Korean films, Q2 2025: the quarter in review

Released on April 16 with an adults-only rating. Lee Kang-su (Kang Ha-neul), imprisoned on false charges, receives an offer from prosecutor Koo Kwan-hee (Yoo Hae-jin): a reduced sentence in exchange for becoming a drug-investigation informant, known as a “yadang.” Hwang Byeong-gug directed, with Park Hae-joon, Ryu Kyung-soo and Chae Won-bin co-starring.

It opened at No. 1 with 85,657 viewers and drew 3.37 million admissions, ranking second among Korean films at the 2025 box office. It is the biggest box-office hit among adults-only Korean films released since COVID-19. On Netflix it spent eight weeks in Korea's Top 10, peaking at No. 1, and reached No. 5 worldwide among non-English films. Hwang Byeong-gug won Best Director at the 34th Buil Film Awards.

Released on May 30. Five people who received organ transplants from the same donor each gain a superpower and face off against forces that want that power. Kang Hyeong-cheol wrote and directed, and the cast includes Lee Jae-in, Ahn Jae-hong, Ra Mi-ran, Kim Hee-won, Oh Jung-se, Park Jin-young and Yoo Ah-in.

Filming wrapped in 2021, but its planned 2023 release was postponed by the Yoo Ah-in case, and it reached theaters about four years after filming ended. It opened at No. 1 with about 70,000 viewers, held the top spot for 10 consecutive days and drew 1.89 million admissions. It won Best Editing and a Popular Star Award (Park Jin-young) at the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards.

Released on June 25. Two sisters are plagued by noise between apartment floors. When the older sister, Ju-young (Lee Sun-bin), loses contact with the younger, Ju-hee (Han Su-a), she goes looking for her. The feature debut of director Kim Soo-jin, it co-stars Kim Min-seok and Ryu Kyung-soo. It first screened at TIFF Industry Selects at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024.

A low-budget film made for about $2.5 million, it opened at No. 1 with 28,167 viewers. Its second-weekend audience of 326,270 was more than double its opening weekend (147,849), and it drew 1.7 million admissions. It was nominated for Best New Director and Best New Actress (Lee Sun-bin) at the Blue Dragon Film Awards.

Released on June 2. It follows Yoon Ji-hee (Kim Gyu-ri), a woman steeped in sorcery in her pursuit of power, and Jeong Hyeon-su (Ahn Nae-sang), an investigative TV producer tracing the links between her and a former prosecutor running for president. Kim Nam-gyun directed; the film cost 1.7 billion won and was distributed by Yeolgong Film Production, Smile ENT and Blue Film Works.

It opened the day before the 21st presidential election, and characters reminiscent of real politicians drew both attention and controversy. Independently produced and distributed, it drew 780,000 admissions, and in March 2026 it reached No. 1 in Netflix's Top 10 in Korea.

Released on April 30. Bau (Ma Dong-seok), Sharon (Seohyun) and Kim-gun (Lee David) of Holy Night, a team of demon-hunting fixers, are asked to save a client's younger sister, who is possessed by a demon. Lim Dae-hee wrote and directed, and Ma Dong-seok produced. Kyung Soo-jin and Jung Ji-so co-star.

It opened at No. 1 with 121,321 viewers and drew 770,000 admissions. It screened at the Shanghai and Fantasia film festivals and in the Gala section of the 38th Tokyo International Film Festival, and on Netflix it spent two weeks in the global Top 10 for non-English films, peaking at No. 4.

Released on April 30. Hornclaw (Lee Hye-young), a legendary killer in her sixties who has been active for more than 40 years, is confronted by Bullfight (Kim Sung-cheol), a young killer who has come after her. Based on Gu Byeong-mo's novel of the same name, it was directed by Min Kyu-dong, with Yeon Woo-jin, Kim Mu-yeol and Shin Si-ah co-starring.

Before its release, it premiered on February 20 in the Berlinale Special section of the 75th Berlin International Film Festival and was then invited to festivals including Brussels (in competition), Sitges and Busan. It drew 550,000 admissions. Lee Hye-young won Best Actress at the Korean Film Producers Association Awards, and the film received nominations in five categories, including Best Film, at the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards.