Best Korean Movies
by munnah2013 | created - 22 Dec 2016 | updated - 22 Dec 2016 | Public- Instant Watch Options
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1. Oldboy (2003)
R | 120 min | Action, Drama, Mystery
After being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must track down his captor in five days.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Kim Byeong-Ok
Votes: 636,250 | Gross: $0.71M
2. The Chaser (2008)
Not Rated | 125 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A disgraced ex-policeman who runs a small ring of prostitutes finds himself in a race against time when one of his women goes missing.
Director: Na Hong-jin | Stars: Kim Yoon-seok, Ha Jung-woo, Seo Yeong-hie, Kim Yoo-jung
Votes: 72,804
3. Memories of Murder (2003)
Not Rated | 132 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
In a small Korean province in 1986, two detectives struggle with the case of multiple young women being found raped and murdered by an unknown culprit.
Director: Bong Joon Ho | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Roe-ha, Song Jae-ho
Votes: 216,631 | Gross: $0.01M
4. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
R | 129 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A recently laid off factory worker kidnaps his former boss' friend's daughter, hoping to use the ransom money to pay for his sister's kidney transplant.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Shin Ha-kyun, Bae Doona, Lim Ji-eun
Votes: 75,168 | Gross: $0.05M
5. Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004)
R | 140 min | Action, Drama, War
When two brothers are forced to fight in the Korean War, the elder decides to take the riskiest missions if it will help shield the younger from battle.
Director: Kang Je-kyu | Stars: Jang Dong-Gun, Won Bin, Eun-ju Lee, Kong Hyeong-jin
Votes: 41,080 | Gross: $1.11M
6. A Bittersweet Life (2005)
Not Rated | 119 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Things go wrong for a high ranking mobster when he doesn't follow his boss's orders.
Directors: Jung Doo Hong, Jee-woon Kim | Stars: Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-a, Kim Yeong-cheol, Hwang Jung-min
Votes: 42,929
7. Mother (2009)
R | 129 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A mother desperately searches for the killer who framed her son for a girl's horrific murder.
Director: Bong Joon Ho | Stars: Kim Hye-ja, Won Bin, Jin Goo, Yun Je-mun
Votes: 71,678 | Gross: $0.55M
8. I Saw the Devil (2010)
Not Rated | 144 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A secret agent exacts revenge on a serial killer through a series of captures and releases.
Director: Jee-woon Kim | Stars: Lee Byung-hun, Choi Min-sik, Jeon Gook-hwan, Chun Ho-jin
Votes: 146,315 | Gross: $0.13M
9. Joint Security Area (2000)
Not Rated | 110 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
After a shooting incident at the North-South Korean border DMZ leaves two North Korean soldiers dead, a neutral Swiss and Swedish team investigates what actually happened.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Lee Yeong-ae, Lee Byung-hun, Song Kang-ho, Kim Tae-woo
Votes: 34,224
10. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
R | 114 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
After being institutionalized in a mental hospital, Su-mi reunites with her sister, Su-yeon, and they return to live at their country home. But strange events plague the house, leading to surprising revelations and a shocking conclusion.
Director: Jee-woon Kim | Stars: Lim Soo-jung, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Kap-su, Moon Geun-young
Votes: 68,295
11. Thirst (2009)
R | 134 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Through a failed medical experiment, a priest is stricken with vampirism and is forced to abandon his ascetic ways.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Kim Ok-bin, Choi Hee-jin, Seo Dong-soo
Votes: 51,424 | Gross: $0.30M
12. The Man from Nowhere (2010)
R | 119 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A quiet pawnshop keeper with a violent past takes on a drug-and-organ trafficking ring in hope of saving the child who is his only friend.
Director: Lee Jeong-beom | Stars: Won Bin, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Tae-hoon, Kim Hee-won
Votes: 74,876 | Gross: $0.01M
13. My Sassy Girl (2001)
Not Rated | 137 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A young man sees a drunk, cute woman standing too close to the tracks at a metro station in Seoul and pulls her back. She ends up getting him into trouble repeatedly after that, starting on the train.
Director: Jae-young Kwak | Stars: Cha Tae-hyun, Jun Ji-hyun, In-mun Kim, Song Wok-suk
Votes: 50,505
14. A Moment to Remember (2004)
PG-13 | 117 min | Drama, Romance
A young couple's enduring love is tested when 27-year-old Su-jin is diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease.
Directors: Park Kyung-Jin, John H. Lee, Kim Tae-Won | Stars: Jung Woo-sung, Son Ye-jin, Jong-hak Baek, Lee Seon-jin
Votes: 25,576
15. Failan (2001)
Not Rated | 115 min | Drama, Romance
A marriage of convenience between a petty gangster and an illegal immigrant he has never met has unforeseen consequences for them both.
Director: Hae-sung Song | Stars: Choi Min-sik, Cecilia Cheung, Son Byung-ho, Kong Hyeong-jin
Votes: 6,225
16. Lady Vengeance (2005)
R | 115 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
After being wrongfully imprisoned for thirteen years and having her child taken away from her, a woman seeks revenge through increasingly brutal means.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Nam-mi Kang, Jeong-nam Choi, Hye-Sook Go, Bok-hwa Baek
Votes: 86,144 | Gross: $0.21M
17. Poetry (2010)
TV-PG | 139 min | Drama
A sixty-something woman, faced with the discovery of a heinous family crime and in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease, finds strength and purpose when she enrolls in a poetry class.
