With the introduction of streaming services such as Amazon Prime, viewers find it easier to expand their horizons and venture into international cinema. While Hollywood is still growing and tightening its grasp on viewers’ attention, there is another country that has

increased exponentially in viewership- Korea. Korean films have piqued the interest of many due to their new material, a different culture that one could explore, and new stories. If you are in the mood to watch something that is not produced in Hollywood, Korean films are highly suggested. And thanks to online streaming platforms, they are now at our fingertips. Here’s the list of the best Korean movies on Amazon Prime.

17. 12.12: The Day (2023)

‘12.12: The Day’ by Kim Sung-su is a dramatized account of the Coup d’état of December Twelfth, AKA 12·12 Military Insurrection (December 12, 1979), by General Chun Doo-hwan, commander of the Defense Security Command, against Army Chief of Staff Jeong Seung-hwa, accused of assassinating South Korean President Park Chung Hee on October 26, 1979. As one defining action leads to the next, the period of Seoul Spring-the democratization period in South Korea between 26 October 1979 and 17 May 1980-goes in a direction wherein bloodshed, conflict, and chaos underline its very character. ‘12.12: The Day’ stars Hwang Jung-min, Lee Sung-min, Jung Woo-sung, and Park Hae-joon and provides a riveting insight into one of the most critical periods in Korean political history. You can see the movie here.

16. Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission (2019)

Directed by Eom Yu-na, this is a historical comedy set in the 1940s when Korea was under Japanese rule. It is a fictional take on the 1942 Korean Language Society Incident wherein members of the Korean Language Society (in Keijō) were arrested, imprisoned, and tortured by the Japanese who enforced the use of the Japanese tongue. It tells the story of Kim Pan-Su, an illiterate who cannot speak Korean, who shakes hands with Korean Language Society member Jung-hwan to create the ‘MAL-MO-E’ (“collecting vocabularies”) dictionary, a necessary step toward safe-keeping their language and a stepping stone for their independence. But the Japanese is closing in on them, so the Korean Language Society must find a way not to compromise. Will they be successful? A compelling drama set during a crucial period in world history, ‘Mal-Mo-E: The Secret Mission’ stars Yoo Hae-jin, Yoon Kye-sang, Jo Hyun-do, Kim Sun-young, Park Ye-na, and Kim Tae-hoon. You can catch the film here.

15. The Killer (2022)

This film, also known as ‘The Killer: A Girl Who Deserves to Die,’ is just about a guy looking for a little girl in the signature Korean action style that never gets old. Former assassin Bang Ui-gang gets involved in a murder conspiracy and investigation after 17-year-old Kim Yoon-ji, his wife’s friend’s daughter, is kidnapped while under his care. With a human trafficking gang and the Russian mafia involved, Ui-gang has to put his skills to good use if he wants to rescue Kim Yoon-ji. How he does that is what we are subjected to in this action-packed Choi Jae-hoon directorial. You can stream it here.

14. The Treacherous

Helmed by Min Kyu-dong, this historical drama is set in the early 16th century (1504) under the rule of the Joseon Dynasty, which was the last dynasty that ruled Korea. The story follows the tyrannical governance of Yeonsangun, or Prince Yeonsan (Kim Kang-Woo), infamous for his carnal cravings, who gets beautiful girls from across the country for his pleasure and entertainment. The king’s longtime friend/retainer, Im Soong-Jae (Ju Ji-Hoon), plots his way to control Yeonsan while a low-class woman named Dan-Hee (Lim Ji-Yeon) seeks revenge for her past. There is a tournament forthcoming that will select the king’s consort. Therefore, 10,000 women have been ordered to be brought in. One of them holds the key to the king’s fate. To see what fate has in store for Joseon’s last ruler, you can see ‘Treacherous’ here.

