The 18 Best Korean Movies on Netflix Right Now (2024)

It seems safe to say that South Korea is quickly taking over the entertainment industry. With the rise of K-pop, K-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, and Parasite, to name a few, Korea has proven itself a force to be reckoned with when it comes to movies. The country keeps churning out hits, and while Korean creators clearly have a knack for specific genres like psychological thrillers and zombie films, there are many fantastic Korean movies of all genres. So if you are looking for a film to watch while browsing Netflix, check out these great Korean movies that the streaming platform has on offer.

For more recommendations, check out our list of the best K-dramas, shows, and movies on Netflix.

Disclaimer: These titles are available on US Netflix.

'Love and Leashes' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 89% | IMDb: 6.3/10

Love and Leashes

Romantic Comedy

Release Date

February 11, 2022

Cast

Seohyun , Lee Jun-young

Runtime

1 hr 58 min

When you think rom-com, BDSM isn’t exactly what springs to mind. And yet this is the topic explored in Park Hyun-jin’s Love and Leashes. This 2022 romantic comedy tells the story of Ji-woo (Seohyun), who becomes inducted into the world of BDSM by her colleague Ji-hoo (Lee Jun-young). The film has been praised as having a refreshing and accurate representation of kink and is surprisingly sweet and wholesome. It makes an effort to erase the stigma behind BDSM on top of being genuinely informative. Besides the effort it makes to be accurate and respectful, Love and Leashes also differentiates itself from films such as 50 Shades of Gray by having Ji-woo be the dominant one in her and Ji-hoo’s contractual relationship. Additionally, Lee and Seohyun have a palpable chemistry that makes it difficult not to root for them and their relationship. Looking for a feel-good office romance with a bit of a twist? Love and Leashes is sure to satisfy. – Olenka Wellisz

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'Unlocked' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 67% | IMDb: 6.4/10

Unlocked (2023)

Psychological

Thriller

Release Date

February 17, 2023

Cast

Kim Hee-won

Runtime

1 hr 57 min

In a society where smartphones and social media dominate our everyday lives, Unlocked acts as an urgent call to action. After dropping her smartphone on the bus, Woo-hee Chun’s Lee-Na Mi is manipulated by the sinister Oh Jun-Yeong (Si-wan Yim), whose installation of spyware on her phone acts as the devastating catalyst to the unraveling of her life. Tae-joon Kim’s fast-paced narrative hurtles towards an expected conclusion before finally pulling the rug from underneath the audience’s feet and revealing a shocking twist. Based on Akira Teshigawara’s Japanese novel of the same name, Unlocked is a thrilling ‘predator versus prey’ style story that will leave viewers both thoroughly entertained and certainly self-aware following the rolling of its credits.

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'Jung_E' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 67% | IMDb: 6.4/10

Jung_E

Sci-Fi

Action

Adventure

Drama

Release Date

January 20, 2023

Director

Sang-ho Yeon

Cast

Kang Soo-youn , Kim Hyun-joo , Ryu Kyung-soo , So-yi Park

Runtime

98 minutes

From brilliant writer and visionary director Yeon Sang-ho, Jung_E is a bold science-fiction drama with a thought-provoking premise that is as fascinating as it is moving. Serving as her final movie role before her death, Jung_E stars Kang Soo-yeon who, alongside co-stars Kim Hyun-joo and Ryu Kyung-soo, presents unsettling questions of morality within technology, greed, and how these impact the planet. Highlighted by both the acting and action, as well as the beautiful technical design, Jung_E delicately tackles an approachable story about grief and perseverance through a sci-fi narrative heavily focused on artificial intelligence. – Yael Tygiel

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'Kill Boksoon' (2023)

Rotten Tomatoes: 79% | IMDb: 6.6/10

Kill Boksoon

Thriller

Action

See Also

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Release Date

March 31, 2023

Director

Sung-hyun Byun

Cast

Jeon Do-yeon , Esom , Koo Kyo-hwan , Hwang Jung-min

Runtime

137 minutes

Kill Boksoon is a South Korean action film about a secret organization of assassins that would feel quite at home in the John Wick universe. Jeon Do-yeon (The Housemaid) punches, kicks, and stabs her way through the lead role as the titular character, Gil Bok-soon, a.k.a. Kill Boksoon. She’s a crack assassin who’s never missed a target, but as a single mother, she finds herself looking over her shoulder more and more afraid she’ll lose the one thing that she loves above all else. Unfortunately, that fear comes to fruition as the organization she works for turns on her, and she has to kill or be killed. Kill Boksoon has some of the best fight choreography, camera work, and stylized action in the game and is a fantastic watch with a lot of heart.