Director: Lee Chang-dong | Stars: Yun Jeong-hie, Lee Da-wit, Kim Hee-ra, Ahn Nae-sang
Votes: 13,548 | Gross: $0.36M
18. A Brand New Life (2009)
92 min | Drama
Young Jinhee is taken by her father to an orphanage near Seoul. He leaves her there never to return, and she struggles to come to grips with her fate. Jinhee desperately believes her father will come back for her.
Directors: Lee Jong Eon, Ounie Lecomte | Stars: Kim Sae-ron, Ko Ah-sung, Sol Kyung-gu, Baek Hyun-joo
Votes: 2,534
19. Oasis (2002)
133 min | Drama, Romance
An irresponsible and childish ex-con befriends a girl with cerebral palsy and develops a progressively stronger bond with her.
Director: Lee Chang-dong | Stars: Sol Kyung-gu, Moon So-ri, Ahn Nae-sang, Ryu Seung-wan
Votes: 10,406
20. The Good the Bad the Weird (2008)
R | 130 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
The story of two outlaws and a bounty hunter in 1940s Manchuria and their rivalry to possess a treasure map while being pursued by the Japanese army and Chinese bandits.
Director: Jee-woon Kim | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Jung Woo-sung, Yun Je-mun
Votes: 37,939 | Gross: $0.13M
21. The Host (2006)
R | 120 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
A monster emerges from Seoul's Han River and begins attacking people. One victim's loving family does what it can to rescue her from its clutches.
Director: Bong Joon Ho | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-Bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doona
Votes: 132,800 | Gross: $2.20M
22. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2003)
R | 103 min | Drama, Romance
A boy is raised by a Buddhist monk in an isolated floating temple where the years pass like the seasons.
Director: Kim Ki-duk | Stars: Kim Ki-duk, Oh Yeong-su, Jong-ho Kim, Kim Young-min
Votes: 86,837 | Gross: $2.38M
23. I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK (2006)
Not Rated | 107 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A girl who thinks she is a combat cyborg checks into a mental hospital, where she encounters other psychotics. Eventually, she falls for a man who thinks he can steal people's souls.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Lim Soo-jung, Rain, Park Byeong-eun, Kim Byeong-Ok
Votes: 25,909
24. The Quiet Family (1998)
101 min | Comedy, Crime, Horror
A family opens a mountain inn where their first guest commits suicide. Suddenly all their guests befall horrible fates.
Director: Jee-woon Kim | Stars: Park In-hwan, Na Moon-hee, Song Kang-ho, Choi Min-sik
Votes: 6,000
25. Save the Green Planet! (2003)
Not Rated | 118 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Byeong-gu believes that the world is on the verge of an alien invasion, and sets out to save the world.
Director: Joon-Hwan Jang | Stars: Shin Ha-kyun, Baek Yun-shik, Hwang Jung-min, Lee Jae-yong
Votes: 8,706 | Gross: $0.01M
26. 3-Iron (2004)
R | 88 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
A transient young man breaks into empty homes to partake of the vacationing residents' lives for a few days.
Director: Kim Ki-duk | Stars: Lee Seung-yun, Jae Hee, Hyuk-ho Kwon, Joo Jin-mo
Votes: 58,292 | Gross: $0.24M
27. Secret Sunshine (2007)
Not Rated | 142 min | Drama
A woman moves to the town where her dead husband was born. As she tries to fit in, another tragic event overturns her life.
Director: Lee Chang-dong | Stars: Jeon Do-yeon, Song Kang-ho, Lee Dong-yong, Lee Hee-joon
Votes: 9,577
28. Peppermint Candy (1999)
Not Rated | 129 min | Drama
Following a man's suicide, time traverses back to reveal six chapters of his life on why he committed suicide.
Director: Lee Chang-dong | Stars: Sol Kyung-gu, Kim Yeo-jin, Moon So-ri, Se-beom Park
Votes: 10,843
29. The King and the Clown (2005)
PG-13 | 119 min | Drama, History
Two clowns living in Korea's Chosun Dynasty get arrested for staging a play that satirizes the king. They are dragged to the palace and threatened with execution but are given a chance to save their lives if they can make the king laugh.
Director: Lee Joon-ik | Stars: Kam Woo-seong, Jung Jin-young, Kang Seong-yeon, Lee Joon-gi
Votes: 5,987
30. The Yellow Sea (2010)
R | 136 min | Action, Crime, Drama
When the attempt to kill a professor goes wrong, a series of violent events are triggered which force a taxi driver to run for his life.
Director: Na Hong-jin | Stars: Lee Yoo-mi, Ha Jung-woo, Lee Hee-joon, Kim Yoon-seok
Votes: 22,960
31. The Suspect (2013)
Not Rated | 137 min | Action, Thriller
Betrayed and on the run, a North Korean agent tries to uncover the volatile secrets hidden inside the eyeglasses of a dead man.
