Korean cinema has taken the world by storm, and Netflix has played a major role in bringing some of the best Korean films to global audiences. From gripping thrillers and heartwarming romances to historical epics and action-packed dramas, these films showcase the depth and diversity of Korean storytelling. Whether you’re a longtime K-movie fan or just getting started, this list of the top 20 Korean movies on Netflix will guide you through must-watch films that have captivated audiences worldwide.

Main Casts: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam

Director: Bong Joon-ho

Writer: Bong Joon-ho, Han Jin-won

Date of Release: May 30, 2019

Box Office Performance: Grossed over $258 million worldwide

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Dark Comedy, Thriller

Synopsis: The Kim family, struggling with poverty, cunningly integrates themselves into the wealthy Park family’s household by posing as unrelated, highly qualified individuals. As the Kims exploit the Parks’ naivety, unforeseen consequences arise, leading to a dramatic and tragic unraveling of their plans.

Trivia: “Parasite” made history as the first non-English language film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. The film also won Oscars for Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film.

Main Casts: Gong Yoo, Ma Dong-seok, Jung Yu-mi, Kim Su-an

Director: Yeon Sang-ho

Writer: Park Joo-suk

Date of Release: July 20, 2016

Box Office Performance: Grossed over $98 million worldwide

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Action, Horror, Thriller

Synopsis: During a sudden zombie outbreak in South Korea, a father and his estranged daughter board a train from Seoul to Busan, hoping to reach one of the last safe zones. As the infection spreads rapidly on the train, passengers must fight for their survival against the undead and their own fears.

Trivia: The film was praised for its intense action sequences and emotional depth. It became one of the highest-grossing Korean films of all time.

Main Casts: Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong

Director: Park Chan-wook

Writer: Park Chan-wook, Chung Seo-kyung

Date of Release: June 1, 2016

Box Office Performance: Grossed over $37 million worldwide

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Romance

Synopsis: Set in 1930s Korea under Japanese colonial rule, a con man hires a pickpocket named Sook-hee to become the handmaiden to a wealthy Japanese heiress, Lady Hideko. The plan is to defraud her of her inheritance by having the con man marry her. However, unexpected emotions and hidden agendas lead to a complex web of deception and passion.

Trivia: The film is inspired by Sarah Waters’ novel “Fingersmith,” but transplants the setting to Korea. It received critical acclaim for its storytelling, performances, and visual style, winning the Best Film Not in the English Language at the BAFTA Awards.

Main Casts: Ahn Seo-hyun, Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Jake Gyllenhaal

Director: Bong Joon-ho

Writer: Bong Joon-ho, Jon Ronson

Date of Release: June 28, 2017

Box Office Performance: Limited theatrical release; primarily distributed via Netflix

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Adventure, Drama, Sci-Fi

Synopsis: Young Mija has spent ten years raising Okja, a massive genetically modified pig, in the mountains of South Korea. When the multinational conglomerate that created Okja takes her away for their own purposes, Mija embarks on a daring mission to rescue her beloved friend, confronting corporate greed and animal rights issues along the way.

Trivia: “Okja” was co-produced by Netflix and competed for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. The film sparked discussions about the ethics of genetically modified organisms and animal rights.

Main Casts: Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jeon Jong-seo

Director: Lee Chang-dong

Writer: Lee Chang-dong, Oh Jung-mi

Date of Release: May 17, 2018

Box Office Performance: Grossed over $7 million worldwide

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Mystery, Drama

Synopsis: Aspiring writer Jong-su reconnects with Hae-mi, a childhood acquaintance. After she returns from a trip with a wealthy and enigmatic man named Ben, Jong-su becomes suspicious of Ben’s intentions, especially after Hae-mi disappears without a trace. The film delves into themes of jealousy, class disparity, and existential angst.

Trivia: “Burning” is based on Haruki Murakami’s short story “Barn Burning.” It was the first Korean film to make it to the final nine-film shortlist for the Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards.

Main Casts: Park Shin-hye, Jeon Jong-seo

Director: Lee Chung-hyun

Writer: Lee Chung-hyun

Date of Release: November 27, 2020

Box Office Performance: Released exclusively on Netflix

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, Sci-Fi

Synopsis: Seo-yeon, living in 2019, discovers an old cordless phone in her childhood home. She begins receiving calls from Young-sook, a woman living in the same house but in 1999. As they communicate across time, their connection leads to unexpected and dangerous consequences, altering their lives in unforeseen ways.

Trivia: The film is a remake of the 2011 British-Puerto Rican film “The Caller.” Jeon Jong-seo’s performance as Young-sook received widespread acclaim for its intensity.

Main Casts: Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Jin Seon-kyu, Yoo Hae-jin

Director: Jo Sung-hee

Writer: Jo Sung-hee, Yoon Seung-min, Yoo Kang-seo, Kim Hyang-ji

Date of Release: February 5, 2021

Box Office Performance: Released exclusively on Netflix

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure

Synopsis: In the year 2092, Earth has become nearly uninhabitable. A crew of space junk collectors aboard the spaceship Victory discovers a humanoid robot named Dorothy, known to be a weapon of mass destruction.

Main Casts: Kim Yoo-jung, Byeon Woo-seok, Park Jung-woo, Noh Yoon-seo

Director: Bang Woo-ri

Writer: Bang Woo-ri

Date of Release: October 21, 2022

Box Office Performance: Released exclusively on Netflix

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Romance, Drama

Synopsis: Set in 1999, high school student Bo-ra promises her best friend Yeon-du, who is undergoing heart surgery in the U.S., to keep an eye on her crush, Baek Hyun-jin. As Bo-ra observes Hyun-jin, she inadvertently becomes close to his best friend, Poong Woon-ho, leading to unexpected feelings and a poignant love story that transcends time.

Trivia: The film nostalgically captures the late 1990s era in South Korea, resonating with audiences who experienced that period. “20th Century Girl” marks Bang Woo-ri’s feature directorial debut.

Main Casts: Jun Jong-seo, Kim Ji-hoon, Park Yu-rim

Director: Lee Chung-hyun

Writer: Lee Chung-hyun

Date of Release: October 6, 2023

Box Office Performance: Released exclusively on Netflix

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Action, Thriller

Synopsis: Ok-ju, a former bodyguard with exceptional combat skills, is devastated by the suicide of her close friend Min-hee, a ballerina. Blaming a man named Choi Pro for Min-hee’s death, Ok-ju embarks on a relentless quest for vengeance, utilizing her lethal abilities to confront those responsible.

Trivia: Jun Jong-seo underwent intensive training to perform her own stunts, adding authenticity to her role as a formidable assassin. The film reunites director Lee Chung-hyun and actress Jun Jong-seo, who previously collaborated on “The Call.”

Main Casts: Kang Ha-neul, Kim Mu-yeol, Moon Sung-keun, Na Young-hee

Director: Jang Hang-jun

Writer: Jang Hang-jun

Date of Release: November 29, 2017

Box Office Performance: Grossed approximately $8 million worldwide

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Mystery, Thriller

Synopsis: Jin-seok moves into a new home with his family and witnesses the abduction of his older brother, Yoo-seok. After 19 days, Yoo-seok returns with no memory of his disappearance. As Jin-seok notices unsettling changes in his brother’s behavior, he embarks on a quest to uncover the truth, leading to shocking revelations about his own past.

Main Casts: Uhm Tae-goo, Jeon Yeo-been, Cha Seung-won

Director: Park Hoon-jung

Writer: Park Hoon-jung

Date of Release: April 9, 2021

Box Office Performance: Released exclusively on Netflix

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Crime, Drama

Synopsis: Tae-gu, a skilled mobster, seeks revenge after his sister and nephew are murdered. Following his act of vengeance, he escapes to Jeju Island, where he meets Jae-yeon, a terminally ill woman with her own tragic past. As they form an unexpected bond, their lives become entangled in a violent web of crime and retribution.

Trivia: The film was selected for the 77th Venice International Film Festival, highlighting its international acclaim. Director Park Hoon-jung is known for his work on other notable Korean films, including “New World” and “The Witch.”

Main Casts: Ryu Seung-ryong, Shim Eun-kyung, Park Jung-min

Director: Yeon Sang-ho

Writer: Yeon Sang-ho

Date of Release: January 31, 2018

Box Office Performance: Grossed approximately $7 million worldwide

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Action, Comedy, Fantasy

Synopsis: Seok-heon, a bank security guard, gains telekinetic powers after drinking water from a meteorite-infused spring. As he learns to control his new abilities, he attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Roo-mi, who is fighting against a corrupt construction company threatening her.

Main Casts: Go Soo, Sol Kyung-gu, Kang Hye-jung

Director: Kim Joon-sung

Writer: Kim Joon-sung

Date of Release: February 22, 2017

Box Office Performance: Grossed approximately $1.1 million worldwide

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Science Fiction, Thriller

Synopsis: Investigative journalist Dae-ho is devastated when his young son is abducted. After three years of searching with no leads, he turns to lucid dreaming therapy to access his subconscious memories. With the help of a detective and a psychiatrist, Dae-ho delves into his dreams to uncover clues that could lead him to his missing child.

Trivia: “Lucid Dream” is director Kim Joon-sung’s directorial debut. The film explores the concept of lucid dreaming as a tool for investigation.

Main Casts: Kim Da-mi, Jo Min-su, Choi Woo-shik

Director: Park Hoon-jung

Writer: Park Hoon-jung

Date of Release: June 27, 2018

Box Office Performance: Grossed approximately $24 million worldwide

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Action, Mystery, Science Fiction

Synopsis: Ja-yoon, a seemingly ordinary high school student, suffers from amnesia after escaping a mysterious facility as a child. As she participates in a national talent show to win prize money for her struggling family, her past catches up with her, revealing hidden abilities and a dark history that threatens her life and those around her.

Main Casts: Gang Dong-won, Park Jeong-min, Kim Shin-rok, Jin Seon-kyu, Jung Sung-il, Cha Seung-won

Director: Kim Sang-man

Writer: Shin Cheol, Park Chan-wook

Date of Release: October 11, 2024

Box Office Performance: Released exclusively on Netflix

Network/Streamer: Netflix

Genre: Historical, War, Action

Synopsis: Set during the Japanese invasions of Korea, “Uprising” follows the intertwined fates of Cheon Yeong, a slave with exceptional swordsmanship seeking freedom, and Lee Jong-ryeo, his former master turned high-ranking military officer. As the nation plunges into chaos, the two men find themselves on opposing sides, challenging their loyalties and destinies.

Trivia: The film was co-written and produced by acclaimed director Park Chan-wook. “Uprising” premiered as the opening film of the 29th Busan International Film Festival.

With their unique storytelling, stellar performances, and breathtaking cinematography, these top 20 Korean movies on Netflix offer something for every viewer. Whether you’re in the mood for suspense, romance, or a thought-provoking drama, these films prove why Korean cinema continues to gain international acclaim. So grab some popcorn, hit play, and immerse yourself in the rich world of K-movies!