Top 18 Best Korean Movies on Netflix

We present to you the top 18 best Korean movies on Netflix. It's safe to say that South Korea is taking the entertainment industry by storm. With the rise of Korean pop, Korean dramas gaining popularity on streaming platforms, and Korean films winning major international awards, what's next? With international hits like Train to Busan, The Handmaiden, Parasite and many more, Korea has proven that it is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to cinema. The country continues to churn out hits, and while Korean filmmakers clearly have a knack for specific genres like psychological thrillers and zombie films, there are plenty of fantastic Korean films of all genres. So if you're looking for something to watch on Netflix, check out these great Korean movies that the streaming platform has to offer.

18. Love on a Leash (2022)

We open our list of the top 18 Korean films on Netflix with the film Love on a Leash. When you think of a rom-com, BDSM doesn't come to mind. However, this is precisely the theme touched upon in Park Hyun Jin's film Love and Leashes. This 2022 romantic comedy follows Ji Woo (Seohyun), who is drawn into the world of BDSM by her co-worker Ji Hoo (Lee Joon Young). The film has been praised as a refreshing and accurate portrayal of kink, as well as being surprisingly sweet and cohesive. It tries to erase the stigma around BDSM while being truly educational. Additionally, Love on a Leash is different from films like 50 Shades of Gray in that their contractual relationship is dominated by Ji Woo. Additionally, Lee and Seohyun have a palpable chemistry that makes it hard not to root for them and their relationship. Looking for a fun office romance with a twist? The film Love and a Leash is sure to satisfy them.

17. Unblock (2023)

In a society where smartphones and social media dominate our daily lives, Unlock is a call to action. After dropping her smartphone on a bus, Lee-Na-Mi (Woo-Hee Chun) becomes the target of the sinister Oh Joon-Young (Si-Wan Yim), whose installation of spyware on her phone becomes the catalyst for devastating events in her life. Tae-jun Kim's fast-paced narrative moves quickly towards the expected conclusion, but eventually pulls the rug out from under the audience and reveals a shocking twist. Based on the Japanese novel of the same name by Akira Teshigawara, Unlock is a gripping predator vs. prey story that will keep audiences on the edge of their seats and certainly keep them hooked after the credits roll.

16. Jeong-i (2023)

From brilliant writer-director Yeon Sang-ho, Jeong-i is a bold, thought-provoking sci-fi drama that is no less gripping and moving. In Jeong-i's film, her last film role before her death, Kang Soo-yeon, along with Kim Hyun-joo and Ryu Kyung-soo, poses troubling questions about the morality of technology, greed and its impact on the planet. Featuring both acting and action as well as beautiful technical design, Chung-yi's film delicately tells a story of grief and perseverance through a sci-fi narrative that places a heavy emphasis on artificial intelligence.

15. Kill Pok-sun (2023)

Kill Pok-sun is a South Korean action thriller about a secret organization of hitmen that would feel right at home in the John Wick universe. Jung Do-yeon "The Maid" punches, kicks and knives in the lead role of Kil Bok-soon aka Kill Bokseon. She's a great hitwoman who never misses a target, but as a single mother, she finds herself increasingly looking over her shoulder, afraid of losing the one thing she loves above all else.
Unfortunately, this fear comes true when the organization she works for turns against her and she must kill or be killed. Kill Pok-sun has some of the best fight choreography, cinematography and stylized action in the game, and is a fantastic watch with a lot of heart.

14. Lucid dreaming (2017)

Written and directed by Joon-Sung Kim and starring successful investigative journalist Go Soo "Money Game" as he searches for his kidnapped son, Lucid Dreaming is a heart-wrenching sci-fi drama with themes of personal strength and love for a father. Praised for its incredible acting and creativity, Lucid Dreaming is a rich mystery that plays with concepts like Inception. Despite its interesting cinematic techniques and stylish dream effects, Lucid Dreaming relies on mystery and storytelling to draw in the viewer.

13. Girl of the 2022th century (XNUMX)

1999th Century Girl is a charming, beautifully shot film directed by Woo-ri Bang. The film takes place in 1990, before the start of the new millennium, and follows a sweet and kind teenager, Na Bo Ra (Kim Yoo Jung), who has a whimsical imagination. When her best friend asks her to babysit a popular boy in her class, Na Bo Ra finds herself embroiled in an unexpected romance. Focusing on the use of outdated technology from the late XNUMXs, XNUMXth Century Girl plays with modern tropes through a nostalgic lens, allowing viewers to reminisce about simpler times, both in terms of society and the experience of falling in love for the first time.

12. High Society (2018)

High Society is about Jang Tae Joon (Park Hae Il) and Oh Soo Young (Soo Ae), a husband and wife who are willing to do anything to join the elite of society. Beloved economics professor Zhe becomes a hero after saving the life of a burning man on a TV show. To cash in on his popularity, he decides to enter politics. His wife, Oh, works in the art world and does everything she can to take her place as boss, including having an affair with a high-ranking photographer. Intense and glamorous, High Society is sure to please fans of series like Descendants.

