Five award-winning Korean movies of 2023

Top South Korean movies of 2023 across genres like action, romance, thriller, comedy, and more featuring top stars embraced last year.

Let’s explore the vibrant world of Korean cinema in 2023 with the top 5 must-watch Korean movies:

1) Cobweb

Directed by Kim Jee Won, the movie revolves around film director Kim, played by Song Kang Ho. Cobweb is set in the 1970s when the South Korean government had strict rules about what could be shown in movies. Censorship was heavily imposed on the releases.

Song Kang Ho on the other hand, despite giving a hit, has been dealing with a lot of criticism. He’s determined to change the ending of his completed film titled Cobweb, but things get messy on set.  The movie stars Krystal Jung, Song Kang Ho, Lim Soo Jung, Oh Jung Se, Jeon Yeo Been.

2) Ballerina

Directed by Lee Chung Hyeon, the movie plot develops as follows. Ok Ju takes a break from being a top-notch bodyguard after running into her old friend Min Hee who is a trained Ballerina. But when Min Hee commits suicide, things become difficult.

Using her investigative abilities, Ok Ju ventures into a dangerous realm in an attempt to get revenge on the person responsible for her friend’s misery. The movie features Jun Jong Seo, Kim Ji Hoon, Park Yoo Rim, Shin Se Hwi, Park Hyoung Soo, Kim Moo Yul, and Kim Young Ok.

3) Past Lives

Past Lives revolves around childhood friends Nora and Hae Sung who are separated when Nora’s family emigrates from South Korea, Nora and Hae Sung reunite two decades later for a significant week, where they grapple with the concepts of love and destiny. The movie features Greta Lee, Yoo Teo, Jung Hae Sung, John Magaro, Moon Seung Ah, and Im Seung Min.

4) Concrete Utopia

The movie focuses on the aftermath of a powerful earthquake, where survivors are left unaware of the cause and the extent of the destruction. Amid the vast destruction, only the Hwang Gung Apartments remain standing. Young Tak takes on the responsibility of safeguarding the residents from external threats as the crisis unfolds. The film features Lee Byung Hun, Park Seo Joon, Park Bo Young, Kim Sun Young, and Kim Do Yoon.

5) Road To Boston

Directed by Kang Je Gyu, the film is inspired by the real-life event of marathon runner Suh Yun Bok and his coach Son Kee Jung. The plot spotlights Korean athletes in the 1947 Boston International Marathon also known as the first big marathon after World War II. The movie stars Ha Jung Woo, Im Si Wan, Bae Sung Woo, Jo A Young, Park Eun Bin, and Hwang Ja Neung.