South Korea has consistently produced many riveting shows for the past several years and there seem to be no signs of the industry slowing down soon. With hit after hit, it comes as no surprise to see Korean productions go head-to-head with any foreign counterparts when it comes to quality and popularity.
If your taste leans towards an electrifying nail-biting experience when selecting a movie to put on, then the titles on our list just might be the ones to check out for your next movie marathon!
1. The Villainess (2017)
The protagonist Sookhee (Kim Ok Vin) was a trained deadly weapon working from the shadows. She becomes a sleeper agent for South Korea’s Intelligence Agency in exchange for the promise of freedom for her and her daughter once she completes ten years of working for the organization.
Starting a new life as the single mom and theater actress Chae Yeonsoo, she slowly adjusts to a more subdued existence. Her friendly neighbor Jung Hyunsoo (Sung Joon) eventually finds his way into her and her daughter’s lives as they settle into a domestic routine.
The reappearance of Lee Joongsang (Shin Hak Yun), a mysterious yet important part of her past, stirs up memories and uncovers truths that shake everything Sookhee has ever believed.
2. The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion (2018)
Jayoon (Kim Da Mi) is a young girl with a mysterious past. Having escaped a laboratory in a violent struggle, she had run blindly before passing out. She was eventually found and adopted by a kind couple after realizing that she lost her memories upon waking up.
Ten years later, her adoptive family is struggling with financial problems, her mother is spiraling into the early stages of dementia, and Jayoon herself is struck with terrible periodic headaches. She attempts to help their dire situation by joining a popular audition program with a large cash prize where she shows off her telekinetic ability.
After her stint, strange people show up and threaten her family’s safety, sending Jayoon scrambling to find answers and protect the people she loves.
3. Tazza: The Hidden Card (2014)
Daegil (Choi Seung Hyun, also known as former BIGBANG member T.O.P) is a young man with a natural gift for gambling.
His talent leads him into shady dealings in the underworld where he plays dangerous games. He eventually falls victim to a deal gone wrong, goes on the run, and discovers a complicated conspiracy to set him up as a scapegoat.
Daegil gears up to enact revenge and beat the big players at their own game alongside Mina (Shin Se Kyung) who has gotten tangled in the same suffocating games that threaten their lives.
4. Fabricated City (2017)
Kwon Yoo (Ji Chang Wook) might not be particularly impressive in real life as a jobless introvert but in-game he is a formidable figure.
His carefree days come to a screeching halt when he gets accused of a crime he didn’t commit, thrown into a murder investigation, and swiftly declared guilty. When he hears that his mother has committed suicide in grief, he breaks out of prison and, with the help of his gaming friends, scrambles to uncover the truth.
What they find is an elaborate network of deception and dangerous individuals as well as a series of unpredictable twists that will forever change their lives.
5. Coin Locker Girl (2015)
Il-young (Kim Go Eun) lives an eventful life. Abandoned as a baby in a coin locker, she was found by a beggar who raised her for ten years. She was eventually taken away by a detective who then gives her to a woman running a local criminal operation. She grows up to be a fierce young woman with a cutthroat family in a rough unforgiving environment.
During a routine debt collection, Il-young meets Suk-hyun (Park Bo Gum) whose father owes them money. She is immediately captivated by his kind nature and how he doesn’t seem to be afraid of her despite her background. When Suk-hyun’s father flees from his debts, danger closes in on the young man and leaves Il-young desperate and enraged.
Il-young is left to take matters into her own hands as she decides to face off against the woman who raised her to be the monster that she is and has to get past the deadly members of her makeshift family including her reluctant older brother Woo Gon (Um Tae Goo) on the way for revenge.
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Katherine grew up watching Korean dramas and other Asian shows. Although she first learned to appreciate Korean music through OSTs broadcasted locally, it wasn’t until 2011 that she properly paid attention to K-pop. She holds a fondness for SEVENTEEN and NCT and would recommend (G)I-DLE, Dreamcatcher, and XG to whoever cared to listen. She reads just about anything and is currently easing back into full novels.
MEDIA: As Credited