The Korean film industry is one of the biggest in the world and is respected for its innovative storytelling. Their movies and TV shows present a fresh cultural and cinematic perspective, delivering a fun and engaging watch to the audience.

25. Tempest (2025- )

When Jang Jinuk of the New Republican Party is murdered in the open, his wife Munju Seo, a diplomat and former ambassador to the US, is given protection by a highly skilled mercenary, San Ho. As Seo tries to find out the truth behind her husband’s murder, ‘Tempest’ reveals a shocking conspiracy linked to both South and North Korea as well as the US, which, if not put in check, could turn into World War III. Her digging puts her life at risk, and it is upto Ho to protect her at all costs. The show deals with themes of power, deceit, and treachery, and does a commendable job blending all of these into an explosive narrative underscored by politics, the most dangerous game of them all. The show stars Jun Ji-hyun as Munju Seo and Gang Dong-won as San-ho Paik. You can stream it here.

24. Low Life (2025- )

Helmed by Kang Yun-sung, ‘Low Life’ tells the story of a newly discovered treasure under the waters off the coast of Sinan, South Korea. As various parties get after it, deals are made, alliances are built, and relationships are forged to make as much of the treasure as possible without any kind of collateral damage. However, true intentions are hidden and only come out when the time is believed to be right. In this whole situation, there are people who just want to earn money, there are criminals, there are dealers, there are fraudsters, there are businessmen, and more. It’s all about who gets the biggest bite off the treasure before someone else. Starring Ryu Seung-ryong, Yang Se-jong, Im Soo-jung, Kim Eui-sung, and Kim Sung-oh, ‘Low Life’ offers a thrilling watch set mainly at sea and is garnished with politics, action, and drama. It can be streamed here.

23. The Tyrant (2024- )

‘The Tyrant’ is about a dangerous bioweapon whose last sample, which the South Korean government was supposed to hand over to the CIA, goes missing. While some people are tasked with finding it, others are tasked with getting rid of the people connected to the project, AKA the Tyrant Project. When agents of both countries get involved in the case, what we have is a gripping and fast-paced thriller wherein morals fade in the face of national security and safety of government secrets. Starring Cha Seung-won, Kim Seon-ho, Kim Kang-woo, and Jo Yoon-su, ‘The Tyrant’ is directed by Park Hoon-jung. It can be streamed right here.

22. Red Swan (2024- )

Helmed by Park Hong-Kyun, ‘Red Swan’ is a romance revenge drama series centering on Oh Wan-soo, a world-class golfer who marries Kim Yong-Kook, successor to Hwain Group, run by his powerful/idiosyncratic mother, Park Mi-ran. Soon, it is revealed that Yong-Kook is having an affair, and things take a more shocking turn after Wan-soo gets caught in a gunfight while at a conference in Manila. She is saved by Do-Yoon, whom she recruits as her bodyguard. Unbeknownst to her, Do-Yoon has a connection to the Hwain Group. With so many twists and turns that keep us right on the edge, ‘Red Swan’ justifies its romantic thriller nature, smartly balancing action and romance. It can be streamed here.

21. No Way Out: The Roulette (2024- )

Helmed by Choi Kook-hee, ‘No Way Out: The Roulette’ is a thrilling mystery that does its job of blurring the line between right and wrong. It follows Kim Guk-Ho, a criminal released after serving 13 years in prison. However, his actual punishment has just begun, as a mysterious streamer called the ‘Masked Man’ has placed a bounty of 20 billion on his head. Things get complicated for Guk-Ho’s lawyer Lee Sang-Bong. Also participating in the “game” are Yoon Chang-Jae, also a killer, Baek Joong-sik, a police officer assigned to protect Guk-Ho, and Ahn Myung-ja, the mayor herself. A highly charged thriller, ‘No Way Out: The Roulette’ takes the epic route to justice and its many shades. You can stream the series here.

