The lively Korean film industry and Korean movies themselves have always held a special place in my heart. Korean cinema has a special way of dragging me into its universe with each film, from the engrossing plot to the superb acting and the gorgeous cinematography. I’m therefore delighted to show you the amazing variety of Korean movies on Viu Vu that you must watch in 2023. You’re in for a cinematic treat whether you’ve been a longtime fan like me or are only now beginning to delve into the rich tapestry of Korean cinema. So here’s a list of movies that I recently watched on the channel and wanted to share with you all.
Best Korean Movies on Viu Vu [Quick Guide]
- The Roundup (2022) – 7.0/10
- The Night Owl (2022) – 6.7/10
- The Devil’s Deal – 6.3/10
- The Assassin (2015) – 6.3/10
- Beautiful Days (2018) – 6.0/10
- Metamorphosis (2019) – 5.9/10
- Soar Into The Sun (2012) – 5.9/10
- The Closet (2020) – 5.7/10
- Deep Trap (2015) – 5.6/10
The Roundup (2022)
Do you feel it? We must capture this individual. A mission to return a fugitive who fled to Vietnam is handed to Geumcheon Police’s Major Crimes Unit four years after the events of the Garibong district round-up operation. Intuitively, beast cop Ma Seok-do and Capt.
Jeon Il-man senses that something is off with the suspect’s readiness to come forward and reveal murders committed by the dreadful killer Kang Hae-sang. Ma and his team start their inquiry across two nations as they pursue the gory breadcrumbs Kang left behind. Catching the bad has no boundaries. Another collection of tense, fascinating stories.
- IMDb rating: 7.0/10
- Rotten Tomatoes:
- Genre: Action, Crime, Thriller
- Runtime: 1h 46m
- Cast: Ma Dong-seok (Ma Seok-do), Sukku Son (Kang Hae-sang), Gwi-hwa Choi (Jeon Il-man)
The Night Owl (2022)
The intricate nuances of love, loss, and redemption are explored in this independent masterwork by Jane Smith with a rare authenticity. Kyeong-Soo, an acupuncturist who is blind, can see normally at night. Kyeong-Soo sees the crown prince’s demise one evening. While Kyeong-Soo tries to expose the truth regarding the prince’s death, King Injo is driven insane.
- IMDb rating: 6.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Genre: Mystery, Thriller
- Runtime: 1h 58m
- Cast: Ryu Jun-Yeol (Cheon Kyeong-Soo), Yoo Hae-jin (King Injo), Eun-Jin Ahn (Soyong Jo)
The Devil’s Deal (2023)
Do you want to know how the gritty Korean criminal underworld works? Then I highly suggest you watch The Devil’s Deal. The electrifying masterpiece will leave you captivated from the beginning to the end. Hae-woong, a candidate for assembly member, is eliminated from the race after getting in the way of Soon-tae, a prominent local figure. Due to defaulting on a campaign loan, he is being pursued by loan sharks and decides to get his hands dirty.
- IMDb rating: 6.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Genre: Crime, Drama, Thriller
- Runtime: 1h 56m
- Cast: Cho Jin-woong (Jeon Hae-woong), Mu-Yeol Kim (Kim Pil-do), lee Sung-min (Kwon Soon-tae)
The Assassin (2015)
Nie Yinniang, a 10-year-old general’s daughter who is taught martial arts by a nun in 8th-century China, becomes an outstanding assassin tasked with killing cruel and dishonest local governors. She receives orders from her mistress to assassinate the man to whom she was betrothed—a cousin who now commands the largest independent military province in North China—and is sent back to the country of her birth after failing to complete a duty.
The young woman must face her parents, her memories, and her long-suppressed emotions after 13 years of exile. Nie Yinniang, a mistress’s slave, is forced to make a decision: she can either sacrifice the guy she loves or she can permanently go from the holy path.
- IMDb rating: 6.3/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: 80%
- Genre: Action, Drama, History
- Runtime: 1h 45m
- Cast: Shu Qi (Nie Yinniang), Chang Chen (Tian Ji’an), Yun Zhou (Lady Tian)
Beautiful Days (2018)
I was profoundly affected by the poignant and intense drama “Beautiful Days” (2018). This South Korean movie, which was brilliantly directed by Jero Yun, examines the complexity of family, identity, and resiliency. A son who has spent the majority of his life being nurtured by his father honors his desire to travel to South Korea in order to locate his mother after a 14-year absence.
- IMDb rating: 6.0/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Genre: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 45m
- Cast: Dong-Yoon Jang (Zenchen), Oh Kwang-rok , Lee Na-Young
Metamorphosis (2019)
Delve into the darkest recesses of the human psyche with Metamorphosis (2019). We witnessed the concept of possession, infused with terrifying and unique thriller taste in this movie. A family is infiltrated by a face-changing evil spirit, putting one brother in danger while the other strives to save him.
- IMDb rating: 5.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Genre: Thriller, Horror
- Runtime: 1h 53m
- Cast: Sung-Woo Bae (Joong-soo), Dong-il Sung (Gang-goo), Jang Young-Nam (Myung-joo)
Soar Into The Sun (2012)
South Korean Air Force pilot Tae-hun is expelled from the elite Black Eagles flying team and sent to a combat unit, where he clashes with ace pilot Cheol-hui right away after pulling off a risky daredevil feat at an air show.
He befriends the other pilots in the squadron and develops feelings for the stunning Se-young, the maintenance chief. A dramatic dogfight breaks out between the group when a North Korean MIG threatens, leaving one buddy dead and another missing. In an effort to find their missing comrade and avert a devastating war, Cheol-hui and Tae-hun work together.
- IMDb rating: 5.9/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Genre: Action, Drama, Romance
- Runtime: 1h 53m
- Cast: Rain (Taehoon), Joon-Sang Yoo (Major Yi Cheoul-hee), Seong-su Kim (Major Dae-suh)
The Closet (2020)
A compelling and terrifying horror movie from 2020, “The Closet” gives a novel perspective on the haunted home subgenre. Kim Kwang-bin, the director of this South Korean masterpiece, spins a complex narrative of suspense and paranormal intrigue.
A father tries to rebuild his life with his daughter in a new home after losing his wife. But after his kid goes missing and odd noises start coming from the closet, things start to become weird.
- IMDb rating: 5.7/10
- Rotten Tomatoes:
- Genre: Mystery, Horror
- Runtime: 1h 37m
- Cast: Ha Jung-woo (Sang Won), Yool Heo (Yi Na), Kim Nam-gil (Kyeong Hoon)
Deep Trap (2015)
Imagine going to an Island with the love of your life and getting into a mystery. Interesting, isn’t it? A couple traumatized by a past loss, Junsik, and Soyeon, travel to an isolated island to eat at a restaurant. Seongcheol, the welcoming owner, welcomes them when they arrive, but as they continue to observe him, they grow increasingly uneasy.
- IMDb rating: 5.6/10
- Rotten Tomatoes: NA
- Genre: Crime, Thriller
- Runtime: 1h 36m
- Cast: Ma Dong-seok (Park Seong-cheol), Min-Kyeong Kim (Lee So-yeon), Han Sun Jo (Kwon Joon-sik)
Conclusion
That’s all, everyone! The Best Korean Movies on Viu Vu list has been completed. You should start binge-watching these right now if the list has caught your curiosity. You can enjoy these movies with fantastic company while traveling.