Director: Won Shin-yeon | Stars: Gong Yoo, Park Hee-soon, Song Boo-gun, Lee Chae-yun
Votes: 6,775 | Gross: $0.22M
I really enjoy the Bourne trilogy, and this one is just as good if not even better.
32. Snowpiercer (2013)
R | 126 min | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
In a future where a failed climate change experiment has killed all life except for the survivors who boarded the Snowpiercer (a train that travels around the globe), a new class system emerges.
Director: Bong Joon Ho | Stars: Chris Evans, Jamie Bell, Tilda Swinton, Ed Harris
Votes: 389,162 | Gross: $4.56M
The sailors of the ship are mainly American, but Bong is at the helm. Extraordinary flick!
33. The Front Line (2011)
Not Rated | 133 min | Action, Drama, History
A drama centered on the Korean War's final battle that will determine the border between north and south.
Director: Hun Jang | Stars: Shin Ha-kyun, Go Soo, Ryu Seung-su, Ko Chang-seok
Votes: 7,105 | Gross: $0.01M
Essential modern war movies are not made in the West anymore...
34. The Berlin File (2013)
PG-13 | 120 min | Action, Thriller
Jong-seong, a North Korean ghost agent, interrupts an illegal arms sale in Berlin. A notorious North Korean agent tests the loyalties of everyone involved as Jong-Seong prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice.
Director: Ryu Seung-wan | Stars: Ha Jung-woo, Han Suk-kyu, Ryu Seung-beom, Jun Ji-hyun
Votes: 7,632 | Gross: $0.67M
You can't really ask of more from a spy movie. A blast from start to finish.
35. Cold Eyes (2013)
Not Rated | 119 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A high-tech police surveillance team attempts to take down a gang of ruthless bank robbers.
Directors: Kim Byung-seo, Ui-seok Jo | Stars: Sol Kyung-gu, Jung Woo-sung, Han Hyo-joo, Lee Jun-ho
Votes: 8,438
Engaging, procedural cop movie. Very entertaining.
36. Silmido (2003)
Not Rated | 135 min | Action, Drama
Based on a true story of 1968 Korean Republic Army plan to assassinate North Korean president Kim Il-Sung. 31 criminals and death row inmates are recruited into secret training on the ... See full summary »
Director: Kang Woo-suk | Stars: Ahn Sung-ki, Sol Kyung-gu, Huh Joon-ho, Jeong Jae-yeong
Votes: 4,729
Action, drama and a lesson in history all nicely wrapped up in one package.
37. War of the Arrows (2011)
R | 122 min | Action, Adventure
A skilled Korean archer goes up against the mighty force of Manchus with the sole purpose of rescuing his kidnapped sister.
Director: Han-min Kim | Stars: Park Hae-il, Ryu Seung-ryong, Kim Mu-yeol, Moon Chae-won
Votes: 12,806 | Gross: $0.25M
Who does not love bows and arrows? Both cinematography and scenery are excellent.
38. The Client (2011)
Not Rated | 123 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Elite attorney Kang Seong-Hee goes up against a top prosecutor over a case involving a man accused of killing his wife.
Director: Young-Sung Sohn | Stars: Ha Jung-woo, Park Hee-soon, Jang Hyuk, Sung Dong-il
Votes: 1,978
Part court room drama, part who-dunnit, with a twist.
39. Tell Me Something (1999)
R | 118 min | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
Lieutenant Cho, a cop on the edge, is mourning his mother's recent death while under investigation for graft; on top of that he is suddenly put in charge of a seemingly-impenetrable mystery.
Director: Yun-hyeon Jang | Stars: Han Suk-kyu, Shim Eun-ha, Jang Hang-seon, Yum Jung-ah
Votes: 3,142
Gritty, gory and Sevenesque movie with a twist.
40. The Tower (2012)
Not Rated | 121 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
A Christmas Eve party at a luxury residential building takes a horrific turn when a fire breaks out.
Director: Ji-hoon Kim | Stars: Kim Sang-kyung, Sol Kyung-gu, Son Ye-jin, Kim In-kwon
Votes: 6,824
Almost 40 years later, "The Towering Inferno" gets a Korean tribute (although not a remake). It makes a nice combo with pocorn.
41. R-Point (2004)
R | 107 min | Action, Horror, War
During the Vietnam War, a South Korean base receives a radio transmission from a missing squad, presumed dead, and sends a platoon to rescue the lost squad from the R-Point.
Director: Su-chang Kong | Stars: Kam Woo-seong, Son Byung-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Park Won-sang
Votes: 5,832
A solid and suspenseful film where the horror mainly comes from your own imagination.
42. Tidal Wave (2009)
R | 120 min | Action, Drama, Sci-Fi
A woman named Yeon-hee (Ha Ji-won) lives in Busan with her boyfriend Man-sik (Sol Kyung-gu) near Haeundae Beach. But, when they find out a tsunami will hit the city, They realize they only have 10 minutes to escape!
Director: JK Youn | Stars: Kim Yoo-jung, Ha Ji-Won, Lee Min-ki, Sol Kyung-gu
Votes: 5,164
Great character build-up and excellent special effects make up for a worthy addition to the hall of fame of disaster films.
