Viewers around the world have been watching Korean action movies with interest for a long time. After all, these films have a peculiar atmosphere filled with the realities of distant, eastern life. Fans are attracted by the confrontation of strength and intelligence, the ability of the heroes to choose the best solution and not turn off the planned path.
The films presented in the selection are in the top of Korean action films and are very popular among fans.
The 25 best Korean action movies
1. The Man from Nowhere:
This is number one on our list of the best Korean action Movies
Rating Kinopoisk — 7.7/ IMDB — 7.7
Genre Action, crime, thriller
Production: Korea South / 2010
Fees in the world $44,722,957
Directed by Lee Jon-bom
Starring Won Bin, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Tae-hoon, Kim Hee-won, Kim Sung-oh, Tanaen Wongtrakul, Lee Jong-pil, Kim hye-so, Song Young-chan, Baek soo-ryong
Cha Tae-shik is the owner of a small pawnshop. He leads a reclusive lifestyle and his main connection with the outside world is the girl So—Mi, the daughter of a neighbor. Her mother is a dancer in a club owned by bandits. Among their occupations: selling people and organs, drug smuggling.
Together with her boyfriend, the girl’s mother decides to rob the gang’s drug courier. And as a result, he gets caught, after which So-Mi gets into trouble. Realizing what this threatens her with, Cha Tae is ready to embark on the warpath, deciding to save the girl at any cost. Check Trailer on YouTube
2. Crime City
This is number two on our list of the best Korean action Movies
Rating Kinopoisk — 7.1/ IMDB — 7.2
Genre: Crime, action, thriller
Production: Korea South / 2017
Fees in the world: $52,946,454
Directed by Kang Yoon-seong
Starring: Ma Dong-seok, yoon kyo-san, Cho jae-yoon, Choi gwi-hwa, Lim hyun-joon, Jung seong-gyu, Han gi-joon, Ho Dong-won, Song Ha-joon, Kim seong-gyu
The year 2004 has come. Seoul’s Chinatown is not as peaceful as it used to be. It is here that several brazen migrants are announced, so much so that they kill the leader of one of the major criminal groups.
His place is taken by Jiang Chen. And having decided not to waste time in vain, he begins to re-divide the territories, starting to actively take away the businesses of competitors.
Ma Seok-to is a detective who and his unit have been maintaining a peaceful environment in the quarter for a long time. However, the new leader means new conditions, and this time it will not be possible to solve the case peacefully.
The film is based on real events, and describes the operation carried out in 2004 to eliminate the Sino-Korean gang by the Seoul police. The film belongs to the best Korean action films, it has a lot of views.
Assassination
This is number three on our list of the best Korean action Movies
Rating Kinopoisk — 7.2/ IMDB — 7.2
Genre: History, thriller, action
Production: Korea South / 2015
Budget: $16,000,000
Fees in the world: $98,023,768
Director: Choi Dong-hoon
Starring: Jung Ji-hyun, Ha jong-woo, Lee jong-jo, Oh dal-soo, Choi Jin-un, Lee kyung-yeon, choi Dong-moon, Lee on-jon, Park Chae-ik, Kim Yi-sung
In 1933, Korea was under Japanese occupation. Several independence fighters decide to kill Governor Gyeongseong, as well as one tycoon supporting a foreign invasion. A group consisting of several people must find a sniper capable of shooting at these targets.
But the main problem is that this man is in jail in Shanghai and first he will have to get out of there. Moreover, one of the group is a traitor and an agent of the Japanese, and therefore killers are already following in their footsteps. One second of delay can eventually turn into death.
The basis for the plot of the film was the story that actually happened. Therefore, he is often included in the ratings of Korean fighters.
I saw the Devil
Kinopoisk Rating — 7.6/ IMDB — 7.8
Genre: Thriller, action, crime
Production: Korea South / 2010
Budget: $6,000,000
Fees in the world: $12,773,990
Directed by Kim Ji-un
Starring: Lee byung-hong, Choi Min-sik, Jung guk-hwan, Cheon Ho-jin, Oh Sang-ha, Kim yoon-so, Choi moo-sung, Kim Shi-un, Cho Dok-chae, Han Chor-woo
A maniac kills the fiancee of Kim Soo Hyun, a special agent. Therefore, he urgently takes a vacation, after which he begins to search. And decides that the death of this scoundrel must be extremely long and painful. Soon Kim manages to sew a tracking beacon into the maniac.
And then he begins to regularly attack him with the sole purpose of exhausting the mind, breaking the killer morally and then physically, turning existence into torment.
The director of the film received a script from actor Choi Min-sik, who played one of the main roles.
Secret reunion
Rating Kinopoisk — 7.2/ IMDB — 6.9
Genre Action, drama, thriller
Production Korea South / 2010
Fees in the world $36,298,578
Directed by Chang Hoon
Starring Song Kang-ho, Kang dong-won, Jung guk-hwan, Park hyuk-kwon, Yoon hee-seok, Choi jong-woo, Kwon Bom-taek, Jung in-gi, Cho seok-hyun, Cha Ep
Lee Han-gyu is an agent of the South Korean special services. He gets a task — to track down a North Korean killer named “Shadow”, who was engaged in the elimination of all “traitors to the motherland”. And so, the Shadow, along with his assistant, goes to a meeting where Lee Han-gyu was supposed to intercept him.
But in the end, everything turns into a defeat.
A Shadow liaison named Sona finds himself under suspicion of betrayal and is forced into hiding, and Lee is fired due to the failure of the mission. After 6 years, they meet again, but no longer as enemies. They will have to work together, but each has their own motives to shake hands with a former rival.
In the original, the film was called as “Twin Brothers”.
The Great Battle
Rating Kinopoisk — 6.7/ IMDB — 7.0
Genre Action, military, history
Production Korea South / 2018
Budget $17,000,000
Fees in the world $42,545,564
Directed by Kim Gwang-shik
Starring Cho In-sung, Nam joo-hyuk, Park seong-un, Pae seong-woo, Om Tae-goo, Kim Sol-hyun, Park pyong-eun, Oh dae-hwan, Song Dong-il, Jung eun-chae
In 630, the Eastern Turkic Khaganate fell and the emperor of the Tang dynasty decided to begin the conquest of Goguryeo, an early Korean state. The invasion was successful, the superior imperial army easily swept away the liquid orders of the defenders of Goguryeo.
However, the next fortress of Anxi, under the command of Yang Man-chun, despite the small number of people and the huge numerical advantage of the enemy, decided not to give up. Thus was born the legend of people who are able to take the fight with any enemy.
After all, it was Anxi that remained the only obstacle on the enemy’s path to Pyongyang.
The 25 best Korean action movies continues
Viewers around the world have been watching Korean action movies with interest for a long time. After all, these films have a peculiar atmosphere filled with the realities of distant, eastern life. Fans are attracted by the confrontation of strength and intelligence, the ability of the heroes to choose the best solution and not turn off the planned path.
The films presented in the selection are in the top of Korean action films and are very popular among fans.
The 25 best Korean action movies continues
Needles
Rating Kinopoisk — 7.1/ IMDB — 7.0
Genre Action, thriller, crime
Production Korea South / 2013
Fees in the world $16,437,802
Directed by Jang Joon-hwan
Starring Kim Yoon-seok, Ye Jin-goo, cho Jin-un, Jang hyun-sung, Kim sung-kyun, Park hae-joon, Lim Ji-eun, Kim Young-min, Seo young-hwa, Yoo young-seok
A gang of violent criminals has been operating in Korea for many years. They kill, rob, they even have killed policemen on their account. They get away with everything — after all, they have their own gunner in the law enforcement agencies.
One day, a little boy falls into their hands, whom they suddenly sheltered and began to educate. He didn’t go to school, but instead learned other crafts: hacking, shooting, driving, planning. All the skills of their “five fathers”. In the end, they even begin to take him with them on business. And now the group gets another task to kill a businessman who turned out to be too stubborn. Will Hwai be able to cope with the new challenges? And how will he perceive the world after such an upbringing?
The original title of the film sounds like “Hwai: The Child who swallowed the Monster.”
