Murder mysteries, thrillers, dramas, and romance—it’s shaping up to be a good year for fans of Korean cinema. Here are the Korean movies coming out in 2023 that you need put on your must-watch list.
The Hallyu wave swept the globe sometime in the 1900s. Today, it has found a permanent spot in the television habits of several generations – young and old. This has paved the way for the most unique storylines. And while dramas get the most time in the spotlight, films have also made quite the name for themselves. Take for instance, the critically-acclaimed, wildly popular tale of class differences, Parasite – which went on to bag a dizzyingly large set of awards. Or the action horror Train To Busan, which continues to be one hailed as one of the most unique treatments of the zombie genre.
Last year, titles like 20th Century Girl and Decision To Leave dominated the headlines for their memorable viewing experience. For 2023, the selection is equally eclectic and exciting – albeit dominated by thrillers – ensuring there’s something in store for most everyone. Get your planners out, you’re going to want to pencil in these all-new Korean movies that are set to release sometime in 2023.
Korean movies releasing in 2023 that are on our radar
JUNG_E
Directed by: Sang-ho Yeon
Cast: Kim Hyun-joo, Uhm Ji-won, Ryu Kyung-Soo, Park So-yi, Kang Soo-yeon
Release date: January 20, 2023
Synopsis: In the 22nd Century (year 2194 to be precise) the planet is uninhabitable and humanity survives within man-made shelters. The culprit? Climate change. However, with things constantly in flux, a war ensues within the shelters. And victory depends on discovering a way of cloning the elite leader of the allied forces – Jung Yi (played by Kim Hyun-joo) – into a robot.
Image: CourtesyNetflix
Ballerina
Directed by: Lee Chung-hyeon
Cast: Jeon Jong Seo, Kim Ji Hoon, Park Yoo-Rim
Release date: 2023
Synopsis: Ok-Ju (played by Jung Jong-seo) is quite athletic, having mastered martial arts, sword fighting, and even gunmanship. She’s even worked as a bodyguard. Her friend Min-Hee (played by Park Yoo-rim), meanwhile, is a ballerina. When the former is asked for a favour by the latter, she risks her life and exacts revenge in the most ruthless manner.
Image: Courtesy Netflix
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Unlocked
Directed by: Kim Tae Joon
Cast: Yim Si-wan, Chun Woo Hee, Kim Hee Won, Kim Ye Won, Park Ho San, Jeon Jin Oh
Release date: February 17, 2023
Synopsis: Na Mi (played by Chun Won Hee) is employed at a startup company and leads an ordinary life. That is until she loses her smartphone to a criminal named Joon Young (played by Yim Si-wan) who threatens people using information stored in their devices. Also in the picture? Detective Ji-man (played by Kim Hee Won) who – in the midst of a murder investigation – finds clues that point to his son Joon Young being the perpetrator.
Image: Courtesy Netflix
Believer 2
Directed by: Baek Jong-Yeol
Cast: Cho Jin-Woong, Cha Seung-Won, Han Hyo-Joo, Oh Seung-Hoon, Kim Dong-Young, Lee Joo-Young
Release date: 2023
Synopsis: In the search for a missing person – named Rak (played by Oh Seung Hoon) – detective Won Ho (Cho Jin Woong) chases after a teacher who happens to be the leader of an infamous drug cartel. The sequel also sees the introduction of new characters, especially Big Sword, who has insights into the said criminal organisation. Expect high-speed chases and an exciting battle at Yongsan Station, Seoul.
Image: Courtesy Netflix (Believer)
The Roundup: No Way Out
Directed by: Lee Sang-yong
Cast: Ma Dong Seok, Lee Joon Hyuk, Aoki Munetaka, Park Ji Hwan, Lee Bum Soo, Kim Min Jae
Release date: 2023
Synopsis: Detective Ma Seok Do (played by Ma Dong Seok) switches from Geumcheon Police Station to the Metropolitan Investigation Team. The mission? To nab Japanese gangsters who have terrorised tourists in Korea for several years. However, along the way he unravels murky murder cases. The third instalment to the popular movie series – this one promises to be exciting.
