The Best Korean Movies of 2022 (Top 10)

Korean movies have become one of the top choices for many people and this is no surprise, considering the obvious efforts put into K-Drama in recent times. If you’re out looking for the best Korean movies of 2022, irrespective of the genre, this article is definitely for you. Korean movies are very versatile with genres like action, comedy, drama, horror, romance, sci-fi, and Romcoms gracing our screens with distinct and captivating storylines.

If you choose to sit on Korean movies for an entire year, you would have as many options as possible. A few years ago, however, this wasn’t so.

In the past years, the best movies have emerged from the Western world, making films from the region gain more popularity even before they are seen. In recent times, however (the 1990s and 2000s), some of the best movies in the world have emerged from the East. South Korea is one of the Eastern nations where the best movies are produced and we have facts to prove this. This article will highlight the best Korean movies of 2022.

If you’ve been wondering why Korean movies/Korean Drama (K-drama) became so popular all of a sudden and why it is currently one of the most sought-after movies, RNN has all the answers you need.

Why Are Korean Movies so Popular?

Many people think that Korean movies experienced an upgrade in the 1990s and this is what made them so popular. The truth, however, is that these films barely made it to the international scene until then.

K-drama did not enjoy as much visibility as they do now in the years before the 1990s. This is a result of the censorship prevalent in South Korea during those years. Although there is still not as much freedom as is present in other countries, South Korean movies enjoy greater visibility to the outside world. This explains its not-so-sudden popularity.

The Government of South Korea has made the country’s entertainment industry a priority, pushing more support and resources into the system. This is a result of the country’s goal to become the world’s leading exporter of popular culture.

Last year saw the popular K-drama series, Squid Game become Netflix‘s biggest hit ever, reaching 1.65 billion viewers in the first month of its release.

Some other movies have been released in 2022 and this article highlights the top 10 best of them all.

Top 10 Best Korean Movies of 2022

2022 is a big year for the Korean movie industry with a massive lineup of films coming to theatres and those already making waves worldwide. Here are the top 10 best Korean movies of 2022 for you.

10. Vagabond

We begin the list of the best Korean movies of 2022 with two non-2022 movies still making waves this year.

Although Vagabond was released as a series in 2019, the movie is still one of the best Korean movies on various movie streaming platforms like Netflix.

Vagabond tells the story of a stuntman who is on a quest to find answers about a plane crash that took his Nephew’s life.

9. Crush Landing on You

Crush Landing on You is a Romantic Drama/Comedy released between 2019 and 2020, however, it remains one of the best Korean movies of 2022 as it still amasses lots of views to date.

The drama tells the captivating story of a successful businesswoman and Chaebo heiress who crush-lands on a North Korean demilitarized zone (DMZ) while paragliding in South Korea. The movie is one of the best Korean movies on Netflix so far.

8. The Hunt

This movie is one of the most timely movies ever! The spy thriller sees Squid Game star, Lee Jung-jae in his directorial debut, months after the release of Squid Game which had everyone asking when next the actor would grace our screens.

In no time, Jung-jae is out with The Hunt where he stars as a lead actor. The 2-hour-long movie is a depiction of the 1980s National Security Planning.

7. Seoul Vibe

Drivers of the Sanggye-dong Supreme Team investigate the movement of illegal slush funds by a powerful personnel. The event happens during the opening ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympics ceremony. Seoul Vibe definitely brings Seoul Vibes to our screens!

Popular casts from the film include Yoo Ah-in, Ko Kyoung-pyo, and Lee Kyoo-hyun.

6. Yaksha: Ruthless Operations

Yaksha features two sensational actors- Squid Game’s Park Hae-soo and GOT7’S Jin-Young.

The action thriller sees the demotion of former lead prosecutor, Han Ji-hoon to the position of legal aid at Korea’s National Intelligence Service.

While on his mission to inspect a black ops team, Ji-hoon gets caught in the middle of a terrific war between spies.

The movie was released in April.

5. Emergency Declaration

Emergency Declaration is a must-watch for Korean movie lovers in 2022. The action movie sees a suspected terrorist board a plane from South Korea to the United States of America and unfortunately for Korean authorities, he elopes before they discover him.

The suspect however causes harm to passengers on the plane, with one life lost and the captain and crew having to find a way out via unprecedented emergency measures. If you’re a lover of Korean and action films and you’re yet to see Emergency Declaration, it’s not too late to add the 2 hour-18 minutes film to your 2022 movie list because why not?

4. The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure

This is a remake/sequel to the 2014 movie. The movie sees a presumed “good bandit” and his troop stuck in the middle of the ocean when captain Hae-rang comes to their rescue with her crew. The two groups form an alliance when they stumble upon a map to a lost royal treasure and resolve to find it.

This decision, however, means that they’ll have to face the villain, Bu Heung-soo. The movie was released in January and is one of the best Korean movies of 2022.

3. The Witch: Part 2. The Other One

The Witch: Part 2. The Other One is a sequel to The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion. It tells the story of a girl who finds herself in a mysterious science laboratory, being protected from a gang by someone new (Kyung-hee).

When the gang finally finds her, they are overwhelmed by her superpowers. The movie is a highly anticipated sequel released in June.

2. Love and Leashes

“Love and Leashes” tops the list of the top 10 best Korean movies of 2022. The movie has a very unlikely storyline which came as a shock to many.

It tells the story of the romance between two colleagues at work (Ji-hoo and Ji-woo). Their passion begins when Ji-woo’s curiosity leads her into finding out about Ji-hoo’s secret BDSM desires.

The duo agrees to be in a relationship and while Ji-hoo is happy and sincere about his new partner, Ji-woo appears to be simply curious and dominating. Would they continue in this “one-sided” relationship or will their passions become mutual? “Love and Leashes” was released in February 2022 and has risen to become one of the best Korean movies of 2022.

1. Umma

Umma is a supernatural horror Korean movie that has got everyone talking! Beautifully written and directed by Iris K. Shim, the film portrays a single mother (Amanda) living on an isolated farm with her daughter, away from technology and electricity (Apparently Amanda has an allergic reaction to electricity and electronics).

Soon after Amanda’s mother (Umma) passes away and is cremated, she receives the ashes and is possessed by Umma’s spirit who wants to do her harm. She is forced to pounce on her own daughter (Chrissy) and barely lets her escape death at her hands. Later on, secrets about Amanda’s abusive childhood are exposed and she may have lied about her allergies.

Umma is an 83-minute tale of abuse, possession, and forgiveness. The film stars actors like Sandra Oh, Fivel Stewart, Odeya Rush, Dermot Mulroney, MeeWha Alana Lee, and Tom Yi.

Best Korean Movies of 2022 Summary

The top 10 Best Korean movies of 2022 feature two movies from previous years (recent). Despite being over a year old, they remain one of the best Korean movies making waves this year. Here’s a list of the best Korean movies once again.

1. Umma
2. Love and Leashes
3. The Witch: Part 2. The Other One
4. The Pirates: The Last Royal Treasure
5. Emergency Declaration
6. Yaksha: Ruthless Operations
7. Seoul Vibe
8. The Hunt
9. Crush Landing on You
10. Vagabond