21 best Korean movies of 2024

The Korean cinema has had a fairly impressive run this year. From amplifying the intensity of action flicks to taking a fresh approach to the horror genre, Hallyuwood has undoubtedly expanded its horizons.

So, as the year draws to a close, let's take a look at some of the best K-movies of 2024. 

1. Exhuma

Exhuma begins with the story of a family living abroad, which experiences mysterious events that put the newborn of the family in grave danger. They seek help from the shaman duo Hwa Rim (Kim Go Eun) and Bong Gil (Lee Do Hyun), who discover that something sinister has attached itself to the family. 

To get rid of the evil entity, the duo asks for help from the veteran geomancer Sang Deok (Choi Min Shik) and mortician Yeong Geun (Yoo Hae Jin). The group performs an exhumation which unleashes a malevolent force.

Watch the K-movie Exhuma on Prime Video, Viki, and iQIYI.

2. The Roundup: Punishment

The Roundup: Punishment follows the story of "Monster Cop" Ma Seok Do (Ma Dong Seok), who fights against Baek Chang Ki (Kim Mu Yeol), a former special forces mercenary leading a large-scale illegal online gambling organization, and IT genius Jang Dong Cheol (Lee Dong Hwi).

Detective Ma Seok Do is investigating a drug-trafficking app. He finds a link between the app's developer, killed in the Philippines, and an illegal online gambling network. In the Philippines, Baek Chang Ki reigns over the Korean illegal gambling market, opening the doors of terror through kidnappings, assaults, and murders. His accomplice, Jang Dong Cheol is orchestrating an even more menacing plan in Korea. To put an end to this growing menace, Detective Ma takes his operation to the next level by forging an unlikely alliance.

Watch the K-movie The Roundup: Punishment on Disney+. 

3. Harbin

Set in 1909, Harbin follows Korean independence activists fighting against the Japanese for Korea's independence. 

In an attack against the Japanese, the independence army, under the leadership of Ahn Jung Geun (Hyun Bin), secured victory against the foreign forces in Shinasan, Hamgyeongbuk-do. Following the battle, Lieutenant General Ahn Jung Geun of the Korean resistance army chose not to execute and instead released Japanese prisoners of war in adherence to the principles of international law. Japanese major Tatsuo Mori (Park Hoon), one of the prisoners of war, however, annihilated Ahn's comrades. This decision sowed discord among the independence fighters and sparked suspicions about Ahn Jung Geun's intentions.

Nevertheless, Ahn Jung Geun vows to kill Itō Hirobumi (Lily Franky), the Prime Minister of Japan and former Resident-General of Korea, for which he enlists the help of like-minded people including Woo Deok Soon (Park Jeong Min) and Kim Sang Hyun (Jo Woo Jin). United by the commitment to bring independence to their homeland, they set out on an audacious mission. Upon learning that Itō Hirobumi was traveling to Harbin for negotiations with Russia, Ahn Jung Geun and his comrades prepare to "kill the old wolf." However, their plans are compromised when the Japanese, having obtained leaked details of the operation, begin a relentless pursuit.

The K-movie Harbin is currently not streaming on global OTTs. 

4. I, the Executioner

The sequel to the 2015 domestic box office hit Veteran, I, the Executioner is an action-crime thriller about young Detective Park Sun Woo (Jung Hae In) joining the violent crime investigation team and working with veteran Detective Seo Do Cheol (Hwang Jung Min). The K-movie follows the two detectives as they chase a serial killer who is stirring up a sensation. 

Seasoned detective Seo Do Cheol and his team are fully committed to quelling crime, which often puts their lives at stake.

When they find that a professor's death is tied to a string of previous murders, it becomes clear that a serial killer is on the loose, sending shockwaves through the nation. As the team works tirelessly to connect the dots, the killer escalates the tension by releasing an online video, announcing the identity of the next target to the entire nation.

In the midst of this chaos, the team brings in a rookie detective, Park Sun Woo.

