For those in the mood for Korean movies, 2021 delivered plenty of titles worth watching or rediscovering. Scroll down and pick a flick that’s still worth your time!
Watching movies is one of the most relaxing ways to spend time with loved ones, especially when the film is so memorable, fun, or meaningful that you can enjoy it on repeat. For fans of Korean cinema, 2021 brought a wide range of engaging films, all ready to enjoy from the comfort of home.
From nerve-wracking action and historical epics to heartfelt dramas and thrilling adventures, here are eight standout South Korean films from four years ago that still shine today.
1. ‘Hard Hit’
Directed by Kim Chang-ju and starring Lee Jae-in, Ji Chang-wook, and Jin Kyung, this tense drama follows a bank branch head in Busan who receives a chilling phone call: a bomb will explode under his car seat if he stops driving. As he and his family navigate a terrifying ordeal, the film explores how ordinary people react under extreme pressure.
2. ‘Waiting for Rain’ or ‘Endless Rain’
Directed by Jo Jin-mo and starring Kang Ha-neul, Chun Woo-hee, and Kang Sora, this heartfelt drama revolves around the story of Young-ho and So-hee, who connect by chance through handwritten letters. As their correspondence deepens, so does their emotional bond, making this a gentle and nostalgic romance.
3. ‘On the Line’
Directed by Kim Gok and Kim Sun, and starring Byun Yo-han and Kim Mu-yeol, this fast-paced thriller follows Seo Joon, who infiltrates a phone phishing ring in China. As he dives deeper into the cybercrime underworld, danger closes in at every turn, keeping viewers on edge.
4. ‘Mission: Possible’
Starring Lee Sun-bin and Kim Young-kwang, this comedy-action flick centers on a rookie Chinese spy who mistakes a bumbling private detective for her contact. As they uncover a South Korean gun-smuggling ring, the mismatched pair must learn to work together to stay alive and crack the case.
5. ‘Sinkhole’
Directed by Kim Ji-hoon and starring Cha Seung-won, Kim Sung-kyun, and Lee Kwang-soo, this disaster comedy follows Park Dong-won, a man who finally buys his first home after 11 years of hard work.
But on the night of his housewarming party, torrential rain causes the building to collapse into a massive sinkhole. Trapped with his guests, Park and his neighbor must race against time to survive.
6. ‘Miracle: Letters to the President’
Directed by Lee Jang-hoon and starring Park Jeong-min, Im Yoon-ah, and Lee Sung-min, this nostalgic drama is set in the 1980s and follows Joon-gyeong, a young man determined to build a train station for his remote village.
Despite receiving no response from the government, he — with help from his classmate Ra-hee — finds creative ways to pursue his dream.
7. ‘The Book of Fish’
In this black-and-white period drama by director Lee Joon-ik, Jeong Yak-jeon is exiled to a remote island, where he forms a deep bond with a young fisherman.
Starring Sol Kyung-gu, Byun Yo-han, Lee Jung-eun, and Jung Jin-young, the film explores themes of knowledge, friendship, and life during the Joseon dynasty, blending history with a deeply human story.
8. ‘Escape from Mogadishu’
Directed by Ryoo Seung-wan and starring Kim Yoon-seok, Jo In-sung, Heo Joon-ho, and Kim So-jin, this gripping action thriller dramatizes real events from the Somali Civil War in 1991. As violence erupts, South and North Korean embassy staff must put politics aside and cooperate to escape the war-torn capital.
The film became South Korea’s highest-grossing movie of 2021 and was submitted as the country’s entry for Best International Feature at the 2022 Oscars.
That’s a wrap on the movies we think you’ll love! These films continue to entertain and inspire, proof of Korean cinema’s lasting appeal. Enjoy watching!
