Korean films, Q3 2024: the quarter in review

Released on September 13, during the Chuseok season. Seo Do-cheol (Hwang Jung-min) and his violent crimes unit, joined by rookie detective Park Sun-woo (Jung Hae-in), hunt a serial killer who targets criminals who have provoked public outrage. A sequel to 2015's Veteran, it was directed and co-written by Ryoo Seung-wan, with Oh Dal-su, Jang Yoon-ju and Oh Dae-hwan co-starring. Ahead of its release, it premiered on May 21 in the Midnight Screenings section of the 77th Cannes Film Festival, and it was also invited to the Special Presentations section of the Toronto International Film Festival.

It drew about 497,000 viewers on opening day, and with 7.52 million admissions in total it was the No. 3 Korean film of 2024 at the box office and No. 1 among Korean films released in the second half of the year. Jung Hae-in won Best Supporting Actor at the 45th Blue Dragon Film Awards. On Netflix, it ranked No. 5 worldwide among non-English films the following year, in the chart week of January 27–February 2, 2025.

Released on July 31. In this comedy, star pilot Han Jung-woo (Jo Jung-suk), fired overnight, disguises himself as a woman and uses his younger sister's identity to get rehired. A remake of the 2012 Swedish film Cockpit, it was directed by Kim Han-gyeol. Lee Joo-myung, Han Sun-hwa and Shin Seung-ho co-star.

It recorded the biggest opening of the 2024 summer season with about 370,000 viewers on its first day, and passed its break-even point of 2.2 million on its ninth day. With 4.71 million admissions in total, it was the No. 4 Korean film of 2024 at the box office. Jo Jung-suk won Best Actor at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards. On Netflix, it ranked No. 7 worldwide among non-English films in the chart week of November 18–24.

Released on July 3. Lim Kyu-nam (Lee Je-hoon), a North Korean army sergeant nearing the end of his service, makes a run for the other side of the Military Demarcation Line, pursued by Ri Hyun-sang (Koo Kyo-hwan), a State Security major who knew him as a child. Lee Jong-pil directed, and Hong Xa-bin and Song Kang co-star.

It passed its break-even point of 2 million on its 21st day in release, and with 2.56 million admissions in total it ranked seventh among Korean films of 2024. It was invited to the Sitges Film Festival and the New York Asian Film Festival, and on Netflix it ranked No. 8 worldwide among non-English films in the chart week of November 4–10.

Released on August 14. Lawyer Jeong In-hu (Jo Jung-suk), assigned to defend Park Tae-ju (Lee Sun-kyun), an intelligence agency aide implicated in the assassination of the president, takes on a trial whose outcome seems decided in advance. Inspired by Tae Yun-gi, the lawyer who defended Colonel Park Heung-ju after the assassination of President Park Chung Hee, it was directed by Choo Chang-min, with Yoo Jae-myung playing Jeon Sang-du.

The last film starring the late Lee Sun-kyun to be released in theaters, it was also screened in “A Beautiful Person, Lee Sun-kyun,” a special program at the 29th Busan International Film Festival. Its total of 710,000 admissions fell short of its reported break-even point (about 2.7 million). Yoo Jae-myung won Best Supporting Actor at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards.

A film released on Netflix on September 13. Lee Jung-do (Kim Woo-bin), a young man with a combined ninth dan across several martial arts, goes to work as a “martial arts officer” for the Ministry of Justice, monitoring offenders under electronic ankle monitors around the clock. Kim Joo-hwan wrote and directed, and Kim Sung-kyun plays probation officer Kim Sun-min.

From its first week (the chart for September 9–15), it spent four consecutive weeks in the global Top 10 for non-English films, including three straight weeks at No. 1 from September 9 to 29. Its peak weekly views were 15.7 million, and the sum of its weekly views during its weeks in the global Top 10 is 31.4 million.

A film released on Netflix on August 9. Park Kang-moo (Hwang Jung-min), a former agent living as a stay-at-home husband while hiding his past, and his wife Kang Mi-sun (Yum Jung-ah), a violent crimes detective who suspects him of cheating, get caught up together in a much bigger case. Lee Myung-hoon wrote and directed, and Jeon Hye-jin co-stars. Originally slated for a theatrical release by Plus M in February 2024, it was postponed and then released on Netflix.

From its first week (the chart for August 5–11), it spent five consecutive weeks in the global Top 10 for non-English films, including two straight weeks at No. 1 from August 5 to 18. Its peak weekly views were 8.9 million, and the sum of its weekly views during its weeks in the global Top 10 is 17.7 million.