20. Hunt (2022)

‘Hunt’ is an action thriller movie that brings together three historical events in a most dramatic manner. It incorporates the Rangoon Bombing of 1983 that was aimed to assassinate Chun Doo-hwan, the fifth president of South Korea, in Rangoon (Burma), the defection of Lee Woong-pyung (a North Korean pilot) in 1983, and the Gwangju Massacre of 1980, which was a response to notorious Chun Doo-hwan’s coup d’état that established him as the dictator. Involving thrill, action, spies, and espionage, ‘Hunt’ ups the ante of anticipation as well as makes the plot personal by involving two South Korean officers who share a violent past. Directed by Lee Jung-Jae, the cast includes Lee Jung-Jae, Jung Woo-sung, Go Yoon Jung, and Jeon Hye-jin. You can be a part of the action here.

19. Big Mouth (2022)

‘Big Mouth’ is a courtroom crime drama created by Jang Young-chul and Jung Kyung-soon. It shows the stories of two characters: one, a not-so-good lawyer named Park Chang Ho, and two, a notorious criminal named Big Mouse. When Chang Ho receives a murder case from the mayor where he is to serve as the defense counsel, he is pulled into the world of crime and conspiracy in which Big Mouse has a primary role. The cast of this intense crime thriller includes Lee Jong Suk as Park Chang Ho, Kwak Dong-yeon, Im Yoon-ah, and Kim Joo-hun. You can watch the show here.

18. Moving (2023)

Superhero movies and shows have made it clear that great powers not only bring great responsibilities, but more than that, they bring great risks, especially when those wielding the powers are kids. In the series ‘Moving,’ we have three teenagers who have such genetic powers but keep them a secret other than from their parents, who have always known about it. Naturally, power-hungry people abound, and soon, the teenagers find themselves surrounded by agents from a mysterious organization that wants what they have. This high-budget show is based on the popular webtoon of the same name by Kang Full and directed by Park In-je and Park Yoon-seo. The cast includes Han Hyo-Joo, Jo In Sung, Lee Jung-ha, and Go Yoon Jung. You can watch ‘Moving’ here.

17. Broker (2022)

A broker doesn’t always mean a person buying and selling properties and/or assets. This movie, directed by Hirokazu Koreeda, tells the story of Ha Sang-hyun (Song Kang-ho) and Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won), who make a living out of stealing and selling the babies that are left in the baby box at the church. However, they come across a mother, Moon So-young (Lee Ji-Eun), who comes back after abandoning her baby and joins them in their endeavor to sell the baby to its new parents, making sure the couple deserves her child. Meanwhile, a pair of detectives are bent on finding the brokers and bringing them to justice. You can stream the movie here.

16. Unmasked (2025- )

‘Unmasked’ focuses on the team behind an investigative reporting program called ‘Trigger,’ which takes on the cases that even the police and prosecutors have been unable to solve. Led by their slightly unhinged chief, Oh So-Ryong (Kim Hye-Soo), the team aspires to solve the most complex cases and conspiracies, often locking horns with sinister forces that don’t want their secrets spilled. This, accompanied by the exploration of the chaotic, morally gray dynamic the team members share with each other, makes the show a rare and powerful addition to the comedy thriller genre. Co-starring Jung Sung-Il, Joo Jong-Hyuk, Lee Hae-Young, and Jang Hye-Jin, ‘Unmasked’ is directed by Yoo Sun-dong. You can stream it here.

15. Blood Free (2024-)

This 10-episode thriller drama is about Blood Free, aka BF, a biotechnology company, and its CEO Yun Ja-yu. The company has gained a monopoly in the global market because of its new generation of genetically engineered cultured meat. Obviously, this led to business rivals for Ja Yoo, who built BF with On San. At the cost of traditional agriculture, they start culturing fish and grain, which doesn’t go down well amongst many as Ja-yu hires a personal bodyguard, Woo Chae-woon. However, Chae-woon has a different secret objective too, directed by ex-president Lee Mun-kyu. A gripping sci-fi thriller garnished with politics, ‘Blood Free’ is directed by Park Chul-hwan. You can stream it here.