Image: Courtesy BA Entertainment
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Kill Bok-Soon
Directed by: Byun Sung-hyun
Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, Esom, Koo Kyo-hwan, Kim Si-a, Lee Yeon
Release date: June 2, 2023
Synopsis: A single mother who also happens to be a lethal contract killer with a 100 percent success rate – Kill Bok Soon (played by Jeon Do-yeon) works for M.K Entertainment. She’s been trained by Cha Min-kyu (played by So Kyung-gu) – a dangerous person with the power to take everything away from her. She struggles to achieve a work-life balance and just as she’s about to renew her contract, she finds herself in the midst of a situation that will require her to kill or be killed.
Image: Courtesy Netflix
The Match
Directed by: Kim Hyung-Joo
Cast: Lee Byung-hun, Yoo Ah-in, Yoo Ah-in, Kim Kang-hoon, Ko Chang-seok
Release date: July 7, 2023
Synopsis: Cho Hun-Hyun (played by Lee Byung-hun) is a Go (an abstract strategy board game) champion. He discovers a gifted, albeit untrained young man called Lee Chang-ho (Yoo Ah-in), in an amateur contest and resolves to help guide him to the professional leagues. However, when the protege turns his back on him, conflicts emerge.
Image: Courtesy Netflix
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The Point Men
Directed by: Im Soon Rye
Cast: Hwang Jung-min, Hyun Bin, Kang Ki-young
Release date: January 18, 2023
Synopsis: An extremist terrorist group takes Korean tourists hostage in the Middle East. The Korean government sends in Jae Ho (played by Hwang Jung-min) – a skilled diplomat, who asks for cooperation and uses every means possible to free them from captivity. However, these efforts fail, forcing him to work with special agent Dae Sik (Hyun Bin) – an expert on the Middle East. Together they navigate tricky deaths and race against time, forging a bond in the process. This Korean movie is based on a true story.
Image: Courtesy Megabox Plus M
Silence
Directed by: Tae-gon Kim
Cast: Lee Sun Kyun, Joo Ji Hoon, Kim Hee Won
Release date: 2023
Synopsis: This new Korean movie dropping in 2023 follows a group of people who are isolated on an airport bridge in the midst of a thick fog. To add to the difficulties, the said structure is about to collapse, with threats lurking at every corner.
Image: Courtesy CJ ENM
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Phantom
Directed by: Lee Hae-young
Cast: Sol Kyung-gu, Lee Hanee, Park So-dam, Park Hae-soo, Seo Hyun-woo
Release date: January 18, 2023
Synopsis: This storyline takes viewers back to the early 1900s, during the Japanese colonisation of Korea. A failed attempt to assassinate the new resident general by an underground anti-Japanese organisation brings up five suspects. This includes Junji Murayama (played by Sol Kyung-gu) a former soldier and current police officer as well as Park Cha-Kyung (played by Lee Hanee) who works in the department that records cryptograms. They’re all brought to a hotel on a seaside cliff to discover which is the infamous “phantom,” a spy who’d eluded the authorities. Trapped and desperate to be freed, those under observation need to use their wits as well as skills of investigation to clear themselves of blame.
Image: Courtesy Far East Films
Gangnam Zombie
Directed by: Lee Soo-seong
Cast: Ji Il-joo, Park Ji-yeon, Cho Kyung-hun, Choi Seong-min, Lee Joo-jeong, Tak Teu-in
Release date: January 5, 2023
Synopsis: Hyun Suk (played by Ji Il-Joo) finds himself trapped in the office when zombies swarm Gangnam in Seoul. Also in the picture? Min Jung (Park Yi Jeon) – a righteous, brave woman who always speaks up against injustice. The two attempt to break out of the building while keeping themselves (and each other) alive.
Image: Courtesy Contents Panda
Which of these Korean movies releasing in 2023 do you most look forward to watching?
Feature and hero image: Courtesy Netflix
The post 11 must-see Korean movies that are coming out in 2023 appeared first on Lifestyle Asia Singapore.
FAQs
Are there any happy Korean movies? ›
Extreme Job (2019) One of the top Korean comedy movies with perfect comic timing by lead actors and a heart-warming twist in the tale, this action flick doesn't disappoint.
Does Korea make good movies? ›They arguably produce the highest quality films in the world. What makes their films so unique is their originality, complexity and ability to span a multitude of genres.
Why Korean movies are so good Quora? ›Because they are superior in every way. Their scripts are better, their actors are phenomenal, their directors produce a superior product, and they have multiple fantastic and original songs produced for every show.
Which is the No 1 movie in Korea? ›Rank | English title | Year |
---|---|---|
1 | The Admiral: Roaring Currents | 2014 |
2 | Extreme Job | 2019 |
3 | Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds | 2017 |
4 | Ode to My Father | 2014 |
- The World of the Married (2020) Rating: 28.371% ...
- Reborn Rich (2022) Rating: 24.936% ...
- Sky Castle (2018) Rating: 23.779% ...
- Crash Landing on You (2019) Rating: 21.683% ...
- Reply 1988 (2015) Rating: 18.803% ...
- Goblin (2016) ...
- Mr. Sunshine (2018) ...
- Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022)
...
Top 10 By Country.
# | TV in South Korea | Weeks in Top 10 |
---|---|---|
1 | Crash Course in Romance: Season 1 | 2 |
2 | Awaken: Season 1 | 2 |
3 | The Glory: Season 1 | 5 |
4 | Physical: 100: Season 1 | 1 |
- 20th Century Girl (2022) Netflix Asia. ...
- Sweet & Sour (2021) Netflix Asia. ...
- Love and Leashes (2022) Netflix Asia. ...
- Tune in for Love (2019) Netflix Asia. ...
- Wish You (2021) BST7 ENTERTAINMENT. ...
- Moonlit Winter (2019) ...
- Be With You (2018) ...
- The Handmaiden (2016)
- 1. “ What's Wrong With Secretary Kim” (2018) 447,693 ratings / ★9.7. ...
- 2. “ True Beauty” (2020~2021) ...
- 3. “ While You Were Sleeping” (2017) ...
- 4. “ W” (2016) ...
- 5. “ Strong Woman Do Bong Soon” (2017) ...
- 6. “ Doom at Your Service” (2021) ...
- 7. “ Heirs” (2013) ...
- 8. “ My ID is Gangnam Beauty” (2018)
Hallyuwood, a compound word combining the word Hallyu (Korean Wave) with wood from Hollywood, is the informal term popularly used to describe the Korean-language entertainment and film industry in South Korea.
Does Korea use Netflix? ›Beyond shows that have, so far, had global appeal, Netflix has seen subscriber growth in South Korea begin to take off. In the third quarter of last year, the company added 1.4 million subscribers, making it the fastest growing area in the world.
Is Kdrama better than Hollywood? ›
K-dramas just look and feel like 'more', like more effort was put into it, more research was done, more thought went into creating this one-of-a-kind experience for their fans, they even give you more episodes than Hollywood shows. It's just more value. Watching K-dramas will invite you into South Korea.
Are Kdramas good for mental health? ›Watching K-Dramas Improved My Mental Health By Connecting Me to My Culture. “I could see my experiences reflected in K-dramas and I finally felt seen, heard, and validated.”
Why do people get addicted to Kdramas? ›K-dramas have taken the world by storm. The romantic and dramatic plotlines are very interesting and the little dash of romance makes everything seem perfect. K-dramas have become a very popular medium of entertainment and binge-watching over long weekends with your partner or friends.
What is the 1 best movie in the world? ›- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Film. Science fiction. ...
- The Godfather (1972) Film. Thrillers. ...
- Citizen Kane (1941) Film. ...
- Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975) Film. ...
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Film. ...
- La Dolce Vita (1960) Film. ...
- Seven Samurai (1954) Film. ...
- In the Mood for Love (2000) Film.
Six films in total have grossed in excess of $2 billion worldwide, with Avatar ranked in the top position.
What Korean drama is trending? ›Question: Which are the most popular Korean dramas in 2022? Answer: Korean dramas with the highest ratings in 2022 that must be on your watchlist include names like 'Extraordinary Attorney Woo,' 'Our Blues,' 'Twenty-Five Twenty-One' and 'Military Prosecutor Doberman.
What is BTS Favourite K-drama? ›The K-drama Sky Castle is loved by the older members of the band. During an interaction with ARMY, Suga revealed that he had seen the dark comedy thriller Sky Castle. Besides Suga, RM and Jin also loved watching South Korea's second-highest-rated series on cable television.
What is the number 1 Kdrama on Netflix? ›1. Squid Game – 1 season (2021 – present) The show that launched Korean shows on Netflix into new living rooms worldwide, Squid Game is a brutal yet thrilling drama series with heart. It set records when it came out in 2021, reaching number one in Netflix's top 10 in 94 different countries, including the US and UK.
What American shows are popular in Korea? ›- Lady Chatterley's Lover.
- No Limit.
- The Next 365 Days.
- Closer.
- MILF.
- Deadly Illusions.
- More the Merrier.
- 365 Days.
What is number 1 on Netflix now? ›
Rank | YD | Title |
---|---|---|
1 | (1) | The Lincoln Lawyer |
2 | (4) | Wrong Side of the Tracks |
3 | (5) | Jackass 4.5 |
4 | (2) | Ozark |
- 8 Best K-drama Kisses Of All Time. ...
- What's Wrong With Secretary Kim. ...
- Her Private Life. ...
- Melting Me Softly. ...
- It's Okay To Not Be Okay. ...
- Suspicious Partner. ...
- Nevertheless. ...
- Introverted Boss.
In one of his recent stories, Jungkook had shared a snippet from Twenty Five Twenty One. Jungkook shared an Instagram story about a K-drama and Netflix India tweeted about it.
What is the cutest K-drama? ›'Heirs' In a traditional yet beautiful rich-boy-poor-girl love story, Heirs follows Kim Tan (Lee Min Ho), who falls in love with his maid's (Kim Mi Kyung) daughter, Cha Eun Sang (Park Shin Hye). When they first meet in America, he thinks she's just another random girl, but something about her enchants him.
Who is the most popular actor in Kdrama? ›Lee Min-ho
The South Korean actor is one of the most notable contributors to the cementing of the Hallyu wave, or Korean cultural wave, around the world. With over 31 million followers (as of 6 December 2022), Lee is the most followed Korean actor on Instagram.
Disney has announced details on a wave of brand new South Korean Disney+ Original series, which will be coming out in 2022. The new series include Big Mouse”, “The Zone: Endure Live”, “Moving” and “Casino”.
What are gangsters called in Korea? ›Kkangpae (Korean: 깡패) is a romanization of the Korean for a 'gangster', 'thug', 'punk' or 'hoodlum', usually referring to members of unorganized street gangs.
What is acting cute in Korean called? ›Aegyo (Korean: 애교; Hanja: 愛嬌) in Korean refers to a cute display of affection often expressed through a cute voice, changes to speech, facial expressions, or gestures. Aegyo literally means behaving in a flirtatious, coquettish manner and it is commonly expected for both male and female K-pop idols.
Where are most movies made in the USA? ›Far and away the most popular location in the world for filming movies and television shows, Los Angeles has been the cultural center for the film industry since the Golden Age of Hollywood in the 1930s and 1940s.
Which is the richest film industry? ›The United States cinema (Hollywood) is the oldest film industry in the world and also the largest film industry in terms of revenue.
Which is the fastest growing film industry in the world? ›
- With over $6.4 billion in revenue and more than 2,500 movies per year, Nigeria's film industry is taking the world by storm. ...
- Dr. ...
- Despite having the world's 27th-ranked GDP, Nigeria is enjoying rising success in the film industry.
Watch Netflix on your smartphone, tablet, Smart TV, laptop, or streaming device, all for one fixed monthly fee. Plans range from USD6.99 to USD19.99 a month.
What countries have no Netflix? ›- China.
- Crimea.
- North Korea.
- Russia.
- Syria.
The reason why these k-dramas are leaving is that the streaming rights Netflix paid for were only for a limited amount of time. Typically ranging anywhere between five to ten years depending on the deal.
Why is Kdrama so popular in America? ›K-dramas are generally known for having high production value, intense and often engrossing storylines, and quality acting that helps build an emotional connection between the characters and the audience.
What is Kdrama famous for? ›Korean dramas have attracted international attention for their fashion, style, and culture. Their rise in popularity has led to a great boost to fashion lines.
Which is better K drama or J drama? ›Korean dramas run for 16-20 episodes with some filler episodes in between., but most dramas are engaging. Japanese dramas, on the other hand, only run for 10-12 episodes where the action never slows down. 2. Japanese dramas are mostly based on mangas, whereas, they are slowly becoming more common in Korean dramas.
Is watching K-drama good for you? ›However, k-dramas may actually be useful in therapy to help promote personal growth and prompt conversations about mental health. Van Ta Park PhD, MPH, is the lead author of two studies that used k-dramas to discuss mental health.
Can you get addicted to K-dramas? ›K-drama may be one of the most dangerous addictions that a person can form in a lifetime. It starts innocently enough. You begin with your first taste, perhaps an episode of “You're Beautiful,” “Playful Kiss,” or “Boys Over Flowers.” You curiously sit down for an episode, which somehow turns into two or three.
