The South Korean wave is echoing in every corner of the world—be it movies, series, songs, food, or culture. The global audience has recognized the brilliance of the stories that emerge from the Korean entertainment industry.
From romance to thrillers, if you are not sure where to start with their films, then here is your cheat sheet, all available on Netflix.
10. Wonderland
‘Wonderland’ has everything one could ever ask for in a gripping film. It has a sci-fi edge, a great cast, and emotional heft. The story introduces us to a world where AI is extremely advanced and provides a crucial, but maybe dubious, service to mankind. It connects humans with their lost loved ones. But is it right to reach out to a semblance of those who are long gone by using technology? Well, that’s where the movie hooks us.
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9. My Name Is Loh Kiwan
‘My Name is Loh Kiwan’ is a romantic movie that revolves around the story of a defector and a former athlete. The story unfolds in Belgium, where Lo Kiwan and Marie Lee’s meet-cute sets the precedent for their warm encounters over and over again. The chemistry between Song Jong Ki and Choi Sung Eun absolutely crackles. And, this movie is totally worth your time!
8. Ballerina
This action thriller focuses on Ok Ju and her sweet revenge. She is a former bodyguard who grieves the loss of her best friend, whom she loved dearly. Of course, when you lose someone close to your heart, your entire world turns upside down. For Ok Ju, it’s her friend’s last wish that becomes her driving force in life. And the vengeance, that’s served cold and crazy.
7. Unlocked
Another crime-thriller movie that will crawl beneath your skin. ‘Unlocked’ is a story about a young, beautiful woman whose life upends when a dangerous man gets hold of her lost cell phone. The premise is mainly about stalking, but the execution is hellishly interesting and unsettling.
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6. #Alive
Are you someone who enjoys the zombie apocalypse genre? Did ‘All of Us Are Dead’ and ‘Kingdom’ enthrall you? Then this movie is for you. Built on a similar concept to the popular Korean thriller ‘Train to Busan,’ this movie follows Joon Woo’s solitary stay in his apartment. All he does is play games day and night. But his life takes an unexpected turn when the entire city is ravaged by a deadly virus that turns humans into zombies. Survival becomes the theme soon enough.
5. Lost In Starlight
‘Lost in Starlight’ is an animated Korean movie with such a huge dollop of fuzzy romance that it’ll certainly melt your heart. It depicts the story of an astronaut and how beautifully love can best the cosmos and stars to bring two people together despite all the odds.
4. 20th Century Girl
Talking about Korean movies and not adding ‘20th Century Girl‘ to the list would be a sin. The coming-of-age drama has made many fans bawl their eyes out. We meet a young and carefree school student, Na Bo Ra, and her best friend, Kim Yeon Du. The film soul-piercingly enfolds these two in the throes of first love, but a misunderstanding leads them to fall for the same guy. Yes, tears and heartbreak abound.
3. Forgotten
‘Forgotten’ is a mystery thriller with great actors, including Kang Ha-neul and Kim Mu-yeol, riding out an epic plotline. When Jin Seok’s brother finally returns home after being kidnapped, the normalcy on the surface begins to give way to something sinister underneath. The man has no memory of the past days. So, Jin Seok chases after the truth, but learning it might just break him.
2. Tune In For Love
‘Tune in For Love’ is one of the most popular romantic Korean movies starring Jung Hae-in and Kim Go-eun. The love story takes place between the hardworking Mi Soo and the dreamy, optimistic boy, Hyun Woo. The movie is wholesome and full of life lessons. While the duo’s bond is strong, they find out that no relationship can work out if the timing isn’t right, no matter how hard you try to manifest your happily-ever-after.
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1. The Call
‘The Call’ should be identified as a masterpiece. It is a suspense, thriller, horror, and sci-fi movie starring Park Shin Hye and Jeon Jong Seo. The plot follows a serial killer who gets connected to a woman living in the same home, but their timeline gap is 20 years. What’s the motive to torment this innocent soul? The murderer wants to change her own fate. You definitely wouldn’t see the twists coming in this film.