43. Confession of Murder (2012)
Not Rated | 119 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Lee Du-Seok publishes an autobiography describing murders he committed after the statute of limitations expires. A detective and one of the victim's mothers search for the author while an anonymous person claims to be the real killer.
Director: Jung Byung-gil | Stars: Jeong Jae-yeong, Park Shi-hoo, Jung Hae-kyun, Kim Yeong-ae
Votes: 11,693
Do not read about it and skip the trailer! Just watch it. The way the story unfolds is much better that way.
44. Montage (2013)
Not Rated | 120 min | Crime, Mystery, Thriller
15 years ago, a mother lost her child in a kidnapping case. A similar crime happens again and she won't let him go this time.
Director: Geun-seop Jeong | Stars: Uhm Junghwa, Kim Sang-kyung, Song Young-chang, Jo Hie-bong
Votes: 8,254
The jumps in time and the different plot-threads eventually come clear and combine neatly in this thrilling movie.
45. No Mercy (2010)
Not Rated | 123 min | Action, Crime, Mystery
Despite being nearly proven the murderer, a serial killer threatens to kill the daughter of a forensic pathologist if he doesn't get him bailed out.
Director: Hyeong-Joon Kim | Stars: Sol Kyung-gu, Ryu Seung-beom, Han Hye-jin, Sung Ji-ru
Votes: 9,473
Entertaining, graphic and suspenseful tale with colourful characters.
46. Flu (2013)
Not Rated | 122 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Chaos ensues when a lethal, airborne virus infects the population of a South Korean city less than 20 kilometers from Seoul.
Director: Kim Sung-su | Stars: Jang Hyuk, Soo Ae, Min-ah Park, Yoo Hae-jin
Votes: 14,616
Epic disaster movie in which a five year old girl steals the show.
47. Midnight FM (2010)
Not Rated | 106 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
Sun-young, a popular radio host, decides to quit her job to take care of her ill-daughter. But, the last day of her job turns nightmarish when a murderer takes her family hostage.
Director: Sang Man Kim | Stars: Soo Ae, Yoo Ji-tae, Ma Dong-seok, Joon-Ha Lee
Votes: 2,903
On the surface, by all measures, a formulaic thriller by Hollowood standards. But, beneath dwells an intense and fast-paced gem of a movie.
48. Shiri (1999)
R | 125 min | Action, Thriller
South Korean agents Ryu and Lee are tracking a female assassin from North Korea who has mysteriously disappeared. With new killings and the theft of a deadly bomb, time is running out to catch her.
Director: Kang Je-kyu | Stars: Han Suk-kyu, Choi Min-sik, Yunjin Kim, Song Kang-ho
Votes: 8,579 | Gross: $0.10M
Entertaining? Very. Innovative? Hardly. Still it is a solid action flick.
49. Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013)
127 min | Comedy, Drama
A story about the love between a mentally-ill father and his lovingly adorable daughter.
Director: Hwan-kyung Lee | Stars: Ryu Seung-ryong, Kal So-won, Oh Dal-su, Jeong Man-sik
Votes: 23,966
In many ways a fun and emotional movie, but in my book too much is too much...
50. A Company Man (2012)
Not Rated | 96 min | Action, Crime, Drama
When a change of heart moves a well-trained hitman to tender his resignation to his employers, no good comes of it for anyone.
Directors: Sang-yoon Lim, Im Sang Yoon | Stars: So Ji-seob, Lee Mi-yeon, Kwak Do-won, Kim Dong-jun
Votes: 6,468
Solid entertainment, but unfortunately not much more.
51. The Thieves (2012)
Not Rated | 135 min | Action, Comedy, Crime
After a heist in South Korea, a gang of 5+1 fly to Hong Kong to look into a heist, in a Macau casino, of a $30M diamond, planned by someone unreliable. He brings in HK thieves as well. Can anyone be trusted?
Director: Dong-hoon Choi | Stars: Kim Yoon-seok, Lee Jung-jae, Kim Hye-su, Jun Ji-hyun
Votes: 11,555 | Gross: $0.69M
Ocean's Eleven-wanna-be that falls short of the mark.
52. Handphone (2009)
Not Rated | 137 min | Thriller
Talent manager Seung-min sees Yoon Jin Ah, a rising actress, as his one last hope to turn his life around. Just as Jin-Ah is on the path to stardom, he receives a threat from her former ... See full summary »
Director: Han-min Kim | Stars: Park Yong-woo, Uhm Tae-woong, Park Sol-mi, Bo-yeon Hwang
Votes: 568
Contrived and unfocused, but still kind of fun for the moment.
53. Antarctic Journal (2005)
Not Rated | 115 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Strange things begin happening to an expedition deep in the Antarctic.
Director: Pil-sung Yim | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Yoo Ji-tae, Kyeong-ik Kim, Park Hee-soon
Votes: 2,124
Slow moving psycological journey into the mouth of madness. Highly recommended!
54. Voice of a Murderer (2007)
13+ | 122 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
One day, the only son of famous news anchor HAN Kyung-bae, disappears without a trace. Soon, the kidnapper calls the mother demanding a $100,000 ransom. The police assign a veteran ... See full summary »
Director: Park Jin-Pyo | Stars: Sol Kyung-gu, Kim Nam-ju, Gang Dong-won, Kim Yeong-cheol
Votes: 2,202
Not for the faint of heart, but a good story which is well worth the watch.