11. Kislo-Solodko (2021)

Kislo-Solodko is a charming Korean romance film that explores the universal challenges and joys of dating. With an attractive young cast consisting of Jang Ki-yeon, Krystal Jeong and Chae Soo-bin, Sour Licort draws on classic rom-com tropes while putting them into a modern Korean setting. Even with cultural differences, this film is accessible to a global audience. Follow a cute couple as they try to stay together while long distance and the challenges they face, including flirting co-workers. Kislo-Solodko is exactly what you need: a delicious tribute to love.

10. Veteran (2015)

Veteran follows a familiar concept: tough police detective Seo Do Cheol (Hwang Jung Min) sets out to bring to justice arrogant millionaire Jo Tae Oh (Yoo Ah In), who heads his own crime syndicate and tried to kill Hwang's friend against insurmountable odds. However, Veteran doesn't feel derivative; instead, it combines unique characters with a heady mix of action and suspense. Particularly exciting is the fight between Hwang and Cho in one of the final scenes of the film. Veteran also has a deep moral core, exploring social contradictions and abuses of power in Korean society. However, despite the serious themes, the film turned out to be truly funny, smoothly moving from comedy to drama. The cast is also excellent: Yoo Ah-in in particular is delightfully vicious as Cho, and Seo Do-chul gives a powerful performance as the relentless policeman bent on destroying him. Overall, Veteran is a very enjoyable action movie that goes especially well with a big serving of popcorn.

9. Night in Paradise (2021)

We continue our list of the top 18 Korean films on Netflix with the film Night in Paradise. If you're looking for the classic crime thriller that South Korean filmmakers are famous for, then the Netflix original Night in Paradise is a great choice. Director Park Hoon Joon stars in this dark drama as Park Tae Goo, a mafioso who refuses an offer to join the rival Bukseong gang, resulting in the murder of his entire family. In revenge, Tae-gu kills the culprits and flees to the picturesque island of Jeju. There he meets a woman named Kim Jae-young, played by Jung Yeo-bin, who suffers from an incurable disease and has only a short time to live, and the two form a bond. Unfortunately, Tae Goo's troubles follow him to the island as the Bukseong Gang is after him. South Korea has a talent for creating complex and compelling revenge stories with interesting anti-heroes. Tae Goo is a skilled assassin whose life is turned upside down because of his loyalty and the only thing he holds dear, his family, is taken from him.
In Jae Yong, Tae Goo finds a person who went through a similar situation and found himself alone, but does not want it, and they begin to build a life together. Their relationship becomes the emotional center of a gripping and brutal tale of revenge.

8. Time to Hunt (2020)

Another Netflix original film, Time to Hunt is a thriller set in a dystopian near future where poverty is even more widespread and destructive. A group of friends, desperate to get out of the city and start a better life, decide to commit one last heist to get the amount of money they need, and their target is a popular gambling establishment. After successfully pulling off a heist, they steal a large sum of money and security system hard drives, but the owners of the gambling house decide to take revenge by hiring a ruthless killer to track down the four friends and return the stolen goods to them. Directed by Yoon Sung Hyun, the film stars Choi Woo Shik, who you may recognize as the son from Parasite, Lee Je Hoon, Ahn Jae Hong, Park Jung Min, and Park Hae Soo. A Time to Hunt thriller is perfect for those who enjoy heist films or action-packed dramas.

7. Space Sweepers (2021)

Korean films cover all genres, including science fiction. The film Space Sweepers 2021 takes place in 2092, after the Earth became practically uninhabitable, and everyone who could flew off to live in space. A large corporation called UTS has begun construction of an orbital structure that will transport selected citizens to live in a constructed utopia. But those who don't have wealth or privilege are out of luck, and that includes many who work as "space scavengers," meaning they collect trash in the space around Earth and sell it to survive. Space Sweepers follows a tight-knit team of these workers who are forced to confront UTS when they find a stowaway girl, Dorothy (Park Ye-rin), who is badly needed by the corporation. UTS claims that she is actually a robot weapon, but the team can't help but fall in love with the girl, so they continue to argue whether to sell her for wealth or protect her from UTS. Song Joong Ki played the role of Kim Tae Ho, a former soldier who now works with Captain Zhang, played by Kim Tae Ri from The Handmaiden, on her ship, along with Jin Sun Kyu as Tiger Park and their robot friend Bubs, voiced by Yoo Hae Jin. The film also stars Richard Armitage as the greedy and controlling UTS CEO James Sullivan.

6. Music album (2019)

It stars Jung Hae In as Hyun Woo and Kim Go Eun, who some may know from the popular Korean drama Immortal - Romance Conjuring, as Mi Soo. The music album is a sweet love story that spans the years, following lovers Hyun Woo and Mi Soo through the many ups and downs of their relationship. Having first met in 1994 at the bakery where Mi Soo works, they become close, but strange situations constantly keep them apart. Whether it's a lost email password, a broken phone, or even jail time, they can't find a break. Despite this, Mi Soo and Hyun Woo continue to search for each other over the years, determined to be there for the other person no matter what life's obstacles come their way. If you want soulful and subtle romance, then the Music Album is the perfect choice.

