Korean cinema offers a rich variety of sincere, exciting and memorable films that resonate deeply with the public all over the world. If you are looking for Korean life movies very appreciated on Netflix, you are in the right place.
Here, we introduce five exceptional Korean films that have captured the hearts of millions and continue to inspire spectators with a powerful narrative, exceptional shows and different genres including family drama, thriller, comedy, crime and social issues.
Ode to my father – A timeless family drama
Gender: drama, family, historical, comedy
Netflix streaming: available
Runtime: 126 minutes
IMDB/Naver Rating: 9.16/10
Release date: December 17, 2014
The story focuses on Deok-Su (played by Hwang Jung-Min), who loses his father and brother during the Korea war and swears to support his family. He faces many difficulties to support them, experiencing symbolic historical events such as working as a Korean miner in Germany and in the Vietnam War. Deok-Su’s life does not only concern an individual’s journey, but also reflects the Korean society in those times. The film emotionally describes the sacrifices and efforts that people make for their families in difficult circumstances. If you appreciate stories of families heard with a mix of tears and laughter, this film is definitely for you.
Money – A Financial Thriller Suspense
Gender: crime, finance, thriller
Netflix streaming: available
Runtime: 115 minutes
Naver evaluation: 8.39/10
Release date: March 20, 2019
Jo Il-Hyun (Ryu Jun-Yeol) is a normal young man who enters the competitive share market in Yeouido as a bary-free beginner broker, dreaming of making great money. However, reality is hard and faces the dismissal due to poor performance. At this point of crisis, he meets a legendary mysterious figure called Number tag (Yoo Ji-Tae), which offers information on illegal insiders promising enormous profits. Initially hesitant, Il-Hyun is gradually attracted to greed. The story takes place while navigating the dangerous world under police surveillance and the pressure of the numerical tag. With a unique background of the stock market and themes of Insider Trading and Financial Frode, this tense thriller is recommended for fans of money, power, actions and financial theme films.
Heart keys – a moving family story
Gender: drama, comedy, family, music
Netflix streaming: available
Runtime: 120 minutes
Naver evaluation: 9.17/10
Release date: December 17, 2014
Jo-Ha, a famous boxing sample (played by Lee Byung-Hun), lives a lethargic life after retirement. He meets with his foreign mother in-Sook (Youun Yuh-Jung) and meets the brother Jin-Tae (Park Jung-Min), who has Savant’s syndrome but has extraordinary piano talents. Although the two brothers initially clash due to different personalities and backgrounds, they understand and heal gradually, building a touching family bond. If you appreciate hot stories about the family, growth and classical emotional music, this is a must-watch on Netflix.
Extreme Job-The Ultimate Comedy-Action Hit
Gender: comedy, action, crime
Netflix streaming: available
Runtime: 111 minutes
Naver evaluation: 9.20/10
Release date: January 23, 2019
The story revolves around five detectives who fight to dismantle a drug ring. Guided by Go (Ryu Seung-dery), their team faces the dissolution due to poor results. To monitor the hiding place of the drug band, they mask each other like a fried chicken restaurant next to it. Unexpectedly, the chicken shop becomes a success, causing a dilemma between the management of the company and the management of the investigations. As conflicts with criminals intensify, extreme situations follow. This unique investigative comedy merges action, humor and chills, offering a refreshing turning point on gender.
Silence – a powerful drama of social justice
Gender: drama, legal, crime, thriller
Netflix streaming: available
Runtime: 125 minutes
Naver evaluation: 9.27/10
Exit date: September 22, 2011
The story follows Kang in-Ho (Gong Yoo), an art teacher just assigned to a school for children with hearing problems, who discovers students who suffer from sexual abuse and mistreatment by teachers. Together with the SEO Yoo-Jin human rights activist, I try to reveal the truth and punish the authors. However, they face the opposition from corrupt local powers, collusion of the school community and an indifferent legal system. The film is inspired by the real case of sexual abuse of the 2005 Gwangju school and criticizes the social negligence of vulnerables. It is highly recommended for those interested in legal and social justice films.
These five films represent a wide range of themes: from historical family sagas and meetings heard to financial thrillers and dramas of social justice that strike. Each film not only boasts high evaluations, but also offers in -depth emotional and cultural insights, making them essential for new and seasoned fans of Korean cinema.
