Korean cinema has given us movies unlike anything in the mainstream scene. While some have become instant classics, many others have never received the same level of attention. They deserve it just as much.
From rewatchable favorites among die-hard K-movie fans to absolute hidden gems, these are 10 Korean movies that deserve far more attention.
10. Midnight (2021)
A psychological thriller like no other, ‘Midnight’ is the kind of movie that won’t let you leave until you finish it. The film follows Kyeong-mi, a deaf woman who becomes the target of a psychopathic serial killer after she accidentally witnessed his crime. What follows is a life-threatening game of hide-and-seek through the streets of South Korea as Kyeong-mi gets relentlessly hunted down all through the night.
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9. Swing Kids (2018)
Based on the Korean musical, ‘Swing Kids’ takes place in a prison camp during the Korean War of 1951, where a rebellious soldier, Ro Ki-soo, falls in love with tap dancing. When Sergeant Jackson is tasked with forming a dance company, along comes a group of unlikely people to form the Swing Kids. Each of them carries their own dreams, and together they discover freedom, friendship, and hope through the power of dance.
8. Be With You (2018)
A romantic fantasy about a love that refuses to disappear, ‘Be With You’ is heartwarming and soul-crushing at the same time. It follows Woo-jin, whose wife Soo-ah once made an unbelievable promise to return to him after her death on a rainy day. One year after her death, during the summer monsoon, Woo-jin meets her again. She looks the same, except she has no memory of their past and together they decide to rediscover their love and history.
7. Midnight Runners (2017)
A movie packed with action and comedy, ‘Midnight Runners’ follows two friends who are police academy cadets at the Korean National Police University. When they witness a kidnapping on their way home, they decide to use their very recently learned training to investigate the case. Soon, they find themselves racing against time, and everything they have just learned is put to the test.
6. A Werewolf Boy (2012)
A classic in the Korean movie scene, ‘A Werewolf Boy’ is a fantasy romance and tells the story of Kim Sun-yi. When she was young, she moved to a rural village and encountered a strange “wolf boy” with wild eyes and feral behaviour. Sun-yi decides to teach him to properly eat, wear clothes, read and write so that he can live like a human being.
5. My Sassy Girl (2001)
Based on a series of true stories posted on an internet forum, ‘My Sassy Girl’ tells the story of Gyun Woo, a college student who is always more interested in drinking and picking up girls than responsibility. But his life changes when he meets a drunken girl on the subway, and everyone assumes she is his girlfriend. Soon he finds her changing his life and is unable to forget this unnamed sassy girl.
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4. Sunny (2011)
This 2011 film, which is surprisingly ahead of its time, celebrates female friendships and coming-of-age in the most unique and heartwarming way possible. It tells the story of a middle-aged woman who tries to fulfill her dying friend’s wish to reunite their scattered high-school clique. The movie moves back and forth between two different timelines: the present and their high school days in the ’80s.
3. Tune In For Love (2019)
This heartbreakingly beautiful movie tells the story of Mi-soo and Hyun-woo, two lovers trying to find their way back to each other through years of difficulties. Back in 1994, college student Mi-soo met Hyun-woo for the first time, and they instantly found a connection, but circumstances and unfortunate timing always find a way to pull them apart. Over the years, their chance encounters continue, but they fail to align their paths and feelings.
2. Love In The Big City (2024)
This recent hit tells the story of a love that tops any romantic relationship. With her sharp tongue and daring attitude, Jae-hee is a girl who always finds herself an outcast and a victim of rumors. Whereas the introverted Heung-soo is set on keeping his gay identity secret for life. They realise they create the perfect alliance together to navigate the highs and lows of modern life in Seoul city.
1. Little Forest (2018)
A soup for the soul of a movie, ‘Little Forest’ tells the story of Hye-won, a young woman who fails to pass the national qualification exam to become a teacher. Disappointed with her life in the city, she decides to return to the village where she grew up with her single mother. There, she reconnects with nature and remembers her mother, who taught her that good food can heal almost any wound.
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