang Hye Jin), son Ki Woo (Choi Woo Shik), and daughter Ki Jung (Park So Dam). One day, Ki Woo's friend, Min Hyuk, offers him a unique opportunity.

Min Hyuk suggests Ki Woo take over his job as a private tutor for a daughter from a wealthy family. Once Ki Woo starts, he cleverly gets Ki Jung hired to tutor the family's son, though they act as if they're strangers.

Their plan doesn't stop there. They devise a plan to get jobs for their parents in the same house. Gi Taek got a job as a driver, and Choong Sook as the maid, without the house owner realizing that they were a family.

At first, everything went smoothly, and they all enjoyed well-paid positions. However, a problem arises that causes them to lose everything. The movie highlights the rampant social gap where the rich flourish while the poor continue to struggle.

Seok Woo (Gong Yoo) is a manager who is always busy and absorbed in his work. He plans a trip with his daughter Soo-an (Kim Soo An) to celebrate her birthday by visiting her mother in Busan. They board an electric train, but as the train is about to depart, a woman with bite marks on her knees rushes into the train.

Turns out, the woman has been infected by a horrifying virus that transforms her into a zombie. This outbreak swiftly engulfs the train, turning passengers into the undead and plunging the train into chaos. The uninfected passengers, including Seok Woo and Soo-an, are scrambling to the train's safe compartments to escape the growing horde of zombies.

In the midst of their journey, Seok Woo and his daughter meet Sang Hwa (Ma Deong Seok), a burly man, and his pregnant wife. Shortly after, they meet Yong Guk (Choi Woo Shik), a teenager wearing a baseball outfit, accompanied by his friends.

They work together to avoid the chasing zombies on the train. However, the number of infected passengers grow as the train continues to roll towards Busan. So, who will make it out alive, and will they reach Busan before it's too late?

This movie is based on a true story about an unsolved serial murder case that kept the identity of the culprit hidden for three decades in South Korea. Park Doo Man (Song Kang Ho) is a detective who works relentlessly to uncover the mystery behind a series of murders. He collaborates with a young detective named Seo Tae Yoon (Kim Sang Kyung).

Set in the city of Hwaseong in 1986, the case begins with the discovery of a young woman's body in a ditch, which shows signs of rape before a brutal murder. Soon after, another victim is found in a field close to the crime scene.

Doo Man and Tae Yoon make their best efforts, despite limited evidence, by using various innovative methods to catch the elusive perpetrator. Despite having DNA evidence of the culprit, the absence of forensic technology at the time posed challenges in tracing the culprit through DNA analysis.

The movie, which won numerous prestigious awards, was able to make its audience very curious about the end of the case. Will the two detectives succeed in unmasking the identity of the serial killer?

Cha Tae Sik (Won Bin) is a quiet and mysterious man with a dark past. Despite his mysterious attitude, he unexpectedly becomes friends with a young girl named So Mi (Kim Sae Ron), who lives in the same apartment building.

Conflict ensues when So Mi's mother, Hyo Jung (Kim Sae Ron), steals heroin from a nightclub, which triggers a merciless pursuit by a drug syndicate. In time, the syndicate arrives at Hyo Jung's apartment to retrieve the stolen heroin, but finds it missing. As payback, Hyo Jung and So Mi are kidnapped.

Upon discovering their abduction, Tae Sik springs into action, pursuing the kidnappers. This chase forces him to confront his past as a former special agent, a part of his life he had firmly shut away.

As Tae Sik fights to rescue So Mi, he learns the devastating news of Hyo Jung’s murder by the hands of her captors. This tragedy fuels his resolve to save So Mi at any cost. Can Tae Sik successfully rescue her?

Kang In Ho (Gong Yoo) is an art teacher who, after losing his wife, joins Benevolence Academy, a school for deaf students in the North Jeolla.

However, after starting his lessons, the students tend to isolate themselves and avoid to connect with him. He kept trying to get the attention of his students, and eventually succeeded. Some students began to open up and communicate with him even if it was only through sign language.

In Ho was shocked to learn that they were victims of violence and abuse. Even more disturbing, he finds out that key figures like local officials, police, and even church members are involved in this atrocity. Determined to seek justice for his students, In Ho collaborates with human rights activist Seo Yoo Jin to expose corruption within the academy.