Exit
Rating Kinopoisk — 7.2/ IMDB — 7.0
Genre Action, comedy
Production Korea South / 2019
Budget $11 500 000
Fees in the world $79,410,586
Directed by Lee Sang-geun
Starring Cho Jong-seok, Lim yoon-ah, Ko Doo-shim, Park In-hwan, Kim Ji-yeon, Kang gi-yeon, Kim jong-gu, Kim byung-sun, Hwang hye-eun, Lee bong-nyong
Yong-nam has already exchanged his thirtieth birthday. All he managed to master perfectly was rock climbing. He is considered useless, he has absolutely no job, the whole family is ashamed of him. And so, the celebration of the 70th anniversary of my grandmother, by an interesting coincidence, takes place on one of the high floors of a large building.
It was at this moment, when the holiday was already ending, and the day of Yong-nam resembled a catastrophe, poisonous gas began to spread through the city. The only chance to escape is to get to the roof, but all the doors are locked. It is here that the skills that Yong-nam possesses can be useful. But will he be able to save his family from death?
Blue Salt
Rating Kinopoisk — 6.8/ IMDB — 6.3
Genre Drama, crime, action
Production Korea South / 2011
Directed by Lee Hyun-seung
Starring Song Kang-ho, Shin Se-kyung, Cheon jong-myung, Lee jong-hyuk, Kim Min-joon, Yoon Ye-jon, Lee kyung-yeon, Kim Ryu-ha, Oh Dal-soo, Isom
One day, a criminal authority decided that he had had enough of criminal machinations and simply tied up, transferring the case to another person. He opened a small restaurant, started attending culinary courses. The idyll of a new life was supplemented by an acquaintance with a beautiful girl with whom he soon began a romantic relationship.
However, such happiness could not be eternal. After only a week, he becomes aware that she is a killer sent by his heir with one task — to kill him. And now he will have to take the fight again. Will he be able to get out of this pit?
A Hard day
Rating Kinopoisk — 7.2/ IMDB — 7.2
Genre Thriller, crime, action
Production Korea South / 2014
Fees in the world $26,488,847
Directed by Kim Sung-hoon
Starring Lee Sung-kyung, Cho Jin-un, Jang in-sop, Jung Man-shik, Kim Dong-yeon, Park Po-gom, Shin Dong-mi, Shin jong-geun, Cho Ha-seok, Lee Ji-hoon
Right on the day of his own mother’s funeral, Detective Ko Gong-soo knocks down a man. The accident is quite capable of finally closing his career dreams, so he decides to hide the body. And where? In the trunk of his own car, after which he goes straight to the funeral.
Just at this moment, the fact of bribery in his department is revealed and now the car can be searched any minute. Ko Gon will have to think and act very quickly on this not the most pleasant day for him.
The original title of the film is “War to the End”.
The 25 best Korean action movies continues
Sword Master
Rating Kinopoisk — 7.5/ IMDB — 6.8
Genre History, action
Production Korea South / 2020
Fees in the world $1,516,150
Directed by Choi Jae-hoon
Starring Jang hyuk, Kim Hyun-soo, Jo Taslim, Jung Man-shik, Lee Na-kyung, Lee Min-hyuk, Choi Jin-ho, Chi Seung-hyun, Chi gong-woo, Kon Sang-ah
In 1623, the king of Gwanghe was overthrown and a fierce power struggle between the Ming and Qing dynasties began in the country. The best swordsman and support of the former king, Tae Yul, disappears without a trace. The Kingdom of Joseon is in serious danger, torn apart by the struggle between the great dynasties.
And Tae Yul is forced to take up the sword again when he realizes that his own daughter is in the hands of cruel slavers. But he has very little time — old age makes itself felt and he is rapidly losing his eyesight. Can he free his daughter and challenge the ruthless enemy?
Confession of Murder
Rating Kinopoisk — 7.0/ IMDB — 7.0
Genre Action, thriller, crime, detective
Production Korea South / 2012
Fees in the world $21,701,525
Directed by Jeon Byung-gil
Starring Jung Jae-yeon, Park Shi-hoo, Jung hae-kyung, Kim Yong-ae, Choi Won-yeon, Kim jong-gu, Cho eun-ji, Cho Dal-hwan, Pae sung-woo, Min Ji-ah
About 15 years ago, the police were chasing a violent maniac and could not catch him in any way. There was no solid evidence or leads. And now, when the statute of limitations of crimes has long been out, suddenly a book is published by the authorship of a certain Lee Du-seok, and he describes in detail all the crimes committed in the past.
