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15 Best Korean Movies of all Time to Watch Online: Parasite, Oldboy, Hope and More


Over the last few years, with the introduction of OTT platforms, cinema from different parts of the world has got a different identity. Filmmakers can present their work to enthusiasts globally, eventually making a mark at an international level. One classic example is the 2019-release Parasite, which became one of the most discussed films in 2019, eventually bagging the coveted Oscars for Best film.

Besides this, critics and audiences across the world are now learning about the power of storytelling, production, presentation and more through a different lens.

Though not all, many of these films, which were recognised as classics or highly entertaining, are now available on digital platforms, be it Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar or more. Moreover, many popular films and web shows are also being dubbed in local languages for better reach, especially in India, where OTT players like Aha, Zee5, SonyLIV and others have made them available in Hindi, Telugu, Tamil and more.

Below-mentioned are 10 most popular Korean films of all time (based on the IMDb Rating and user views).

Best Korean Films to Watch Online on OTT Platforms in India

Name of the Show Platform IMDb Rating Genre
Parasite Amazon Prime Video 8.5 Drama, Thriller
Oldboy Amazon Prime Video 8.4 Action, Drama, Mystery
Ayla: The Daughter of War Netflix 8.3 Biography, Drama, History
Hope Netflix 8.2 Drama
Memories of Murder Amazon Prime Video 8.1 Crime, Drama, Mystery
Miracle in cell no. 7 Netflix India 8.1 Comedy, Drama
The Handmaiden Amazon Prime Video 8.1 Drama, Romance, Thriller
My Sassy Girl Netflix India 8 Comedy, Drama
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter…and Spring Amazon Prime Video 8 Drama, Romance
Tae Guk Ki: The Brotherhood of War NA 8 Action, Drama, War
Silenced Netflix 8 Drama
Train to Busan Amazon Prime Video 7.6 Action, Horror, Thriller
Burning Amazon Prime Video 7.5 Drama, Mystery, Thriller
The Wailing Amazon Prime Video 7.4 Drama, Horror, Mystery
Forgotten Netflix 7.4 Mystery Thriller

Parasite (2019)

Presented as a black comedy thriller, Parasite received critical acclaim globally and was considered to be one of the best films made in 2019. Directed by Bong Joon-ho, and the screenplay co-written by him and Han Jin-won, the film is based on a play written by Bong’s source material. The story of Parasite was lauded for nuanced writing, direction, and performance. Parasite won the prestigious Academy Award (Oscars) in 2019 for Best Film and had a tremendous impact on film lovers globally.

The story revolves around a poor family of four. With neither of them having a job, they struggle to make ends meet until one day, when they make a plan to be employed by a wealthy family. What follows are events where they infiltrate their household by duping them into highly qualified individuals as per needs, eventually leading to several events which will keep the audience at the edge of their seats.

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video

IMDb Rating: 8.5/10

Cast: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong, Choi Woo-shik, Park So-dam, and others

Also Read: Fight For My Way K-drama Telugu dub to stream on Aha from December 24

Oldboy (2013)

Directed by Park Chan-Wook, the story of the 2003-release Oldboy revolves around a man who has been in captivity for several years without any specific reason. He is released and is some money, a phone, and expensive clothes to resume his lifestyle. However, curiosity kicks in, and he begins to find out about the identity of his captor, which also serves as the turning point of the film as something shocking awaits him. The official plot of the film reads, “After being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must find his captor in five days.”

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video

IMDb Rating: 8.4/10

Cast: Choi Min-Sik Yoo Ji-Tae, and others

Ayla: The Daughter of War (2017)

South Korean-Turkish film Ayla: The Daughter of War, directed by Can Ulkay, revolves around Sergeant Süleyman and an incident he faces. During the Korean war, he finds a little girl on a battlefield and takes care of her thereafter. He names her Ayla and gets attached to her eventually. However, things take a turn when he is asked to return to Turkey 15 months later and has a choice to take her along or leave her behind. With no one to take care of her, he helped the girl with another chance in life and the one who won the heart of Süleyman. What follows are events where he has to take a decision.

IMDb Rating: 8.3/10

Cast: Cetin Tekindor, Ismail Hacigolu, and others

Hope (2013)

Written by Ji-hye Kim and directed by Joon-ik Lee, Hope is based on a true crime story known as the ‘Cho Doo-Soon case’ reported in 2008. An 8-year-old “Na-young” was raped and beaten to death, in a public bathroom, by a 57-year-old man. This issue raised several concerns, eventually being covered extensively in the South Korean press. Through Hope, the makers showcase the incident in a fictional manner. The official synopsis of the film reads, “An 8-year-old girl coping with a gruesome rape damaging her internally and affecting emotionally, trying to overcome all obstacles in the aftermath of the incident with good support from those around her.”

Where to Watch

IMDb Rating: 8.2/10

Cast: Re Lee, Sol Kyung-Gu, and others

Memories of Murder (2003)

Directed and jointly written by Bong Joon-ho, Memories of Murder is loosely based on Korea’s first confirmed serial murders. The incidents were reported in the Hwaseong region and are said to have happened between 1986 and 1991. Multiple young women are raped and murdered. Investigation begins, and two detectives are asked to look into the matter. What follows are events where they struggle with the intensity of the crime, case and finding out the details of the unknown culprit.

