Building off my post about children’s media for learning Korean, here are some of the top Korean TV and movies! I wanted to make a two-for-one combo with this. First, it’s nice to use Korean media to help hear how people speak, follow along repeating lines, and just for general enjoyment. But also to connect with Koreans and the culture!
Media can showcase daily life, struggles, and things on Koreans’ minds (even though Parasite isn’t realistic, it shows the class struggle and discrepancies people face, right?). And what can also be the daily slang, references, and connecting points for generations! Think of media like Friends, The Simpsons, Star Wars, Breaking Bad, Black Mirror, Harry Potter, the Marvel franchise, etc.
Note that the English title and the Korean might not match up. I’m putting the titles, not the direct translation, so keep that in mind! I’ll add in the genre(s), a little description, and why it’s culturally relevant so you can easily take your pick!
TV Shows
Running Man – 런닝맨 (variety)
Easily the most popular variety TV show, and the longest-running. popular internationally as well. Great to learn about popular celebs and comedians, top bits, and such. You can easily find lists of everyone’s different top 10 episodes or scenes with certain people.
PLOT: Originally, MCs and guests complete missions to win the race. But the show has shifted to more towards games.
Master in the House – 집사부일체 (variety, reality)
Showcases various Korean celebs and their perspectives/lifestyles. From athletes, new and oldie musicians, actors, CEOs, directors, scientists, and more! A great insight into people you typically don’t see or know of.
PLOT: The cast spends 2 days and 1 night together with ‘masters’ of various fields in hopes of gaining their wisdom.
That’s what I want to know – 그것이 알고싶다 (current affairs, crime mystery)
90s journalistic program, praised by the public for not giving in to pressure or corruption, going really in-depth to show facts.
PLOT: Analyzes corruption, society, religion, and unresolved cases in Korea.
I Live Alone – 나 혼자 산다 (reality, talk show)
Shows the relatable and unfiltered daily life of various popular celebs in Korea.
PLOT: Unscripted show with a combination of documentary and variety show elements, showing how solo celebs live.
Infinite Challenge – 무한도전 (variety)
Predating Running Man, it’s been called “the nation’s variety show” and “Korea’s real first variety”. Ran from 2005-2018, with its peak reaching 30% of Korean television viewership.
PLOT: Challenge-based reality show, with a lot of unrealistic or absurd challenges.
2 Days & 1 Night – 1박 2일 (variety, reality)
Great to learn about the country and local areas! Perfect for getting trip ideas and is uploaded to YouTube with English subtitles.
PLOT: The cast takes trips around Korea, showing places to visit and local foods.
The Return of Superman – 슈퍼맨이 돌아왔다 (variety, reality)
Insight into Korean daily life and parenting.
PLOT: Celeb fathers have to take care of their young children without the mother’s help while she takes a much-needed break.
Korean Dramas
Bread, Love and Dreams – 제빵왕 김탁구 (romance, slice of life)
One of the most-watched dramas in 2010, with the final episode hitting a 50% viewership rating!
PLOT: The son of a chairman and a maid mistress vows to become a great baker against family opposition
Sky Castle – SKY 캐슬 (satire, black comedy, mystery)
The highest-rated kdrama in history.
PLOT: Wealthy housewives try to make their husbands more successful and to raise their children like princes and princesses.
Reply 1988 – 응답하라 1988 (rom-com)
Part of the reply series, which follows different groups of teens and university students through years in the past (1997 and 1994 as well). Well regarded as being authentic to the era!
PLOT: Set in 1988, it revolves around five friends and their families living in the same neighborhood.
Descendants of the Sun – 태양의 후예 (romance, action)
So popular that it caused restoration projects for filming locations from the show.
PLOT: love story between the captain of the Korean special forces, and a surgeon in a war-torn country.
Guardian: The Lonely and Great God (aka Goblin) – 쓸쓸하고 찬란하神 – 도깨비 (도깨비) (fantasy, rom-com)
First cable K-drama to surpass 20% ratings. It was also popular to parody it on various social media sites
PLOT: Kim Shin, a goblin and protector of souls, wants to end his immortal life but the only way he can do that is to find a human bride
When the Camellia Blooms – 동백꽃 필 무렵 (rom-com, thriller)
Had great praise from Korean audiences and critics for a realistic plot and a unique genre combination, getting 10 award nominations.
PLOT: Follows a single mother who moves to a new town and opens a bar. Years later, she meets a police officer who confesses his love for her while tracking a killer who is targeting her.
The Fiery Priest – 열혈사제 (comedy, crime, action)
One of the highest-rated miniseries dramas, with the lead actor winning accolades for his portrayal of a priest.
PLOT: Following the mysterious death of a Catholic priest, an NIS (National Intelligence Service) agent turned priest attempts to bring the culprits to justice.
Movies
The Admiral: Roaring Currents – 명량 (historic, action, war)
The most-watched and highest-grossing film in South Korea, with a sequel and a prequel movie.
PLOT: Based on the historical battle of Myeongnyang, where Joseon admiral Yi Sun-sin’s led only 12 ships to a victory against the invading Japanese fleet of 333 vessels.
Extreme Job – 극한직업 (comedy, action)
Highest-grossing Korean comedy film of all time and the second most-watched South Korean film.
PLOT: Undercover detectives start a chicken restaurant as a cover for a drug-bust operation, but end up busy enough to interfere on the case when their food becomes famous.
Ode to My Father – 국제시장 (semi-historical, war, drama)
Inspired by the director’s father’s story. Shows the lived experience of modern Korean history.
PLOT: Depicts Korean history through the eyes of one man from the 1950s to the present day; from evacuating North Korea and experiencing the growing pains of South Korea from war-torn to world-recognized.
The Roundup: The Outlaws – 범죄도시 (action, crime)
First in the well-regarded Roundup series and based on a real-life incident. The series had had increasing popularity.
PLOT: Following a Detective who aims to control the gang wars between Chinese-Korean gangs while also dealing with a ruthless loan shark.
A Tale of Two Sisters – 장화, 홍련 (psychological horror)
The highest-grossing Korean horror film, inspired by a Joseon Dynasty era folktale “장화홍련전”.
PLOT: A recently released mental institution patient returns home with her sister. With a new step-mom, they face disturbing events in the house.
A Taxi Driver – 택시운전사 (political, action)
Another with a focus on Korean history. Based on a true story, it shows the Gwangju uprising of 1980 against the military government at the time.
PLOT: A father working as a taxi driver gets a German customer who is looking to report on the political unrest in Gwangju, and they end up getting caught up in the uprising.
I hope some things on this list have caught your interest and can help you both with studying and connecting with Korean culture! I know a few of these have really touched me personally and helped to pique my interest in Korea’s history and culture. It’s hard to list everything, and some things I expressly left out for them already being well known internationally. So have fun looking for other popular media you may come across!
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