5. Okja (2017)

Even though most of the film has been translated into English, it is still a South Korean film. Directed by Bong Joon Ho and co-written by Jon Ronson, Okja is about a girl named Miya (Ahn Seo Hyun) who is on a mission to save a “super pig” she raised named Okja. The animal is part of a large meat industry experiment conducted by a power-hungry American company, the ultimate goal of which is the consumption of Okja. It's definitely a commentary on capitalism in America, as well as the cruelty to animals in the food industry, most notably pigs. The film stars Bong's longtime collaborator Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Byun Hee Bong, Jake Gyllenhaal, Steven Yeun, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito and others. The film marks Bong's second English-language film after 2013's Bigfoot, and while he will certainly continue to work on Korean films like the Oscar-winning Parasite, Okja symbolizes his growing presence in Hollywood and the American film industry. . Okja's story is heartbreaking, funny and beautiful, and it definitely makes us think about the food we consume and how it gets from the farm to our stomachs. After watching Okja, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Gyllenhaal, Dano and Yeun team up with Bong again in the future.

4. Bros (2017)

Bros is the hilarious adventure of two very different, estranged brothers who are forced to work together after their father's death while navigating all the traditional Korean funeral traditions. The film was directed by Jang Yoo-jung and stars Ma Dong-seok, who Marvel fans will see as Gilgamesh in The Eternals, Lee Seok-bong and Lee Dong-hwi as Lee Joo-bong, two brothers. Seok-bong is the older, more immature brother, a history teacher whose only big dream is to find the secret treasure on the family plot, and Joo-bong is the meticulous, ambitious younger brother who tries to use the funeral to convince his family to sell the land. The brothers are not Having seen and not spoken to each other since their mother's funeral, they have a lot to resolve, and to make matters worse, on the way to their father's funeral, the brothers hit a woman named Oh Ro-ra, played by Lee Hani, causing her amnesia. The drama Bros is about how brothers rebuild their relationship amidst this crazy situation. It's very funny, and after their whole story is revealed, you can't help but root for these ne'er-do-well brothers and the woman who brings them back to each other.

3. Telekinesis (2017)

The film Telekinesis is one of the first Korean superhero films, written and directed by Yeon Sang-ho, director of the 2016 hit zombie film Train to Busan. Ryu Seung-ryong played the role of Shin Seok-heon, a down-on-his-luck security guard who doesn't seem like the type to become a hero. But after a strange meteorite gives him the ability to telekinesis, Seok Heon tries to turn his life around and help his daughter Shin Ru-mi, played by Shim Eun-kyung, save her business from a mafia-controlled construction company that is trying to drive her out. Telekinesis has plenty of action and comedy as Seok-Hon tries to become a hero for the town and a better father to Ru-mi. The 2018 film is an underrated and highly entertaining alternate superhero story, and is definitely one of Netflix's hidden gems .

2. Drug Lord (2018)

Netflix's original crime drama Drug Lord stars two of Korea's best actors - Song Kang Ho, Bong Joon Ho's most frequent collaborator who starred in hits like Bigfoot and Parasite, and Bae Doona, who starred in the hit Netflix series Sense1970 " and "Kingdom". Writer and director Woo Min Ho follows the life of Lee Doo-sam, played by Song, a low-level drug dealer turned notorious drug lord. The character is based on a real-life man of the same name who built a drug empire in the 1970s, basing his operations in Busan. Bae plays a well-connected lobbyist who falls in love with Doo-sam and helps him gain power and control. Drug Lord is a tense, stylistically consistent film that really captures the setting of XNUMXs Korea without skimping on the action and drama as Doo-sam fights to maintain his position in power. If you're looking for something interesting and exciting, Drug Lord is what you need to watch.

1. Live (2020)

We close our list of the top 18 Korean films on Netflix with the film Alive. While zombie movies and TV shows are increasing every year, several recent Korean hits prove that there are still plenty of interesting and innovative stories in the genre. In Alive, directed by Cho Il-hyun, Yoo Ah In (from Burning) plays Oh Joon-woo, a video game streamer who finds himself stuck in his apartment after a zombie apocalypse begins in Seoul. As he slowly dies from hunger, thirst and depression, Joon Woo meets another survivor, Kim Yoo Bin (Park Shin Hye), who lives in the house across the street. They come together and try to keep hope alive while doing everything they can to survive. Released in 2020, #Alive accurately encapsulates the fear and depression of isolation that many have undoubtedly felt or are experiencing due to the coronavirus, presenting the stark human story of Joon Woo and Yoo Bin in very inhuman conditions. But don't worry if you're still looking A trademark of zombie films, Alive is still full of creepy, dangerous zombies, and two survivors do everything they can to fight them off and stay alive.

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