The Korean cinema industry is one of the largest in the world, and it is renowned for its creative storytelling. Their films and television shows offer a distinct cultural and cinematic perspective, providing audiences with a pleasant and entertaining viewing experience. Streaming platforms such as Hulu have made Korean cinema more accessible to consumers, recognising the need for cinephiles to be exposed to worldwide films and TV shows. Hulu’s outstanding portfolio of material from around the world includes a number of films and shows that will make you fall in love with Korean cinema.
Big Mouth (2022)
Jang Young-chul and Jung Kyung-soon created the courtroom crime drama “Big Mouth.” It tells the stories of two characters: Park Chang Ho, a not-so-good lawyer, and Big Mouse, a known criminal. When Chang Ho is assigned as the defence lawyer in a murder case by the mayor, he is drawn into a world of crime and intrigue in which Big Mouse plays a key part. Lee Jong Suk plays Park Chang Ho, and the cast also features Kwak Dong-yeon, Im Yoon-ah, and Kim Joo-hun. The show can be viewed here.
A broker is not always someone who buys and sells homes and/or assets. Hirokazu Koreeda’s film depicts the story of Ha Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho) and Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won), who earn a fortune by stealing and selling newborns placed in the church’s baby box. They do, however, come across a mother, Moon So-young (Lee Ji-Eun), who returns after abandoning her kid and joins them in their attempt to sell the baby to its new parents, guaranteeing that the pair merits her child. Meanwhile, a duo of detectives is determined to track down the brokers and put them to court. You may watch the film online here.
Descendants of the Sun (2016)
‘Descendants of the Sun,’ directed by Lee Eung-bok and Baek Sang-hoon, is a military drama about the romantic relationship between South Korean Special Forces Captain Yoo Shi Jin and Doctor Kang Mo Yeon from Seoul. But navigating a relationship that is highlighted by their occupations and other dangerous situations is never easy. The ‘Descendants of the Sun’ cast includes Song Joong-ki, Song Hye-Kyo, Jin Goo, and Kim Ji-won, and has received numerous awards. You may watch the show online here.
Doctor Lawyer (2022)
‘Doctor Lawyer’ is another medical thriller in which a doctor is imprisoned after a staged operation kills a patient. He returns as a lawyer two years later, teaming up with a prosecutor to bring those who abuse power and wealth, toying with people’s lives, to justice, as well as to reach out to patients and their families who have been subjected to neglect. This programme is intense, riveting, and enraging, and it will have you on the edge of your seat. So Ji-sub, Im Soo-hyang, Lee Joo-bin, and Shin Sung-rok star. ‘Doctor Lawyer’ can be viewed here.
Dr. Romantic (2016-2023)
‘Dr. Romantic,’ starring Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Sung-kyung, Han Suk-kyu, and Yang Se-jong, is a medical drama. It centres on Kim Sa-bu, an expert surgeon at Doldam Hospital, and how he hires new and brilliant individuals to enhance Doldam’s manpower while also training them to be better surgeons. Kim Sa-bu, on the other hand, has a secret past that no one knows about. The drama focuses on how the past and present intersect and how this affects Doldam. You may watch the show online here.
Full Count (2023)
If you enjoy baseball, this is an excellent choice. ‘Full Count,’ a docu-series about 10 Korean baseball teams competing for a 40-year-old championship, has everything one would expect from a sports documentary: hard work, camaraderie, animosity, battles, fun, politics, attitude, and culture. This mini-series is a terrific choice for sports fans because it includes interviews with sports pros as well as real video. You can get some Korean baseball right here.
‘If You Wish Upon Me,’ written by Jo Ryeong-soo and directed by Kim Yong-wan, is a series about Yoon Gyeo-ree, an ex-convict, and Seo Yeon-joo, a nurse at a hospice facility where Gyeo-ree serves as part of his community service. While they do not like each other at first, their dislike gradually turns into love, culminating in a chemistry whose beam is balanced by Gyeo-ree’s seriousness and Yeon-joo’s eccentricity, with the hospice acting as the foundation. If You Wish Upon Me is a delightful binge-watch that blends romance highlighted by care. The series may be viewed here.
Legend of the Blue Sea (2016)
‘tradition of the Blue Sea,’ a Korean twist on the popular romance between a mermaid and a human, is a drama based on a Joseon tradition that explores the strange interaction between a mermaid who ends up in present-day Seoul and is encountered by a con artist. Unbeknownst to them, they both have intertwined pasts. The notions of rebirth and fate are intertwined in an exciting way to create a beautiful presentation that is enhanced by spectacular graphics and engaging performers. Lee Min-ho, Jun Ji-hyun, Shin Won-ho, and Shin Hye-sun are among the ‘Legend of the Blue Sea’ cast members. The film can be viewed here.
Moving (2023)
Superhero films and television series have demonstrated that enormous powers not only entail huge responsibilities, but also great perils, especially when those wielding the powers are children. In the series ‘Moving,’ three teens have such hereditary powers but keep them hidden from everyone save their parents, who have always known about it. Power-hungry people abound, and the youths quickly find themselves surrounded by agents from an unknown organisation that wants what they have. This big-budget show is based on Kang Full’s popular webtoon of the same name and is directed by Park In-je and Park Yoon-seo. Han Hyo-Joo, Jo In Sung, Lee Jung-ha, and Go Yoon Jung are among the cast members. ‘Moving’ can be viewed here.
