Hyun Bin: 10 Must-Watch Movies

In his vast repertoire, the dynamic Hyun Bin has pulled out a range of roles, evidencing his acting authority that stems from sublime performing abilities. The following ten films are specimens of that—just a few of the fine projects he has worked on across different mediums thus far.

A Millionaire’s First Love (2006) – Kim Tae-kyun

One of his early, well-known works, A Millionaire’s First Love, is one of our top 50 classic Korean romantic films. It stars him as privileged spoilt brat Kang Jae-kyung, who must transfer schools and pass the graduation test before he can inherit his grandfather’s money at 18. Jae-kyung’s fortune is off-limits until then. If he drops out or abandons his studies, he loses everything.

After being sent to a hamlet against his will, Jae-kyung encounters Choi Eun-hwan (Lee Yeon-hee), a teenage girl he has met before. Her truth, once uncovered, warms his heart. Jae-kyung realizes love is more valuable than anything tangible. Theirs is a heartbreaking yet healing love story, made profound by prevailing realities.

I Am Happy (2009) – Yoon Jong-chan

Hyun Bin’s Man-soo in the movie checks into a mental health facility, severely distressed. His state is tied to bitter and resentful memories of his family—a sibling with a gambling addiction and a mother with dementia. At this juncture, following his admission to the psychiatric ward, Man-soo falls for nurse Soo-kyung (Lee Bo-young), who is also enduring personal crises.

In 2008, the movie was chosen to premiere at the 13th Busan International Film Festival before being released the following year. Inversely to its title, in reality, it’s heavy with pain and suffering, but it also features love and humanity, which adds to the viewing experience.

Late Autumn (2010) – Kim Tae-yong

Deep within two souls yearning for love, “Late Autumn” is a whirlwind of emotions. It’s a difficult time for the leads—Anna (Tang Wei) and Hoon (Hyun Bin). Inside, the guy seems roughed up; he’s a gigolo running from a business tycoon’s wrath, like Anna, whose struggle to survive has never changed. She endured an abusive marriage and went behind bars after killing her vicious husband.

When she is on three days of parole amid a span of captivity over her mother’s demise, she is trying for happiness, crossing paths with Hoon through serendipity at an atypical crossroad on her way to Seattle.

Hoon, eagerly, and Anna, cautiously starting out but later with willingness, make the most of their brief encounters before bidding adieu.

Don’t expect a happily ever after—this film is an epic romance and an embrace of its approaching end, where verbal exchanges tend to be succinct but silences convey a lot.

With the film screening at the 61st Berlin International Film Festival, Hyun Bin drew extensive appraisals and nods for the portrayal.

Come Rain, Come Shine (2011) – Lee Yoon-ki

Following a few minutes of idle chatter while driving together, a wife (Im Soo-jung) informs her husband (Hyun Bin) that she is moving on to another man. On their last day together, the husband, without complaint, assists his wife with packing during a downpour. A series of subdued, reflective moments feature them going about their daily life activities and mulling over memories.

Come Rain, Come Shine is filmmaker Lee’s nuanced, charmingly bluesy portrait of emotions. The premise that there is contentment and a fresh start after a breakup, despite the heartbreak itself, is what makes it better.

Hyun Bin invariably breaks standards and pursues creative endeavors. Much like in this movie, he gives his character an air of independence and sensitivity that makes him very appealing.

The Fatal Encounter (2014) – Lee Jae-kyu

Once Hyun Bin said—in retrospect—he had picked up better acting techniques from the various roles he played, like My Lovely Sam Soon and Secret Garden; they made him realize that there was something distinctive and daring about them that he hoped to re-experience in the years to come. Probably for this reason, after being discharged from military service, he chose to play King Jeonggio in the epic period saga The Fatal Encounter.

King Jeongjo, who ascended to the throne in 1777, faced resistance, intense power struggles, and death threats from people with political aspirations within his vicinity served as the film’s inspiration.