55. Secret Reunion (2010)
Not Rated | 117 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
A fired South Korean agent and a deserted North Korean spy meet by chance after six years and start a business partnership, each with the intention of stealing information from the other.
Director: Hun Jang | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Gang Dong-won, Ko Chang-seok, Yun-seo Choi
Votes: 4,335
Kang-ho Song is the sole reason this thriller rates above average. Engaging and fun. And oh, what an ending!
56. Three... Extremes (2004)
R | 125 min | Horror
An Asian cross-cultural trilogy of horror films from accomplished indie directors.
Directors: Fruit Chan, Park Chan-wook, Takashi Miike | Stars: Bai Ling, Lee Byung-hun, Kyoko Hasegawa, Pauline Lau
Votes: 20,874 | Gross: $0.08M
Interesting and challenging movies, but personally I had much higher hopes for them. *crunch*
57. New World (2013)
Not Rated | 135 min | Action, Crime, Drama
An undercover cop finds it difficult to play both a cop and a goon.
Director: Park Hoon-jung | Stars: Lee Jung-jae, Choi Min-sik, Hwang Jung-min, Park Sung-woong
Votes: 26,376 | Gross: $0.46M
Excellent crime drama. Slick and well-tailored (pun intended - look at those suits...) movie, if there ever was one.
58. Hindsight (2011)
Not Rated | 122 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A young assassin is sent to kill a retired mob boss. But things get complicated when she begins to like him.
Director: Hyun-seung Lee | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Shin Se-Kyung, Cheon Jeong-myeong, Kim Min-joon
Votes: 1,526
A romantic thriller about cooking, salt and second chances. The actors' performaces carry this one way, way above your average suspense movie.
59. The Terror Live (2013)
Not Rated | 97 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A newsman discovers he's been rigged with a bomb after he has an exclusive interview with a terrorist who blew up a bridge.
Director: Byung-woo Kim | Stars: Won-Jin Ahn, Lee Da-wit, Choi Deok-moon, Sung-chun Han
Votes: 7,994
As a fan of one location sets in movies, this is a must see. Other than that, "The Terror Live" is a pretty average thriller.
60. Yeolhansi (2013)
99 min | Sci-Fi, Thriller
In the not-so distant future, researchers at a deep-sea labaratory have finally succeded in inventing a time machine. Heavily burdened by financial stress, head researcher Woo-seok is ... See full summary »
Director: Hyun-seok Kim | Stars: Jeong Jae-yeong, Kim Ok-bin, Daniel Choi, Park Chul-min
Votes: 528
Interesting sci-fi thriller that could have been so much better with a decent script. A fun ride though, despite the plot-holes.
61. Into the Mirror (2003)
Not Rated | 113 min | Action, Fantasy, Horror
An ex-cop, now working as a security guard in a shopping mall, tries to uncover the secret behind a series of mysterious deaths linked to mirrors.
Director: Sung-ho Kim | Stars: Yoo Ji-tae, Kim Myung-min, Hye-na Kim, Gi Ju-bong
Votes: 3,617
An unexceptional story elevated due to being a successful mix of genres. A big plus for the visuals and the splendid camera-work.
62. Phone (2002)
R | 104 min | Horror, Mystery, Thriller
Investigative reporter Ji-won begins to receive a series of menacing calls. To escape the terrifying and relentless clanging of the telephone, she changes her number and moves out. But the threatening campaign of terror continues unabated.
Director: Byeong-ki Ahn | Stars: Ha Ji-Won, Kim Yu-mi, Woo-jae Choi, Ji-yeon Choi
Votes: 5,295
A disjointed piece of film-making, which could have been much more had they re-written the script and used better editing.
63. The Coast Guard (2002)
R | 91 min | Drama, War
A member of Coast Guard Platoon 23, Private Kang monitors a high-infiltration stretch of beach lined with barbed-wire fencing. Driven by the belief that killing a spy is the highest honor, he waits for a chance to prove his worth.
Director: Kim Ki-duk | Stars: Jang Dong-Gun, Kim Jeong-hak, Park Ji-ah, Yoo Hae-jin
Votes: 3,532
Feature film disguised as a documentary, or is it the other way around?
64. Paradise Murdered (2007)
Not Rated | 112 min | Comedy, Mystery, Thriller
Off the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, an island of 17 inhabitants exists. The so-called Paradise Island holds up to its name with its breath-taking mountains and sea coupled with ... See full summary »
Director: Han-min Kim | Stars: Park Hae-il, Park Sol-mi, Sung Ji-ru, Ju-bong Choi
Votes: 428
A brooding and dark setting is mixed with mystery and horror elements, which results in a movie that bounces between comedy and thriller.
65. Perfect Number (2012)
Not Rated | 119 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
Brilliant math teacher formulates the perfect cover-up, after his neighbor murders her abusive ex-husband.
Director: Pang Eun-jin | Stars: Ryu Seung-beom, Lee Yo-won, Cho Jin-woong, Kim Yoon-seong
Votes: 2,411
As a tense drama with a great story, this noir thriller is a real treat.
