10 Amazing South Korean Horror Movies – Ranked

Welcome to Ranking Horror. Today, we are continuing our international horror movie theme by checking out 10 Amazing South Korean Horror Movies.

We have covered a lot of Asian horror, already, on Ranking Horror. When it comes to Eastern powerhouses, there are no better than Japan and South Korea. Whereas Japan has fallen off a lot in recent years, South Korea has been going from strength to strength. Coming up with brilliant new horror movies each and every year and continually proving to be one of the best in the world at what they do.

The movies on this list are all absolutely fantastic. We have a great mix of supernatural stuff, character horror, shocking horror, and even some found footage. It should be said, however, that this list is not all-encompassing. These are just 10 amazing South Korean horror movies that jumped into my head. We will be bringing you lots more from South Korea in the future so stay with us. Without further ado, let’s take a look.

10. The Housemaid (1960) – Domestic Disturbance

Why it Ranked: We are going all the way back to 1960 to open up this list, with Kim Ki-young’s The Housemaid. Believe it or not, The Housemaid caused massive amounts of shock to viewers back on release. People were just not used to seeing this type of salacious familial drama on the big screen. In reality, it probably seems a bit tame nowadays. The housemaid here is a figure of temptation that should, apparently, be avoided at all costs but man does it make for some good drama? Genuinely still quite creepy in parts and features at least one scene that will have you wondering how they got away with this back in 1960’s South Korea.

Synopsis: The story follows a piano teacher, and his wife, who hire a troubled young woman to serve as their housemaid. Little realising just what they are inviting into their lives.

Where to Watch: The Criterion Channel, Kanopy

9. Thirst (2009) – A Priest’s Unholy Craving

Why it Ranked: Director of the brilliant Oldboy, Park Chan-wook, brings us this vampire horror with a difference from 2009. Thirst isn’t much of a traditional K-Horror movie. It has a ton of gore and violence but it leans, quite heavily, into drama. I can’t think of too many South Korean vampire movies though, so it stands out for that reason alone. Having such an accomplished director at the helm means it is a consistently fantastic looking film and, despite being rather slow, remains interesting throughout. A great option for someone looking for a vampire movie with a difference.

Synopsis: A priest volunteers to be a human guinea pig for a vaccine development program to rid the world of a deadly disease. Little does he realise that the program will have unintended consequences as the disease he is infected with begins to overtake him. Resulting in him needing a blood transfusion that just so happens to be tainted by something horrifying. Vampire blood. Forcing him to give up religion in pursuit of far more carnal desires.

Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy)

8. The Quiet Family (1998) – Murderous Mountain Retreat

Why it Ranked: Kim Jee-woon’s name will be popping up a lot on this list. We are going all the way back to 1998 for this entry in the form of The Quiet Family. If you are familiar with Takashi Miike’s brilliant The Happiness of the Katakuris from 2001; that movie was based on this one and features the same plot. This isn’t a joyful musical full of wackiness, though. This is a black comedy that is equally compelling but in a completely different way. The story remains just as captivating approached from this angle and the sub-plots shared between different members of the family keep the movie a riot from start to finish. A genuinely unique film compared to the others on this list.

Synopsis: The story is pretty simple. A family open a hotel together on a remote mountain only to begin experiencing harrowing events after their first guest dies in a mysterious manner.

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Tubi

7. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018) – Livestreaming Terror

Why it Ranked: I am a huge fan of found footage horror. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is one of the best. Sure, it isn’t going to change the minds of anyone who hates found footage horror. But Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum is an example of the genre done right. The first part is a bit on the slow side but things pick up fast. The pace is unrelenting and there are a decent number of scares. The movie doesn’t fall foul of too many of the usual ff tropes and doesn’t let up until the end. Managing to actually nail the landing which is something that the genre often fails at. Awesome stuff.

Synopsis: The story follows a group of paranormal web series hosts heading to a, supposedly, haunted asylum for a live broadcast. Only to get far more than they bargained for.

Where to Watch: Shudder, Amazon Prime Video

6. Unlocked (2022) – The Smartphone Stalker

Why it Ranked: I suppose you could count this more as a thriller movie but, in my opinion, it straddles a couple of different genres. One of which being horror thanks to the nature of its story. Unlocked keys in on the uneasiness that we all experience when thinking about a stranger having access to our most intimate moments and personal information. It does a fantastic job of bringing together elements of voyeurism and stalking with a killer, whodunit crime mystery. I really love Unlocked and I am surprised it doesn’t get talked about more. Go check it out; it’s long but you won’t be disappointed.

Synopsis: Unlocked follows a woman in her thirties who loses her phone after a night out partying. Unable to live without her social media and entertainment, she is overjoyed when someone returns it to her. Little realising that the key to her every step in life has now been unlocked by a stalker.

Where to Watch: Netflix

5. Bedevilled (2010) – Island of No Return

Why it Ranked: Cheol-soo Jang’s Bedevilled is a very depressing movie that leads you down one path before sending you down a completely different one. A heavy, rather miserable drama movie eventually gives way to a bloody revenge flick. These types of movies never really go into the question of “why” society is like this. They are more likely to just accept it and show the realities of a character dealing with the horrifying situation. Which is something that this movie does very well. It’s not subtle but the slow paced storytelling keeps you enthralled throughout. The later stages of the film act as a cathartic release given what came before. Fascinating stuff but absolutely not for everyone.

