With worldwide acclaimed works like Train to Busan, the Korean film industry is enjoying a zombie rebirth, which has become a rising cinematic inspiration of the twenty-first century. These infectious illnesses’ incidence and severity do not appear to be decreasing. Each year, the expanding film industry satisfies consumers by releasing more zombie films and series. The Best South Korean Crime Films of the Twenty-First Century (So Far)
Psychological thrillers, class allegories, and even historical drama are among the zombie movies and series, which range from Netflix’s recently released All of Us Are Dead to The Wailing. They’re all connected by a common theme: zombies, which will quench your craving for a zombie apocalypse.
‘#Alive’ (2020)
Oh Joon-Wo (Ah-In Yoo), a recluse gamer, must remain hunkered down in his flat and beat off droves of home-invading zombies in a densely populated building under siege from a vicious zombie incursion borne from an unknown sickness in #Alive. As the days pass and the situation worsens toward the end of the day, he contacts a neighbor and the two plan their escape together.
Cho Il-debut hyung’s feature film thrives in moments of psychological reflection and deftly navigates the challenges of a zombie-horror-romance in the age of cellphones, blood, guts, and selfie sticks. The film is definitely entertaining, thanks to a great, youthful ensemble and a fairly original storyline.
‘All of Us Are Dead’ (2022 – )
The drama is inspired on the popular Webtoon Now At Our School and follows a group of high school students who find themselves stranded at their school due to a zombie virus outbreak. The students do everything they can to avoid becoming zombies and escaping from their school.
The focus on a group of teenage teenagers and how they handle tough decisions in risky settings that will have you on the edge of your seat sets All of Us Are Dead apart from other Zombie shows. The show has an engaging group of people, a horrifying horde of zombies, and a setting that throws the protagonists challenge after challenge.
‘Happiness’ (2021 – )
This upbeat Korean horror series is set in the not-too-distant future and follows a group of individuals trapped in an apartment complex plagued by zombies due to a government quarantine. The Rita Virus, or “crazy person illness” as it is more well known, was the result of a botched treatment drug that culminated in a pandemic known as the Rita Virus.
With numerous surprises and exciting plot twists, the show is well-balanced and feels fresh. Furthermore, rather than frightening moments, the series emphasizes the development of social relationships through a great blend of drama and humour.
‘Kingdom’ (2019 – )
This is Netflix’s first Korean original series, consisting of two seasons and based on the webcomic The Kingdom of the Gods. In Kingdom, Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon), the Crown Prince of Joseon, investigates a deadly illness that is ravaging his land in this historical horror drama. While defending his kingdom from a terrible plague, he becomes embroiled in a political power struggle that threatens to destabilize him.
The series digs into the issue of class strife and societal interests in a subtle and in-depth manner. Even the most sophisticated television viewer will be satisfied by the action sequences, which are skillfully staged. After you’ve finished the series, be sure to watch Kingdom: Ashin of the North, a special episode that delves into the plague’s origins.
‘Rampant’ (2018)
The Prince of Joseon, Lee Chung (Hun Bin), is kidnapped by the powerful Qing family in order to appoint him as the future Crown Prince. As Lee Chung spars with Joseon Minister of War Kim Ja-Joon, an invasion of terrifying nighttime undead threatens to decimate the entire region.
Rampant is another another concept that seeks to resurrect a popular genre that has faded into obscurity. By combining these animals with the Asian epic action film style and changing a few rules, a film full of adrenaline, magnificent sights, and stock characters in an intriguing plot is created.
‘Seoul Station’ (2016)
Seoul Station is an animated feature-length zombie film directed by Yeon Sang-ho of Train to Busan and released the same year as the live-action horror sensation. The animated animation imagines downtown Seoul being overrun by armies of zombies one day before the events of Train to Busan. Suk-Gyu (Ryu Seung-Ryong), a father searching for his missing daughter Hye-Sun (Shim Eun-Kyung), is essential to the plot before the zombie pandemic.
Unlike Train to Busan, which revels in the spectacle of violence and the socioeconomic conditions that gave rise to it, Seoul Station looks at the lives of those on the margins, who are most likely to be forgotten in the event of a calamity. Fans of Train to Busan should check out this intriguing chapter in the plot, which takes a novel approach to the setup.
‘The Odd Family: Zombie On Sale’ (2019)
Lee Min-The Jae’s Odd Family: Zombie on Sale is one of South Korea’s best zombie comedies (zom-coms), and it adds an unusual amount of quirkiness to the mix. The Park family’s lives are flipped upside down when the ancient patriarch is bitten by a zombie in The Odd Family. When the Park family realizes that the zombie was created as a result of an illegal pharmaceutical business operation, they try to profit from it.
The Parks are an eccentric, hilarious, and unexpectedly close family, as seen in The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale. The concept of monetizing their tragedy was smart from the start. Fans will experience an original and interesting film when action, drama, and romance are combined.
‘The Wailing’ (2016)
After a mystery guy comes in a little fishing town, The Wailing follows a series of unexplained incidents. A viral epidemic spreads throughout the community, said to be caused by a local bad spirit. And it’s up to local cop Jong-goo (Do-wan Kwak) to figure out what’s going on.
The masterful blending of tremendous cultural and genre elements in the novel creates an unforgettable concoction. The picture features a magnificent performance, a gut-wrenching slaughter, and a profound morality tale, making it not only one of the most contemporary zombie flicks, but also one of the most contemporary horror films.
‘Train to Busan’ (2016)
This South Korean zombie film is more of an action film than a horror film, and it has cemented South Korea’s cinematic stature in the eyes of audiences all over the world. The film portrays a man (Gong Yoo) desperately trying to protect his little daughter aboard the titular overrun train as a zombie outbreak spreads. There are undertones of remorse in the film as certain people find they were personally involved in the virus’s inadvertent spread.
The riveting class commentary in Train to Busan illustrates the benefits of group effort over individual survival. It was an instant hit with audiences all over the world thanks to its unusual characters, passionate acting, and fast-paced action.
‘Zombie Detectives’ (2020)
Kang Min-ho (Choi Jin-hyuk) wakes up with amnesia and discovers he has also evolved into a zombie in this Korean drama series. To blend in, he learns to walk and talk like everyone else, and eventually takes on the character of a private detective while investigating his past.
Zombie Detective manages to be humorous while also offering lots of sadness, melancholy, and seriousness, while being comic book-esque and weird at times. The use of comedy to lighten the tone of certain passages was wisely handled. Zombie Detective is a wonderful choice if you want to get away from the ravenous flesh-eating zombies.