66. Broken (2014)
Not Rated | 122 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A man becomes a fugitive from the police after he kills one of the men who raped and murdered his daughter.
Director: Jeong-ho Lee | Stars: Jeong Jae-yeong, Lee Sung-min, Seo Jun-yeong, Kim Dae-myung
Votes: 1,488
Not only yet-another-Korean-revenge-thriller but also a statement of some of the contemporary plights of the country.
67. A Hard Day (2014)
Not Rated | 111 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
After trying to cover up a car accident that left a man dead, a crooked homicide detective is stalked by a mysterious man claiming to have witnessed the event.
Director: Kim Seong-hun | Stars: Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Jin-woong, Jeong Man-sik, Shin Jeong-geun
Votes: 16,609
An action-comedy-thriller pulled off in a way that is hardly ever seen in other than Korean movies these days.
68. No Tears for the Dead (2014)
Not Rated | 116 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A hit man traumatized from accidentally killing a young girl during a job is given the mission to eliminate her mother, and begins the ultimate fight to save her life.
Director: Lee Jeong-beom | Stars: Jang Dong-Gun, Kim Min-hee, Brian Tee, Kim Hee-won
Votes: 7,175
This one is a testament to that pure, non-stop action movies can be so much fun. Watch it and you're in for one hell of a ride!
69. Steel Cold Winter (2013)
110 min | Drama, Horror
A dark secret hidden surrounds a mysterious girl who is an outcast the entire village alienates and a boy who tries to get close to her who has a tragedy of his in his past. As romance blossoms so do rumours.
Director: Choi Jin-sung | Stars: Shi-hoo Kim, Moon Chang-gil, Park So-dam, Oh Hee-jun
Votes: 467
This drama provides a bleak experience, but unlike many other movies in that territory it doesn't really engage the viewer.
70. Shadowless Sword (2005)
R | 117 min | Action, Adventure, History
So-ha, a deadly female warrior, is sent to find a exiled prince after the Killer Blade Army killed the royal family.
Director: Young-jun Kim | Stars: Shin Hyeon-jun, Yoon So-yi, Lee Seo-jin, Ki-yong Lee
Votes: 2,969
Mediocre action movie clustered with clichés and stereotypes. Still, it has a few somewhat redeeming fight sequences.
71. The Target (2014)
R | 98 min | Action, Thriller
An ER doctor teams up with an assassination target to rescue his wife, held hostage by corrupt criminals and, in the process, uncovers a conspiracy.
Director: Hong-Seung Yoon | Stars: Ryu Seung-ryong, Yoo Joon-sang, Lee Jin-wook, Kim Sung-ryung
Votes: 2,155
Interesting to see a Korean remake of an European movie, but truth to be told - the French original is better in every aspect.
72. The Unjust (2010)
Not Rated | 119 min | Action, Crime, Drama
When the most probable serial killer suspect dies and the case looks like it's reached a dead end, police brass decide to create a killer - and anyone will do.
Director: Ryu Seung-wan | Stars: Hwang Jung-min, Ryu Seung-beom, Yoo Hae-jin, Chun Ho-jin
Votes: 2,553
Tries hard to live up to its fellow Korean crime/thriller movies, and almost succeeds. Entertaining but easily forgotten.
73. Deranged (2012)
Not Rated | 109 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
People binge eat and suffer from extreme thirst, which leads them to go crazy for water. They cannot control themselves because they are brainwashed by a parasite.
Director: Jeong-woo Park | Stars: Kim Myung-min, Moon Jeong-Hee, Kim Dong-wan, Lee Hanee
Votes: 3,265
An ecological/pandemic thriller that is all over the place. The sloppy script is somewhat saved by suspense.
74. The Divine Move (2014)
Not Rated | 118 min | Action, Crime
A professional baduk player infiltrates his local underground gambling scene to avenge his brother's death.
Director: Beom-gu Cho | Stars: Jung Woo-sung, Lee Beom-su, Ahn Sung-ki, Lee Si-young
Votes: 2,562
Fast-paced and violent revenge movie centered around the board game baduk (go).
75. The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014)
Not Rated | 128 min | Action, Drama, History
Admiral Yi Sun-sin faces a tough challenge when he is forced to defend his nation with just 13 battleships against 300 Japanese enemy ships in the Battle of Myeongryang.
Director: Han-min Kim | Stars: Choi Min-sik, Ryu Seung-ryong, Cho Jin-woong, Kim Myung-gon
Votes: 13,062 | Gross: $2.59M
Epic story. Immense action. Korean melodrama. Although an easily forgotten movie, it is well worth a watch and it is hugely entertaining for the moment.
76. Apt (2006)
90 min | Horror, Thriller
Se-jin, a young woman who lives in an old apartment in a Seoul suburb, amuses herself by observing windows of apartments on other side.
Directors: Byeong-ki Ahn, Ahn Byung-Ki | Stars: Ko So-young, Kang Seong-jin, Jang Hie-jin, Yûko Fueki
Votes: 1,131
Uninspiring and derivative horror with one-dimensional characters. Have we not had enough of long-haired ghosts?