13. Revolver (2024)

The principle that a promise must be kept drives Oh Seung-uk’s thriller ‘Revolver.’ We follow Ha Su-young, played by Jeon Do-yeon, who is let out from prison for doing time for a crime she didn’t commit. She had taken the fall after being promised compensation upon her release. However, she isn’t, and she embarks upon finding the people who are supposed to pay her, only to discover a dark web of conspiracies and crimes where there’s menace around every nook and corner. Suffice it to say that she needs a “revolver” in order to take care of herself. Gritty and gripping, the movie offers an interesting angle of a person’s search for what’s due to her. You can see it here.

12. The Roundup (2022)

Helmed by Lee Sang-yong, this crime action drama is a standalone sequel to ‘The Outlaws’ (2017). Ma Dong-seok, aka Don Lee, stars as Ma Seok-do, Lieutenant of the Major Crimes Unit at Geumcheon Police Station, Seoul, South Korea. After arriving in Vietnam to extradite a suspect, he comes to know about a vicious serial killer named Kang Hae-sang (played brilliantly by Son Suk-ku) who kills for money. How Ma and Captain Jeon Il-man (Choi Gwi-hwa) track down this slippery guy is what follows in this fast-paced action flick garnished with comedy. Filled with twists and hard hits underscored by brilliant action sequences, ‘The Roundup’ is one of Don Lee’s best action films, if not the best. You can watch it here.

11. The Swordsman (2020)

From director Choi Jaehoon, this fast-paced period action drama tells the story of a retired Joseon swordsman, Tae Yool, played by Jang Hyuk, who is slowly losing his eyesight. However, when Gurutai, a member of the imperial Qing family played by Joe Taslim, has Tae Yool’s daughter Tae Ok taken in the aftermath of Qing’s invasion of Joseon, Tae Yool picks up the sword again to save his daughter. Will a father with weak eyesight be able to rescue his daughter while being targeted in a conflict? You can find out by seeing the film here.

10. The Flu (2013)

With a pandemic being a reality now, we can relate to any film that deals with it much better. We get to see what now seems to be a premonition of the coronavirus pandemic in Kim Sung-su’s ‘The Flu’: a deadly airborne virus, people in masks, the affected ones falling sick, a drastic rise in the death toll, hospitals running out of beds, quarantine zones, and a city shut down. Set in Bundang, Seoul, this movie shows us a horror we all have been through and yet doesn’t fail to give us the chills. While the government decides to kill the infected, a rescue worker tries to find the blood serum that will help develop a vaccine. The cast includes Jang Hyuk, Soo Ae, Ma Dong-seok, and Park Jung-min. You can watch the movie here.

9. No Tears for the Dead (2014)

‘No Tears for The Dead’ follows professional hitman Gon, who accidentally shoots and kills a little girl while carrying out a hit in the United States. Although Gon tries to get drunk and forget the incident, his boss soon orders him to South Korea and murder the girl’s mother to tie up all loose ends. Wracked with guilt, Gon makes his way over to South Korea but is unable to deliver the killing blow. However, his act forces the boss to send another assassin behind the woman, and once Gon comes to know of it, he readies himself to fight for the mother of the girl he killed. You can stream the movie here.

8. Midnight (2021)

What happens when a deaf witness becomes the target of a serial killer? ‘Midnight’ is a Kwon Oh Seung-directed psychological thriller that answers this question. A normal night turns threatening for Kyeong-mi, played by Jin Ki-Joo, a deaf sign language counselor, after she becomes a witness to murder. Serial killer Do-sik, played by Wi Ha-joon, does not want to leave any witnesses and thus targets her as his next victim. Whether and how Kyeong-mi escapes and brings the killer to justice is what forms the movie. No less than a horrifying experience, ‘Midnight’ is a gripping flick which you can see here.

7. Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017)

‘Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds’ is a take on there being more to life than death, or rather, life goes on even after death. Directed by Yong-hwa Kim, the movie shows firefighter Ja-hong dying on duty and being guided in the afterlife by three guardians. Over 49 days, Ja-hong will have to pass the seven trials through Hell to be given the green light for reincarnation. But there’s more to Ja-hong’s earthly actions than just rescuing people that may affect King Yeomra’s decision, including his strained relationship with his mother and brother. Will he be able to pass the tests? The cast of ‘Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds’ includes Ha Jung-woo, Kim Hyang-gi, Cha Tae-hyun, and Ma Dong-seok. You can watch the film here.

