Month: March 2019

2018 saw significant innovation in South Korean cinema. Korea made its

first superhero block buster and financial crisis drama; it might also have a chance at winning this cycle’s Foreign Language Film Oscar (more on that later).

Amidst all this cinematic activity, you might ask: what are the Best Korean Movies of 2018? 

After watching dozens of Korean films throughout 2018, we here at Cinema Escapist have compiled this list of 11 films to give you an answer. Ranging across romances, action flicks, period pieces, and award-winning dramas—take a glance at the top Korean movies from 2018.

•   •   •

11. Default

Korean Name: 국가부도의 날 (Gukga-budo-eui Nal) | Starring: Kim Hye-soo, Yoo Ah-in, Jo Woo-jin, Heo Joon-ho | Genre: Drama, Political, Economic

If you enjoyed the 2015 Hollywood movie The Big Short, or just have a passion for economics and politics, then Default will tickle your fancy. This K-movie dramatizes something many Koreans consider the most traumatic event since the Korean War: 1997’s Asian Financial Crisis.

Even if you don’t have an economics Ph.D.,  Default is worth watching. The movie actually focuses more on crisis’ human impacts, as opposed to technical details. This allows general audiences to empathize with the struggles of Koreans during this trying period.

In fact, Default did exceedingly well when it opened at the Korean box office. It topped the charts and garnered the biggest November opening that any Korean movie’s ever had. Korean audiences found the film really resonant, and audiences in Southeast Asia (who also experienced the 1997 crisis) and the West (who experienced the 2008 Global Financial Crisis) will find the film relevant too.

10. The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion

Korean Name: 마녀 (Manyeo) | Starring: Kim Da-mi, Jo Min-su, Choi Woo-shik | Genre: Action, Mystery 

In The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion, director Park Hoon-jung weaves a complex narrative that centers around a high school student named Ja-yoon (Kim Da-mi) who lost all memories of her early childhood in a mysterious incident. When Ja-yoon enters a televised contest to win money for her struggling adopted family, shadowy figures start appearing in her life. This causes her to rediscover secrets about her past and self.

For big K-movie buffs, director Park Hoon-jung wrote the renowned 2010 horror/action movie I Saw the Devil. The Witch bears some similarities. Even though The Witch‘s protagonist is a teenager, the film contains gratuitous fight scenes and an overall dark ambience. However, The Witch is neither overly reliant on horror or gore. Instead, actress Kim Da-mi does quite a good job of portraying Ja-yoon as a nuanced character.

9. Believer

Korean Name: 독전 (Dokjeon) | Starring: Cho Jin-woong, Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Joo-hyuk, Kim Sung-ryung, Park Hae-joon | Genre: Action, Crime

Heart-stopping action sequences, black comedy, and a hint of art house technique—that’s one way to describe Believer, one of this year’s most entertaining Korean action/crime movies. A remake of Hong Kong’s Drug War, Believer follows a anti-narcotics detective (Cho Jin-woong) who partners with a revenge-driven gang member to take down Asia’s biggest drug lord.

While Believer isn’t a particularly emotional film (hey, it’s action, what do you expect), it’s surprisingly complex in other ways. A pulsating, modern soundtrack complements beautifully shot scenes of gunfights, fistfights, and explosions; well-timed plot twists keep your attention to the very end.

8. Be With You

Korean Name: 지금 만나러 갑니다 (Jigeum Mannareo Gamnida) | Starring: So Ji-sub, Son Ye-jin | Genre: Romance, Melodrama

More a fan of romances or melodramas? Don’t worry, we have you covered with Be With You, one of 2018’s more notable Korean romances. Admittedly, Be With You‘s plot isn’t particularly original; the movie’s a remake of a 2004 Japanese movie with the same name. However, actor So Ji-sub and actress Son Ye-jin lend their star power to this Korean adaptation, earning the adoration of many viewers.

In Be With You, Son Ye-jin plays a wife who promises to return to her husband (So Ji-sub) a year after she dies. She somehow keeps this promise, though their reunion comes with some caveats (i.e. all her memories are gone). Audiences across Asia highly appreciated the movie’s purity and portrayal of true love persisting in spite of all odds. However, be warned: Be With You is a real tearjerker!