77. A Werewolf Boy (2012)
Not Rated | 127 min | Drama, Fantasy, Romance
Summoned by an unexpected phone call, an elderly woman visits the country cottage she lived in as a child. Memories of an orphan boy she knew 47 years ago come flooding back to her.
Director: Sung-hee Jo | Stars: Song Joong-ki, Park Bo-young, Yeong-ran Lee, Jang Young-nam
Votes: 8,914 | Gross: $0.34M
A moving story which mood-swings between tears and laughter.
78. Bedevilled (2010)
Not Rated | 115 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
A woman subject to mental, physical and sexual abuse on a remote island seeks a way out.
Director: Cheol-soo Jang | Stars: Seo Yeong-hie, Ji Seong-won, Min-ho Hwang, Min Je
Votes: 17,048
Powerful and engaging drama about the darker sides of the human condition. Although explicit violence is shown, it is not a horror as listed.
79. Masquerade (2012)
Not Rated | 131 min | Drama, History
A look-alike commoner is secretly hired to take the place of a poisoned king to save his country from falling into chaos.
Director: Chang-min Choo | Stars: Lee Byung-hun, Ryu Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, Kim In-kwon
Votes: 7,445 | Gross: $0.92M
The acting is top-notch in this drama with an engrossing story. It also contains some of the funniest moments of recent Korean movies.
80. Blood Rain (2005)
Not Rated | 119 min | Mystery, Thriller
Blood Rain tells the story of a slew of grisly murders plaguing a small, fairly isolated island village. However, it's not just the mounting death toll that's causing residents to worry, ... See full summary »
Director: Kim Dae-seung | Stars: Cha Seung-won, Park Yong-woo, Ji Sung, Yun Se-ah
Votes: 1,278
A period piece in which the setting is its greatest strength.
81. Breathless (2008)
Not Rated | 130 min | Crime, Drama
A bitter loan shark strikes a friendship with a troubled schoolgirl as he faces his own troubled past with his abusive father.
Director: Yang Ik-joon | Stars: Kim Kkobbi, Hwan Lee, Yang Ik-joon, Jeong-soon Park
Votes: 5,562
Amazing achievement by Ik-Joon Yang, who played the lead role, wrote, directed, produced and edited. The movie is very dark and disturbing, yet thoughtful and realistic.
82. Sil jong (2009)
99 min | Thriller
(Korean with English subtitles) Inspired by the real story of a Korean serial killer, Missing is one woman's intense journey into the dark den of depravity. Hyeon-jeong ventures to a small ... See full summary »
Director: Sung-Hong Kim | Stars: Heo Gi-ho, Min-hee Ha, Eun-jeong Hwang, Chu Ja-hyeon
Votes: 949
The movie is brutal, cold and at times bordering on torture porn. Had we cared for the characters it might have hit home.
83. Children... (2011)
Not Rated | 132 min | Mystery, Thriller
The film is based on a true case from the early 1990s that is known among Koreans as the "disappearance of the frog children." In 1991, five elementary school students told their parents ... See full summary »
Director: Kyu-maan Lee | Stars: Park Yong-woo, Ryu Seung-ryong, Sung Dong-il, Sung Ji-ru
Votes: 2,955
Intense and atmospheric suspense movie based on (actual) true events. Strong acting and direction.
84. Castaway on the Moon (2009)
PG-13 | 116 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A failed suicide attempt leads a heartbroken man to live a life in the wilderness.
Director: Lee Hae-jun | Stars: Jeong Jae-yeong, Jung Ryeo-won, Yeong-seo Park, Yang Mi-kyeong
Votes: 19,721
A wonderful and witty drama about being an outcast. It is both creative and heartwarming. Feelgood without the cheese.
85. Rough Cut (2008)
Not Rated | 113 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A gangster who wants to be an actor; an actor more gangster than anything. Here their paths and lives begin to cross.
Director: Hun Jang | Stars: So Ji-seob, Ko Chang-seok, Jang Hie-jin, Kang Ji-hwan
Votes: 2,999
Strong performances and counter-sterotype characters make up for an interesting and genre-defying movie filled with both depth and adrenaline.
86. The City of Violence (2006)
92 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
After their childhood friend is murdered, a two-man martial arts army beats a path to the perp.
Director: Ryu Seung-wan | Stars: Ryu Seung-wan, Lee Beom-su, Kim Byeong-Ok, Jo Deok-hyeon
Votes: 4,772
What it lacks plotwise and in character building, it makes up for with style and well-choreographed fight sequences. The last third is well worth the wait.
87. Commitment (2013)
Not Rated | 113 min | Action, Drama
The son of a North Korean spy decides to follow in his father's footsteps to protect his little sister.
Director: Hong-soo Park | Stars: Choi Seung-hyun, Han Yeri, Yun Je-mun, Jo Sung-ha
Votes: 4,851 | Gross: $0.08M
Story-driven and fast-paced spy thriller in which the action sequences alone make it worth the watch.
88. Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013)
Not Rated | 126 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A boy with five fathers who is attached to the criminal underworld. A sinister past is about to be revealed as he is forced to join the killing spree.