The movie, which was a huge success at the South Korean box office upon its release, is an adaptation of the novel "Dokani" by Kong Ji Young. The novel takes inspiration from a true story that took place at a school for the deaf in the Gwangju region of South Korea.

Im Na Mi (Yoo Ho Jung) unexpectedly reunites with her old school friend, Chun Hwa (Jin Hee Kyung), in a hospital. Chun Hwa is now dealing with a lot, she's divorced, childless, and battling cancer. Chun Hwa expresses a wish for Na Mi to bring together their old group of friends before it's too late.

Na Mi agrees and begins a quest to find their long-lost friends, including Hwang Jin Hee (Park Joo Jin), Kim Jang Mi (Kim Min Young), Seo Geum Ok (Nam Bo Ra), Ryu Book Hee (Kim Bo Mi), and Young Su Ji (Min Hyo Rin). As Na Mi contacts each of them, memories of their past come flooding back, reminding her of their close-knit friendship group called Sunny.

Na Mi was the last to join Sunny, having moved from some countryside to Seoul. They shared many laughs and even faced other girl gangs together. But a big problem eventually drove them apart.

When they reunite, they reminisce about the good old days and catch up on their adult lives. Their school adventures have turned into precious memories. The friends feel a mix of sadness and happiness, brought back together by the unfortunate news of one of their own.

A Moment to Remember explores the love story of Su Jin (Son Ye Jin) and Chul Soo (Jung Woo Sung) in a way that makes the audience feel the emotion of their sadness.

This newly married couple is very happy at the beginning of their marriage. However, the mood turned gloomy when Su Jin is diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The symptoms of the disease begin to show when she forgets to switch off the stove and once even forgot her way home.

Chul Soo realises that his wife's condition is getting worse every day. Chul Soo is concerned that his wife will eventually forget him and all of their memories. Will Su Jin get better or forget everything including Chul Soo?

Based on the Japanese drama "Pure Soul" (2001), this touching film was a huge success in Korea, topping the box office for two consecutive weeks and becoming the fifth highest grossing film of 2004.

Detective Ma (Ma Deong Seok) becomes a hot topic in town after he takes down a criminal in the city. He is then assigned a task of traveling to Vietnam to capture Korean fugitives who have fled there.

Upon arrival in Vietnam, Detective Ma, along with Captain Jeon Il Man (Choi Gwi Hwa), is welcomed by Jang Soon Cheol, a Korean foreign affairs executive in the country. They learn from Jang that one of the fugitives has turned himself in for a bizarre reason.

Further investigation leads Detective Ma to a horrifying discovery: a brutal series of murders committed by Kang Hae Sang (Seon Seok Koo), targeting Korean tourists for their money. This revelation kicks off an intense mission for Detective Ma, Captain Jeon Il Man, and their team to capture Kang Hae Sang.

Following the success of The Outlaws, Lee Sang Yong took over the director's chair to continue Detective Ma's story in this movie. The combination of a captivating story, well-executed choreography, and outstanding performances from the cast, once again, propelled "The Roundup" to become one of the highest-grossing South Korean films during the Covid-19 Pandemic.

Despite its controversial story, "The Handmaiden" managed to leave a deep impression, making it one of South Korea's most memorable films. It won numerous prestigious awards, including honors at the British Academy Film Awards, Austin Film Critics Association, Boston Society of Film Critics, Chicago Film Critics Association, and more.

The movie's story revolves around Nam Sook Hee (Kim Tae-ri), a skilled pickpocket who is hired by Fujiwara to work as a maid in the home of Hideko (Kim Min-hee), who lives with her uncle. Sook Hee's mission is to manipulate Hideko into marrying Fujiwara (Ha Jung Woo), aiming to gain control of Hideko's wealth.

As the plot unfolds, Sook Hee realizes she's the one being tricked by Fujiwara and Hideko. Hideko is yearning to escape her uncle's odd behavior and wants Sook Hee to take her place. Fujiwara and Hideko eventually marry and flee, leaving Sook Hee behind.