Detective Choi has no doubt that this was written by a maniac, but he will first have to collect a lot of evidence so that in the end the killer gets what he deserves. Even more motivation is given to the detective by the fact that he himself once suffered from it. And now Choi will never stop until justice prevails.
High heels
Rating Kinopoisk — 7.2/ IMDB — 6.6
Genre Action, drama, crime
Production Korea South / 2014
Fees in the world $2,433,904
Directed by Chan Jin
Starring Cha Seung-won, Oh jong-se, Isom, Song Yong-chan, Kim eun-soo, Ko kyung-pyo, Lee yong-ne, Lee El, Ahn Gil-gun, Lee On-jon
Chi-wook works as a detective. He is cruel and inflexible. His methods are any that can only help to catch the criminal. Even if they are questionable. Cruel, strong and courageous, Chi-uk is forced to hide from the whole world one very important secret — inside he feels like a woman.
His body oppresses the detective, and he longs one day to get a new, perfect, most suitable one. So will he be able to undergo a transformation and find peace of mind? And will he be able to put up with the reaction of his inner circle and the whole society to people like him?
Deliver us from the evil
Rating Kinopoisk — 6.9/ IMDB — 6.8
Genre Action, thriller, crime
Production Korea South / 2020
Budget $12,000,000
Fees in the world $34,897,506
Directed by Hong Won-chan
Starring Hwang Jong-min, Lee jong-jae, Park jong-min, Park So-yi, Choi hee-so, Park myung-hoon, Oh Dae-hwan, Song Young-chan, Lee So-hwan, Shim Young-eun
In-nam is an assassin who once worked for the special services as an operative. After 9 years of work, he decides to quit and go to Panama. The order — the liquidation of the head of the Yakuza clan turns into an unexpected event. In-nam finds out that his passion, with whom he has already ended a relationship, was also killed, and her daughter was abducted.
Moving to Panama is postponed, because now he needs to find and save the girl. But at the same time, another killer opens the hunt for him — the brother of the deceased Yakuza. So will In-us be able to survive in such conditions, when no one can be trusted anymore?
The 25 best Korean action movies continues
The Fugitive
Rating Kinopoisk — 6.5/ IMDB — 6.3
Genre Action, thriller, comedy, crime, detective
Production Korea South / 2013
Fees in the world $9,087,841
Directed by Cho Dong-oh
Starring Shin Ha-kyung, Lee Tae-ri, Kim Sang-ho, Jo eun-ji, Oh jong-se, Park Sang-wook, Han soo-yeon, Jung gi-sop, Jung sog-yeon, Kim Yi-seon
Cha Jung-woo works as an auto mechanic. Cha has a rather strained relationship with her 17-year-old son, due to the fact that they have different worldviews. To earn money for his own house, Cha Jung-woo is forced to work as a taxi driver at night. And one day he is accused of the death of a client.
Until the police descended on the house, the man is forced to flee. Now he needs to investigate this case on his own, because it’s not too late yet. But his son is not going to sit idly by, he is also trying to figure out what happened.
Fabricated city
Rating Kinopoisk — 7.1/ IMDB — 6.8
Genre Action, crime
Production Korea South / 2017
Budget $8,500,000
Fees in the world $18,860,370
Directed by Park Kwang-hyun
Starring Chi Chang-wook, Kim Eun-kyung, Oh jong-se, Kim Sang-ho, Kim Gi-cheon, Ahn Jae-hong, choi gwi-hwa, Baek seung-chul, Han Ji-eun, Park kyung-hye
Kwon-yu is an unemployed guy, however, who managed to become famous in online games. He has a certain weight there, playing team shooters on a professional level. One day, after visiting a cafe, Kwon-yu finds an abandoned mobile phone and returns it to the hostess for a reward.
But soon the police come to him — the girl was brutally raped and killed, and he is the only suspect with a non-exclusive chance to go to prison for life. It is at this difficult moment that the guy is forced to rely on his virtual friends, who, having learned that he is in trouble, quit their jobs and begin to help him in reality. Together they will have to conduct their own investigation so that Kwon-yu can justify himself before the law.
Time to Hunt
Rating Kinopoisk — 6.3/ IMDB — 6.3
Genre Action, crime, science fiction
Production Korea South / 2020
Budget $7,000,000
Directed by Yoon Sung-hyun
Starring Lee Jae-hoon, Ahn Jae-hong, Choi woo-shik, Park Jong-min, Park hae-soo, Lee han-na, Seung Yi-yeol, Song Ye-sep, Pae Jae-gi, Cho seong-ha
South Korea suddenly finds itself in a deep economic crisis, and the population is suffering. After a few years spent in prison, Chun-seok wants only one thing — to go to Taiwan to settle down there and live in peace. But it takes money. How to get them? It’s very simple – you just need to rob an underground casino.
Together with his friends, Chun-seok carries out a daring raid, which was extremely successful for them. But soon they realize that an assassin Khan has been sent on their trail, who will not stop until he kills them all. Will the guys be able to escape?
Gangster, cop and the devil
Rating Kinopoisk — 7.2/ IMDB — 6.9
Genre Thriller, action, crime, detective
Production Korea South / 2019
Budget $6,500,000
Fees in the world $25,775,371
Directed by Lee Won-tae
Starring Ma Dong-seok, Kim Moo-yeol, Kim sung-gyu, Yoo Seung-mok, Choi Min-chol, Kim Yoon-seon, Ho Dong-won, Woo Gang-min, Kim gyu-ri, Yoo Jae-myung
Jang Dong-soo is a criminal authority of a small provincial town. His life would have been carefree if one day an unknown maniac had not decided to kill his entire gang. Chan himself miraculously survives the massacre and decides to take revenge. But for this he will need help.
Detective Chong hates bandits with all his heart, but he will have to bite his lip and help Chan together to catch a maniac who continues the massacre of the local population. Will they be able to catch him and make justice prevail again?
Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos
Kinopoisk Rating — 6.1/ IMDB — 6.1
Genre Action, crime, thriller
Production Korea South / 2019
Budget $8,500,000
Fees in the world $34,206,831
Directed by Song Yong-ho
Starring Ma Dong-seok, Kim Sang-joon, Kim Ah-joon, Jang Gi-yeon, Park hye-joon, Kim in-woo, Lee jae-yoon, Park won-san, Cho Young-jin, Park hyun-soo
While transporting dangerous criminals, the bus overturned and they all found themselves free again. Most of them still got caught in the first days, but the most experienced bandits are still not caught. An old detective who has already managed to retire finds out about it. Before that, he led a special unit.
And, observing the situation, an experienced fighter decides that his time has come again. The moment has come to take up arms. After that, he gathers a new team for himself, consisting of a noble bandit, an unsuccessful fraudster and one cop who once came under investigation. Together they will have to catch the most violent criminals.
The 25 best Korean action movies continues
Raging Bull
Rating Kinopoisk — 6.7/ IMDB — 6.6
Genre Action, crime
Production Korea South / 2018
Fees in the world $11,882,895
Directed by Kim Min-ho
Starring Ma Dong-seok, Song Ji-hye, Kim sung-oh, Kim Min-jae, Park Chi-hwan, Lee sung-woo, Pae nu-ri, Park Chi-hoon, Jung in-gi, Lim hyun-joon
Kang Dong-dhol was once a bandit, but now leads an absolutely peaceful lifestyle. He even got married and no longer gets involved in the showdown, having got his own small business. But one day he returns home and sees that he is ruined, and his wife is missing.
It would seem that the kidnappers should demand a ransom, but on the contrary, Kanu is offered money only so that he does not go looking for his wife. He still decides to sort out this case in order to find his beloved, and then get his life back on track, at the same time reminding the local bandits that he was once one of the most terrible gangsters.
Bad cop
Rating Kinopoisk — 6.5/ IMDB — 6.3
Genre Action, crime, detective, thriller
Production Korea South / 2019
Budget $8,000,000
Fees in the world $1,939,786
Directed by Lee Jon-bom
Starring Lee Sung-gyun, Jung So-ni, Park hae-joon, Song Young-chan, Park pyong-eun, Lim hyun-guk, Kim Min-jae, Kwon Han-sol, Lee Yoo-yeon, Jung Ga-ram
Cho Pil-Ho is a policeman without rules, ready to work even with a robber for profit. Because of this, people from the internal investigation department begin to follow him. Sensing the pursuit, Cho offers his partner to destroy the warehouse with evidence. However, everything did not go according to plan.