6. The Great Battle (2018)

While advancement in technology has led to the development of weapons, we cannot deny the grandeur that swords, daggers, bows, and arrows have. ‘The Great Battle’ helmed by Kim Kwang-sik shows the historical event of the Battle of Ansi and its siege which was fought between the forces of the Goguryeo kingdom of Korea and the Tang Dynasty of China. An epic action flick, ‘The Great Battle’ stars Jo In Sung, Nam Joo-hyuk, Park Sung-woong and Park Byung-Eun. You can experience the epic right here.

5. Deliver Us from Evil (2020)

This crime action film is directed by Hong Won-Chan and presents a cat-and-mouse chase between In-Nam, played by Hwang Jung-Min, an assassin, and Ray, played by Lee Jung-Jae, both of whom are linked by the death of two people: a woman named Young-joo and a Japanese mobster named Koraeda. In-nam arrives in Thailand to find that his former lover, Young-Joo, is dead, and her daughter, Yoo-min, who is also his daughter, has been kidnapped. On the other side, Ray finds out that In-nam, the guy who killed his brother Koraeda, is in Thailand and subsequently follows him. You can watch this fast-paced action flick right here to find out who wins.

4. Cassiopeia (2022)

Shin Yeon-shick’s ‘Cassiopeia’ explores the relationship between a single mom and her father, especially after the former’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Su-jin is a lawyer and has been working hard to send her young daughter, Gina, to America for her education. However, fate has other plans as Su-jin is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and will soon start forgetting things and people, including her daughter. Her father, In-woom, does all he can to help her cope with the pain and anger, the cause of which is beyond explanation. So, all they can do is make the most of their time together because the present matters more than what the future has in store. Poignant and moving, ‘Cassiopeia’ paints a gorgeous portrait of parenting. The movie stars Seo Hyun-jin as Su-jin, Ahn Sung-ki as In-woom, and Joo Ye-rim as Gina. You can watch it here.

3. A Taxi Driver (2017)

Based on actual events and set in 1980, ‘A Taxi Driver’ follows Man-seob, a taxi driver in Seoul. A father of one, Man-seob struggles to survive and passes his days living hand to mouth. However, fate seems to smile on him when he learns of a foreign national willing to pay good money for a ride to Gwangju City. Unknown to the taxi driver, the foreigner in question is a German reporter with a hidden agenda. As they travel into the city, they get entangled in a tussle between the government and citizens during a student protest, leaving Man-seob’s fate in the balance. You may watch ‘A Taxi Driver’ on here.

2. The Gangster, the Cop, the Devil (2019)

Won-Tae Lee directed this high-octane action thriller starring Ma Dong-seok, aka Don Lee, Kim Sung-kyu and Kim Moo-Yul. It’s about the capture of a serial killer who attacks ganglord Jang Dong-Soo (Lee). While his men believe the attack was planned by a rival gang, Dong-Soo thinks otherwise. He then reluctantly agrees to join forces with detective Jung Tae-suk (Moo-Yul) to track the killer down. To know how they do it, you can stream the movie here

1. The Handmaiden (2016)

‘The Handmaiden’ is one of the best Korean movies across any OTT platform, an historical erotic thriller directed by Park Chan-Wook. It is based on the 2002 novel Fingersmith by the Welsh writer Sarah Waters, but while the events of the book take place in the Victorian era, the events in the film take place in Japan-ruled Korea. In the film, we have a pick-pocket named Nam Sook-hee (Kim Tae-ri) who is hired by a con man posing as a Count, Count Fujiwara. Sook-hee’s job is to infiltrate the estate of Japanese heiress Izumi Hideko as her handmaiden and convince her to marry the Count. Once the deed is done, the Count, a con man, shall send her to an asylum and rob the heiress of all her fortune. However, things get complicated when Sook-hee and Hideko develop feelings for each other. Erotic, thrilling, and intriguing, ‘The Handmaiden’ is a must-watch. You can do so right here. Read More: Best Korean Movies on Netflix

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