Three (3) Korean Drama Movies to Watch on Netflix USA

Netflix has established itself as the GO-TO streaming platform for Korean drama. Its K-content dates back to 2003.

By Treathyl Fox (aka cmoneyspinner)Published about a year ago • 3 min read

Image by Chil Vera from Pixabay

Korean drama series and films are being added to the Netflix database faster than I can say “Jack Rabbit!” This streaming platform significantly expanded its collection of Korean dramas beginning in the late 2010s. Specifically in the USA, Netflix seems to have the largest selection of Korean drama movies that were released in the 2000s up to the present.

Below are three (3) K-Drama movie recommendations, released in 2017, 2018, and 2020, that are great picks for a weekend triple feature watch party with family and friends!

♦ 1) Forgotten (2017)

Genre: Thriller, Mystery (Netflix viewers added: Psychological, Suspenseful)

Main Characters:

Jin-Seok (played by Kang Ha-Neul)
Yoo-Seok (played by Kim Moo-Yul)

STORYLINE: “Forgotten” is a Korean drama movie that is not based on a true story; however, its inspiration is drawn from someone who had a similar experience. This psychological thriller explores themes of memory, identity, and betrayal. Jin-seok's brother, Yoo-Seok, was abducted, missing for several days, and then suddenly returned home. Of course, the family is happy he came home safely. But the man who came back home is not the brother Jin-seok knew. Yoo-seok says he has no memory of what happened to him.

Jin-seok wants to trust his brother but finds it hard to believe him because there are inconsistencies in Yoo-seok's stories, strange events start happening, and his brother's behavior is very suspicious. When Jin-seok starts searching for answers, he uncovers a web of lies, and more, including dark family secrets that were buried for years.

The plot has lots of twists and turns and is a must-watch for fans of psychological thrillers.

♦ 2) Burning (2018)

Genre: Thriller (Netflix viewers added: Understated, Suspenseful)

Main Characters:

Jong-Soo (played by Yoo Ah-In)
Ben (played by Steven Yeun)
Hae-M (played by Jun Jong-Seo)

STORYLINE: "Burning" is a thought-provoking Korean drama film that explores love, obsession, and the darker aspects of the human psyche. Jong-su reconnects with Hae-mi, a free-spirited woman from his childhood past. Hae-mi leaves for Africa and asks Jong-su to take care of her cat. Hey! That's what love is for!

When she returns she introduces Jong-su to Ben. Ben is wealthy, but also mysterious. The more time the three of them spend together, the more suspicious Jong-su becomes of Ben. One day Hae-mi mysteriously disappears and he begins to wonder about Ben, his intentions, and their relationship.

Ben lives a luxurious and affluent lifestyle. A sharp contrast to Jong-su who is a part-time deliveryman and aspiring writer. When he starts to investigate the disappearance of Hae-mi, he begins to see the differences between the haves and the have-nots.

* NOTE: South Korean actor Yoo Ah-In got tangled up in legal woes involving narcotics and has been blacklisted from the entertainment industry. It's a shame because he is such a talented actor. They have not banned the K-dramas he starred in, so fans can still watch.

"Burning" won the award for Best Film at the 2018 (55th) Daejong Film Awards. It is based on the short story "Barn Burning" by Haruki Murakami.

♦ 3) The Call (2020)

Genre: Horror, Mystery (Netflix viewers added: Chilling, Psychological, Dark)

Main Characters:

Kim Seo-Yeon (played by Park Shin-Hye)
Oh Young-Sook (played by Jun Jong-Seo)

STORYLINE: Korean drama lovers love time travel. But the Korean movie "Call" is different. It intricately weaves together two timelines. Two women who live in two separate time periods connect with each other through a mysterious phone call. As with anything that deals with time, there is the question of whether the past can be altered and what would be the consequences for doing so.

Seo-yeon is a young woman grieving the loss of her mother, so she moves into her family home to heal. When she was getting settled, she found an old cordless phone in the house. Young-sook called and claimed she was living in the same house only she was in the past, in the year 1999. At first, Seo-yeon thought it was a prank, but then she witnesses events unfolding in the past through the window of her house.

The two women establish a connection across time, and they start to influence each other's lives. However, when Seo-yeon tries to change a tragic event from Young-sook's past, it changes the course of both their lives.

But the changes have happened and Young-sook is determined to protect her own reality at any cost. Seo-yeon finds herself trapped not knowing how to unblur the lines between past and present. "Call" delves into the butterfly effect and combines the elements of horror, mystery, and psychological suspense.

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