Where to Watch

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Cast: Song Kang-ho, Kim Sang-Kyung and others

Miracle in Cell no. 7 (2013)

Hwan-kyung Lee directed the film, Miracle in Cell no. 7, is a real-life story of a man who pleaded guilty to the rape and murder charges of a 9-year-old girl. Set in the era of 1972, the story follows a mentally challenged man who was wrongfully imprisoned on murder charges, but upon landing behind bars, he developed connections and friendships with people tagged as hardened criminals. Their bond strengthens, and they, in return, help him meet his daughter through means often not permissible, eventually making the prison their home.

Where to Watch: Netflix

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Cast: Seung-ryong Ryu, Kal So-Won, and others

Also Read: Big Bet OTT Release Date: Cast, Storyline, When and Where to Watch the K-drama Online

The Handmaiden(2016)

Directed by Park Chan-Wook, the 2016 romance drama the Handmaiden follows the journey of a woman who is hired as a handmaiden. She works for the Japanese heiress. However, there is something strange about her. Eventually, one finds that she is secretly involved in a plot planned thoughtfully to defraud her. What follows are incidents where she has to dig deep and eventually face it to change it.

The Handmaiden won critical acclaim globally in 2016 and also bagged the prestigious BAFTA award. The film was nominated at several award ceremonies under the best film (international) category.

Where to Watch

IMDb Rating: 8.1/10

Cast: Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo and others

My Sassy Girl (2001)

2001 Korean romance drama, My Sassy Girl, revolves around a cute man who has been spotted by a young man. She is drunk and is standing quite close to the metro station tracks, eventually risking her life. Upon noticing her in threat, he pulls her back. However, fate has something planned for them, as they end up coincidentally meeting each other, mostly in trouble. What follows are instances starting on the train and ending across different situations.

Where to Watch

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

Cast: Taw-Hyun Cha, Jun Ji-Hyun, and others

Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring (2003)

Written, directed and starring Kim ki-duk as a lead, the film revolves around a boy and his life in an isolated floating temple. He is raised by a Buddhist monk in a remote location, where their daily life passes like the seasons. What follows are events that showcase their life far away from civilisation, and the audience gets to see all stages of his life as he grows from a boy to a man. The film also stars Oh Yeong-Su and Jong-ho Kim.

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

Cast: Oh Yeong-Su and Jong-ho Kim, and others

Also Read: The Glory OTT Release Date: Cast, Storyline, When and Where to Watch the K-drama Online

Tae Guk Ki: The Brotherhood of War (2004)

Directed and co-written by Je-kyu Kang, the film follows the lives of two brothers. The official premise reads, “When two brothers are forced to fight in the Korean War, the elder decides to take the riskiest missions if it helps shield the younger from battle.”

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

Cast: Jang Dong-Gun, Won Bin, and others

Silenced (2011)

The movie is based on a sensitive topic and uncovers the sexual and physical assaults that hearing-impaired students are subjected to in school. The Goblin star, Gong Yoo, plays the role of an art teacher, Kang In-ho. He is new to the school and collaborates with a human rights activist to uncover the truth.

Where to watch: Netflix

IMDb Rating: 8.0/10

Cast: Gong Yoo, Hyeon-soo Kim, Kang In-ho, and others

Train to Busan (2016)

As the title suggests, this 2016-release revolves around a man who is travelling with his daughter on a train to Busan to celebrate her birthday and meet his wife. However, the situation changes and gets intense when they are trapped due to a zombie attack. The outbreak in South Korea invites trouble for the duo and other passengers who struggle for survival.

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

IMDb Rating: 7.6/10

Cast: Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, and others

Burning (2018)

Lee Chang-dong’s 2018 mystery drama, Burning, is about a man and a girl he meets in the neighbourhood. The official premise of the film, as shared on the OTT platform, says, “Jong-su bumps into a girl who used to live in the same neighbourhood, who asks him to look after her cat while she’s on a trip to Africa. When back, she introduces Ben, a mysterious guy she met there, who confesses his secret hobby.”

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video

IMDb Rating: 7.5/10

Cast: Ah-In Yoo, Steven Yeun, and others

The Wailing (2016)

Directed by Na Hong-Jin, The Wailing, is a horror drama revolving around a sickness which starts spreading in a neighbourhood. Through investigation, experts find out that a stranger has arrived in the village, and the sickness has spread post his arrival. A policeman investigates this further only to solve the mystery behind the outbreak and also with a strong motive to save his beloved daughter

Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video and MX Player (Hindi)

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

Cast: Jun Kunimara, Hwang Jun-Min and others

Forgotten (2017)

2017 Korean mystery thriller by Hang-jun Jang, revolves around a man who is on a hunt to find out the truth about a kidnap which involved his brother, who seemingly returned as a different man losing his memory of 19 days.

Where to watch: Netflix

IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

Cast: Kim Moo-yeol, Kang Ha-neul, Na Young-hee, and others





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