The Swindlers (2017) – Jang Chang-won

Nothing out of the box but works thanks to Hyun Bin, Yoo Ji-tae, and a twist in the tale.

A con man who was pronounced dead in a major fraud case is allegedly still alive. It makes sense for prosecutor Park Hee-soo (Yoo Ji-tae), who worked with him, to get rid of the guy lest a corruption case arises. In his pursuit of the fraudster, he encounters Hyun Bin’s Hwang Ji-sung, a second scam artist out to exact revenge on the same person. Recognizing their common goals, the two decide to collaborate.

Rampant (2018) – Kim Sung-hoon

Hyun Bin took a chance on the zombie genre by starring in Rampant, as the Korean take on the horror genre began to gain steam. Rampant received mixed reviews, contrary to K-zombies‘ often outperforming their Western counterparts in storytelling, filming, and visuals. Nevertheless, I believe it’s fun and well worth trying.

In a scenario where Lee Chun (Hyun Bin), the Prince of Joseon, is accused of treason against the court and banished to a remote area, the plot draws on political intrigue and mysteries. Once back, he finds that the rumors about a rebel organization attempting to take over the land are false and instead encounters zombies that prowl at night and cause havoc.

The Negotiation (2018) – Lee Jong-seok

This hostage melodrama crime thriller pits a specialized crisis mediator from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, Ha Chae-yoon (Son Ye-jin), against a villainous man, Min Tae-gu (Hyun Bin), who is involved in the global arms trade. Chae-yoon tries to reason and get past Tae-gu’s odd state of relaxation in a bid to figure out what he really wants while Tae-gu abducts some Koreans.

Hyun Bin gives deviousness his best shot as the antagonist taking center stage; his trademark sexiness enhances his magnetic presence and regularly makes you feel for him, while Son leads the proceedings with her intrinsic attractiveness.

Confidential Assignment 2: International (2022) – Lee Seok-hoon

As a sequel to 2017’s Confidential Assignment, this time around we witness the terrorist chief of a North Korean terrorist group, who was slated to be sent to Pyongyang, manage to flee after the FBI agents are ambushed by the North Korean gangsters. He sneaks into Seoul with a fake passport, and the North Korean authorities task detective Im Cheol-ryong (Hyun Bin) from their special investigative squad to apprehend him.

While they are reuniting for the investigation, Agent Jack of the FBI (Daniel Henney) interrupts Cheol-ryeong and investigator Kang Jin-tae (Yoo Hae-jin) with his plan to get the North Korean offenders back into the United States for killing FBI officials.

Confidential Assignment 2, quite the frenetic action opus, is worth seeing in its combined action, suspense, and criminality with a healthy dose of comic relief, with Hyun Bin as its dominant player. Not to forget the fiery Henney, who zests up the drama.

The Point Men (2023) – Yim Soon-rye

The Point Men follows Park Dae-sik (Hyun Bin) of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and diplomat Jung Jae-ho (Hwang Jung-min) as they risk everything to free Korean prisoners held in the Middle East. Jae-ho assists Dae-sik in his relief and negotiating efforts. Based on true events, the production covers the abductions and hostages of 23 South Korean missionaries in Afghanistan in 2007.

Director, Yim Soon-rye, one of the few female independent filmmakers of Korean New Wave cinema, observed in a press conference that even with the film’s highly charged content, she made it from a neutral standpoint that can objectively see twisted notions. For the story to stay balanced, Yim said, the agent’s and the diplomat’s attitudes and thoughts predominate. Providing greater clarity about his character, Hyun Bin said that Dae-sik was damaged due to an earlier attempt at releasing a prisoner. He and Jae-ho have the same goal, but they look at it differently. On how Dae-sik appears, the actor explained, “I crafted him based on the idea of an agent working with deployed Korean operatives.” His extended time in the Middle East must have had an impact on his style. Akin to Jae-ho, Dae-sik was probably an orderly guy in a suit when he first got to the Middle East, but as he grew used to the new setting, he took on