People have reportedly developed an insatiable hunger for Korean cinema ever since “Parasite” became a worldwide sensation. Additionally, a number of outstanding pre-Parasite projects have become well-known. The combination of that and the OTT boom during the “covid age” is the basis for why we are providing you with this list. Korean movies have the rare capacity to appeal to a wide range of viewers. Additionally to rising as standalone entities, each separate category’s total number of projects is also increasing. This method of creating content has the inherent problem of the substance deteriorating over time. Netflix, however, has shown us that this does not appear to be the case with Korean movies.
You should watch some high-caliber Korean movies even though there aren’t many of them on Netflix. This collection has been painstakingly curated in an effort to include fresh works that you may not be familiar with while also being outstanding artistic endeavours. We heartily endorse these, and we’d love to hear your thoughts on them in the comments area. Cheers to reading!
#ALIVE (2020)
There really isn’t a movie like “Train to Busan” in the zombie genre. A wonderful experience is created by the script’s emotional depth, the unrelenting zombie attacks, and the exciting action scenes that are shot with genuine time-space initials. Although the core topic of a zombie invasion is still present, “#Alive” diverges in terms of its locale and tempo. A weird virus that transforms people into flesh-eating zombies infects John-neighborhood. woo’s When John becomes stranded in his apartment, he makes every effort to reach out to the outside world and plan a rescue operation. John tries to commit himself after hearing his family’s farewell recorded message, but he is stopped by a flash of light in a building across the street.
TRAIN TO BUSAN [2016] IS SIMILAR TO KOREAN MOVIES ON NETFLIX – Riding at high speed with the undead
In John’s seclusion, there are overt allusions to the life of quarantine brought on by the Corona pandemic. At first, he enjoys the comforts of his modernist flat. But after a while, the way of life gets boring and he finds new “interesting” adventures all around him. In addition to exploring the effects of fear, loneliness, and the millennial condition in modern times, “Alive” also offers good entertainment and a compelling plot.
ALONG WITH THE GODS: THE TWO WORLDS (2017)
like learning about the afterlife? Check. Like high-end productions with opulent sets and eye-popping graphics? Check. Like looking into the soul of a fictitious character to discover your own? Check. Along with the Gods 2 is unquestionably your cup of tea if you’ve also checked all three boxes. The two-part movie follows a deceased firefighter as he travels across the afterlife with the help of three of its watchdogs. They are tasked with defending him against numerous accusations of crimes he did while on earth. If his argument is effectively argued, both parties profit—the guardians win points for saving lives and the fireman will be revived. But beneath his brave exterior lies a filthy truth that he would rather keep hidden.
The way the fireman’s story develops offers filmmaker Kim Yong-hwa an intriguing opportunity to heighten the movie’s emotional appeal. The film’s wild imagination encompasses practically everything that might possibly impact a person’s life. Despite its intense focus on the narrative, “Along with the Gods” leaves the decision of the central character’s fate up to the audience.
FORGOTTEN (2017)
The storyline in Jang Hang-“Forgotten” jun’s is gripping and full of unexpected plot turns. Hang-jun tells the tale of a 41-year-old man who pretends to be a youngster and lives with his family in his own lyrical manner. He starts to question his circumstances more and more, and as he does so, he discovers a terrible reality about his previous existence. The movie never has a dull moment. With ongoing revelations and many plot twists, Hang-jun keeps the audience on the edge of their seats.
“Forgotten” boasts an original plot and nearly flawless execution in terms of both style and content. As you watch, the deft direction transports you to many locations in your thoughts, maintaining the mystery at the film’s centre right up to the very end. The innovative storytelling that “Forgotten” brings to the table is something that Korean filmmakers continue to redefine.
HIGH SOCIETY (2018)
In “High Society,” the cost of selling one’s soul to obtain material success is discussed. The higher strata of our society reflect the idea that underlies the movie’s concept in real life. It is unpleasant to learn the grim, decaying realities behind famous success stories and the elusive “dream life” that we all strive to. They are kept hidden, and the strong urge everyone with the authority to make sure they never surface. The revered Professor Jang fantasises about becoming a politician after saving a man from a burning building. In an effort to advance her own career, his wife Soo-yeon, the deputy director of the gallery of contemporary art, pursues an affair. The two become lost in the grandeur of the world in front of them and lose sight of who they are.