An explosion occurs in the warehouse, killing his partner, and Cho himself loses consciousness nearby. He wakes up already in the hospital, and with a lot of bad news. The Internal Investigations Department is already preparing to celebrate the victory, because the matter is solved, to the point that his boss went absolutely berserk. Now Cho Pil-Ho has to prove that he was not a werewolf in uniform.
The villainess
Rating Kinopoisk — 6.4/ IMDB — 6.6
Genre Action, thriller, crime, romance
Production Korea South / 2017
Budget $4,500,000
Fees in the world $8,830,002
Directed by Jeon Byung-gil
Starring Kim Ok-pin, Shin Ha-kyun, Song joon, Kim So-hyun, Jo eun-ji, Jung Hae-kyun, Park Chul-min, Chi Dae-han, So Bom-shik, Kwak Jin-seok
Suk-hee has been raised as a killer since childhood. Her father was killed by bandits, she was in sexual slavery. She was bullied, humiliated, but in the end she was picked up by people from the South Korean CIA.
Her task is to work for them for 10 years, after which she will be able to live an ordinary, quiet life and this whole nightmare will end. The problem is that she has a love triangle in which there is a person whom she will have to eliminate in order to gain trust and reward. Will she be able to cope?
Master
Rating Kinopoisk — 6.9/ IMDB — 6.6
Genre Action, crime
Production Korea South / 2016
Fees in the world $52,304,222
Directed by Cho Yi-seok
Starring Lee byung-hong, Kang dong-won, Kim woo-bin, Om Ji-won, Oh Dal-soo, Jin kyung, Woo Do-hwan, Park hae-soo, Joo seok-tae, Park Jung-ja
Chin heads a large company called One Network, which unexpectedly falls under a major investigation. Kim Jae-myung has a decent amount of evidence, but he wants more. He is eager to plant the very top of the criminal chain, so he contacts the leader of the IT department, Pak, for whom he has already collected enough compromising material and offers him interesting conditions – help in exchange for a suspended sentence. So will the judicial authorities be able to unravel a long string of events and crimes?
Sword Memories
Rating: Kinopoisk — 6.4/ IMDB — 6.3
Genre: Action, drama, history
Production: Korea South / 2015
Fees in the USA $111,071
Directed by Park Hyun-shik
Starring: Lee byung-hong, Jung Do-yeon, Kim Go-eun, Lee joon-ho, Song Yoo-bin, Kim soo-ahn, Kim Tae-woo, Guzel Tursunova, Pae Soo-bin, Kim Hak-son
Once upon a time, three legendary swordsmen lived in the Joseon state — Yu Baek, Wol So and Poon Chong. Together they went against the rulers, personifying the will of the people. However, in return for a high position, Yu Baek becomes a traitor, and he is given the task to kill the rest of the swordsmen.
Vol So has to run away with his daughter, training her to take revenge on the hated enemy in the future. But Yu Baek himself has already got into the taste and is starting to aim for the throne. His actions have their own motives, and perhaps he will even be a good ruler. But now a relentless killer is on his heels with one goal — to avenge the betrayal.
Secret mission
Kinopoisk Rating — 7.4/ IMDB — 6.8
Genre Action, Comedy, Drama
Production Korea South / 2013
Fees in the world $43,060,024
Directed by Jang Chol-soo
Starring Kim Soo-hyun, Park Ki-un, Lee hyun-woo, Song hyun-joo, Kim Sung-kyun, Ko Chang-seok, Choi woo-shik, Jang gwan, Hong kyung-in, Park eun-bin
Three agents from North Korea were sent to South Korea. Their goal is very ambitious, because after receiving a certain signal, they must begin to fulfill their mission. And this should unite both Koreas. In the meantime, they live the lives of ordinary citizens.
They have to live in a poor and not too prosperous area. In two years, they get very used to a simple, measured life, and it becomes a real shock for them to receive a signal. Moreover, if they do not begin to carry out the mission, a punitive detachment will go after them, having already managed to cross the border. So will the agents have time and what decision will they make?
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