Top 10 Blockbuster Korean Films with Massive Viewership

The Host is a South Korean monster film released in 2006, directed by Bong Joon-ho and starring Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doona, and Go Ah-sung. The movie tells the story of a prehistoric-looking monster created by chemicals in the Han River. After six years of hiding, it emerges from the water and begins devouring humans. Amidst the chaos, young Hyun Seo is snatched by the creature and taken to the sewers, where other victims' bodies lie. Her grandfather, father, and uncle unite to rescue her.

Upon its release, the film reached 10 million views within just 21 days. This number has continued to increase, surpassing 13 million viewers to date.

At the time, the movie became a sensation in the European and North American markets. It also won numerous prestigious awards in South Korea and beyond. In 2007, it was ranked among the top 10 must-watch films of the year.

Miracle in Cell No. 7 (Korean: 7 번방 의 선물; RR: 7beonbangui Seonmul; lit. 'A gift from cell number 7') is a 2013 South Korean film starring Ryu Seung-ryong, Kal So-won, and Park Shin-hye. The film is a heartwarming family story.

It revolves around a mentally challenged man who is wrongfully accused of murder and awaits execution. His final wish is to see his beloved daughter, Ye Seung, one last time. However, reality is cruel, as the door of his prison cell will never be opened for loved ones to visit. Moved by his plight, his fellow inmates devise a plan to reunite him with his daughter.

Interwoven with humor is a deeply touching tale of father-daughter love that captivated audiences nationwide, grossing a whopping $79 million at the box office.

The Thieves is a South Korean crime film released in 2012, directed by Choi Dong-hoon. The movie stars Kim Yun-seok, Lee Jeong-jae, Kim Hye-su, and Jeon Ji-hyeon.

The story follows a team of master thieves. Five top-notch thieves in Korea collaborate with the super thief Macao Park to pull off a heist to steal the priceless Tears of the Sun diamond, valued at $20 million (equivalent to 40 billion won). Leading the team is the cunning mastermind Popie, followed by the lock-picking specialist Pepsee, then the expert in high-rise building infiltration Yenicall, the calculating and cunning Zampano, and finally, the master of disguise Chewinggum. To perfect their plan, they join forces with four other Chinese thieves. However, as the plan unfolds, conflicts arise, including disputes between Macao Park and Popie, personal greed, suspicion, past grudges, leading to each member drifting apart and facing unexpected consequences.

After its release, within just 70 days, the movie surpassed 13 million views. This made The Thieves one of the most popular films in South Korea.

The King and the Clown is a South Korean historical film released in 2005, starring Kam Woo-sung, Lee Joon-gi, and Jung Jin-young. It was adapted from the 2000 stage play, Yi, about Yeonsangun of Joseon, a Joseon dynasty king, and a court jester who mocked him.

The film depicts a love triangle between King Yonsan and two court jesters, Gong Gil, who has a feminine face and figure, and Jang Saeng. The story takes place in the 16th century. The two jesters make a living by performing tricks. One day, while performing in the palace, they are unfortunately caught and brought into the palace for punishment. Using his wit, Jang Saeng helps them both escape death, and they end up staying in the palace to entertain the king and queen.

As they interact more, a special bond forms between the king and Gong Gil. However, amidst the power struggles, bloodshed, and tyranny of the king, the jesters realize they do not belong here. But it's too late... After its release, The King and the Clown quickly made waves at Korean award ceremonies. Interestingly, according to statistics, one out of every four Koreans went to the theaters to watch this film. This proved how popular the movie was at the time.

The Imposter Emperor is a South Korean period drama released in 2012, starring Lee Byung-hun as the eccentric King GwangHae and the humble acrobat Ha-sun, who stands in for the king when he faces a poisoning threat.

The film is set in the ancient Chosun dynasty. The story begins when King Gwang Hae orders his minister Heo Gyun to find him a stand-in when he is threatened by villains. After a search, the comedian Ha Seon, who bears the closest resemblance to the king, is brought into the palace. When the king is poisoned, Ha Seon is forced to impersonate him despite the opposition of the court officials. The film primarily focuses on Ha Seon's transformation from a commoner to a ruler of the nation. Additionally, humorous elements are interwoven to provide audiences with the most refreshing laughter.

After its release, Masquerade quickly became a sensation, surpassing 10 million views. Since then, the film has gradually become one of the most popular.

During the Indian Ocean tsunami, Man-sik and the crew were trapped at sea (including Yeon-hee's father). Later, Yeon-hee's father sacrificed himself to save everyone. Upon returning, Man-sik felt guilty for not being responsible for the unfortunate sailors. Especially, he couldn't open his heart to reciprocate Yeon-hee's feelings. Meanwhile, Hyung-sik (Man-sik's younger brother), while on coastal patrol, saved the wealthy girl Hi-mi. The beautiful girl from Seoul fell in love with the young hero and began pursuing him.

Geologist Kim Hwi discovered signs of a tsunami in the East Sea of South Korea and warned his superiors. Additionally, he coincidentally met his ex-wife and their 7-year-old daughter. Ironically, the little girl didn't recognize him as her father.

While tourists were enjoying a summer vacation, the massive tsunami struck. And all they had was 10 minutes to escape! The film mainly focuses on the story of each character trapped in the disaster. The tension is high, and the human emotions during the calamity are deeply moving.

Since its release, the film has surpassed 10 million views and ranks among the top 5 most popular films in South Korea.

Unlike films featuring love triangles or romantic scenes, Flying Tai Chi Flag offers a glimpse into the most brutal aspects of war.

The film succeeded in portraying the Korean War in the 1950s in the most authentic and tear-jerking way. The main characters are two blood brothers, Jin Tae and Ji Soek. Orphaned from a young age, elder brother Jin Tae took on the responsibility of the family early on. For Jin Tae, his only dream was to marry his beloved and see his younger brother Ji Seok grow up.

However, war dashed all hopes. The two brothers had to enlist, but fate played a cruel joke as Jin Tae and Ji Soek found themselves on opposite sides of the battlefield. The painful past of the war, the inner struggles of the two brothers as they aimed their guns at each other, the agony of separation endured by their parents... all brought tears to the audience's eyes. Additionally, the film conveys profound human values ​​about peace.

Within 5 days of release, 2 million tickets were sold, and after just 39 days, ticket sales surpassed 10 million. The film quickly became one of the most popular films of all time. Interestingly, at that time, one-third of the South Korean population watched this film, even though it was only intended for audiences aged 15 and above.

Snowpiercer (Ice Train Journey) is based on the 1982 French novel Le Transperceneige. The film's plot unfolds in the near future.

In 2031, Earth's warming leads to a return to the ice age. The remaining survivors gather on the Snowpiercer train. However, social conflicts and class distinctions are inevitable among people.

The film's screenplay engages in profound debates on various issues surrounding class discrimination, which captivates and stimulates viewers. Tensions escalate to a climax, resulting in a revolt of the poor led by Curtis - a brilliant engineer. This detail prompts much reflection from the audience. The film's ending evokes strong emotions and thoughts that linger long after, proving Snowpiercer's success in both philosophy and screenplay.

Silmido is a 2003 South Korean action film directed by Kang Woo-suk. It is based on the 1999 novel Silmido by Baek Dong-ho, which in turn is based on the true story of Unit 684. Some parts of the film are fictionalized, as details of certain events remain unknown.

The film Silmido Assassination Squad is based on a true story about the 'Silmido unit' or Unit 684. Silmido is the name of a desolate island, all rocks, located off the coast of the Yellow Sea. Here in 1968, a special 31-member unit was trained. They were members of Unit 684, recruited by the South Korean military from prisons or wanderers on the streets to be trained as detectives, spies with a highly specialized and heavy mission: infiltrating North Korea, going to Pyongyang to assassinate Chairman Kim Il-sung. But everything was exposed and all were suppressed. The fate of those 31 people remains a mystery. The film made such a strong impression on the public that the South Korean Ministry of National Defense had to publicly acknowledge the events and compensate the victims of the Silmido unit that year.

After its release, the film caused shockwaves worldwide, and within just 3 months, it reached over 9 million views.

The Face Reader is a 2013 South Korean film starring Song Kang-ho as the son of a disgraced noble family, traveling around Joseon and a gwansang expert. He can assess a person's character, mental state, and habits by looking at their face.

The film is set in Joseon-era around 1955. The main character is Nae Kyung, a face reader with the ability to know a person's life just by looking at their face, but he chooses to live hidden in the wilderness. He has a son named Jin Hyeong, who, although intellectually superior, cannot enter the political arena due to being branded as a traitor's descendant. As a father, he wants his son to have a better life, so he joins forces to help the prime minister solve mysterious cases. But gradually he realizes that this has unwittingly put himself and his family in danger.

It can be said that this is a film that deeply touches viewers through its theme of the impoverished in old society. Through this, the film successfully delivers a humane message about human compassion to help us have an objective view of life and empathize with the twisted fates in the film. Besides achieving 'super blockbuster' views, the film also received many wingspan reviews from South Korean critics for the humane significance it brings.