Oh My Venus (2015)
‘Oh My Venus’ is a love drama that follows the story of Kang Joo Eun, a 33-year-old law school student who is overweight, which has put a toll on her life, especially since she was recognised in high school for her pretty face and physique, which earned her the nickname Daejeon Venus. But now she is being disregarded by society, and her lover has broken up with her. However, a chance meeting with Kim Yeong Ho, a superstar personal trainer, appears to be the beginning of a new chapter in her life. Shin Min-ah, So Ji-sub, Sung Hoon, and Yoo In-young feature in ‘Oh My Venus,’ a love drama. You can participate in Venus’s journey right here.
Revenant (2023)
The horror fantasy drama ‘Revenant’ explores the story of a relic that a woman acquired from her deceased father and how it has affected her. Suicides also begin to occur throughout the city. On the other hand, we have a Korean folklore professor who can see evil beings and ghosts. The way these two people’s lives intersect and how they discover the reason for their deaths make this episode ideal for Halloween binge-watching. ‘Revenant’ is available for streaming here.
Revenge of Others (2022)
It’s not simple to choose retribution above dreams, especially when you’re nineteen. Is there any other alternative when your brother is killed? ‘Revenge of Others’ addresses this issue by transporting Ok Chan-mi to her brother’s school, where she meets Ji Soo-heon, a man dealing with his own challenges. The play answers if and how the two plot revenge on their adversaries. Park Solomon, Shin Ye-eun, Seo Ji-hoon, and Lee Soo-min star in the show. You may watch the drama on Hulu by clicking here.
Rookie Cops (2022)
When new recruits arrive at the orthodox Korean National Police University, the going gets rough, and the tough get going slowly. Training isn’t easy, and there’s also companionship, ambition, goals, and dreams to contend with, but that’s okay. Things begin to become tricky when love grows. After all, students are there to serve society, not to fall in love. But is it really that simple not to fall in love? The cast of ‘Rookie Cops’ includes Chae Soo-bin, Kang Daniel, Lee Shin-young, and Park Yoo-na. You can watch ‘Rookie Cops’ online right now.
So I Married My Anti-Fan (2021)
‘So I Married My Anti-Fan,’ as the title suggests, is a rom-com drama about the relationship of pop sensation Hoo Joon and his anti-fan, reporter Lee Geun-young. While there is a lot of animosity between the two at first, things begin to change once they are forced to participate in a show in which they must live with each other. We get to see how the tension sparks the romance in this show, which stars Choi Tae-joon and Choi Soo-young as the leads. You may watch the drama online here.
The Worst of Evil (2023)
Set in the 1990s, ‘The Worst of Evil’ is a crime action thriller about a drug gang responsible for illegal drug distribution throughout South Korea, China, and Japan. In this adrenaline-pumping movie, we learn how some police officers penetrate the mafia undercover in order to bring it down. The stakes are great because, in such syndicates, trust comes first, and once broken, it cannot be regained. Can the cops pull it off? ‘The Worst Evil’ stars Ji Chang-wook, Wi Ha-joon, Im Se-mi, and Kim Hyung-seo. You can be a part of the excitement here.
What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018)
Running a great corporation is difficult, especially for vice-chairman Lee Young Joon, who must simultaneously manage his enormous ego. Kim Mi So, his secretary who has never been acknowledged by her employer, has been stroking his ego for nine long years. Finally, she decides to resign in order to focus on her own life rather than someone else’s. This is where things become problematic, particularly for Young Joon, who realises he needs her but has no way of stopping her from going. Does he, or doesn’t he? ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?’ is a 2013 drama based on Jung Kyung-Yoon’s novel of the same name. It stars Park Seo-Joon, Park Min-young, Lee Tae-hwan, and Kang Ki-young. You may watch the drama online here.
While You Were Sleeping (2017)
Isn’t it great when a dream comes true? No, not always. In ‘While You Were Sleeping,’ we meet three persons who foretell the future in their dreams. Worse, some of these nightmares depict murders and accidents that are about to occur. The drama focuses on how the three work together to prevent these fantasies from becoming reality and discover why they are like this. ‘While You Were Sleeping,’ a fantasy, romance, and legal drama hybrid, promises an enjoyable binge-watching experience pushed by outstanding performances. Bae Suzy, Lee Jong-suk, and Jung Hae-in are among the cast members. You can watch the K-Drama right here.
Uncontrollably Fond (2016)
Kim Woo-bin and Bae Suzy feature in ‘Uncontrollably Fond,’ a love drama. Shin Joon Young is a well-known actor, and Noh Eul is a hardworking documentary producer; the two were childhood sweethearts who reconnected years later, their separation still vivid in their minds. Both grew raised in difficult circumstances as a result of the fragility of life, which took a loved one from each of their lives. Now, as the two reunite for the documentary, there appears to be a chance for them to make up for lost time and give love another opportunity. ‘Uncontrollably Fond’ can be viewed here.