14. A Shop for Killers (2024- )

From creators Lee Kwon and Lee Eon-hee, ‘A Shop for Killers’ is a thriller action drama series. Based on a Korean novel of the same name by Kang Ji-young, the series follows Jeong Ji-an, played by Kim Hye-jun, whose uncle, Jeong Jin-man, played by Lee Dong-wook, who brought her up after her parents’ death, commits suicide for unknown reasons. Soon, she finds herself on the radar of assassins bent on killing her. Seeking refuge in her uncle’s home, she revisits the days of training he gave her, which may have the answers she is looking for, including the truth behind the suspicious online shop he ran. Nominated for Blue Dragon Series Awards, ‘A Shop for Killers’ is an intense drama packed with heavy action and a gripping plot. It can be streamed here.

13. Legend of the Blue Sea (2016)

A Korean take on the popular romance between a mermaid and a human, ‘Legend of the Blue Sea’ is a drama based on a Joseon legend and explores the unusual relationship between a mermaid that ends up in present-day Seoul and encountered by a con artist. Unbeknownst to them, both have pasts that are connected. The concepts of rebirth and fate intertwine thrillingly to give us a beautiful show complimented by stunning visuals and compelling performances. The ‘Legend of the Blue Sea’ cast includes Lee Min-ho, Jun Ji-hyun, Shin Won-ho, and Shin Hye-sun. You can watch the movie here.

12. What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018)

Running a successful company isn’t easy, especially when you have to manage a large ego as vice-chairman Lee Young Joon does. That ego needs stroking, which his secretary, Kim Mi So, has been doing for nine long years with no acknowledgment from her boss. Ultimately, she decides to stop concentrating so much on his life and focuses on hers by opting to resign. It’s then that things get complicated, especially for Young Joon, who realizes he needs her but has absolutely no way of preventing her from leaving. Or does he? ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim’ is a drama based on the 2013 novel of the same name by Jung Kyung-Yoon and stars Park Seo-Joon, Park Min-young, Lee Tae-hwan, and Kang Ki-young. You can stream the drama here.

11. Full Count (2023)

If you are a lover of baseball, this one is a great pick. A docu-series featuring ten Korean baseball teams that go up against each other for a 40-year-old championship, ‘Full Count’ contains everything one would expect from a sports documentary-the hard work, the friendship, the enmity, the fights, the fun, the politics, the attitude, and the culture. Interviews of the sports professionals and real footage make this miniseries a great pick for sports enthusiasts. You can grab some Korean baseball here.

10. One Dollar Lawyer (2022-)

From Studio S, ‘One Dollar Lawyer’ is about a lawyer, Cheon Ji-Hun, played by Namkoong Min, who charges his clients only one dollar as a fee. Highly skilled, he helps people in need and fights expensive lawyers representing their wealthy clients who use the money to get away with lies and crime. On the other hand, we have Baek Ma-Ri, played by Kim Ji-Eun, a prosecutor’s assistant at the Baek Law Firm founded by her grandfather Baek Hyun-Mu, played by Lee Deok-Hwa. How the lives of these two professionals intersect and what the consequences of it are what we find out in this legal comedy-drama. You can stream it here.

9. Dr. Romantic (2016-2023)

‘Dr. Romantic’ is a medical drama featuring Ahn Hyo-seop, Lee Sung-kyung, Han Suk-kyu, and Yang Se-jong. The drama revolves around Kim Sa-bu, an expert surgeon at Doldam Hospital, and how he recruits new and talented people to increase the manpower at Doldam as well as to train them to be better surgeons. However, Kim Sa-bu has a past which no one around him knows. How this past and the present come together, and whether this affects Doldam, is what we see in the drama. You may watch the show here.

8. Hyper Knife (2025- )

Directed by Kim Jung-hyun, the crime thriller drama series ‘Hyper Knife’ revolves around two people, neurosurgeon Jung Se-ok and her mentor Choi Deok-hee. When Choi removes Jung from her post after realizing the latter’s unethical approach towards neurosurgery, June starts working on her own, conducting illegal experiments that can change the face of neurosurgery. When the two people come face to face yet again, a game of ambition, revenge, and moral conflict ensues, and it’s only a matter of time before one of them takes things too far. Starring Park Eun-bin as Jung Se-ok and Sul Kyung-gu as Choi Deok-hee, ‘Hyper Knife’ is a captivating medical drama show powered by breathtaking visuals and performances. You can stream it here.

