The 10 Best Korean Movies of 2022

Whether they are influential art films or contemporary commercial ones, Korean movies are inimitable. They can be graphic, dramatic, romantic, gory, ghastly, hilarious, melancholic, queer or anything else, but they are invariably defined by originality and skilful narration, not to mention high production standards.

In the realm of cinema, Korean films have undeniably been a popular choice, consistently remaining at the top of their game and drawing consumers both domestically and abroad. This year was no different. Here is a list of the 10 Korean movies from 2022 that are the best of the lot.

10. Carter

Helmed by director Jung Byung-gil, the film is set during a deadly epidemic caused by a virus that originated in the Korean Demilitarized Zone and makes its victims savage and zombie-like. In the opening scene, we see a man (Joo Won) waking up in a Seoul hotel room without remembering who he is or why he is there. Carter is his name, and he must follow her instructions if he is to survive, says a female voice in his ear that only he can hear.

What follows is a harrowing whirlwind of brutal mayhem and fight scenes, which Joo Won executes flawlessly. Extra credit for his outstanding athletic prowess. Despite some criticism for its graphic violence, I believe Carter has created a gripping action thriller. 

9. Seoul Vibe

Seoul Vibe is entertaining because it combines comedy and action, chronicling the Sanggye-dong Supreme Team’s drivers as they become embroiled in a VIP slush-fund probe when a car chase ensues during the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games and they accept a lucrative offer.

Yoo Ah-in is phenomenal as the team’s leader, Park Dong-wook. Regardless of the role he portrays, his character depictions are always spot on. I loved the film’s vintage aesthetics, the portrayal of camaraderie, hilarity and adrenaline, all of which come together to make it a must-watch. There is never a dull moment, and that is especially true given the extremely stunning driving manoeuvres. With the use of retro fashion, soulful music and endearing characters, director Moon Hyun-sung has expertly woven nostalgia into Seoul Vibe.

8. Hansan: Rising Dragon

This is a deftly made, captivating movie with a deftly produced epic sea battle at its core – the historical Battle of Hansan – which took place five years before the Battle of Myeongnyang, depicted in its sequel The Admiral: Roaring Currents.

In 1592, the Japanese fleet and its potent battleships are faced against Admiral Yi Sun-sin (Hae Il-park) and his forces. While the Korean troops lie in shambles, the admiral uses his go-to weapon, the ‘Geobukseon’ (a large Korean warship that was used by the Royal Korean Navy during the Joseon dynasty), to try and alter the course of this titanic naval battle.

This stunning magnum opus, filmed by Kim Han-min, is packed with breathtaking imagery. As of November 12th, 2022, the Korean Film Council reported that Hansan – the recipient of numerous nominations and awards – was the second-highest-grossing Korean movie of this year.

7. Alienoid

Writer-director Choi Dong-hoon has produced a staggeringly beautiful spectacle that is painstakingly crafted using VFX and CGI. In Alienoid, gurus in the late Goryeo era seek to acquire a legendary sacred weapon, as humans in the present hunt down an alien prisoner who has been incarcerated within a human body. The parties come into contact when a time-traveling doorway unlocks.

The Korean blockbuster is incredibly inventive despite the fact that its plot threads are entangled in various eras.

6. Hunt

Hunt is a fast-paced spy film with a 1980s National Security Planning theme following the 1980 assassination of President Park and two high-ranking security personnel being entrusted with tracking the infiltrator.

Hunt is Lee Jung-jae’s feature directorial debut, starring Lee and Jung Woo-sung. It was invited to multiple prestigious international film festivals, where it was lauded by critics as well as viewers. The action moments are exhilarating, and the setting is fantastic for a period piece. Hunt is also a great thriller about political machinations, with a brilliant cast, plot, production values and camerawork.

5. Love and Leashes

Jung Ji-hoo (Lee Jun-young aka Jun) and Jung Ji-woo (Seo Ju-hyun aka Seo-hyun from Girls’ Generation) have an unexpected affair due to an unforeseen event. Ji-hoo is well known for having a poker face and being icy at work, but his female colleagues adore him. One day, Ji-hoo’s delivery package accidentally ends up in Ji-woo’s hands; she opens it, revealing one of his fantasies. What ensues is an agreement that sparks a passionate romance between the characters as they embark on a journey of pleasure through pain.

Hyeon-jin Park’s Love and Leashes is awesome because it subtly captures the dom-sub relationship and the BDSM scene. It informs us about how to embrace ourselves and pursue our desires without fear of rejection. Dialogues like this will undoubtedly cause you to think as the plot ensues: “Isn’t there at least one secret longing brewing inside your heart that you won’t acknowledge?”

4. Broker

Broker might be described as an intensely emotional environment. The plot centers on people linked to baby boxes, who permit babies to be discreetly dropped off and attended to by others.

In the illegal adoption market, two brokers, Sang-hyeon (Song Kang-ho) and Dong-soo (Gang Dong-won), steal and sell infants. But when So-young (Lee Ji-eun or IU), the mother who had discarded her child, comes looking for a family to raise the baby, she meets the men and decides to go on the search with them.

Filmmaker Hirokazu Kore-eda conveys a bittersweet story in Broker, a profoundly heart-warming comedy that also brings you to tears. It is understandable why Broker has been hailed as one of the best movies of 2022 and has justly received numerous prestigious honors.

3. The Roundup

Ma Seok-do (Ma Dong-seok as the beast cop) and his violent crimes squad engage in a spectacle-inducing brawl in this action thriller. Ma travels to Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City to extradite a perpetrator. Upon his arrival, he learns of a string of murders committed by the ruthless assassin, Kang Hae-sung (Son Seok-koo), who has been killing Korean tourists in Vietnam for some time. Ma and his team start their investigation while following the bloody trail that Kang left behind.

With a flurry of awards to its credit, The Roundup is a big hit of this year. It has all the ingredients you’re looking for: tense action, an intriguing storyline, top-notch acting, and a pretty damn good action hero.

2. Decision to Leave

While probing into a man’s death in the mountains, detective Jang Hae-jun (Park Hae-il) falls for the seductive widow of the deceased, Song Seo-rae (Tang Wei), in Park Chan-wook’s masterpiece Decision to Leave. Jang gets caught up in desire and betrayal as he delves deeper into the murder case.

Major plaudits have been bestowed on the megahit, which is also the eighth-highest-grossing Korean film of 2022. It is a true testament to director Park’s extraordinary storytelling genius. He craftily combines romance, excitement, treachery and desire throughout the narrative. Watch this movie if you haven’t already, and if you have, watch it again. The solid performances and cinematography in Decision to Leave add far more grandeur to the Korean noir-thriller genre.

1. 20th Century Girl

As a stand-in for her best friend Yeon-du (Roh Yoon-seo), who is hopelessly in love with a boy named Baek Hyun-jin (Park Jung-woo), a teenage girl named Na Bo-ra (Kim Yoo-jung) keeps her gaze fixed on the boy at school. However, when she crosses paths with Poong Woon-ho (Byeon Woo-seok), Hyun-jin’s best friend, she finds herself quickly caught up in romance.

Set in 1999, the movie is a comedy of errors with a poignant undertone. It came as a pleasant surprise during the year’s final stretch. Its casting, performances, the portrayal of events, twists, romance, heartbreak – everything is expertly pulled off. Using a warm color scheme to capture the tenderness, innocence, nostalgia and thrill of first love in high school, the writer-director of 20th Century Girl, Bang Woo-ri, has created absolutely unforgettable moments and characters. I consider this film to be the very best of this year.