The K-movie I, the Executioner is currently not streaming on global OTTs. 

5. Hijack 1971 

Inspired by a real-life incident, Hijack 1971 tells the story of people fighting for survival in an extreme situation when a passenger plane is hijacked in the airspace of Korea in 1971.

Tae In (Ha Jung Woo) is a former Air Force pilot. He was discharged from duty after refusing to comply with orders to shoot down a passenger plane suspected to be hijacked. He now works as an airline pilot. En route to Gimpo, Seoul, the plane he's co-piloting gets hijacked. For the passengers' safety, Tae In pleas hijacker Yong Dae (Yeo Jin Goo) to "let the passengers go." However, his pleas fall on deaf ears.  

Yong Dae hails from Sokcho, Gangwon Province. He lived alone with his mother and endured severe discrimination and contempt due to his elder brother, who became an officer in the Korean People's Army (of North Korea) during the Korean War. After being wrongfully accused and serving time in prison, he boards a passenger plane with the intention of meeting his brother in the North. Shortly after takeoff, he detonates a bomb and seizes control of the plane.

Will Tae In, along with Captain Kim Gyu Shik (Sung Dong Il) and flight attendant Lee Ok Sun (Chae Soo Bin), save the passengers?

Watch the K-movie Hijack 1971 on Disney+. 

6. Firefighters

Inspired by the true story of a 2001 arson case that claimed the lives of six Firefighters, the K-movie follows Choi Cheol Woong and his team as they risk their lives every day to extinguish fires and save those in danger. One day, a fire in Hongje-dong is reported, and the team prepares to respond, sensing the gravity of the situation.

It is reported that the production team used real fire instead of CGI to instill realism.

During his interview with local reporters, director Kwak Kyung Taek said, "If you can't feel the heat of the fire at all, your gait will inevitably change. We used real fire and smoke within the limits of safety." He also shared, "I couldn't help but be extremely nervous when filming the fire scene. Of course, the fire truck was always on standby, and the rescue team was always behind the monitor while we filmed."

It is also reported that actor Lee Joon Hyuk filmed the scene where his body catches fire without a body double. 

The K-movie Firefighters is currently not streaming on global OTTs. 

7. A Normal Family

A Normal Family tells the story of two brothers, holding differing beliefs, whose lives are upended after they come to know of their children's crimes.

Jae Wan is a successful and rational lawyer driven by material ambitions. He gets hired to defend the son of a wealthy executive who murdered a man and left the victim's daughter critically injured. His brother, Jae Kyu, is a pediatrician who lives by a strong moral code. The brothers and their wives gather monthly for dinner at upscale restaurants. However, their world is turned upside down when they learn that their teenagers have committed a violent crime. 

This forces them to confront their morality and shifts the tone of their usual dinner discussions. As tension rises, the brothers' seemingly strong bond begins to suffer a crack.

The K-movie A Normal Family is currently not streaming on global OTTs. 

8. Officer Black Belt 

Lee Jeong Do (Kim Woo Bin) works as a delivery guy for his father's chicken restaurant. He looks like an ordinary young man who enjoys gaming with friends at internet cafes. However, Jeong Do is far from what he seems as he holds third-degree black belts in taekwondo, kendo, and judo. He's also kind at heart as whenever he comes across someone in danger, he doesn't hesitate to step in and help. 

One day, Jeong Do witnesses a man wearing an ankle monitor attacking an officer. He acts swiftly, rescuing the officer. Following this, Jeong Do is asked to temporarily take over the injured officer's duties for five weeks. During this time, he teams up with probation officer Kim Sun Min (Kim Sung Kyun). While Jeong Do's role involves handling physically dangerous situations, Sun Min oversees the violent probationers. 

Impressed by Jeong Do's exceptional combat skills, Sun Min encourages him to consider becoming a full-time martial arts officer.

Watch the K-movie Officer Black Belt on Netflix.