7. Shadow Detective (2022-)

This crime drama follows veteran Detective Kim Taek-rok (Lee Sung Min) of the Geumo Police Station, who is on the verge of retirement. But retirement will have to take the backseat as a murderer has gone shotgun. Taek-rok receives an anonymous phone call that his colleague has been killed and that he was framed for it. While being in the radar of the new investigation chief, Kook Jin Han (Jin Goo), Taek-rok will have to delve into his past to find out who the killer is. In the endeavor, he is joined by detectives Son Kyung Chan (Lee Hak Joo) and Lee Sung A (Kyung Soo Jin). To be part of their investigation, stream ‘Shadow Detective’ here.

6. So I Married My Anti-Fan (2021)

‘So I Married My Anti-Fan,’ as the title suggests, is a rom-com drama that explores the romance between pop star Hoo Joon and his anti-fan, Lee Geun-young, a reporter. While there’s a lot of hate between the two in the beginning, things start to change after they are made to participate in a show wherein they have to live with each other. How the friction sparks the romance is what we get to experience in this show that stars Choi Tae-Joon and Choi Soo-young as the leads. You can stream the drama here.

5. Rookie Cops (2022)

When fresh recruits come to the conservative Korean National Police University, the going gets tough, and it takes time for the tough to get going. Training isn’t easy, and on top of that, there is friendship, ambition, hopes, and dreams, but all this is fine. It is when love blooms that things start getting complicated. After all, the students are there to serve society, not fall for someone. But is it that easy not to fall in love? ‘Rookie Cops’ stars Chae Soo-bin, Kang Daniel, Lee Shin-young, and Park Yoo-na. You may stream ‘Rookie Cops’ here.

4. Revenge of Others (2022)

Opting for revenge over dreams is not an easy thing to do, especially when you are nineteen. But what other option is there when your brother gets killed? ‘Revenge of Others’ addresses this exact thing and brings Ok Chan-mi to her brother’s school, where she comes across Ji Soo-heon, a boy with adversities to deal with. Whether and how the two plot revenge on their enemies is what the drama answers. The cast of the show includes Park Solomon, Shin Ye-eun, Seo Ji-hoon, and Lee Soo-min. You can see the drama on Hulu here.

 3. The Worst of Evil (2023)

‘The Worst of Evil’ is a crime action thriller set in the 1990s that takes on a syndicate responsible for illegal drug distribution across South Korea, China, and Japan. The adrenaline-packed drama shows how some police officers infiltrate the syndicate undercover to take it down. The stakes are high because, in such syndicates, trust comes before everything, and if broken once, can never be gained back. Will the officers be able to pull this off? The star cast of ‘The Worst Evil’ includes Ji Chang-wook, Wi Ha-joon, Im Se-mi, and Kim Hyung-seo. You can be part of the thrill here.

2. Doctor Lawyer (2022)

‘Doctor Lawyer’ is another medical thriller wherein a doctor is sent to prison after a rigged operation results in the death of a patient. He returns two years later as a lawyer and teams up with a prosecutor to bring those who misuse power and wealth, to play with the lives of people, to justice, as well as reach out to the patients and their families who have been subjected to negligence. Intense, gripping, and enraging, this show will get you to the edge of your seat. It stars So Ji-sub, Im Soo-hyang, Lee Joo-bin and Shin Sung-rok. You can watch ‘Doctor Lawyer’ here.

1. Revenant (2023)

A horror fantasy drama, ‘Revenant’ is the story of a relic that a woman got from her dead father, which has somehow altered her. Also, suicides start happening around the city. On the other hand, we have a professor of Korean folklore who is able to see demonic entities and ghosts. How their lives interlink and how they figure out the reason behind deaths all make this perfect for those in search of some Halloween binging. You can stream ‘Revenant’ here. Read More: Best Korean Movies on Amazon Prime