Korean movies (K-movies or K-films) are thriving in popularity and achieve this in all genres from thrillers to comedies to political dramas. Do you wonder which K-movies are popular among Korean movie-lovers? Google released the list of the most searched movies in their search engine within South Korea in 2020. Among the top ten, seven movies are Korean Movies , while three of them are American movies. Our article presents short reviews of each movie and their trailers:
1. Parasite:
A new symbiotic (and textured) relationship has begun between the rich Park family and the poor and destitute Kim family. However greed, arrogance and class discrimination hover over this relationship like a cloud. Parasite has won four Oscars and is the must-see Korean Movie of all! The IMDB rating is very high score of 8.6.
2. Frozen II
All of us should know the first of the “Frozen” animated movie (and the title song “Let it Go” in its soundtrack), and the sequel is not bad either. It gives the audience a different, more mature feeling compared to the first film. It is also nice that it reveals the mysteries of the past. IMDB grade is 6.9.
3. Peninsula:
Peninsula, which is a sequel to the 2016 movie Train to Busan but can be watched as a stand-alone movie, is a Korean-based horror-action movie directed by Yeon San-ho. The film focuses on the adventure of a soldier sent to bring back a truckload of money from a peninsula conquered by zombies, bandits and a hard-to-crack family. Peninsula, presented on the stage first on June 15, 2020 and appeared in Cannes and Busan film festivals, made $39 million worldwide against a budget of $16 million. The IMDB rating however remained low at 5.4. (The title of the film in the United States was “Train to Busan Presents: Peninsula“).
4. Tenet:
Tenet, a science-fiction and thriller film written (in five long years) and directed by the famed director Christopher Nolan, is about a secret agent in Washington manipulating time to prevent World War III. Tenet is one of the movies where you try to understand what is happening, ask questions, and ponder about things. Koreans love mixed-action movies that fluctuate across time and dimensions, so it’s understandable that they have searched this movie so much. The IMDB rating is 7.6.
5. The Man Standing Next:
A political drama movie based on the novel of the same name is about the last 40 days of President Park Chung-hee, who was assassinated in 1979. The head of the Korean Intelligence Agency, who reaches out everywhere, is the second powerful man in the country; however, there is fierce competition between him and the President’s chief of security. Meanwhile, the former Head of the Intelligence Agency was sent into exile and then testified in the US Congress, which initiated investigations known as “Koreagate“. “The Man Standing Next” tells the story of the power wars in this context, and has a high IMDB score of 7.0.
6. Start-Up (Ma Dong Seok):
In Start-up, a 2019 comedy-drama movie based on webtoon of the same name, a girl who does not obey her mother’s words, starts working as a takeaway personel at a Chinese restaurant. While she meets a mysterious chef in this restaurant, her best friend starts working at a private loan agency. Start-up, which tells about the how these young-stars get more mature from bittersweet experiences of life, was admired for its sense of humor but criticized for trying to deal with too many social problems in together. The IMDB grade is 6.3.
7. #Alive:
An unknown epidemic plunges the entire city into an uncontrollable chaos. #Alive tells the story of a “survivor” who managed to do that by isolating himself. Despite the intriguing fiction and good visuals, #Alive was criticized why the hero’s choices were becoming worser and even worser. However, perhaps we should also factor in that he cannot easily think or behave in those conditions. The IMDB grade of the film is 6.2. By the way, #Alive is a NETFLIX movie, so it’s easier to have an access to it.
8. Ashfall:
In this 2019 South Korean action movie, Mount Paektu plays the lead role! We have good news for you Kpop fans; former idol, solo singer and our beloved actress Bae Suzy also has a role in Ashfall!
Paektu Mountain is a volcanic mountain located on the border of North and South Korea and when it becomes active again, it causes earthquakes on both sides of the border. An operation is designed based on the findings of a scientist who has studied extensively this mountain. Joon-Pyeong, who was imprisoned while serving as a South Korean secret agent in North Korea,, must be reached and consulted about the details of the nearest uranium mine to the Paektu Mountain. Bae Suzy, who plays the pregnant wife of the head of this operation, tries to help the victims of earthquake in Seoul. When the Chinese gangsters and the American garrison chasing them get involved too, the action goes to a crazy level! IMDB score of the movie is 6.2.
9. Honest Candidate:
The politician Joo Sang-Sook (Ra Mi-ran), who was a three-term member of parliament and is campaigning for the fourth, is a politician who has a very strong habit of lying, but suddenly she cannot lie anymore! This is a comedy movie that manages to make you laugh despite its ordinary fiction. Meanwhile, the movie is the 2020 Korean adaptation of a Brazilian production of the same name from 2014. Its IMDB rating is 6.3.
10. 1917:
Directed by renowned director Sam Mendes, this renowned movie from 2019 depicts the adventure of two soldiers assigned to stop 1600 soldiers from marching towards a death trap. As a dual team they must pass through the enemy territory to do that. 1917, reflecting a very high cinematographic quality, seems to be moving a bit slowly, but it is successful in tensing you constantly! IMDB grade is a whooping 8.3!
