Before you start watching a Korean movie, here’s a suggestion for you as a bonus. Get yourself a plate full of Hakka noodles or Thukpa soupy noodles. And if you don’t have that, at least grab a bowl of maggie. This is because you will definitely feel like having noodles while you watch a Korean movie. Korean movies to watch have the specialty to make your mouth watery.
Not just food, but Korean movies will make you fall in love with the scene, the actors, and most importantly the details of every situation. There are tons of awesome tales and movies in Korea. Some of the most-watched and popular Korean movies to watch are as follows.
Best Korean Movies to Watch
Below is the list of best Korean movies to watch:
1. Peppermint Candy
- Original title: Bakha Satang
- Release Date: 1999
- Running Time: 129 minutes
- Director: Chang-dong Lee
- Writer: Chang-dong Lee
- Cast: Kyung-gu Sol, So-ri Moon, Se-boem Park, Yeo Kim Kim, Soe-hie Ko, Jung Suh.
Peppermint Candy is a factual movie that covers one of the most important problems faced by this generation. This movie is based on a man’s life and the reason for his suicide. The rate of committing suicide is increasing at a very high scale in the last decade and not just in a particular country but all over the world. Peppermint candy covers five main aspects of the man’s life which ultimately leads to death.
2. Maraton
- Original Title: Maraton
- Release: 2005
- Running time: 118 minutes
- Director: Yoon-Chul Jung
- Writer: Yoon-Chul Jung
- Cast: Seung -woo Cho, Mi-suk Kim, Sung-min Lee, Sun Jae Kim.
Maraton depicts a young boy who suffered from Autism Spectrum Disorder(ASD). He was often misunderstood by his society. In his distressed situation, he calms himself by running far distances. Gradually, he realized that running is a gifted talent and started to pursue it as a career. Despite all the barriers, he heads towards his dream with the support from his mother and the lessons he learned from his trainer. This is one of the most inspiring movies of all time.
3. Thirst
- Original Title: Bakjwi
- Release: 2009
- Running time: 148 minutes
- Director: Chan-wook Park
- Writer: Chan-wook Park and Emile Zola
- Cast: Kang-ho Song, Kim Ok-bin, Kim Hae-sook, Shin Ha-Kyun, Park In-hwan.
Thirst comes under the category of a great horror movie. It is based on a doctor who tries to help and cure a mishap that took place due to failed medical experiments. Originally it was named as “The Bat” to signify horror but then altered to “Thirst”.
4. Secret Sunshine
- Original title: Milyang
- Release: 2007
- Running time: 144 minutes
- Director: Lee Chang-dong
- Writer: Lee Chang-dong
- Cast: Jeon Do-Yeon, Song Kang-ho
Secret Sunshine is a movie based on a woman’s life, her sorrows, the incidence, and her struggles she has been through in the journey of her life. It mainly describes the capabilities of an individual to cope up with society and how to deal with the unwanted circumstances that may befall. This movie gives life lessons and surely your time watching this movie will be worthwhile.
5. The King And The Clown
- Original title: Wang-ui namja
- Release: 2005
- Running time:120 minutes
- Director: Joon-ik Lee
- Writer: Seok-hwan Choi and Tae-Woong Kim
- Cast: Lee Joon-gi, Kam Woo-sung, Kang Sung-yeon
Are you looking for a movie to make you laugh? If yes, go for ” The King And The Clown”. This movie will surely make you happy. It has been characterised as one of the best comedy movies of all time. While you watch the movie, you will burst out laughing as the clowns try to make the king laugh for the sake of their laugh. This movie does have a good sense of humour and is one of the binge-worthy Korean movies.
6. Silenced
- Original title: Do-ga Ni
- Release: 2011
- Running time: 125 minutes
- Director: Dong-hyuk Hwang
- Writer: Ji- young Gong
- Cast: Gong Yoo, JungYu Mi, Kim Hyun-Soo, Baek Seung-hwan
Best Korean MoviesSilenced is a film based on a true story. It is about deaf children who undergo sexual and physical abuse from their teachers. The lead character played by Gong Yoo joins a school as a teacher for the deaf. Gradually he finds out about the injustice that has been done to those children. He stands up for the young souls and fights for them.
7. Castaway On The Moon
- Original title: Kimssi Pyoryugi
- Release: 2009
- Running time: 116 minutes
- Director: Hae-jun Lee
- Writer: Hae-jun Lee
- Cast: Jae-Yeong Jeong, Ryeowon Jung, Yeong-Seo Park, Mi-kyeong Yang.
Castaway on the moon is another movie on suicide. But this is slightly different from Peppermint Candy. It is about the life of a man after a failed suicide attempt. The man tries to kill himself by jumping in the water but ends up landing on a deserted island all by himself. He survives his lonely days until a woman sees him from a far distance and believes him to be an alien.
8. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…..And Spring
Best Korean Movies- Original title: Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom
- Release: 2003
- Running time: 103 minutes
- Director: Ki-Duk Kim
- Writer: Ki-Duk Kim
- Cast: Ki-Duk Kim, Yeo-jin Ha, Kim Yeong Min.
Koreans are famous for romance. If you are willing to see a romantic movie, this is it. It has everything in it. Spring, Summer, Fall…is an amazing movie with an unexpected twist. It is full of love, lust, crime and many more.
9. Parasite
- Original title: Gisaengchung
- Release: 2019
- Runtime: 2 hours 12 minutes
- Director: Bong Joon Ho
- Writer: Bong Joon Ho
- Cast: Kim-ki Taek, Cho Yeo Jeong, Park So Dam.
The Parasite is a movie based on a family of a couple with two kids, a son and a young girl facing financial problems. They try their level best to overcome poverty by their individual struggle.
10. Handmaiden
- Original title: Ah-ga-ssi
- Release 2016
- Runtime: 145 minutes
- Director: Chan-wook Park
- Writer: Sarah Waters and Seo-Kyeong Jeong
- Cast: Min-hee Kim, Tae-ri Kim, Joong-woo Ha, Soo-ri moon
Handmaiden is another romantic with a twist movie. This is one of the best Korean movies of all times. It has love and secrets which makes the movie very interesting.
Top 5 Must-Watch Korean Movies On Netflix
- Steel Rain
- Train To Busan
- Tune In For Love
- Okja
- Psychokinesis
Hope you enjoy your time with these above mentioned Korean movies to watch.
Also Read: 7 Romantic Korean Dramas