7. Keys to the Heart

Korean Name: 그것만이 내 세상 (Geugeotmani Nae Sesang) | Starring: Lee Byung-hun, Youn Yuh-jung, Park Jung-min | Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family

Looking for a more family-centric film? Check out Keys to the Heart, which is one of the most heartwarming Korean movies of 2018. In this film, Lee Byung-hun plays a down-on-his-luck boxer who returns home to live with his brother (Park Jung-min), an autistic savant who’s talented at playing piano and video games.

Though Lee Byung-hun is often known for his action prowess and chiseled jawline, he leverages his considerable acting talent quite well alongside Park Jung-min. Keys to the Heart ends up sensitively depicting the intricacies of family relationships, and provides an emotionally rewarding journey for all viewers.

6. Little Forest

Korean Name: 리틀 포레스트 (Liteul Poleseuteu) | Starring: Kim Tae-ri, Ryu Jun-yeol, Moon So-ri, Jin Ki-joo | Genre: Drama, Slice-of-Life

Another heartwarming member of our list is Little Forest, starring Kim Tae-ri (of The Handmaidenand Mr. Sunshine). Kim plays a young woman named Hye-won who returns to the countryside after a failed attempt at city life. Across four seasons, we see Hye-won rediscover the simple pleasures of life (and cook a lot of tasty Korean food).

Lacking villains, conflict, or tension, Little Forest provides a refreshing break from the pressures of everyday life. It’s a light romp through beautiful natural scenery, and its four act (for four seasons) structure is very easy to follow. If you want an escape from the doom, gloom, and weightiness elsewhere on this list, watch Little Forest.

5. The Great Battle

Korean Name: 안시성 (Ansi-seong) | Starring: Jo In-sung, Nam Joo-hyuk, Park Sung-woong | Genre: Action, Historical, Period

Epic historical action movies have always done well at the Korean box office (ex. The Admiral: Roaring Currents). 2018’s The Great Battle is no exception. As the title suggests, The Great Battle is about a great battle… specifically, the Siege of Ansi Fortress in 645 CE. During this siege, Goguryeo(an ancient Korean dynasty) forces defended a major fortress against hundreds of thousands of Tang Chinese troops, saving the Korean peninsula from invasion.

While The Great Battle doesn’t get all the historical details right (ex. there’s some suspiciously attractive female blowgun operators), it’s  exceptionally entertaining overall. The movie deftly portrays the Koreans’ strategic thinking, pairing it with sweeping action sequences on par with those in movies like Lord of the Rings (albeit with a Korean twist).

4. Swing Kids

Korean Name: 스윙키즈 (Seuwingkizeu) | Starring: Do Kyung-soo (D.O.), Park Hye-su, Jared Grimes, Oh Jung-se | Genre: Musical, Dancing, Drama, War

Released in mid-December 2018, Swing Kids was a late and charmingly unexpected addition to our list. Billed as a musical drama, Swing Kids also incorporates significant historical and social context.

Do Kyung-soo (popularly known as D.O.) of the hit boy band EXO headlines the film as a hardheaded North Korean soldier named Ro Ki-soo, who’s imprisoned in the infamous Geoje POW Camp during the Korean War. To calm the restless POWs, camp authorities order an African-American soldier to organize a tap-dancing group. Ro, along with several other prisoners, join the group and find new purpose in dancing.

Beyond well-choreographed dance numbers, Swing Kids also comments on the brutality of war and racial tensions. The POWs at Geoje have differing ideologies, and their African-American adviser contends with racism from his white superiors. With a genre-defying approach that makes you want to dance along one moment and cry in the next, Swing Kids may live on as a classic alongside 2005’s off-kilter Korean War hit Welcome to Dongmakgol.

3. The Spy Gone North

Korean Name: 공작 (Gongjak) | Starring: Hwang Jung-min, Lee Sung-min, Cho Jin-woong, Ju Ji-hoon | Genre: Spy, Drama

Negotiations with North Korea? Check. Election interference? Check. The Spy Gone North is the most relevant and compelling spy movie of 2018 not just in Korea, but maybe also worldwide.

