Korean films, Q1 2024: the quarter in review

Released on February 22. In this occult mystery, feng shui master Kim Sang-deok (Choi Min-sik), shaman Lee Hwa-rim (Kim Go-eun), undertaker Ko Yeong-geun (Yoo Hai-jin) and exorcist Yoon Bong-gil (Lee Do-hyun) take a large fee to relocate a suspicious grave and come face to face with what lies buried beneath it. An original work written and directed by Jang Jae-hyun, it premiered on February 16, ahead of its release, in the Forum section of the 74th Berlin International Film Festival.

It drew 336,114 viewers on opening day and passed 10 million admissions on March 24, its 32nd day in release. With 11.91 million admissions in total, it was the No. 1 Korean film of 2024 at the box office. It was the first Korean occult film to pass 10 million admissions. At the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards it won Best Director (Jang Jae-hyun), Best Actress (Kim Go-eun), Best New Actor (Lee Do-hyun) and the Technical Award (Kim Byung-in, sound); at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards it won four awards, including Best Director and Best Actress; and it received the Special Jury Prize in the competition section of the Sitges Film Festival. On Netflix it ranked No. 5 worldwide among non-English films in the chart week of July 15–21.

Released on January 24. After a fire at her laundromat, Kim Deok-hee (Ra Mi-ran) falls victim to a voice-phishing scam while looking for a loan; when Son (Gong Myoung), a member of the scam ring, calls her with a tip, she and her coworkers head to China themselves. Directed by Park Young-ju, it is based on the true story of a laundromat owner in Hwaseong who caught the ringleader of a voice-phishing ring in 2016, and the cast also includes Yeom Hye-ran, Park Byung-eun, Jang Yoon-ju, Lee Moo-saeng and Ahn Eun-jin.

With 1.71 million admissions in total, it ranked 10th among Korean films of 2024. It was invited to the competition of the 26th Udine Far East Film Festival, and Yeom Hye-ran won Best Supporting Actress at the 44th Golden Cinematography Awards.

Released on January 10, opening simultaneously in IMAX, 4DX and ScreenX. In this sequel to 2022's Alienoid, Ean (Kim Tae-ri), trapped in the past, tries to recover the divine sword and return to the future, while Mureuk (Ryu Jun-yeol), the Taoist wizards and a blind swordsman chase one another for the sword. Choi Dong-hoon wrote and directed, and the cast also includes Kim Woo-bin, So Ji-sub, Yum Jung-ah, Jo Woo-jin and Kim Eui-sung.

It drew 103,467 viewers on opening day and held No. 1 at the box office for 10 consecutive days, but its total of 1.43 million admissions fell far short of its reported break-even point (7 million or more). It was invited to festivals including the Sydney Film Festival and the competition of the Udine Far East Film Festival.

Released on March 27. Reporter Im Sang-jin (Son Suk-ku), suspended after his story on corporate wrongdoing is branded false, gets a tip from an online opinion-rigging operation and starts digging. Based on Chang Kang-myoung's novel of the same name, it was written and directed by Ahn Gooc-jin. Kim Sung-cheol, Kim Dong-hwi and Hong Kyung co-star.

It opened at No. 1 at the box office, ending Exhuma's streak of 34 consecutive days at No. 1 since its release. It drew 970,000 admissions in total.

A film released on Netflix on January 26. In a Seoul left in ruins by a massive earthquake, the hunter Nam-san (Ma Dong-seok) enters a suspicious apartment complex to rescue a kidnapped girl. It is the directorial debut of Heo Myung-haeng. Lee Hee-joon, Lee Jun-young, Roh Jeong-eui and Ahn Ji-hye co-star. Made with a theatrical release in mind, it was instead released as a Netflix original.

From its first week (the chart for January 22–28), it spent four consecutive weeks in the global Top 10 for non-English films, including three straight weeks at No. 1 from January 22 to February 11. Its peak weekly views were 18.1 million, and the sum of its weekly views during its weeks in the global Top 10 is 41 million.

A film released on Netflix on March 1. Loh Kiwan (Song Joong-ki), a North Korean defector who has lost his mother, struggles to obtain refugee status in the unfamiliar city of Brussels, Belgium, and meets Marie (Choi Sung-eun), a former sport shooter. Based on Cho Hae-jin's novel I Met Loh Kiwan, it was written and directed by Kim Hee-jin. Jo Han-chul, Kim Sung-ryoung and Lee Sang-hee co-star.

From its first week (the chart for February 26–March 3), it spent three consecutive weeks in the global Top 10 for non-English films and reached No. 1 in the chart week of March 4–10. Its peak weekly views were 5.1 million. Lee Sang-hee, who plays Seon-ju, won Best Supporting Actress at the 60th Baeksang Arts Awards and at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards.