Top 10 Best South Korean Adventure Films

The Assassin is a period and action film depicting the story of the most skilled swordsman of the Joseon era, Yi Nan. A prodigy in swordsmanship since childhood, he is now the most formidable swordsman in Korea at that time. He must carry out his perilous final mission for some undisclosed desire.

The film was released on February 22, 2023, across 188 theaters. As of February 25, 2023, with a total revenue of $25,282 and 3,593 views, the film stands at 31st position among the South Korean films released in 2023.

DETAILS:

Director: Kwak Jeong Deok
Cast: Shin Hyun Joon, Lee Moon Sik, Kim Min Kyung

Duration: 101 minutes

Release Year: 2023

Sisyphus: The Myth narrates the journey of Han Tae Sul, a genius engineer trying to unravel the existence of a mysterious life within our world, and Savior Kang Seo Hae, who has undertaken a long and perilous journey. Han Tae Sul is a brilliant engineer and the co-founder of Quantum and Time Company. He is handsome and capable of producing innovative results. Through his efforts, Quantum and Time have become a world-class enterprise. He is known as a prodigy and a hero in Korea, but the reality is slightly different. After his brother's death 10 years ago, he exhibited eccentric behaviors. The company's stock prices fluctuated accordingly. One day, Han Tae Sul feels uneasy about the truth behind his brother's death. His dangerous journey begins. Kang Seo Hae is an outstanding warrior. She can take down the largest men with her bare hands. She is also a sharpshooter and can craft bombs. She learned these skills to survive in a world dominated by gangs and the military. One day, after a long and perilous journey, she comes to meet Han Tae Sul to save him.

Sisyphus: The Myth is labeled as the 'JTBC 10th Anniversary Special Drama,' airing on JTBC from February 17 to April 8, 2021, with each episode released on Netflix in South Korea and internationally after airing on TV every Wednesday and Thursday at 21:00.

DETAILS:

Director: Jin Hyuk

Cast: Cho Seung-woo, Park Shin Hye, In-ho Tae

Duration: 16 episodes

Release Year: 2021

IMDB: 7.1

In the series Squid Game, two childhood friends, Gi Hun (played by Lee Jung Jae) and Sang Woo (played by Park Hae-soo), participate in a survival game. Gi Hun faces financial crisis after being laid off and decides to join the life-threatening game to win the prize money. On the other hand, Sang Woo is struggling in his job despite working hard to reach his current position. Both aim to earn money to navigate through life, but unexpectedly, many mysteries unfold as they strive to conquer the prize of the squid game. While the series is familiar to Korean audiences due to its well-known game, for other countries, it is a genre that seamlessly combines friendship, action, suspense, and excitement.

After the immensely popular series, the stock of Bucket Studio - holding shares in the company representing the main actor Lee Jung Jae - increased by 70% over three sessions in September. Showbox Corp, an investor in the production company Siren Pictures of Squid Game, also rose by 55%. Squid Game became the most-watched show on Netflix.

DETAILS:
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk
Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Greg Chun, Stephen Fu
Duration: 9 episodes
Release Year: 2021
IMDB: 8.3
TOMATOMETER: 94%

AUDIENCE: 85%

The Silent Sea is a mysterious Korean science fiction television series starring Gong Yoo, Bae Doona, and Lee Joon. The series is an adaptation of the 2014 short film 'The Sea of Tranquility,' written and directed by Choi Hang-yong. It is set to be released on Netflix in December 2021.

The Silent Sea is set in the future when the planet is facing water and food shortages due to desertification. Yoon Jae is a soldier working for the space agency. He is selected for a team, including Ji An, to travel to the moon. Their mission is to retrieve a mysterious sample from an abandoned research station.

DETAILS:

Director: Choi Hang-yong

Cast: Bae Doona, Joon Lee, Gong Yoo

Duration: 8 episodes

Release Year: 2021

Mouse revolves around Jung Ba Reum (Lee Seung-gi), a rookie cop working at a police station. His life takes a turn when he encounters a serial killer with psychopathic tendencies. This prompts him and partner Go Moo Chi (Lee Hee-joon) to uncover the truth behind these heinous acts. It also raises the question of whether a psychopath can be detected in a mother's womb using prenatal genetic tests. And if the child in the mother's womb is a psychopath, would that child be wise?

The Mouse series ranked as the 3rd hottest TV show in the first half of 2021 based on the online video service (OTT) Seezn by KT. The ranking was based on content usage analysis in entertainment, TV, and film, as well as the most accessed content by viewers in 2021. The series secured the 5th position among the highest-rated shows airing on Wednesdays and Thursdays on tvN.

DETAILS:
Director: Choi Joon-bae
Cast: Lee Seung-gi, Lee Hee-joon, Park Joo-Hyun
Duration: 22 episodes
Release Year: 2021
IMDB: 8.7

Are You, Human? features Seo Kang Joon in the role of Nam Shin, a tycoon who falls into a deep coma due to an unexpected accident. He later takes on the role of the robot Nam Shin-III created by his mother. Sounds like a story of humanizing machines, doesn't it?

The series is titled You Are Human Too, belonging to the genre of humorous psychological drama. The plot revolves around Nam Shin (Seo Kang Joon), a handsome, talented, and wealthy young man. Expected to be the ideal heir of a large company managed by his mother, Oh Ro Ra (Kim Sung Ryung), he falls into a deep coma after a sudden accident, with no certainty of when he will wake up. Due to urgency, Ro Ra decides to create a robot exactly like her son to temporarily manage the company. How the journey of the robot named Nam Shin in conquering the restaurant business will unfold remains to be seen, whether it can fulfill the mission as expected.

DETAILS:

Director: Cha Young-hoon

Cast: Seo Kang-Joon, Gong Seung-Yeon, Sung-ryung Kim

Duration: 36 episodes

Release Year: 2018

IMDB: 8.0

Kingdom opens with its first season set in a kingdom defeated by corruption and famine. A mysterious rumor about the death of the king spreads, along with a strange disease that turns the infected immune to death but hungry for human flesh. The crown prince, a victim of a conspiracy, embarks on a journey to uncover the nefarious plot and save his people.

The series Kingdom is adapted from the webcomic series 'The Kingdom of the Gods' by author Kim Eun-hee and illustrator Yang Kyung-il. The show received positive reviews from critics, and its second season was released on March 13, 2020.

DETAILS:

Directors: Kim Seong-hun, Park In-je

Cast: Ju Ji-Hoon, Bae Doona, Kim Sungkyu

Duration: 13 episodes

Release Year: 2019

IMDB: 8.4

TOMATOMETER: 96%
AUDIENCE: 90%

The film Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds revolves around the post-death journey of firefighter Ja Hong. He perished while on a mission and, according to the rules, must meet the Lord of the Afterlife, Yeomra, who holds the souls for judgment in the afterlife. However, first, he must undergo the challenging 7 layers of hell within 49 days.

Accompanying Ja Hong are three guardians of Lord Yeomra, powerful but forbidden to assist Ja Hong, as Yeomra claims, 'Humans are full of sins!' and they deserve these challenges! In Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds, you'll follow the character overcoming these intriguing trials! The movie is humane, portraying the characters' emotions excellently, delivering a wide range of emotions for the audience.

DETAILS:

Director: Yong-hwa Kim

Cast: Ha Jung-woo, Tae-Hyun Cha, Ju Ji-Hoon

Duration: 2 hours 19 minutes

Release Year: 2017

IMDB: 7.3

TOMATOMETER: 67%
AUDIENCE: 83%

As the mastermind behind three cinematic masterpieces in Korean cinema, director Joon-ho Bong is consistently ranked among the most talented filmmakers in the land of Kimchi. His filmmaking style always brings a unique touch, especially when combined with scripts he writes himself. One notable recent work is the film Okja, released in mid-2017 with an extravagant budget of 50 million USD. Notably, Joon-ho Bong takes on the role of the screenwriter, and this production is a collaboration between Korean and American cinema, featuring a star-studded cast from both nations.

The plot of Okja revolves around a giant pig named Okja. Throughout a peaceful decade, Mija (An Seo Hyun) has been the caretaker and companion of a massive creature named Okja in her home in the Korean mountains. However, everything changes when a multinational conglomerate named Mirando Corporation takes ownership of Okja and transports her to New York. Unwilling to accept what is happening, Mija embarks on a mission to rescue her beloved companion.

DETAILS:
Director: Bong Joon Ho
Cast: Tilda Swinton, Paul Dano, Seo-hyun Ahn
Duration: 2 hours
Release Year: 2017
IMDB: 7.3
TOMATOMETER: 86%

AUDIENCE: 81%

Kim Moon Ho (Yoo Ji Tae) is a renowned journalist at a major television company. One day, he uncovers the truth about a past case and deliberately approaches those involved, offering his assistance. Meanwhile, with the help of Kim Moon Ho, internet reporter Chae Young Shin (Park Min Young), and Seo Jung Hoo (Ji Chang Wook), known as 'Healer', evolve into genuine reporters.

Healer tells the story of young individuals who initially live detached from issues considered political or societal but eventually have to stand up to face the dull world their parents have left them. Although the series received modest ratings domestically, it garnered a dedicated international fanbase and brought Ji Chang-wook recognition beyond South Korea.

DETAILS:
Director: Lee Jung-sub, Kim Jin-woo
Cast: Ji Chang-Wook, Park Min-Young, Tae-Mi
Duration: 20 episodes
Release Years: 2014 - 2015
IMDB: 8.4