{"id":28258,"date":"2023-01-06T14:17:39","date_gmt":"2023-01-06T13:17:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/?p=1759041"},"modified":"2023-01-06T20:44:34","modified_gmt":"2023-01-06T19:44:34","slug":"the-best-korean-tv-and-films-you-can-stream-right-now","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/rss_feed\/the-best-korean-tv-and-films-you-can-stream-right-now\/","title":{"rendered":"The best Korean TV and films you can stream right now"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Geoffrey Bunting\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Friday, 06 January 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

For the past few years, we\u2019ve been lucky enough to receive a steady stream of high-quality Korean programming, much of which has captured the minds of western audiences. Popular shows like Squid Game and Crash Landing on You have served as introductions to Korean media for many, while in Extraordinary Attorney Woo<\/a> and Little Women<\/a> we\u2019re continuing to receive some of Korea\u2019s highest-performing shows. But what\u2019s next?<\/span><\/p>\n

With such a range of options, it can all feel a little overwhelming. If Squid Game<\/a> was your jam, where do you get your next sci-fi fix? If you loved Crash Landing on You, how do you find more Korean romance? RadioTimes.com<\/a> is here to help with this list of the best Korean TV and films you can stream right now.<\/span><\/p>\n

Expect corruption, adorable couples, gross boyfriends, and a whole lot of love.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stranger<\/b><\/h2>\n\nAfter the murder of a former prosecutor with high-ranking political ties, fellow prosecutor Hwang Si-mok (Cho Seung-woo) is assigned to discover the identity of the killer. Unable to feel empathy due to childhood brain surgery, he teams up with the effervescent Lieutenant Han Yeo-jin (Bae Doona) as an intricate web of lies and corruption unravels before them.<\/span><\/p>\nStranger is the perfect introduction to Korean thrillers. One of Netflix\u2019s first Korean originals, it contains all the tropes seasoned campaigners have come to expect, with a solid mystery at its core. But if you come for the intrigue, stay for Lieutenant Han and Prosecutor Hwang.<\/span><\/p>\nIn the face of Si-mok\u2019s lack of empathy, Han makes it her mission to make him smile and their friendship is one of the most adorable things you\u2019ll see on TV. The chemistry between Bae and Cho is electric, and it\u2019s great to see a show cast its leads as best friends rather than romantic partners.<\/span><\/p>\nSeriously, I love everything about them. They\u2019re even my phone lock screen.<\/span><\/p>\nYou can stream Stranger now on Netflix.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>The Wailing<\/b><\/h2>\n<iframe title=\""The\" wailing=\"\" official=\"\" trailer=\"\" korean=\"\" thriller=\"\" hd=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/43uAputjI4k?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\nAfter a Japanese stranger (Jun Kunimura) arrives in a wet, rural village, a strange sickness starts to overtake the townsfolk. Turning them into cannibalistic, rage-filled monsters. Jaded and burned-out police officer, Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won) is pulled into the mystery when his daughter becomes sick. But is the Japanese visitor to blame or is it the strange woman (Chun Woo-hee) that hangs around Jong-goo\u2019s home that\u2019s the real culprit?<\/span><\/p>\nA good horror film isn\u2019t always a good film, but the Wailing is both. It\u2019s a slow burn, but never feels as long as it is thanks to excellent pacing and engrossing performances. Even six years after its release, its themes and lingering horror feel appropriate for pandemic stricken, post-Brexit world.<\/span><\/p>\nYou can stream The Wailing now on Prime Video.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>All of Us Are Dead<\/b><\/h2>\n<iframe title=\""All\" of=\"\" us=\"\" are=\"\" dead=\"\" official=\"\" trailer=\"\" netflix=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IN5TD4VRcSM?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\nIn a school in which raging hormones are everywhere, it\u2019s the raging zombies spreading from the science lab that soon become the real problem. While most of us couldn\u2019t wait for school to end, in All of Us Are Dead a group of teenagers must barricade themselves in their classrooms while a zombie horde takes over the city of Hyosan.<\/span><\/p>\nOne of a raft of Korean originals Netflix release in 2022, All of Us Are Dead turns the zombie genre on its head. Both fun and horrifying, it\u2019s like a strange mix between Sex Education and The Walking Dead. Zombies\u2026 but with horny teenagers (well, as horny as teenagers can be in Korean dramas).<\/span><\/p>\nIncludes a few interesting twists on established zombie canon that make the confirmed second season even more exciting. Just don\u2019t get attached to any of the adults.<\/span><\/p>\nYou can stream All of Us Are Dead Now on Netflix.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Twenty Five Twenty One<\/b><\/h2>\n<iframe title=\""Twenty\" five=\"\" twenty=\"\" one=\"\" official=\"\" trailer=\"\" netflix=\"\" sub=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/gYp4cKumTwU?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\nWhen the IMF financial crisis forces her school to slash funding to its fencing program, Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri) sets out to join the team of her idol \u2013 and Olympic gold medallist, Ko Yu-rim (Kim Ji-yeon) by any means necessary. When the adage \u201cnever meet your heroes\u201d proves true, however, she must navigate a bitter rivalry with the Olympic champion, as well as her burgeoning relationship with an older man.<\/span><\/p>\nWhat follows is arguably one of the best sports shows on TV. While the series relies on typical romance tropes for its romantic plot \u2013 including a pretty unlikable male protagonist \u2013 it\u2019s carried by Kim Tae-ri\u2019s joyous performance as Na Hee-do and her relationship with Ko Yu-rim.<\/span><\/p>\nInterestingly, the final episodes proved unpopular in Korea. For all its reliance on K-drama tropes, it bucks lots of trends which makes for a far more interesting romance than most K-dramas. Plus, the fencing scenes are filmed to perfection.<\/span><\/p>\nThis is a big show for anyone who wants some 90s nostalgia or to fill the gap that Friday Night Lights has left. You can stream Twenty Five Twenty One on Netflix now.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Grid<\/b><\/h2>\n<iframe title=\""Grid\" original=\"\" series=\"\" now=\"\" streaming=\"\" disney=\"\" singapore=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IPrzrdoRQaM?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\nDisney\u2019s foray into Korean originals has been pretty ill-fated so far, but given how science fiction has been driving the \u201cKorean Wave\u201d of late, the choice to lead with a sci-fi show was a smart one.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen a solar flare threatens to make the planet uninhabitable, the world attempts to deploy a planetary shield \u2013 known as the grid \u2013 to protect the atmosphere. The data, originating in Korea, was delivered by a mysterious time-travelling woman (Lee Si-young), who returns to make sure the barrier is erected in time.<\/span><\/p>\nWhen she returns once more, she leaves a string of murders in her wake. Grid team member (Seo Kang-joon) and detective Jung Sae-byeok (Kim Ah-jung) team up in a race against time to find the woman and understand what her return means for the grid.<\/span><\/p>\nWritten by Lee Soo-yeon, Grid combines the tight thriller plotting of their previous work, Stranger, with the high-concept science fiction that has become so important to Korean TV. Think Danny Boyle\u2019s sunshine, but with murders.<\/span><\/p>\nYou can stream Grid now on Disney Plus.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>My Mister<\/b><\/h2>\n<iframe title=\""MY\" mister=\"\" official=\"\" trailer=\"\" iu=\"\" lee=\"\" sun=\"\" gyun=\"\" jang=\"\" ki=\"\" yong=\"\" oh=\"\" na=\"\" ra=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/f-Eaa3f3gDo?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\nI\u2019m a crier.<\/span><\/p>\nI cry at a lot of things. My cat\u2019s tiny feet, the songs in Pitch Perfect, when cereal tastes good. Yet nothing \u2013 <\/span>nothing <\/span><\/i>\u2013 has made me weep as much as My Mister.<\/span><\/p>\nAs forty-something engineer Park Dong-hoon (Lee Sun-kyun) battles the weariness of life, work, and marriage, he strikes up an unlikely friendship with twenty-something temp Lee Ji-an (Lee Ji-eun, that\u2019s IU for the uninitiated). Though they struggle with different problems, they soon realise how they feel is remarkably similar.<\/span><\/p>\nWhere other shows might have seen this blossom into an office romance, My Mister is a story about an isolated young woman finding a community she never thought possible. It\u2019s a beautiful story and while it leans on typical tropes of corporate corruption and shenanigans, the real meat of the show is the coming together of a group of people around a vulnerable young woman that shows family can be found everywhere.