Director: Joon-Hwan Jang | Stars: Kim Yoon-seok, Yeo Jin-goo, Cho Jin-woong, Jang Hyun-sung
Votes: 5,410
Transcending contradiction, this grave tale shows that despite the contagion of evil, beauty and hope may dwell in darkness.
89. Kundo: Age of the Rampant (2014)
Not Rated | 137 min | Action, Drama
A period action film centered on a militia group who turn against an unjust nobility.
Director: Yoon Jong-bin | Stars: Ha Jung-woo, Gang Dong-won, Lee Sung-min, Cho Jin-woong
Votes: 3,877 | Gross: $0.28M
Korean martial arts movie set to the music from the Wild West. Splendid action and a great bad ass villain.
90. The Attorney (2013)
Not Rated | 127 min | Drama
An ambitious tax attorney decides to represent an old friend in court.
Director: Woo-seok Yang | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Kwak Do-won, Im Si-wan, Oh Dal-su
Votes: 7,606 | Gross: $0.56M
Interesting and multi-layered chronicle about Korean society in an unrestful time of the country's history. Also, you really invest in the characters.
91. Princess Aurora (2005)
106 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A woman gets killed in a department store. No one imagines this could lead to serial murders, but two days after the first murder, another homicide occurs. A woman is suffocated to death ... See full summary »
Director: Pang Eun-jin | Stars: Uhm Junghwa, Moon Sung-Keun, Kwon Oh-jung, Choi Jong-won
Votes: 1,279
Intentions are good and the potential for an excellent ending is there, but the lack of character depth and the mediocre execution stand in the way of the movie for it to reach higher ground.
92. Troubleshooter (2010)
Unrated | 99 min | Action, Crime, Drama
KANG Tae-sik, a former cop who was once the best man on the force, is now an infamous private detective who handles all kinds of dirty work from catching philanderers to collecting people's debts.
Director: Hyeok-jae Kwon | Stars: Sol Kyung-gu, Lee Jung-Jin, Oh Dal-su, Lee Sung-min
Votes: 436
Entertaining conspiracy thriller with loads of action and twists.
93. Sector 7 (2011)
Not Rated | 101 min | Action, Sci-Fi
A crew, drilling offshore for oil south of Jeju island, finds a lethal alien life form instead.
Director: Ji-hoon Kim | Stars: Ha Ji-Won, Ahn Sung-ki, Oh Ji-ho, Cha Ye-ryun
Votes: 2,803
For the first half of the movie, I thought the critics' negative reviews were way off the mark. As the end credits rolled, I had joined their ranks.
94. White: The Melody of the Curse (2011)
PG-13 | 106 min | Horror, Music, Mystery
Girl group "Pink Dolls" is always pushed into the background by other popular idols. When the girls release their new song "White", a remake from unknown origins they become instant sensations.
Directors: Gok Kim, Sun Kim | Stars: Hahm Eun-jung, Hwang Woo-seul-hye, Maydoni, Choi Ah-ra
Votes: 1,701
A K-pop drama which turns into a jump scare fest. The filmmakers really need to take a crash course in storytelling 101.
95. The Deal (2015)
Not Rated | 102 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A police detective and husband take revenge on a serial killer.
Director: Yong-ho Son | Stars: Kim Eui-sung, Won Geun-su, Han Hee-Jung, Jo Jae-yoon
Votes: 814
96. The Phone (2015)
Not Rated | 115 min | Action, Mystery, Sci-Fi
A magnetic field anomaly allows a man to phone back into the past to his wife, who was murdered years ago. But to save her, he must identify the killer now and warn her before the anomaly disappears.
Director: Kim Bong-Joo | Stars: Son Hyeon-ju, Eom Ji-won, Bae Sung-woo, Jeong Han-bin
Votes: 1,192 | Gross: $0.04M
97. The Wailing (2016)
TV-MA | 156 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
Soon after a stranger arrives in a little village, a mysterious sickness starts spreading. A policeman, drawn into the incident, is forced to solve the mystery in order to save his daughter.
Director: Na Hong-jin | Stars: Jun Kunimura, Hwang Jung-min, Kwak Do-won, Chun Woo-hee
Votes: 82,075
98. Coin Locker Girl (2015)
110 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A new born girl is placed in a coin operated locker in the subway station. The girl is raised by a mother who is the boss for a loan shark group. Later, when the girl has grown into a teen,... See full summary »
Director: Jun-hee Han | Stars: Kim Hye-su, Kim Go-eun, Park Bo-gum, Wi Ha-joon
Votes: 2,213
99. Train to Busan (2016)
Not Rated | 118 min | Action, Horror, Thriller
While a zombie virus breaks out in South Korea, passengers struggle to survive on the train from Seoul to Busan.
Director: Yeon Sang-ho | Stars: Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok, Kim Su-an
Votes: 258,978 | Gross: $2.13M
100. Dead Friend (2004)
Not Rated | 98 min | Horror
A teenage girl suffering from amnesia discovers that she is somehow connected to a group of people who are being killed off one by one by a vengeful ghost.
Director: Tae-kyeong Kim | Stars: Kim Ha-neul, Nam Sang-mi, Jeon Hye-bin, Yi Shin
Votes: 2,067
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