The movie contains a lot of sensual material. The movie’s writer and director, Hyuk Byun, never quite manages to go beyond the tired, previously explored genre clichés. Character development and storyline aren’t particularly inventive, which places a lot of onus on the two main characters. For the third act, Soo Ae and Park Hae-il rise to the occasion and develop their chemistry and dynamic with admirable subtlety and nuance. Byun, however, adheres to the philosophical conundrum he offers right up until the end. High Society offers enough of food for thought but suffers from subpar execution as it tests your moral compass and draws it against the most compelling force in the universe: desire.
LOVE & LEASHES (2022)
The rom-com subgenre has a long history. Because of a predictable approach, audiences will always prefer these flicks more often than not. But if recent history is any guide, the genre is already at its limit. The audience expects more than just a boy and girl meeting and falling in love, therefore patience is quickly evaporating. Storytelling innovation is required. And the outcome is frequently explosive when that is combined with a cultural twist that appears perverted but is actually harmless. The intriguing South Korean rom-com Love & Leashes, which blurts out clichés and fills that gap with a genuine, creative tale about the yearning for human connection, has a similar occurrence.
Every fictional story needs endearing protagonists, and Seohyun and Lee Jun-young deliver. They portray coworkers who accidentally interact through an online programme and learn a colourful truth about one another. Both of them are willing to back out of the challenge, and they only just manage to hide the workout from their coworkers. Along the journey, they learn a little bit about themselves and the goals and personalities they’ve been avoiding for far too long. The topic of BDSM divides audiences in movies. As the flags change, so do its representation, artistic significance, and depiction.
In their own distinctive ways, creators from America, France, and now Korea have experimented with the concept. Love & Leashes knows how to incorporate this as a theme element without making it overpowering or serving only the nameake’s purposes. Despite the fact that the soft finish was a little depressing, the balance is just about perfect. However, watch Love & Leashes for the fungibility of love that makes it such an easily traded commodity rather than the kinky things.
NIGHT IN PARADISE (2020)
A reputable voice in the film industry is Park Hoon-jung. He has a reputation for writing sophisticated, high-caliber thrillers. I Saw the Devil and New World are beloved movies among moviegoers. Park makes a gallant effort in Night in Paradise to successfully meld the conflicting genres of action, noir, and drama in a gripping gangster war setting.
The picture, which was remarkably shot in the dark, uses a variety of devices skillfully to build tension. Despite all the exciting action that is taking place in the city, Park never comes off as being out of his element when he takes a closer and more insightful look into his characters. Park immediately demonstrates a preference for keeping his writing in a lighter tone and foregoing attempts to craft a slow-burning tale. Given how the plot develops, it appears to have been the proper creative decision. The movie Night in Paradise supports the idea that extreme violence and exquisite sensitivity may coexist, and that doing so might be a seductive proposition.
REVENGER (2018)
“Revenger” creates a painting that is picture-perfect and created to enthral and excite your senses. Even while it puts you on edge and ruffles your adrenaline, “Revenger” lacks enthusiasm. The characters lack motivation, the writing largely falls flat, and the scenes’ frantic attempts to lighten the mood come out as embarrassing. But Bruce Khan is there. And that appears to be sufficient. The master of martial arts gives a performance worthy of his abilities and commitment.
It’s challenging to remain seated while watching him perform because of the intense energy that permeates every trick he pulls. His pivotal scene is a classic and ought to rank among the top action performances in recent movie history. “Revenger” is a wise choice if you’re looking for anything without looking for anything.
SILENCED (2011)
Politically and socially conscious movies with strong points to make are rarely this outstanding. The difficult element of creating the script is striking a balance between information and story. The execution on the screen, which determines the outcome, is undoubtedly harder. Being cool-headed is essential while dealing with a difficult primary topic. That essentially determines if the boldness of the filmmaker will have any real influence or not. It’s safe to assume that “Silenced” swept the country. People cried out for justice that had been withheld as a result of institutional delay and inactivity. The determination of Kang In-ho to unite and uncover the sinister secrets of his new school is mocked, but it also earns our respect.
However, the story’s tone is not one of redemption. Retributive gratification, which takes the form of startling set pieces carved around the victims, has an intrinsic hardness to it. Both in terms of filmmaking and in terms that apply to actual life, Silenced has a commendable quality. Even though it is one of the most painful movies to see, it is a crucial one without which the entire movie-making industry would seem pointless.