Synopsis: The movie follows a young woman who lives in poverty on a small, remote island. Suffering abuse at the hands of the people who live there. A visit from a friend from the mainland inspires her to do whatever she can to get away from the horrible abuse she has been suffering.

Where to Watch: Tubi, Amazon Prime Video

4. The Call (2020) – A Wrong Number in Time

Why it Ranked: The Call is a 2020 remake of a British horror movie from 2011 known as The Caller. Directed by Chung-Hyun Lee, The Call, much like the movie that inspired it, features a brilliantly original and fascinating story. Leaning a bit more towards the thriller side than full blown horror. The mystery, at the heart of this film, keeps you absolutely glued to the screen not wanting to turn away. I am going to go out on a limb and say that you might want to discount the final scenes of the movie. Switch it off before the credits roll as Lee made a very strange choice to include scenes that undermine the entire plot. Take it for what it is and The Call is an amazing South Korean horror, thriller, movie that will have you gripped from start to finish.

Synopsis: The story follows a woman who moves into her mother’s house to help care for her. While there, she finds an old cordless phone. A phone that she suddenly begins receiving calls on from a woman who claims she is from 1999 and just so happens to live in the very house she is living in. Could it be a hoax or do the calls hint at some greater mystery that will tie the two women together in inexplicable ways?

Where to Watch: Netflix

3. Train to Busan (2016) – Zombies on the Tracks

Why it Ranked: When talking about amazing K-Horror, how can we not include this? Train to Busan seems to have kicked off a bit of a zombie fascination in its home country of South Korea. There have been so many similarly themed movies since, and many of them are fantastic. Yeon Sang-ho’s Train to Busan manages something that is quite rare when it comes to zombie movies. It brings together tremendous action with a legitimately interesting story, some palpable tension, and some extremely touching moments of emotion. There is actual character development here and the people on the train really count. Something that is all too rare in this sub-genre.

Synopsis: Train to Busan follows a group of passengers as they struggle to survive on a train from Seoul to Busan after the outbreak of a zombie virus transforms people into mindless killers.

Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Shudder, Peacock

2. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003) – Family Secrets Unravelled

Why it Ranked: Kim Jee-woon’s twisted, convoluted, psychological horror A Tale of Two Sisters absolutely deserves a mention on this list of amazing South Korean horror movies. Coming at a time when J-Horror was dominating in the west. A Tale of Two Sisters was the first Korean horror movie to receive a US theatre release. A fact which speaks volumes about how great it is. A Tale of Two Sisters is typically Korean when it comes to storytelling. It is long, slow, and quite convoluted but the atmosphere and mood stays tense and captivating throughout. I would suggest a few watches with this one to really appreciate it. I didn’t find myself loving it until half way through the second watch. It is worth the effort, though.

Synopsis: It follows the story of a pair of sisters who reunite in their father’s home after one of them spent years in a mental health hospital. Only to have their recovery stifled by an overbearing step-mother and some strange goings on at the home.

Where to Watch: Shudder, Kanopy

1. I Saw The Devil (2010) – The Monster Within

Why it Ranked: I Saw The Devil is, easily, my favourite South Korean horror movie of all time. Directed by Kim Jee-woon who we mentioned earlier as the director of A Tale of Two Sisters and The Quiet Family. I Saw The Devil is propped up by a tragic tale that adds buckets of atmosphere and tension to the already dark and twisted plot. The violence is pretty extreme and the movie needed some cuts to make it past the South Korean censor board. It is utterly compelling from start to finish however, and impossible to turn away from. When it comes to movies that you really don’t want to end, this is right near the top of the list. I have never watched another movie that feels quite like I Saw the Devil. My favourite movie on this list by quite a long way.

Synopsis: The story follows a secret agent who sets out to avenge the death of his wife at the hands of a violent serial killer in the most traumatic way possible. By capturing the man, torturing him, and releasing him again only to repeat the process.

Where to Watch: Amazon (Rent/Buy), Tubi, Hulu

More Korean Scares Await

That wraps up our list of 10 amazing South Korean horror movies. From the heart-pounding action of Train to Busan to the psychological torment of A Tale of Two Sisters, South Korea has firmly established itself as a titan of the horror genre. Hopefully, this list has given you plenty of new titles to add to your watchlist.

We are constantly digging for more scares, so be sure to check back for future lists. If you enjoyed this, why not take a look at some more of our Asian horror rankings? I’ll be back soon with more rankings. Stay spooky.

🇰🇷 Quick Picks: South Korean Horror Essentials

• 🏆 The Masterpiece: I Saw The Devil (2010)
• 🧟 The Zombie Classic: Train to Busan (2016)
• 🧠 The Mind-Bender: A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
• 📹 The Found Footage Hit: Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018)
• 🩸 The Vampire Twist: Thirst (2009)