When Hideko's uncle discovers their escape, he goes after them and uncovers a major secret. At the same time, Hideko finds herself falling for Sook Hee. In a powerful climax, they expose the secret, dismantle her uncle's house, and decide to abandon everything, including Fujiwara, to start anew.

Soo Hyun (Lee Byung Hun) is devastated and driven by revenge after finding out his pregnant fiancée has been killed. Years pass and the murderer is still free, but Soo Hyun doesn't give up. He keeps searching and finally finds a few people who might be responsible.

Soo Hyun manages to find the person who is strongly suspected to be the killer of her fiancé, Kyung Chul (Choi Min Sik). After some investigation, evidence is found proving that he is the murderer Soo Hyun is looking for. Kyung Chul, a psychopath, committed brutality by killing, raping, and mutilating his victims.

Fueled by rage, Soo Hyun plants a tracking device in Kyung Chul by making him swallow a pill, allowing him to monitor the killer's every move.

Soo Hyun takes revenge for his fiancée's death in a sadistic manner, and the fight between them is filled with bloody scenes. Ironically, a deep feeling of vengeance and grief has turned him into the very monster he sought to punish.

Woo Jin (So Ji Sub) is heartbroken after the loss of his wife, Soo Ah (Son Ye Jin), leaving him to raise their seven-year-old son, Ji Ho, alone. Despite his sorrow, Ji Ho holds onto the hope that his mother will one day return.

In a twist of fate, Woo Jin and Ji Ho come across an unconscious woman who, to their surprise, turns out to be Soo Ah. When she wakes up, she has no memory of her past, not recognizing her marriage or even her own son.

Determined, Ji Ho tries everything to bring back his mother's memories. Woo Jin also does his part, sharing stories of how they first met in school, their marriage, and the joy of having children.

Gradually, Soo Ah starts remembering her beloved family. But as the rainy season nears its end, Ji Ho faces the reality that he might have to say goodbye to his mother again.

Lee Geum Ja (Lee Young Ae) has spent 13 years in prison for a crime she didn't fully commit. She was involved in the kidnapping of a child named Won Mo, but it was under the coercion of Baek (Choi Min Sik), who had taken her son and threatened his life.

While in prison, Geum Ja was kind and helpful to her fellow inmates. Upon her release, her first intentions are to reunite with her child, who was taken from her as an infant, and to seek revenge on those who wronged her, including Baek.

In her quest for revenge, Geum Ja is helped by the prisoners she once helped. Interestingly, one of the prisoners is Baek's wife, who is the main target of her revenge. As a result, her plan goes smoothly. However, just as she is about to take her revenge against Baek, Geum Ja discovers something unexpected about the man.

It seems that Baek has been hoarding many items belonging to children, prompting Geum Ja to ask for help of a detective to track down the items. This revelation leads to the discovery of a much bigger and more sinister case-a series of serial murders involving children.

An American pathologist directed his team to dump chemicals into a sewer that led to the Han River, thinking that dumping formaldehyde-containing waste to the vast size Han River would not cause any harm.

Years later, a peculiar creature, not very large at first, emerged from the river. People didn't see it as dangerous initially, but with time, the creature grew enormous and caused panic.

The story reaches its climax when Park Kang Doo (Song Kang Ho), who runs a snack bar by the Han River, witnesses his daughter Hyun Seo (Ko Ah Sung) being swallowed by the monster. Despite the police saying she might not have survived, Kang Doo is determined to track down the creature, convinced his daughter is still alive.

The Host is one of the best Korean movies, which deserves to be watched at least once in a lifetime. Upon its release, it was watched by 20% of South Korea's population. Many praised its visual effects, which were impressive even for a production from the 2000s. The film has also received numerous awards both in South Korea and internationally.

Burning is loosely based on Haruki Murakami's short story Barn Burning. It's about Jong Soo (Yoo Ah In), who reconnects with his childhood friend, Hae Mi (Jeon Jong Soo). Hae Mi is planning a trip to Africa and asks Jong Soo to look after her cat while she's away.

Upon her return, Hae Mi introduces Jong Soo to her new friend, Ben (Steven Yeun), a charming and wealthy guy. Ben shares his unusual and somewhat disturbing hobby of burning down greenhouses, claiming he only targets those that are abandoned.

