Korean films, Q1 2025: the quarter in review

Released on January 22. When terrorist attacks copy the new webtoon drawn by Jun (Kwon Sang-woo), a former agent turned webtoon artist, the National Intelligence Service names him as the culprit. Choi Won-sub directed this sequel to 2020's Hitman: Agent Jun, with Jung Joon-ho, Lee Yi-kyung, Hwang Woo-seul-hye and Kim Sung-oh co-starring.

It opened at No. 1 with 105,911 viewers and on January 29, its eighth day, became the first Korean film of 2025 to pass 1 million admissions. Its 2.54 million admissions rank fifth among Korean films released in 2025.

Released on March 26. It is based on the true story of Go champion Cho Hun-hyun (Lee Byung-hun), who takes the gifted boy Lee Chang-ho (Yoo Ah-in) as his pupil, only for master and pupil to later become rivals. Kim Hyung-joo directed and co-wrote the screenplay with Yoon Jong-bin; Kim Kang-hoon plays the young Lee Chang-ho, and Moon Jeong-hee and Ko Chang-seok co-star.

Filming wrapped in 2020–2021, but the release was postponed over Yoo Ah-in's drug charges, and plans for a Netflix release gave way to a theatrical one. It opened at No. 1 with 91,471 viewers and drew 2.14 million admissions. After its Netflix release on May 8, it spent 10 weeks in Korea's Top 10, peaking at No. 1, and it won Best Screenplay at the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards.

Released on January 24. To save Hee-jun (Moon Woo-jin), a boy possessed by an evil spirit, two nuns, Junia (Song Hye-kyo) and Michaela (Jeon Yeo-been), perform a forbidden exorcism. Kwon Hyeok-jae directed this spin-off of 2015's The Priests, which also stars Lee Jin-wook, with special appearances by Gang Dong-won and Huh Joon-ho.

Together with Hitman 2, it led the box office over the Lunar New Year holiday, drawing 1.67 million admissions, and it was pre-sold to 160 countries. Jeon Yeo-been won Best Actress at the Golden Cinematography Awards, and Song Hye-kyo and Jeon Yeo-been were nominated for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, at the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards.

A film released on Netflix on March 21. Pastor Sung Min-chan (Ryu Jun-yeol), who believes God has called upon him to punish the culprit behind a disappearance, and detective Lee Yeon-hui (Shin Hyun-been), haunted by visions of her deceased younger sister, each follow their own beliefs. Based on the webtoon of the same name by Yeon Sang-ho and Choi Gyu-seok, it was directed by Yeon, who co-wrote the screenplay with Choi. Alfonso Cuarón served as a producer.

It was No. 1 worldwide among non-English films in both its first and second weeks, recording 6.9 million views in its second week. It stayed in the global Top 10 for three weeks and entered the Top 10 in 66 countries. It was the only Korean Netflix film released in the first quarter to reach No. 1 worldwide.

Released on January 27. A remake of the 2007 Taiwanese film Secret. Yoo-jun (Doh Kyung-soo), a music student with a gift for the piano, meets a mysterious student, Jung-a (Won Jin-ah), in a practice room. Seo Yoo-min directed, and Shin Ye-eun co-stars.

Shot in 2021–2022 and screened at the Hawaii International Film Festival in 2023, it reached theaters during the 2025 Lunar New Year season and drew 820,000 admissions.

Released on February 5. With his younger brother returned as a corpse and his sister-in-law missing, Bae Min-tae (Ha Jung-woo) seeks out the author of the best-selling novel Nocturnal, which seems to have foretold the death, and pursues the truth. Kim Jin-hwang wrote and directed, with Kim Nam-gil, Yoo Da-in and Jung Man-sik co-starring.

It opened at No. 1 with 42,562 viewers, but its total stopped at 197,949. After its Netflix release, it spent 13 weeks in Korea's Top 10 between mid-May and late September, including four consecutive weeks at No. 1.