In The Spy Gone North, veteran actor Hwang Jung-min plays a South Korean spy codenamed “Black Venus”. In the movie, Black Venus must infiltrates North Korea to gather intelligence about its nuclear program. As it turns out, Black Venus is based on a real spy from the 1990s—you can read more about the real story behind The Spy Gone North in our full length review.

The film premiered not long after the April 2018 inter-Korean summit and the inaugural US-DPRK summit, which likely helped it do quite well at the box office. Besides great release timing, the movie had great attention to historical details, and keeps you at the edge of your seat with dramatic tension. If you have any interest in Korean politics, North Korea, or spy movies—add The Spy Gone North to your list.

2. Along with the Gods: The Last 49 Days

Korean Name: 신과함께-인과 연(Singwa hamkke – Ingwa yeon) | Starring: Ha Jung-woo, Ju Ji-hoon, Kim Hyang-gi, Ma Dong-seok, Kim Dong-wook | Genre: Fantasy, Action

Any list of the best Korean films of 2018 would be incomplete without Along with The Gods: The Last 49 Days, which is the sequel to December 2017’s Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds. Filmed simultaneously, these two movies utterly dominated Korea’s box office. The Two Worlds is the second-most viewed Korean movie ever, and Last 49 Days was the highest grossing Korean film of 2018.

In this fantasy epic, three afterlife guardians (Ha Jung-woo, Ju Ji-hoon, and Kim Hyang-gi) must guide a deceased man through various trials in the underworld. Along the way, the guardians meet a god (Ma Dong-seok) who uncovers secrets from their ancient pasts.

49 Days picks up right after the end of The Two Worlds, and offers more character development than the latter film. The star-studded cast of 49 Days give a highly charismatic performance which, coupled with sweeping action scenes, make this an immensely fun movie.

1. Burning

Korean Name: 버닝 (Beoning) | Starring: Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jeon Jong-seo | Genre: Mystery, Genre

Topping our list of 2018 K-movies is Burning. Both artistic and entertaining, it’s likely to earn a significant place in Korean film history, alongside classics like Oldboy.

Adapted from a Haruki Murakami short story, Burning documents the interactions between three young Koreans: Jong-su, Hae-mi, and Ben. At the film’s start, Jong-su (Yoo Ah-in) bumps into Hae-mi (Jeon Jong-seo), a childhood friend from his rural hometown Paju. The two grow intimate but, after an extended trip to Africa, Hae-mi returns with a mysterious boyfriend named Ben (Steven Yeun).

Country bumpkin Jong-su is no match for cosmopolitan Ben. Besides competing for Hae-mi’s affection, the two embody different poles of Korean society. An aspiring writer, Jong-su tries yet fails to escape from the socioeconomic despair of his rural upbringing. On the other hand, with his immaculate yuppie skin and posh Gangnam apartment, Ben feels like a Korean Patrick Bateman. When asked what he does for a living, Ben dismissively answers: “I play.”

Hae-mi herself is idiosyncratic in some Murakami-esque ways, yet also quintessentially Korean in others (“I’ve had plastic surgery,” she bluntly admits). A mime-in-training one moment and a tall tale teller in another, she compels the viewer to question reality.

With this trio of complex characters, Burning constructs a cinematic portrait of contemporary South Korea’s soul. Immaculate cinematography applied to ethereal locations—especially the scenes shot in Paju, which offers sunsets upon the DMZ—make Burning absolute eye candy. A brooding soundscape (including a Miles Davis interlude that’ll delight Murakami fans) completes the package.

Unsurprisingly, Burning is South Korea’s submission for 2019’s Best Foreign Film Oscar, and there’s high hopes it’ll advance further

Are you addicted to Korean dramas? This list will help you increase your addiction! This top 15 list includes some of the best Korean dramas according to viewership ratings and their overall popularity. You can also watch trailers for some of the series here and vote in the poll for your favorite!