<\/span><\/p>\nThere\u2019s a reason this is one of the highest rated shows on IMDb, and not just because it will have you shouting \u201cBUY HER SOME SOCKS\u201d at the TV.<\/span><\/p>\nYou can stream My Mister now on Netflix.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Signal<\/b><\/h2>\n<iframe title=\""Signal\" trailer=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/RsdJLm7Swkw?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\nCocky, unlikable criminal profiler Park Hae-yeong (Lee Jehoon) is haunted by a cold case from his childhood. When he discovers a walkie-talkie in the back of a truck, he teams up with fellow detective Lee Jae-han (Cho Jin-woong) to finally solve it. The kicker, Detective Lee is in 1999.<\/span><\/p>\nTogether with Lee\u2019s former mentee, Cha Soo-hyeon (played by the ageless Kim Hye-su), Park hunts down clues in the present. But is there enough information to finally bring the case to a close? And can Park and Cha save Lee\u2019s life in the past?<\/span><\/p>\nSignal is granted a thread of realism thanks to using many real crimes as inspiration. But this is the height of Korea\u2019s merging of science fiction and detective drama, and perhaps one of the most seminal shows in recent history.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nYou can stream Signal now on Netflix.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Kingdom<\/b><\/h2>\n<iframe title=\""Kingdom\" official=\"\" trailer=\"\" netflix=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/4l-yByZpaaM?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\nWith the king stricken by a sudden illness, Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) sets out to investigate the cause of the ruler\u2019s sudden decline. What he finds is a plague spreading across Joseon that turns people into bloodthirsty zombies that only come out at night. With the help of a rag-tag crew, including physician Seo-bo (Bae Doona), Lee tries to solve the mystery of what this plague is and where it comes from.<\/span><\/p>\nIf you were disappointed with what Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead became \u2013 and how could you not be? \u2013 Kingdom is the balm for your hurts. Taking what is normally an exclusively modern-day concept and transplanting it into 16th century Korea, Kingdom is a far more rewarding and interesting entry into the zombie pantheon.<\/span><\/p>\nThough there is no confirmation of when a third season might appear, the first two seasons give you plenty to sink your teeth into. You can stream Kingdom on Netflix now.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Parasite<\/b><\/h2>\n<iframe title=\""Parasite\" official=\"\" trailer=\"\" bong=\"\" joon=\"\" ho=\"\" film=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5xH0HfJHsaY?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\nAs one of the most popular Korean films of all time, and a global award winner, Parasite almost needs no introduction.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nLiving in a semi-basement apartment and struggling to make ends meet, the Kim family forms a symbiotic relationship with the clueless Park family. The kims carefully assimilating themselves into all facets of the Parks\u2019 lives and, in so doing, affecting a glamour of wealth in the family\u2019s absence. Having supplanted every other worker in the house, however, the Kims are in for a rude awakening.<\/span><\/p>\nBong Joon-ho\u2019s dark comedy includes everything you\u2019d expect from his previous films, in particular the commentary on Korea\u2019s class-divide. While it\u2019s fair to say Parasite is one of the best Korean films ever, it\u2019s also one of the best films \u2013 full stop.<\/span><\/p>\nThough, two films, really. One half a dark comic comment on the chasm between rich and poor in Korea, and the other a horror. It\u2019s a carefully choreographed film that has a global appeal. If you watch one Korean film in your life, it should be this one.<\/span><\/p>\nYou can stream Parasite now on Prime Video.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Reply 1988<\/b><\/h2>\n<iframe title=\""Run,\" deok-sun=\"\" run=\"\" reply=\"\" netflix=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""113"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hDI4IpZoaG4?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" web-share=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\nNothing sums up everything that is great and good in Korean TV like Reply 1988. K-pop star Lee Hye-ri (of Girl\u2019s Day fame) plays Sung Deok-sun, one of five teenagers on the cusp of adulthood in the Seoul neighbourhood of Ssangmundong. Starting with the opening ceremony of the Seoul Olympics in 1988, in which Deok-sun has a starring role, Reply 1988 traces the lives of these five teenagers and their families as they transition to adulthood.<\/span><\/p>\nReply 1988 can be classified a romance or slice-of-life, but it\u2019s more than that. It\u2019s a show about family and friends, an an idealised remembrance of a part of our lives so many of us found difficult.<\/span><\/p>\nIt came to me in 2016, right around the time my friends all abandoned me after I became disabled. Filling a very fresh hole in my heart with its timeless and nostalgic depiction of the tumults of teenage friendships and relationships. Also, the 80s! If you thought Stranger Things was nostalgic, you haven\u2019t seen anything yet.<\/span><\/p>\nThere\u2019s no specific viewer to recommend Reply 1988 to, everyone should watch it. It is, genuinely, a perfect television show and will have you weeping from start to finish.<\/span><\/p>\nGood luck not falling in love with Bo-ra.<\/span><\/p>\nYou can stream Reply 1988 on Netflix now.<\/span><\/p> <div class=\""editor-content\" mb-lg=\"\" hidden-print=\"\" js-piano-locked-content=\"\" data-placement=\""Body"\">\nIf you\u2019re looking for something else to watch in the meantime, check out our\u00a0<a href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/tv-listings\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener noopener noreferrer\" noreferrer=\"\">TV Guide<\/a>\u00a0or\u00a0<a href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/streaming-guide\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">Streaming Guide<\/a>\u00a0visit our dedicated\u00a0<a href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/tv\/drama\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">Drama<\/a>\u00a0hub.<\/strong><\/p>\nTry Radio Times magazine today and get 12 issues for only \u00a31 with delivery to your home\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013\u00a0<\/strong><a title=\""http:\/\/radiotimes.com\/magazine-subscription?utm_term=evergreen-article"\" href=\"\/\/radiotimes.com\/magazine-subscription?utm_term=evergreen-article"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">subscribe now<\/strong><\/a>. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the\u00a0<\/strong><a title=\""https:\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/audio\/podcasts\/"\" href=\"\/\/www.radiotimes.com\/audio\/podcasts\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"By Geoffrey Bunting Published: Friday, 06 January 2023 at 12:00 am For the past few years, we\u2019ve been lucky enough to receive a steady stream of high-quality Korean programming, much of which has captured the minds of western audiences. Popular shows like Squid Game and Crash Landing on You have served as introductions to Korean […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":28259,"template":"","categories":[1,5],"acf":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2023\/01\/the-best-korean-tv-and-films-you-can-stream-right-now.jpg",620,413,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2023\/01\/the-best-korean-tv-and-films-you-can-stream-right-now-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2023\/01\/the-best-korean-tv-and-films-you-can-stream-right-now-300x200.jpg",300,200,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2023\/01\/the-best-korean-tv-and-films-you-can-stream-right-now.jpg",620,413,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2023\/01\/the-best-korean-tv-and-films-you-can-stream-right-now.jpg",620,413,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2023\/01\/the-best-korean-tv-and-films-you-can-stream-right-now.jpg",620,413,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/56\/2023\/01\/the-best-korean-tv-and-films-you-can-stream-right-now.jpg",620,413,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Geoffrey Bunting Published: Friday, 06 January 2023 at 12:00 am For the past few years, we\u2019ve been lucky enough to receive a steady stream of high-quality Korean programming, much of which has captured the minds of western audiences. Popular shows like Squid Game and Crash Landing on You have served as introductions to Korean…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/28258"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28259"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/radiotimes\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}