Most Popular Korean Movies, Ever

Here’s a list of the most popular Korean movies — a mix of box office hits, international award-winners, and cultural touchstones. Whether you're a K-cinema newbie or a superfan, these are must-watches:

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🎬 1. Parasite (2019)

• Director: Bong Joon-ho

• Why it’s iconic: First non-English film to win Best Picture at the Oscars. A dark, genre-bending satire on class, full of twists.

• “Once you overcome the one-inch tall barrier of subtitles...”

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🔪 2. Oldboy (2003)

• Director: Park Chan-wook

• Genre: Psychological thriller / Revenge

• A cult classic with that hallway hammer scene. Brutal, brilliant, and unforgettable. Part of the Vengeance Trilogy.

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🚂 3. Train to Busan (2016)

• Director: Yeon Sang-ho

• Genre: Zombie / Action / Drama

• A gripping emotional rollercoaster on a train filled with the undead. One of the most successful Korean films internationally.

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🦑 4. Squid Game (technically a series but too massive to ignore)

• Not a movie, but so globally iconic it’s often mistaken for one. Introduced many viewers to Korean storytelling.

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🕵️ 5. The Handmaiden (2016)

• Director: Park Chan-wook

• Genre: Erotic thriller / Psychological

• Inspired by a British novel, it’s stylish, sensual, and layered with deception. A visual and emotional feast.

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🎭 6. Memories of Murder (2003)

• Director: Bong Joon-ho

• Based on Korea’s first known serial killings. Haunting, atmospheric, and rooted in real history.

• Fun fact: Solved years later due to DNA evidence.

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💥 7. The Host (2006)

• Director: Bong Joon-ho (again!)

• Genre-bending monster movie meets social commentary — and still holds up.

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🎖️ 8. Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War (2004)

• Genre: War / Historical Drama

• Epic, emotional, and intense — Korea’s version of Saving Private Ryan, set during the Korean War.

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💰 9. Extreme Job (2019)

• Genre: Action Comedy

• A team of undercover cops opens a fried chicken shop as cover — and accidentally becomes wildly successful.

• One of Korea’s top-grossing comedies ever.

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🎨 10. Burning (2018)

• Director: Lee Chang-dong

• A slow-burn mystery based on a Haruki Murakami short story. Ambiguous, poetic, and full of tension.

This article was previously published on UAE Moments. To see the original article, click here