If you are a fan of Korean movies, here are 18 interesting content to watch and anticipate in the second half of 2023, listed in alphabetical order.
A Man of Reason
A Man Of Reason (2023) is an action film by Jung Woo-sung about a man imprisoned for 10 years who decides to cut ties with the criminal world but gets chased by a hitman, holding his daughter hostage. He begins to take revenge in violence, starring Jung Woo-sung, Kim Nam-gil, Park Sung-woong, and Kim Jun-han. It was invited to the Special Presentations section at the 2022 Toronto International Film Festival and is set to be released theatrically in 2023.
Ballerina
Ballerina (2023) is a Netflix thriller film by Lee Chung-hyun about the sweet revenge of a female ex-bodyguard who is grieving the loss of her bestfriend who is a ballerina. Skilled with swordsmanship, guns, and self-defense, she is set to confront the male antagonist and fulfill her bestfriend’s wish, starring Jeon Jong-seo, Kim Ji-hoon, and Park Yu-rim.
Believer 2
Believer 2 (2023) is a sequel to Believer (2018) that follows a determined detective who continues his search for the truth behind Asia’s largest drug organization and its elusive boss he has unfinished business with, starring Cho Jin-woong, Cha Seung-won, Han Hyo-joo, Oh Seung-hoon, Kim Dong-young, and Lee Joo-young. The film is helmed by Baek Jong-yul or BAIK and will be released worldwide on Netflix in 2023.
Bogota: City Of The Lost
Bogota: City Of The Lost (2023) is a crime film by Kim Seong-je that is set in the 1990s in Bogota, Colombia that follows a group of immigrants who struggle to make a living and fulfill a better life. Among them is a young man who starts to engage with dangerous deals in order to survive, dominating the black market of Bogota, starring Song Joong-ki, Lee Hee-joon, and Kwon Hae-hyo. It is anticipated to be released in 2023.
Cobweb
Cobweb (2023) is a black-comedy film by Kim Jee-woon about a movie director who is obsessed with the desire to re-film the ending of the movie “Cobweb”, which was filmed in the 1970s, and make it into a masterpiece. It depicts the sad and funny moments that the production team and actors experience while filming under conditions, starring Song Kang-ho, Im Soo-jung, Oh Jung-se, Jeon Yeo-been, and Krystal Jung. It was invited to screen at the 2023 Cannes International Film Festival.
Concrete Utopia
Concrete Utopia (2023) is a disaster-thriller film by Um Tae-hwa about the story of survivors in the only building left standing in Seoul after a massive earthquake hit the land, starring Lee Byung-hun, Park Seo-joon, and Park Bo-young. It is based on the webtoon “Pleasant Bullying” by Kim Sung-nik and anticipated to be released in 2023.
Hopeless
Hopeless (2023) also known as “Hwaran” is a film noir by Kim Chang-hoon about a teenage boy who desperately wants to escape his hometown full of violence but finds himself gradually falling into the hands of a mobster, starring Song Joong-ki, Hong Xa-bin, and Kim Hyoung-seo. It was invited to screen in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2023 Cannes International Film Festival.
Noryang: The Sea of Death
Noryang: The Sea of Death (2023) is the final film of Kim Han-min’s hit trilogy battles including The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014) and Hansan: Rising Dragon (2022). The third film depicts the last major battle of the Japanese invasions of Korea in the period between 1592 to 1598, called Battle of Noryang, starring Kim Yoon-seok, Baek Yoon-sik, Jung Jae-young, and Huh Joon-ho. It is expected to be released theatrically in December 2023.
Project Silence
Project Silence (2023) is a disaster-horror film by Kim Tae-gon about people on vehicles who get stuck in chaos, struggling to survive from a collapsing bridge caused by a thick fog. The situation gets worse when mutated military dogs are accidentally released from a transport vehicle and start preying on humans, starring Lee Sun-kyun and Ju Ji-hoon. It was officially invited to screen in the Midnight Screening section at the 2023 Cannes International Film Festival.
