Exciting films in Netflix Korea’s 2023 slate

The global fandom for K-content is continuing to grow, with over 60 percent of all Netflix members watching Korean titles last year. This year, Netflix is debuting a diverse array of Korean films in its biggest-ever K-lineup.

Believer 2

Cast: Cho Jin-woong, Cha Seung-won, Han Hyo-joo, Oh Seung-hoon,

Kim Dong-young, Lee Joo-young, etc. Release: Q4

A crime action film on the nerve-wracking war between Won-ho, who is still pursuing Mr. Lee’s organization and the disappeared “Rak” after the bloody fight at Yongsan Station, and Brian, who has reappeared, and a new character “Big Knife.” Believer 2 follows Wonho’s investigation of looking for “Rak,” who disappeared after Brian’s incarceration, while getting to the core of the elusive drug cartel.

Director Baik, who has already received praise for sophisticated cinematography and sensational directing in “The Beauty Inside”, showcases a different side of his directing in this film. Actor Cho Jin-woong portrays Won-ho, the persistent detective who has been tracking down the drug cartel for a long time; Cha Seung-won portrays Brian, who considered himself Mr. Lee as a hidden character within the organization; and Kim Dong-young and Lee Joo-young play Manko and Lona, the deaf siblings who are genius at making top-quality drugs. New character “Big Knife” is played by Han Hyojoo, who is beloved for her wide spectrum of filmography spanning from mellow, action to comedy, and will immerse in a completely different kind of character for this film.

Unlocked (Now streaming) Cast: Yim Si Wan, Chun Woo Hee, Kim Hie Won

A real-crime thriller following an ordinary woman whose entire life is upended after she loses her phone containing her personal information. With the worst possible things happening after the main character loses her phone containing everything, including her social security number, banking information and the details of her personal life, this movie will present a ringing sense of spooky reality and horror to viewers today who cannot live without their phones.

Yim Si Wan, who has already established himself as a talented actor with his role of the menacing antagonist in “Emergency Declaration”, will once again prove himself an on-screen chameleon as he plays Jun-yeong, who commits heinous crimes after stumbling upon the smartphone. Startup marketer Na-mi, who loses her phone, finds it, and becomes entangled in unimaginable schemes, is portrayed by Chun Woo Hee, who has a stellar track record of portraying colorful characters with her unparalleled acting.

JUNG_E (Now streaming) Cast: Kang Soo-youn, Kim Hyun-joo, Ryu Kyung-soo

JUNG_E portrays a desolated earth in the 22nd century that is no longer inhabitable due to climate change. Amid the chaos, an internal war breaks out in the shelter built for human survival. Victory – meaning the end of the war – now hinges on finding a way to clone the legendary mercenary JUNG_E into a scalable robot. Orchestrated by Director Yeon Sang-ho of “Train to Busan”, “Peninsula”, and “Hellbound”, and with a colorful cast – Kang Soo-youn, Kim Hyun-joo, Ryu Kyungsoo — JUNG_E portrays a unique theme combined with dystopia, cloning, and technology. Kill Boksoon.

Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Sul Kyung-gu, Kim Si-a, Esom, Koo Kyo-hwan, etc. Release: Q1 Boksoon leads a double life – she is both a mother of a teenage daughter and a legendary professional killer at top-tier killing agency MK. Caught between the mission of killing someone and the mission of raising someone, Boksoon refuses to complete an assigned mission and is thrown into an inevitable fight.

The Match

Cast: Lee Byung-hun, Yoo Ah-in Release: Q2

Teacher and student, but legendary rivals Cho Hoon Hyun (Lee Byung-hun) and Lee Changho (Yoo Ah-in) play the match of their lifetime in the game of Go. At a time when the game of Go was more popular than the World Cup, global legends Cho Hoon Hyun and Lee Changho engage in a heated game of Go in “The Match” where black and white stones are placed silently but dynamically.

Lee Byung-hun portrays Cho Hoon Hyun, who is both strict and warm with Lee Changho, whom he takes in as a student when Changho was just 10 years old as he showed much promise, right after Cho Hoon Hyun won the grand slam. Yoo Ah-in takes on the role of Lee Changho, a student who works tirelessly to exceed his monumental teacher Cho Hoon Hyun. Lee Byung-hun and Yoo Ah-in, who are known to bring their own interpretations to characters across any genre or plot, collaborate for the first time, adding to the hype of what to expect in this game between teacher and student.

Ballerina Cast: Jun Jong-seo, Kim Ji-hun, Park Yurim, etc. Release: Q4

This film depicts the beautiful and ruthless revenge by Okju, a former bodyguard, for Minhee, her best friend. “Ballerina” is directed by Lee Chung-hyun, who shocked the Korean film scene with his short film “Bargain” and demonstrated sensational directing in mystery thriller “Call”, with its interesting genre and colorful characters. “Ballerina” will present viewers with trendy and stylish action scenes and visuals, and garner attention for its refreshing cast composed of Jun Jong-seo, Kim Ji-hun and Park Yurim.

Jun Jong-seo portrays Okju, a former bodyguard who has no physical limits when it comes to her self-defense skills, swordsmanship, agility with guns and motorbikes. The so-called “Choi,” who is the subject of revenge, is portrayed by Kim Ji-hun, who has a wide spectrum of acting skills and the ability to immerse in any character. Handsome, fit, and intelligent, he is set to play the antagonist of Okju. Rising star Park Yurim, who won the 94th Academy Award for her role in “Drive My Car” directed by Ryusuke Hamaguchi, will play the ballerina Minhee. Moreover, the versatile musician Gray who can produce, compose, rap and vocalize, takes on the role of music director, making his collaboration with director Lee Chung-hyun even more intriguing.