THE CALL (2020)
While visiting her ill mother, Kim returns to her childhood home and stays there. Kim wanders around the home after realising she has misplaced her phone and finds a landline. Young-sook, a weird woman who was allegedly residing in the same home a few decades ago, contacts her on a regular basis. Kim is initially sceptical of the woman, but she convinces her after saving her father from a childhood accident. She is ignorant that a jealous Young-sook is attempting to harm her because she lives in the alternate timeline. They fight a conflict that crosses multiple times and alters the environment in which they live.
While “Call” is undoubtedly captivating as a sci-fi thriller, it has a few significant flaws. One problem is the premise’s plausibility. How the two protagonists were able to communicate and how the past can affect the present are both mysteries. Because of the idea’s limitations, the conclusion was obvious, at least before the credits rolled. However, “Call” doesn’t leave anything to chance or the viewer’s whims and provides a pleasurable cinematic experience thanks to outstanding acting and a quick-moving story.
THE CHASE (2017)
All film industries have a documented history of being obsessed with police officers and serial killers. An old theme that is unlikely to go out of style is the mystery surrounding murders. In “The Chase,” a landlord discovers that current killings in the area are connected to ones that occurred about three decades ago. Fears that the responsible serial killer has resurfaced are raised by this discovery. He starts the search by joining forces with a willing police officer.
In his signature manner, Jang Hang-jun combines lighthearted humour with horrific killings, adding fresh characters and subplots as needed to keep things interesting.
THE DRUG KING (2018)
Any movie starring Song Kang-ho is guaranteed to be good. His popularity, charm, and presence on television are unmatched. He is a titan of the Korean cinema business and has progressively become a superstar all over the world. He plays Lee Doo-sam, a real-life drug courier, in the movie “The Drug King,” whose criminal empire is based on the destruction of rivals and the accumulation of bodies. He established his notoriety in the 1970s, when modernism was only coming into its own in a Korea torn apart by political unrest.
The idea for “The Drug King” is unmistakably drawn from vintage action movies like “Scarface” and “Chasing the Dragon.” It largely relies on the romanticism and popular excitement surrounding gangsters and the representations of their lives on screen, but it also leaves its own distinctive mark on Korean cinema.
THE HOST (2006)
The first few minutes of “The Host” at least, are played out like a disjointed symphony that is restless and tuned to the pace. There is no turning back once it has its claws firmly planted. On the movie, Bong Joon-ho works with Song Kang-ho as usual.
A mysterious amphibian creature that appears in the river and vanishes from the film’s pivotal scene with Park Gang-daughter du’s drives the plot forward. He sets out on a rescue expedition with his family as reports of the monster sightings increase. Director Bong’s grandiose and opulent vision for “The Host” ebbs and swells. The director depicts a struggle against the odds that is filled with intense drama and carefully chosen set pieces. The movie’s cinematic power is amplified by the events’ immediacy and the characters’ honesty in their intentions.
Similar to Steven Spielberg, director Bong produces surreal scenes that send electric currents coursing through your body like a live wire. The movie is an unforgettable experience and is still available on Netflix despite being almost 15 years old.
TIME TO HUNT (2020)
We have a good chance of becoming “Time to Hunt’s cruelly realised fantasy” if things continue the way they are. From the uncaring citizens to the devastated suburbs where their characters are placed, the filmmakers nearly always get it right. The trio, who were recently freed from prison, intends to carry out one more theft before setting out on their individual journeys in a society where human decency is losing significance.
Despite their achievements, they are being pursued one by one by a mercenary who will stop at nothing. The character-driven story is intense and chock-full of fast-paced action scenes. The Netflix movie “Time to Hunt” checks all the boxes of an escape-oriented blockbuster, only making a small concession to character development or including intriguing issues that may have been addressed with more time and attention.
TUNE IN FOR LOVE (2019)
Check the box office statistics. Critical acclaim: accomplished. confirming that its leaders are big stars; done. Check for writing a gripping romance without using too many derivatives. Tune in for Love on Netflix checks all all these prerequisites and more, making the movie a simple watch. Its highly complex and mature tone lay the foundation for an epic and enduring love story.
The capitalization of space for story visual navigation is among its most outstanding features. In these movies, characters frequently speak with a subtle charm and complexity that is mostly lost.
Tune in for Love is another K-Drama that has shocked viewers with the depth of its character development and narrative growth. Jung Hae-explosive in’s chemistry with Kim Go-eun helped him become a household name. Both produce striking, authentic performances that are based in the writing’s realism as opposed to the daydream of airport fiction.