9. Citizen of a Kind

Deok Hee (Ra Mi Ran) is an ordinary citizen who falls victim to a voice phishing scam. One day, she unexpectedly receives a help request from the same member of the criminal organization, Jae Min (Gong Myung), who scammed her. 

Determined to retrieve her money and rescue Jae Min, Deok Hee convinces her colleagues, Bong Rim (Yeom Hye Ran) and Sook Ja (Jang Yoon Ju), for this operation.

This K-movie draws inspiration from a real-life event in 2016, where Kim Seong Ja, a middle-aged laundry shop owner, received a plea for help from a gang member. With the laundry shop owner's help, the boss of the criminal organization was arrested.

Watch the K-movie Citizen of a Kind on Netflix, Prime Video, and Viki.

10. Badland Hunters  

Sequel to Concrete Utopia, Badland Hunters is an action-packed thriller that portrays the struggle of individuals striving to survive in a world reduced to ruins where power reigns supreme.

Watch the K-movie Badland Hunters on Netflix.

11. Project Silence

Cha Jung Won (Lee Sun Kyun) and his daughter are en route to Incheon Airport when a dense fog triggers a massive collision on the airport bridge. Trapped in the ensuing chaos, they find themselves among a group of stranded individuals, including the tow truck driver Joe Park (Ju Ji Hoon). The situation turns into a nightmare when a pack of military experimental dogs is released from their transport vehicle, turning the bridge into a hunting ground. Trapped on the bridge, Jung Won and the survivors must band together to survive while unraveling the dark secrets behind the creatures.  

The K-movie Project Silence is currently not streaming on global OTTs.

12. Victory

South Korea's first cheerleading-themed movie Victory tells the story of Pil Sun (Lee Hye Ri) and Mi Na (Park Se Wan), who start a cheerleading club in 1999. They recruit Se Hyun (Jo Aram), a transfer student from Seoul with experience in cheerleading from her previous school. Together, Pil Sun, Mi Na, and Se Hyun gather enough members to create a nine-member club, naming it "Millennium Girls". With little experience in cheerleading, their goal is to support their school Geoje High School's struggling soccer team, led by goalie Chi Hyeong (Lee Jung Ha), and inspire them to claim victory. 

Watch the K-movie Victory on Viki.

13. Handsome Guys

Handsome Guys follows best friends Sang Goo (Lee Hee Joon) and Jae Pil (Lee Sung Min), who move into a new house, dreaming of living in the countryside. But, their simple dream takes a drastic turn when an evil spirit that had been long sealed in the basement awakens.

Watch the K-movie Handsome Guys on Disney+.

14. Revolver 

Police officer Soo Young (Jeon Do Yeon) agreed to take the fall for a corruption scandal in exchange for financial compensation from Andy (Ji Chang Wook). After serving a two-year prison sentence, she is released only to learn that Andy and everyone connected to the case have abandoned her. Fueled by the anger of the bitter betrayal, she charges forward to claim the money she was promised. With no one to trust, she is approached by Yoon Sun (Im Ji Yeon), a mysterious woman whose true intentions remain unknown.

The K-movie Revolver is currently not streaming on global OTTs.

15. Alienoid: Return to the Future

Alienoid: Return to the Future picks up from where the story left off in Part 1 and follows people trying to return to the present to save everyone while new secrets are unveiled in an intense fight for the Divine Sword. The K-movie solves all the mysteries left unresolved in Alienoid 1. Ryu Jun Yeol, Kim Tae Ri, Kim Woo Bin, Lee Ha Nee, Yeom Jung Ah, Jo Woo Jin, and more star in the K-movie. 

Watch the K-movie Alienoid: Return to the Future on Prime Video, Viki, and Apple Tv.

16. Following 

Gu Jeong Tae (Byun Yo Han) works as a real estate agent. He seems like an ordinary man but has a weird hobby of secretly peeping into the lives of other people using house keys left in his care by clients. His curiosity leads him to Han So Ra (Shin Hye Sun), a social media influencer who presents a different image of herself online than who she really is, such as posting photos of salad on her social media while privately indulging in convenience store food.

