Top 10 Korean Dramas to Watch When Getting Bored


Having spent the last 1.5 years in lockdown, we were starving for ways to keep us entertained. Korean cinema has emerged as the solution since it was the most widely desired and watched cinema.

Since then, there has been a great rise of fans across the globe in Korean dramas, K-pop and Korean movies. It is mostly because of their exhilarative and imaginative plots in almost all genres.


The unanticipated inclination towards Korean filmdom can also be attributed to a South Korean 2020 Academe Awards winning movie-The Parasite.

 

But if you are someone who has not traversed through the realm of Korean cinema, then here is the list of few movies from varied genres which you can start with and anchor your interest in:

 

1. Train to Busan:


It is the most recommended movie, packed with action-thriller wherein the struggle of a father-daughter duo amidst the zombie outbreak had been portrayed throughout the end.


They take a train to a city named Busan, which is not affected by the zombie apocalypse. It is a two-hour movie starring Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-Seok, directed by Yeon Sang-ho. 

 

2. Tune in for love:


The movie, directed by Jung Ji Woo, features stars like Kim Go-Eun, Jung Hae-in, Park Hae-Joon.


It is a love story set in the 1990s when the IMF was facing a financial crisis. This plot revolves around a boy and a girl who met each other at a bakery. Since they are of different career plans and unfavourable fates, they fall apart.


Watch the full movie to see if they will ever get back together. This movie was loved because of its sincere and intimate nature. This movie has certainly brought so much to the Korean box office. 

 

3. Seoul searching:


A die-hard fan of comedic drama would never miss Seoul Searching, a comedic movie directed by South Korean filmmaker Benson Lee.


It revolves around teenage fun, as it portrays a group of few friends belonging to Korean-American background who visit a camp in Korea in 1989 to enlighten themselves about the country’s culture but instead end up in parties, romance and games. 


If you had a tiring day and are in the mood to watch a movie, you should go for it. 

 

4. Parasite:


It is an Academy Award-winning movie and hence it doesn’t need much explanation.


The fact that it is so popular shall interest you automatically. This movie is a comedy suspense as it revolves around a poor family who infiltrates a house of a rich one as ménage staff.


They planned the plot about entering the house. This movie was directed by Bong Joon-ho where it features seven talented actors.

 

5. Psychokinesis:


This movie is for the ones who love to watch superhero movies. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, this movie stars Ryu Seung-Ryong, Shim Eun-Kyung and Park Jeong-Min.


This movie revolves around a father who got supernatural powers by drinking contaminated spring water. He then decides to improve the bond with his daughter by trying to save her from who is gradually losing the things she always wanted and lived with. 

 

6. Steel rain:


The movie's genre is interesting as it is a political action horror. This movie is about how an agent and the country's supreme leader from North Korea escapes to the south amid a coup.


Then he tries to prevent a Korean nuclear war but the leader also gets injured and struggles for his life. This was a masterpiece directed by Yang Woo-Suk.

 

7. Forgotten:


This masterpiece features Kim Moo-Yul, Kang Ha-Neul and Na Young-hee. Jang Hang-jun was the director of this movie. This story revolves around a guy who searches for truth as the abducted brother returns after 19 years with no memory.


This movie is a psychological thriller that requires lots of your attention. This movie is so suspenseful and unpredictable that with every scene unfolding, you’ll be amazed.

 

8. The Man from Nowhere:


This movie depicts a spellbound plot about crime, action and drama altogether. Herein, the man who has a mysterious past becomes friends with a girl who is kidnapped by a drug gang.


This man tries very hard to save her and eventually takes the law into his hands to attain justice. It stars Won Bin, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Tae-hoon, Kim Hee-won.

 

9. Alive:


It is a zombie thriller that trended #1 just after its release in September 2020. The film, directed by Cho II-Hyung, stars Yoo Ah-in and Park Shin-Hye as they play lead roles.


The movie depicts how we should not become hopeless even in the cruellest and desperate times. The storyline is about a millennial video game player who is left alone in his apartment in Seoul while there is a zombie apocalypse.


The movie portrays his struggle for escape. This movie will boost your spirit and inspire you in its way.

 

10. Burning:


It is a suspenseful film inspired by the short film “Barn Burning” by Haruki Murakami. Here, one can see how the movie revolves around the working-class agitation apart from portraying the reunion of two friends.


It is the work of Lee Chang-dong, who is considered one of the best South Korean movie masters. The movie features Yoo Ah-in, Jeong Jong-Seo and Steven Yeun.

Three characters in this movie are suspicious of each other and not sure of what perception they might have of each other.


They are driven by need, mistrust and desire. This movie sees the world through the Darwinistic approach. It was also nominated for the Academy Award. 

 

These are a few movies which you should go for in your fun time to relax your mind. They will prove to be a stress buster for you and finally making you fall in love with the story plots.


Korean cinema since the beginning has made remarkable achievements, its popularity in the 21st Century is just another one. 

Written By - Disha

Edited By – Bennet Vini