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'Lucid Dream' (2017)

IMDb: 6.1/10

Lucid Dream

Sci-Fi

Mystery

Thriller

Release Date

February 22, 2017

Cast

Go Soo , Sol Kyung-gu , Kang Hye-jung

Runtime

1 hr 41 min

Written and directed by Joon-Sung Kim in his acclaimed directorial debut and starring Go Soo (Money Game) as a successful investigative journalist searching for his abducted son, Lucid Dream is a heartbreaking sci-fi drama with themes of personal strength and the love of a father. Praised for the incredible acting and creative foundation of the film, Lucid Dream is a rich mystery that plays with Inception-type concepts. Although featuring interesting cinematic techniques and stylish dream effects, Lucid Dream relies on mystery and narrative to draw in the audience. – Yael Tygiel

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'20th Century Girl' (2022)

Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | IMDb: 7.3/10

20th Century Girl

Romance

Drama

Coming-of-Age

In 1999, a teen with a heart of gold begins keeping close tabs on a popular classmate as a favor to her smitten best friend.

Release Date

October 21, 2022

Cast

Kim Yoo-jung , Park Jung-woo , Roh Yoon-seo

Runtime

1 hr 59 min

20th Century Girl is a charming, beautifully shot film written and directed by Woo-ri Bang. Taking place before the new millennium in 1999, 20th Century Girl follows a sweet and kind teenager, Na Bo-Ra (Kim Yoo-jeong), who has a whimsical imagination. When her best friend asks her to keep an eye on a popular boy in her class, Na Bo-Ra finds herself swept away by an unexpected romance. By emphasizing the use of outdated technology from the late 1990s, 20th Century Girl plays with modern tropes through a nostalgic lens, allowing audiences to reminisce about simpler times, both in terms of society and reliving that first crush. – Yael Tygiel

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'High Society' (2018)

IMDb: 5.6/10

High Society

Drama

Release Date

August 29, 2018

Cast

Park Hae-il

Runtime

1 hr 59 min

High Society revolves around Jang Tae-joon (Park Hae-il) and Oh Soo-yeon (Soo Ae), a husband and wife who will do anything to enter society’s elite. A beloved professor of economics, Jae becomes a hero after saving the life of a burning man on TV. To capitalize on his popularity, he decides to go into politics. His wife Oh is based in the art world and does everything in her power to take the place of her female manager – including entering an affair with a high-powered photographer. Tense and glamorous, High Society is sure to please fans of shows like Succession and Elite. – Taylor Gates

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'Sweet & Sour' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 20% | IMDb: 6.6/10

Sweet & Sour

Romantic Comedy

Release Date

June 4, 2021

Director

Lee Gye-byeok

Cast

Jang Ki-yong , Chae Soo-bin , Krystal Jung

Runtime

1 hr 41 min

Sweet & Sour is an adorable Korean rom-com exploring the universal struggles and celebrations of dating. With an attractive young cast consisting of Jang Ki-Yong, Krystal Jung, and Chae Soo-bin, Sweet & Sour draws on the classic romantic comedy tropes while implementing them into a modern Korean setting. Even with cultural differences, this film is approachable to a global audience. Follow this cute couple on their journey attempting to stay together through a long-distance relationship and the challenges they face, including flirtatious co-workers. Sweet & Sour is exactly that: a delightful tribute to love. – Yael Tygiel

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'Veteran' (2015)

Rotten Tomatoes: 90% | IMDb: 7.0/10

Veteran

Action

Comedy

Release Date

August 15, 2015

Director

Ryoo Seung-wan

Cast

Hwang Jung-min , Yoo Ah-in , Oh Dal-su

Runtime

2 hr 3 min

The setup of Veteran is a familiar concept: tough police detective Seo Do-cheol (Hwang Jung-min) is determined to bring arrogant millionaire Jo Tae-oh (Yoo Ah-in), who runs his own crime syndicate and tried to murder Hwang’s friend, to justice despite overwhelming odds. However, Veteran doesn’t feel derivative, instead, it mixes its own unique characters with a heady mixture of action and suspense. A bare-knuckled face-off between Hwang and Jo in one of the final scenes of the film is especially exciting. Veteran also has a deeply moral core, exploring social divisions and abuses of power within Korean society. Despite the serious topics the film deals with, however, it’s also genuinely funny, seamlessly switching between comedy and drama. The cast too is excellent: Yoo Ah-in in particular is deliciously evil as Jo, and Seo Do-cheol provides a powerful performance as the unrelenting policeman intent on taking him down. Overall, Veteran is a thoroughly enjoyable action flick that will pair especially well with a large bowl of popcorn. – Olenka Wellisz

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'Night in Paradise' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 70% | IMDb: 6.8/10

Night in Paradise

Noir

Crime

Release Date

April 9, 2021

Director

Park Hoon-jung

Cast

Uhm Tae-goo , Jeon Yeo-been , Cha Seung-won

Runtime

2 hr 11 min

If you are looking for a classic crime thriller, the likes of which South Korean filmmakers are known for, then the Netflix Original movie Night in Paradise is a great choice. Directed by Park Hoon-jung, the dark drama stars Uhm Tae-goo as Park Tae-goo, a mobster who denies an offer to join the rival Bukseong gang, resulting in the murder of his entire family. Tae-goo then retaliates by killing the men responsible before fleeing to the picturesque Jeju Island. There he meets a woman named Kim Jae-yeon, played by Jeon Yeo-been, who suffers from a terminal illness and has little time left to live, and the two form a connection. Unfortunately, Tae-goo’s troubles follow him to the island as the Bukseong gang hunts him down. South Korea has a talent for creating complex and exciting revenge stories with fascinating antiheroes. Tae-goo is a skilled assassin whose life gets turned upside down by his loyalty, and the one thing he cares about — his family — is taken away from him. In Jae-yeon, Tae-goo finds someone who has gone through a similar situation and ends up alone, but doesn’t want to be, and so they begin to form a life together. Their relationship becomes the emotional centerpiece of an action-packed, violent story of vengeance.

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'Time to Hunt' (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes: 65% | IMDb: 6.3/10

Time to Hunt

Action

Thriller

Release Date

April 23, 2020

Cast

Choi Woo-shik , Park Hae-soo

Runtime

2 hr 14 min

Another Netflix Original, Time to Hunt is a thriller set in a dystopian near-future in which 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 together to get the cash they need, with a popular gambling house their target. While they successfully pull off the heist, stealing a large sum of money and the security hard drives, the owners of the gambling house decide to retaliate, hiring a ruthless assassin to hunt down the four friends and get back what they stole. Directed by Yoon Sung-hyun, the movie stars Choi Woo-shik, who you might recognize as the son from Parasite, Lee Je-hoon, Ahn Jae-hong, Park Jung-min, and Park Hae-soo. The thriller Time to Hunt is perfect for people who like heist films or action-filled dramas, and the movie is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat as the four friends fight for their lives.

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'Space Sweepers' (2021)

Rotten Tomatoes: 70% | IMDb: 6.5/10

Space Sweepers

Sci-Fi

Action

Adventure

Drama

Set in the year 2092 and follows the crew of a space junk collector ship called The Victory. When they discover a humanoid robot named Dorothy that's known to be a weapon of mass destruction, they get involved in a risky business deal.

Release Date

February 5, 2021

Director

Sung-hee Jo

Cast

Song Joong-ki , Kim Tae-ri , Richard Armitage , Mu-Yeol Kim

Runtime

136 minutes

Korean movies cover all genres, including sci-fi. This 2021 film, Space Sweepers, is set in the year 2092, after Earth has become nearly unlivable, when everyone who is able to has gone out to space to live. A big corporation called UTS has started building an orbiting structure that would bring selected citizens to live in the constructed utopia. But those without riches or privilege are pretty much out of luck, and that includes the many who work as “space sweepers,” or people who collect debris from the space around Earth to sell in order to survive. Space Sweepers focuses on a close-knit crew of these workers who must face off against UTS when they find a stowaway little girl known as Dorothy (Park Ye-rin) who is highly desired by the corporation. UTS claims that she is actually a robot weapon, but the crew can’t help but fall in love with the girl, so they continue to debate whether they should sell her for riches or protect her from UTS. The film stars Song Joong-ki as Kim Tae-ho, a former soldier who now works with Captain Jang, played by Kim Tae-ri of The Handmaiden, on her ship, alongside Jin Seon-kyu as Tiger Park and their robot friend Bubs, voiced by Yoo Hae-jin. Also in the film is Richard Armitage, who plays the greedy, controlling CEO of UTS, James Sullivan.

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'Tune in for Love' (2019)

IMDb: 7.1/10

Tune in for Love

Romance

Drama

Release Date

August 28, 2019

Cast

Kim Go-eun , Jung Hae-in

Runtime

2 hr 2 min

Starring Jung Hae-in as Hyun-woo and Kim Go-eun, who some might know from the popular Korean drama Guardian: The Lonely and Great God, as Mi-soo, Tune in for Love is a sweet love story that takes place over years, following star-crossed lovers Hyun-woo and Mi-soo through the many ups and downs of their relationship. First meeting at a bakery where Mi-soo works in 1994, the two grow close, but strange situations seem to always drag them apart. Whether it’s a lost email password, a broken phone, or even jail time, the two can’t seem to catch a break. Despite that, Mi-soo and Hyun-woo continue to search for one another over the years, determined to be with the other person no matter what obstacles of life stand in the way. If you are in the mood for a heartfelt, subtle romance, Tune in for Love is the perfect choice.

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'Okja' (2017)

Rotten Tomatoes: 86% | IMDb: 7.3/10

Okja

Adventure

Drama

Fantasy

Sci-Fi

Release Date

June 28, 2017

Director

Bong Joon-ho

Cast

Tilda Swinton , Sheena Kamal , Michael Mitton , Colm Hill , Kathryn Kirkpatrick , Jose Carias

Runtime

120 minutes

While a majority of this film is in English, it is still very much a South Korean film. Directed by Bong Joon Ho and co-written by him and Jon Ronson, Okja is the story of a young girl named Mija (Ahn Seo-hyun) who makes it her mission to rescue the “super pig” she raised, named “Okja.” The animal is part of a major experiment for the meat industry, led by a power-hungry American company, with the end goal being Okja’s consumption. It’s definitely a commentary on capitalism in America, along with the brutal treatment of animals in the food industry, most notably pigs. The film is star-studded, featuring longtime Bong collaborator Tilda Swinton, along with Paul Dano, Byun Hee-bong, Jake Gyllenhaal, Steven Yeun, Lily Collins, Giancarlo Esposito, and more. The movie is Bong’s second English-language film after 2013’s Snowpiercer, and although he will definitely continue to focus on Korean films like the Oscar-winning Parasite, Okja represents his increasing presence in Hollywood and the American film industry. The story of Okja is heart-wrenching, funny, and beautiful, and it definitely forces you to think about what sort of food we consume and how it gets from the farm to the stomach. After seeing Okja, I’m keeping my fingers crossed that Gyllenhaal, Dano, and Yeun all team up with Bong again in the future.

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'The Bros' (2017)

IMDb: 6.1/10

The Bros

Comedy

Drama

Release Date

November 2, 2017

Cast

Ma Dong-seok

Runtime

1 hr 42 min

The Bros is a hilarious misadventure of two very different, estranged brothers who are forced to work together after their father dies as they go through all of the traditions of a Korean funeral. The film is directed by Chang You-jeong and stars Ma Dong-seok, who Marvel fans will see as Gilgamesh in Eternals, as Lee Seok-bong and Lee Dong-hwi as Lee Joo-bong, the two brothers in question. Seok-bong is the older, more immature brother, a history teacher whose one big dream is to discover secret treasure on the family’s land, while Joo-bong is the meticulous, ambitious younger brother who attempts to use the funeral to convince his family to sell the land. The two haven’t seen or talked to one another since their mother’s funeral, so there’s a lot to work through, and to make matters worse, the brothers hit a woman named Oh Ro-ra, played by Lee Hanee, on the way to their father’s funeral, causing her amnesia. The Bros is a dramedy that focuses on the brothers as they rebuild their relationship amidst this crazy situation. It’s extremely funny, and after their whole story is revealed, you can’t help but root for these meddlesome siblings and the woman who brings them back together.

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'Psychokinesis' (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 80% | IMDb: 5.9/10

Psychokinesis

Superhero

Release Date

January 31, 2018

Director

Yeon Sang-ho

Cast

Ryu Seung-ryong , Shim Eun-kyung , Park Jeong-min , Jung Yu-mi

Runtime

1 hr 41 min

Written and directed by Yeon Sang-ho, who also directed the 2016 hit zombie film Train to Busan, Psychokinesis is one of Korea’s first superhero movies. The film stars Ryu Seung-ryong as Shin Seok-heon, a down-on-his-luck security guard who isn’t exactly the type of person who you’d think would become a hero. But after a strange meteor grants him the power of telekinesis, Seok-heon attempts to turn his life around and help his estranged daughter Shin Roo-mi, played by Shim Eun-kyung, save her business from a mob-controlled construction company trying to kick her out. Psychokinesis is filled with plenty of action and comedy as Seok-heon bumbles his way through both becoming a hero for the city and a better father for Roo-mi. The 2018 movie is an underrated and thoroughly entertaining alternative superhero story, and it’s certainly one of Netflix’s current hidden gems.

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'The Drug King' (2018)

Rotten Tomatoes: 71% | IMDb: 6.2/10

The Drug King

Crime

Drama

Release Date

December 19, 2018

Cast

Song Kang-ho , Bae Doona

Runtime

2 hr 19 min

The Netflix Original crime drama The Drug King stars two of Korea’s best actors, Song Kang-ho, Bong Joon Ho’s most frequent collaborator who appears in hits like Snowpiercer and Parasite, and Bae Doona, who starred in Netflix hit shows Sense8 and Kingdom. Written and directed by Woo Min-ho, the film depicts the life of Lee Doo-sam, played by Song, a low-level drug dealer who rises up to become an infamous drug kingpin. The character is based on a real man of the same name who built a drug empire in the 1970s, basing his operations in Busan. Bae plays a lobbyist with influential social connections who falls in love with Doo-sam and helps him gain power and control. The Drug King is an intense, stylistic movie, really embracing the 1970s setting in Korea, while never falling short on action and drama as Doo-sam fights to maintain his position of power. If you’re looking for something exciting and gritty, The Drug King is the movie to watch.

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'#Alive' (2020)

Rotten Tomatoes: 88% | IMDb: 6.3/10

#Alive

Horror

Action

Drama

Release Date

September 8, 2020

Director

Il Cho

Cast

Yoo Ah-in , Park Shin-Hye , Jeon Bae-soo , Hyun-Wook Lee

Runtime

98 minutes

While more zombie movies and TV shows come out every year, some recent Korean hits prove that there are still plenty of entertaining and innovative stories to tell in this genre. In #Alive, directed by Cho Il-hyung, Yoo Ah-in (from the film Burning) plays Oh Joon-woo, a video game streamer who becomes stranded in his apartment after a zombie apocalypse breaks out in Seoul. As he slowly succumbs to hunger, thirst, and depression, Joon-woo connects with another survivor, Kim Yoo-bin (Park Shin-hye), who lives in the apartment building across from his. The two gather together and try to hold on to hope as they do what they can to survive. Released in 2020, #Alive accurately embodies the fear and depression of isolation that many certainly felt or are feeling due to the coronavirus, presenting a starkly human story of Joon-woo and Yoo-bin within a very inhuman premise. But don’t worry, if you are still looking for the trademarks of zombie films, there’s still plenty of creepy, dangerous zombies running rampant through #Alive, with the two survivors doing their best to fend them off and stay alive.

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