One day, during a visit to So Ra's home, Jeong Tae finds her dead body on the sofa. Not long after, someone aware of his unauthorized visit begins to blackmail him. The situation worsens when Oh Young Joo (Lee El), a homicide detective, takes charge of the case, with all evidence seemingly implicating Jeong Tae as the murderer. Jeong Tae now searches for clues to find the true culprit.

The K-movie Following is currently not streaming on global OTTs.

17. Land of Happiness

Inspired by the real-life incident of President Park Chung Hee's assassination, Land of Happiness follows lawyer Jung In Hoo (Jo Jung Suk) as he defends Army Colonel Park Tae Ju (Lee Sun Kyun) in one of South Korea's most politically sensational trials — the president's assassination. The odds are stacked against him, but In Hoo remains undeterred, fighting tirelessly to uphold justice, even as the trial grows increasingly unjust.

Thirty minutes before the assassination, Tae Ju received an order from his superior to subdue presidential security guards if necessary. The trial's focus is on whether Tae Ju's response is a "premeditated act of rebellion" or an act of "obedience to orders under duress". 

While In Hoo urges Tae Ju to shape his testimony to improve his chances of winning, Tae Ju remains unwavering, unwilling to betray those who trusted him.

Simultaneously, Jeon Sang Doo (Yoo Jae Myung), the head of the joint investigation team, exploits the trial for his own agenda. Operating covertly, he manipulates the trial by sending instructions to the court, all while pursuing his dangerous ambitions in the aftermath of the October 26 incident.

Land of Happiness is currently not streaming on global OTTs.

18. Uprising

Set in the Joseon era, Uprising tells the story of Jong Ryeo (Park Jeong Min), the son of Joseon's most powerful military family, and his slave Cheon Young (Kang Dong Won), who, after growing up together as best friends, cross paths again as enemies against the backdrop of Japan's invasion of Korea.

Watch the K-movie Uprising on Netflix.

19. Mission Cross

Park Kang Moo (Hwang Jung Min) is a former agent who has left his past behind to live a quiet life as a househusband. However, his peace is disrupted when he becomes caught up in a perilous mission. His wife, Kang Mi Seon (Yeom Jung Ah), an accomplished detective in the violent crimes unit, remains unaware of his hidden past.

Trouble begins when Hee Joo (Jeon Hye Jin), a former colleague of Kang Moo, seeks his help while facing a dire situation. Without disclosing anything to Mi Seon, Kang Moo agrees to assist her. Suspicious of her husband's unusual behavior, Mi Seon decides to secretly trail him, which leads them both into life-threatening situations.

Watch Mission Cross on Netflix.

20. Wonderland 

Wonderland tells the story of people who reunite with their loved ones through a service called Wonderland, which reconstructs people, who cannot be interacted with in real life, using artificial intelligence. The K-movie stars Tang Wei, Bae Suzy, Park Bo Gum, Jung Yu Mi, and Choi Woo Shik, with a special appearance by Gong Yoo. 

Watch Wonderland on Netflix.

21. Bogota: City of the Lost 

In 1997, due to the IMF crisis that shook South Korea's economy, Guk Hee's (Song Joong Ki) family, like many others, was left destitute. For a better life, they relocate to Bogotá, Colombia, but misfortune strikes as they are robbed of their life savings. To make ends meet, Guk Hee begins working for Sergeant Park (Kwon Hae Hyo), a big name in the garment trading industry, and gets into the smuggling business. Through his dedication and hard work, Guk Hee earns Sergeant Park's recognition, but he doesn't stop there. Seeing Guk Hee's potential, Soo Young (Lee Hee Joon), a customs broker, makes him an offer. Guk Hee decides to climb higher. 

The K-movie Bogota: City of the Lost is currently not streaming on global OTTs.