Road To Boston
Road To Boston (2023) is a sports movie written and directed by Kang Je-gyu that tells about the journey of Korean athletes who participated as national marathoners in the 1947 Boston International Marathon, a prestigious marathon event and the first international sports event held since World War II. It stars Ha Jung-woo, Bae Seung-woo, Yim Siwan, and is set to be released theatrically in September 2023.
Seoul Spring
Seoul Spring (2023) also known as “Spring in Seoul” is a political-thriller film based on true events that shook Korea in the late 1970s during a short period of political freedom. It narrates the time when former President Park Chung-hee was assassinated by his close aide, and the coup leader extended martial law, violently suppressing mass pro-democracy protests, starring Hwang Jung Min, Jung Woo Sung, Park Hae Joon, Lee Sung-min, and Kim Sung-kyun. It is helmed by Kim Sung Soo and expected to be released in 2023.
Sleep
Sleep (2023) is a horror-thriller film by Jason Yu about a newlywed couple whose married life turns to a nightmare as the husband who suffers from sleepwalking suddenly transforms into someone else, causing intense anxiety to the wife, starring Lee Sun-kyun and Jung Yu-mi. It was invited to the competition section of Cannes Critics’ Week, a parallel film festival of Cannes Film Festival.
Smugglers
Smugglers (2023) is an action-crime film by Ryoo Seung-wan that is set in the 1970s in a peaceful seaside village, where haenyos or female deep sea divers collect seafood for living but unexpectedly get into trouble in a high-stakes smuggling scheme. It stars Kim Hye-soo, Yum Jung-ah, Zo In-sung, Park Jeong-min, Kim Jong-soo, Go Min-si, and is set to be released theatrically on July 26, 2023.
The Childe
The Childe (2023) also known as “Sad Tropics” is an action, film-noir by Park Hoon-jung about a mysterious nobleman who chases after an aspiring Filipino-Korean boxer named Marco who goes to various illegal arenas in the Philippines. Struggling, the young man comes to Korea to find his father but meets Childe and other unidentified forces who tries to pursue him, making his life a mess. It stars Kim Seonho, Kang Tae-joo, Kim Kang-woo, and Go Ara, and is set to be released theatrically in June 2023.
The Moon
The Moon (2023) is a sci-fi film about a lunar exploration and rescue mission of a space crew staff who is accidentally left stranded in space due to an unexpected accident, starring Sol Kyung-gu, Do Kyung-soo, and Kim Hee-ae. It is known to be the first Korean movie about lunar exploration, helmed by Kim Yong-hwa, the famous director of the mega-hit films, Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (2017) and Along With The Gods: The Last 49 Days (2018). It is scheduled to be released in August 2023.
The Roundup: No Way Out
The Roundup: No Way Out (2023) is the follow-up to the hit action-crime films, The Outlaws (2017) and The Roundup (2022), helmed by Lee Sang-yong. It depicts a crime-fighting operation with detective Ma Seok-do who moves to the Metropolitan Investigation Team to beat a group of heinous criminals with his new team, starring Ma Dong-seok and Lee Jun-hyeok. It is scheduled to be released theatrically on May 31, 2023.
Veteran 2
Veteran 2 (2023) is the follow-up to the 2015 film, Veteran by Ryu Seung Wan that follows the story of a veteran investigation team chasing after an arrogant third generation chaebol. The sequel depicts a new crisis with a more seasoned detective and a violent crime investigation team, starring Hwang Jung-min, Oh Dal-soo, Jang Yoon-joo, Oh Dae-hwan, Kim Shi-hoo, and Jung Hae-in. It is expected to be released in 2023.
Wonderland
Wonderland (2023) is a star-studded, sci-fi film by Kim Tae-yong about a virtual world where people have the opportunity to reunite with certain individuals they can no longer spend time with in reality, using artificial intelligence. A woman in her 20s requests to meet her lover who is in a coma, and a man in his 40s asks to meet his wife who has passed away, starring Bae Suzy, Choi Woo-shik, Jung Yu-mi, Park Bo-gum, Tang Wei, and Gong Yoo. It will be released worldwide on Netflix and anticipated in 2023.
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