What K-drama is based on depression? ›1. Our Blues: Receiving much love, "Our Blues" was such a well-rounded drama, providing a glimpse into several struggles of mental health such as depression, autism, fractured family relationships, and accidental pregnancy.
What do you call a person who is addicted to Korean drama? ›
Contributors from Urban Dictionary describe a Koreaboo as “someone who is obsessed with Korean culture so much they denounce their own culture and call themselves Korean.” Yes, there are non-Korean people out here who are claiming themselves as Korean.
What Koreaboo means? ›Koreaboo (plural Koreaboos) (slang, often derogatory) A non-Korean person who is obsessed with Korean culture (especially K-pop or K-dramas). quotations ▼
Why do K-dramas make me cry? ›K-dramas have characters who are very emotionally immature to start, who reckon with their identity and trauma to grow into themselves later on. It's good acting, and every episode makes you want to cry towards the end.
Who is the number 1 K drama actor? ›Question: Who are the most popular K-drama actors? Answer: Among the most popular K-drama actors are Song Hye-kyo, Song Joong-ki and Lee Min-ho. Each of them are better known for their television appearances than big screen performances.
Which Korean movie won Oscar? ›At the 92nd Academy Awards, Parasite won all four awards (out of six nominations), becoming the first non-English language film to win Best Picture.
What is the number 1 ranked movie of all time? ›Six films in total have grossed in excess of $2 billion worldwide, with Avatar ranked in the top position.
What is No 1 Best Movie? ›- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) Film. Science fiction. ...
- The Godfather (1972) Film. Thrillers. ...
- Citizen Kane (1941) Film. ...
- Jeanne Dielman, 23, Quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles (1975) Film. ...
- Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Film. ...
- La Dolce Vita (1960) Film. ...
- Seven Samurai (1954) Film. ...
- In the Mood for Love (2000) Film.
- GOT7's Jinyoung.
- Ahn Bo Hyun.
- Son Suk Ku.
- Ahn Hyo Seop.
- Nam Joo Hyuk.
- Kim Young Dae.
- Park Hyung Sik.
- Rowoon.
At 24.1 million followers, actor Lee Min-ho is currently the most-followed Korean actor on Instagram.
Who is most famous in South Korea? ›As of April 2022, Jennie of Blackpink was the most followed South Korean celebrity on Instagram with approximately 64.91 million followers. The most followed individual male celebrity was V of BTS.
What movie has won 3 Oscars? ›
Titanic received awards for: Best Picture, Best Director, Cinematography, Art Direction, Costume, Visual Effects, Sound, Sound Effects Editing, Film Editing, Original Dramatic Score, Original Song and losing out on Best Actress, Supporting Actress and Makeup.
Which movie won all 5 Oscars? ›In the past 90 years, only three films, It Happened One Night (1934), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991) have won all five Oscars from the forty-three films that secured nominations in all five prestige Academy Award categories.
What movies won top 5 Oscars? ›As of the 94th Academy Awards (2021), a total of 43 films have been nominated in all five of these award categories. Only three films have won all five of these major awards: It Happened One Night (1934), One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), and The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
Which movie has 9.5 rating? ›💯 #Kantara is already winning hearts with 9.5 IMDB rating and has become India's highest-rated. The #PVRMovieBuff community had a blast, as they watched the crackling action of #Pathaan in #PVRIMAX! ...
What movie has a 100% rating? ›'Pinocchio' (1940)
What movie lost the most money? ›As of June 2022, the four biggest movie flops of all time were Disney productions. "Turning Red" (2022), "Jungle Cruise" (2021), "Mars Needs Moms" (2011), and "Mulan" (2020) recorded losses of more than 140 million U.S. dollars at the global box office.
What are the 5 perfect movies? ›- Amelie.
- Control (Ian Curtis biopic)
- Free Solo.
- The wind that shakes the barley.
- Dead mans shoes.
- Avatar (2009), $2.9 billion.
- Avengers: Endgame (2019), $2.7 billion.
- Titanic (1997), $2.19 billion.
- Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015), $2.06 billion.
- Avengers: Infinity War (2018), $2.04 billion.
- Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021), $1.9 billion.
- Denzel Washington. ...
- Tom Hanks. ...
- Marilyn Monroe. ...
- Robert De Niro. ...
- Bette Davis. ...
- Natalie Portman. ...
- Heath Ledger. ...
- Katharine Hepburn.