Jong Soo finds this hobby strange. Ben even mentions he has spotted a greenhouse near Jong Soo's home to burn next. Jong Soo checks for any burned-down greenhouses nearby but finds none.

Things take a turn when Hae Mi vanishes without a trace. Jong Soo grows more suspicious of Ben and decides to follow him to figure out what happened to Hae Mi. Will Jong Soo solve the mystery of her disappearance?

Mi Ja (Yoon Jeong Hee) is a 66-year-old nurse living with her grandson, Wook (David Lee). As she ages, Mi Ja starts to notice her memory fading. The doctor diagnoses her with Alzheimer's, a condition where memory gradually deteriorates.

Since Alzheimer's can't be cured but only slowed down by engaging the brain, Mi Ja decides to join a poetry group. As part of her poetry class, she has to write poems about her surroundings.

Mi Ja feels saddened by the thought of losing her memories. But this isn't her only sorrow. Her heart breaks further when she finds out her grandson is involved in a rape case that led to the victim's suicide. Amidst these challenges, Mi Ja finds solace in her poetry.

Based on a true story, the movie received the Best Script Award at the Cannes Film Festival. Despite its deliberate pace, "Poetry" has a deep and poignant meaning, especially since it is rooted in true events. Audiences will feel the confusion that the lead character, Mi Ja, went through.

"The Wailing" stands out as a beloved mystery horror film, known for its engaging story without relying on excessive jump scares. Its compelling storyline and excellent performances have earned it numerous accolades, including awards from the 36th Korean Association of Film Critics Awards and the Korean Film Producers Association Awards.

Set in the village of Gokseong, nestled near a forest, the residents are plagued by terror following mysterious deaths caused by an unusual illness. Suspicion falls on a Japanese man, a recent arrival, rumored to be a shaman with bizarre items in his home.

The village is further shaken by the savage death of a family. Jong Goo (Kwak Do Won), a local police officer, faces numerous peculiarities while investigating the case. In addition, his daughter falls ill with the same strange disease, changing her behavior dramatically and causing her to speak harshly.

As the community struggles to solve the murder case, confusion reigns. Speculation about the perpetrator abounds, but evidence is elusive. The initially suspected individual turns out to be innocent. Who is the mastermind behind these mysterious cases?

A gamer named Joon Woo (Yoo Ah-In) wakes up to the sound of a commotion outside the apartment where he lives with his younger sister and parents. While still sleepy, Joon doesn't understand what is going on. He only saw many people crowding out of the apartment.

Initially thinking it was a normal demonstration, Joon soon realized after taking a closer look that the situation was more dire - people were attacking and biting each other. Panic sets in as Joon realizes that his family is separated from him; they manage to survive and take refuge in Joon's father's office, while Joon is left alone.

In his despair, Joon contemplates ending his life by hanging himself. However, a laser suddenly appears, signaling him not to give up. The laser comes from an apartment tower adjacent to where Yoo Bin (Park Shin Hye), Joon's neighbor, lives. Using binoculars, they communicate and exchange food.

Now, the two must devise a plan to reunite and escape the apartment together, seeking safety in a place filled with supplies. The chase with zombies can be seen throughout the rest of the movie. Will a miracle happen to save both of their lives?

Hye Ja (Kim Hye Ja) shares her home with her only son, Do Joon (Won Bin), a 28-year-old with a mental disability. He depends on his mother but tries to lead a normal life. His friend, Jin Tae (Jin Goo), often takes him out to bars.

One day, they arrange to meet for a drink outdoors, but Jin Tae doesn't show up. Left alone, Do Joon ends up drinking alone and returns home drunk. On the way home, he followed a girl and flirted with her but was rejected. Do Joon finally chose to go home.

The next day, there's shocking news saying that the girl Do Joon followed was found dead. The evidence and witnesses all seem to point to Do Joon. The police quickly arrest him and get him to sign a confession, even though he doesn't fully understand what's happening.

Hye Ja, firmly convinced of her son's innocence, makes every possible effort to prove his guilt and expose the real killer. Will Hye Ja's tireless efforts pay off? To uncover the truth, make sure you watch this neo-noir thriller directed by Bong Joon Ho!