The Top 15 Korean Dramas

• Emergency Couple (21 episodes)
• Doctor Stranger (20 episodes)
• Liar Game (12 episodes)
• City Hunter (20 episodes)
• Healer (20 episodes)
• Kill Me, Heal Me (20 episodes)
• Moonlight Drawn by Clouds (18 episodes)
• Prison Playbook (16 episodes)
• The Lonely and Great God – Goblin (16 episodes)
• Pinocchio (20 episodes)
• Woman of Dignity (20 episodes)
• Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (16 episodes)
• The Heirs (20 episodes)
• My Love From The Star (21 episodes)
• Descendants of the Sun (16 episodes)

15. Emergency Couple

If you are looking for an immediately gripping and fast-paced medical drama, this one should be your choice. Emergency Couple tells the story of med school students Oh Chang-Min and Oh Jin-Hee. They fall in love with each other while studying in school. Unfortunately, the couple ends up separating because of family and financial pressure. However, neither of them know that there’s no escape from love. They meet again six years later while interning in the same hospital.

I loved the whole cast in this series, especially Song Ji Hyo from Running Man. The show has everything I want; a wonderful story, cute and funny scenes as well as some fighting scenes, a great cast, and many moral lessons. Also, this is one of those few dramas where I was happy with the ending. I was satisfied with all the bloopers and flashbacks playing at the end!

14. Doctor Stranger

Do you love some action, romance, and medical thrown into a drama? Then you will probably be obsessed with Doctor Stranger throughout all 20 episodes! This series isn’t as typical as some Korean dramas are. You will understand that once you know the plot.

I think Doctor Stranger has a unique storyline to it. Its plot is understandable, intriguing, and sufficient. I recommend this series to anyone who is interested in medical dramas. But I certainly don’t recommend it to people who don’t like blood. Don´t expect the series to feature many heart-fluttering scenes! With that said, it made me cry and kept me wanting to binge watch the whole series.

Park Hoon, a young lad from South Korea, gets kidnapped by North Korea. He is not alone as he is with his world-famous surgeon father Park Cheol, who was brought to North Korea to operate on the “Dear Leader” dictator. Even though the patient is doing better, father and son can´t return home easily. Park Hoon grows up in North Korea, training to become a doctor by his father. He soon falls deeply in love with a beautiful girl, but North Korea puts a target on his back. You need to watch this drama and discover how Park Hoon will escape the country, and whether he will succeed in the search for his first love!

13. Liar Game

If you like tricky math games and dark manga, this drama is worth checking out. Liar Game will most likely make you curious enough about all the questions and non-answers in the show, so you will stick to it just to know the ending.

I haven’t read the manga or seen the Japanese version, so I can’t make any comparisons. The story was interesting; the drama thrilled me and kept me guessing throughout all its tightly plotted 12 episodes!

Liar Game is based on the Japanese manga of the same name. The drama revolves around contestants that take part in a reality game show called Liar Game, where regular people get the opportunity to earn millions of dollars. The winner becomes the one who manages to cheat the others. One of the contestants is a naive girl, who wants to pay off her father’s debt. She gets help from a genius swindler and former psychology professor to win the show. The show itself perfectly illustrates how it ruins the morals of a person and shows how far people can go to get money. It’s a pretty easy series to binge watch at 12 episodes. If you are looking for more brief series, check out this list of K-dramas you can watch in one weekend.

12. City Hunter

If you are looking for a drama with action, martial arts fights, a well-thought revenge plot, and romance, then give this one a shot. City Hunter is the secret identity of Lee Yoon Sung, a man whose only purpose in life is to get revenge on those who killed his father many years before. Yoon-Sung has been training for vengeance since he was a child. The young man distances himself from anyone who distracts him from his task. Despite his best efforts, he faces a tough challenge as he develops feelings for a woman he works with.

I loved how the director balanced both romance and the intrigue of revenge. I think you should give it a shot if you are a fan of action or romantic comedy series! There were moments when the tension was just killing me. I wouldn’t watch this too often since you might have a heart attack.

11. Healer

Here’s one more action drama for you to choose from. Actually, it has a little bit of everything; drama, action, romance, and mystery. Healer is the drama you should include on your watchlist simply because of its decent performances and storyline. The series tells about a star reporter who seeks the help of a spy named Healer to help him to unveil dark truth behind the people who have been ruling for too long.

I loved the acting by the entire cast of Healer! This gripping and intense drama will have you on the edge of your seat and make you experience a wide range of emotions! I loved that both male and female characters were strong. It’s a solid love story without any of the expected funny love triangles. This series is definitely for you if you enjoy good action, romance, and political drama!

10. Kill Me, Heal Me

Heart-wrenching. Heartwarming. Unforgettable. These words will probably come to mind after you finish watching this show. Kill Me, Heal Me is a comedy drama about a man who suffers from memory lapses and multiple personality disorder. The problems were caused by a traumatic experience in his childhood. A third-generation billionaire’s personality scatters into seven different identities. Secretly, he asks for the help of a first-year psychiatry student in treating his disorder. Eventually, the girl falls in love with one of his personalities.

What sets this series apart is its constant twists and turns. It was difficult for me to get bored while watching this drama since something happened in every episode! I advise you to watch Kill Me, Heal Me if you are tired of the usual dramas with predictable plots.

9. Moonlight Drawn by Clouds/Love in the Moonlight

Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, or Love in the Moonlight as it’s also often called, is a historical romance with light melodrama. It features a charismatic and lovely cast along with fantastic sets, costumes, and writing. Also, with a touch of modern humor in it, the drama is fun and playful.

This series is a wonderful youth historical drama. It tells the story of a prince that falls deeply in love with a girl disguised as a eunuch. The story tells us about the many challenges they face in order to protect their secret relationship and overcome threats to the throne. The first half focuses mainly on the romance. There´s a lot of fun with the great dynamic between the couple. The second half centers primarily on the politics.

This Korean drama completely took me in for a ride! I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say that Love in the Moonlight is an exceptional coming-of-age drama. If you like this one, consider checking out these other historical K-dramas.

8. Prison Playbook

Each story this show tells will touch you somehow and you will love each of the main characters. This drama has many things to offer. It has the most wonderful portrayal of heartwarming friendships, and not just between prison mates.

Prison Playbook is set in a prison and tells the story about a baseball player who is sentenced to jail. You will understand why he and some other characters ended up that way as you will see flashbacks from the past. The personal stories of many characters are absolutely beautiful! But remember that it’s more like a comedy than a crime/law drama.

I enjoyed the series, though the beginning was very vague. In the first few episodes, I learned very little about the story and characters. Each episode tells about one particular struggle that the lead character has to go through. I saw beauty in the series as the story unfolded and I learned more about characters.

7. Goblin

If you like fantasy romances with stories that span centuries, you should give this one a try. Goblin (also known by other names including Goblin: The Lonely and Great God/Guardian: The Lonely and Great God) is an interesting ride with a fresh and unique story told beautifully throughout every episode. The drama is also visually stunning.

Goblin is a fantasy drama about a modern-day goblin, protector of souls. He needs a human bride to end his cursed immortal life. However, when the goblin finds his bride, he realizes that he doesn´t want his life to end.

Goblin made me laugh and cry. I was blown away by its epic love story, spectacular bromance and romance, as well as mystery and suspense! The unique premise blended together with the mystery of the characters and unexpectedness of the drama.

6. Pinocchio

Are you looking for a drama with a complex story? Watch this one and you will be stunned over how much is packed into 20 episodes! Pinocchio tells the story of a man who was terribly wronged by a cold-hearted reporter. All the man can think about is revenge. But he suddenly develops feelings for the daughter of his enemy. The girl has Pinocchio Syndrome, which means that every time she lies, she hiccups. So she always has to tell the truth. Watch the drama and learn more about the revenge for past injustices.

I found this K-drama so gripping and intelligently written that I simply didn’t want it to end! First, I decided to watch this show simply because of the main theme, which is relevant today in the era of fake news and misleading headlines. I loved the brutal development of the characters, their thought-provoking decisions, and unexpected actions.

5. Woman of Dignity

If you are looking for an intense and fast-paced mature drama with excellent acting, dialog, and comedic flourishes, you should give this melodrama a go. Woman of Dignity centers on the life of a rich family. The comfortable life of the elegant woman Woo Ah-Jin, who lives a luxurious life due to her wealthy father-in-law, slowly comes apart with the arrival of the new caretaker for the rich man. Park Bok-Ja, the new caretaker, is a poor woman. She has deliberately entered the household of the family with a goal. Her motive is to become part of the family and lift herself out of the low class she has been in all her life.

I was hooked after I learned there were two female leads in the drama! But there are also many supporting characters that each have their own interesting story. I was glad that the series did not focus mainly on the male and female leads (which is popular and hence becomes boring), so it was a fun and enjoyable watch.

4. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon

If you are still looking for a fun drama that mixes romantic comedy with darker crime elements and features adorable leads with unreal levels of cuteness, then Strong Woman Do Bong Soon should be your next watch. The show has a strong heroine and an appreciative, dreamy hero.

On the outside, Do Bong Soon seems to be small and fragile, but she is actually a woman with super strength handed down to her from female members of her family. She wants to keep it secret as she has fears of being considered a weirdo. One day, Ahn Min Hyuk, the CEO of a game company, witnesses her powers. The man becomes attracted and intrigued by her. Soon he faces a threat to his life, so he decides to hire the girl as his bodyguard.

3. The Heirs

The Heirs is a satisfying drama and tells the story of star-crossed lovers. You will enjoy the romance between the lead characters. Kim Tan is the rich heir to the Empire Group. He comes to the US to attend school. While living in the States, he meets Go Eun Sang, who comes to the country with her sister with the hope of a better life. Tan meets the girl at the lowest moment of her life. His heart breaks for her and he decides to take her to his home in Korea. But surprisingly, Eun Sang’s mother is a housekeeper in Tan’s home. And there are even more surprises ahead…

The storyline is nothing groundbreaking, but it’s a fascinating new take on something everyone has watched a million times. I like that it’s modern, youthful, quirky, funny, at times romantic, and sometimes sad. It’s the show for those days when you want to feel warm and comfortable.

2. My Love From The Star

If you are a fan of fantasy melodramas, you should definitely check this one out. This drama took the world by storm at the time it was airing! So why was its popularity in Korea and around the world so huge?

My Love From Another Star (also called You Who Came from the Stars) tells the story of a centuries-old alien with superpowers. He is trapped on Earth and is working as a university professor. All he can think of is how to get back home, but he changes his mind when he meets a popular actress.

This K-drama has everything I could possibly want. It has believable and charismatic leads, an evil villain, romance, comedy, melodrama, and time travel blended together. I definitely recommend My Love from the Star to big fans of sci-fi! Teleportation, time stopping—everything is presented here in a breathtaking way. In addition, there is great chemistry between the two leads and a good sense of humor.

1. Descendants of the Sun

Descendants of the Sun was a mega hit when it was on TV. It had ratings of over 40% and it won several KBS drama awards. Since the drama was produced before its airing, the storyline couldn’t change depending on viewer ratings. Apparently, that’s the reason why it’s only 16 episodes long, despite its huge popularity.

This love story revolves around a woman who is leading a medical team that saves lives and the captain of a special forces unit that carries out secret missions. The action is set in Uruk, a fictitious country in a state of war. They are both dealing with life and death situations every day. So will they take the risk of heart break or not?

An awesome cast, nice music, a wonderful storyline, and great chemistry between the leads are not the only reason why you should give this drama a shot! I enjoyed the romance of this K-drama. It also made me think of the sacrifices that our real-life service men and women face protecting our countries. We also have to pay more attention to the many doctors that volunteer and appreciate their work. In my opinion, Descendants of the Sun is worthy of all the buzz and high ratings it received.

Recommended Korean Romantic Comedy Dramas

Romantic comedy is easily the most popular genre in K-dramas. There are many common tropes that are frequently seen in these types of series, such as the handsome male lead searching for his true love, or star-crossed lovers overcoming obstacles together. Here are some recommendations of the best romantic comedy K-dramas out there.

• Successful Story of a Bright Girl
• Full House
• My Girlfriend Is a Nine-Tailed Fox
• Sassy Girl Chun-hyang
• Boys Over Flowers

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton