South Korean filmmaking has gained international acclaim in recent years, with projects likeParasiteandSquid Gamefinding success all around the globe. In truth, the country’s cinema has been creative and interesting for decades. While the best South Korean films tend to be dark or violent, leaning toward action and sci-fi, the country has also produced a number of terrific comedies. They run the gamut from satire to rom-coms, heartfelt comedy-dramas to laugh-out-laud social commentary.
Humor doesn’t always translate well between languages, but the following movies do a good job of it, remaining accessible to international viewers. Whether it’s a story about an aging grandmother who magically becomes young again or a conman pretending to be a superhero,these films bring a fresh perspective to the comedy genre. With this in mind, here are ten of the best South Korean comedy movies, ranked.
15’The Dude in Me' (2019)
Directed by Kang Hyo-jin
The Dude in Meis a charming (if slightly generic) riff on a body-swap premise. The story begins when a high school student, Dong-hyun (Jung Jin-young), accidentally falls from a rooftop and crashes into Pan-soo, an elite gangster. The bizarre accident results in the two swapping bodies. As the gangster navigates the challenges of high school life in Dong-hyun’s body, he discovers the softer side of himself and unexpectedly bonds with Dong-hyun’s family and peers.
This flick might not reach the heights ofMakoto Shinkai’sYour Name(it’s more on the level ofFreaky Friday), butit’s still a fun mix of quirky characters, heartfelt moments, and a little social commentary. On the acting side, Park Sung Woong is the clear highlight, and supporting actressRa Mi-ranis a close second as Oh Mi-Sun, the gangster’s first love. The third act is a little rushed, but the stars' charisma makes up for a lot.
The Dude In Me
14'6/45' (2022)
Directed by Park Gyu-tae
6/45is a bolder kind of comedy drawing on real-world issues regarding South Korea and North Korea. It centers on Chun-woo (Go Kyung-pyo), a South Korean soldier stationed near the Demilitarized Zone, who wins a massive lottery jackpot. However, his life turns upside down when the winning ticket accidentally drifts across the border into North Korea. A North Korean soldier, Yong-ho (Lee Yi-kyung), finds it and stakes his claim. This becomes the catalyst for an unlikely cross-border friendship.
The title refers to the lotto format: if you match 6 numbers out of 45, you claim the big prize. A lot of the jokes and references here seem very specific to a Korean audience, meaning that international viewers might not catch all of them, but anyone can appreciate the zaniness of the lead characters.The movie is at its best when leaning into their over-the-top antics. While6/45falls a little short of its potential, it’s still commendable for finding thecomedy in serious matters.
6/45 is currently not available to stream, rent, or purchase in the U.S.
13’Wonderful Nightmare' (2015)
Wonderful Nightmareis a fantastical romantic comedy about death, fate, personal growth, and celestial mixups. The main character is Yeon-woo (Uhm Jung-hwa), a high-powered lawyer who is accidentally killed by a heavenly error and offered a chance to return to life — but in a different body. She is sent to live as a devoted wife and mother for one month. Initially baffled and resistant to her new role, Yeon-woo gradually finds herself drawn into the warmth of family life, while also confronting some new challenges.
It’s a pretty wacky premise, but the filmmakers succeed in mining it for both humor and one or two emotional moments.The film starts out quite goofy and comedic, but gets more dramatic as it rolls along, shifting its focus to character development. This all culminates in a surprisingly poignant third act. While the pacing is a bit slow, especially at the beginning, the tender moments and unexpected plot twists keepWonderful Nightmareengaging.
Wonderful Nightmare
Wonderful Nightmare is currently not available to stream, rent, or purchase in the U.S.
12’Castaway on the Moon' (2009)
Directed by Lee Hae-jun
This introspective and darkly comicmovie revolves around one character, Kim Seong-geun (Jung Jae-young), a man who ends up stranded on a deserted island in the middle of the Han River after a failed suicide attempt. As he adapts to his new environment, he rediscovers the joys of simplicity and survival. He soon catches the attention of Kim Jung-yeon (Jung Ryeo-won), a reclusive, video game-addicted woman living in a nearby apartment who communicates with him using messages in bottles.
Castaway on the Moonis a fairly dramatic comedy that touches on many pertinent social issues in South Korea. For example, Seong-geun is drowning in debt and feels isolated, while Jung-yeon is nervous of the outside world and has escaped into a virtual world. In other words, the comedy is more subtle in this one, andthe real draw here is the emotional depth.This approach earned the movie a ton of awards, particularly for star Jung Jae-young.
Castaway on the Moon
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11’Pawn' (2020)
Directed by Kang Dae-gyu
Pawnfollows Doo-Seok (Sung Dong-il) and Jong-bae (Kim Hee-won), two debt collectors who end up taking nine-year-old Seung-yi (Ha Ji-won) as collateral when her mother cannot repay a loan. Initially treating her as a burden, the collectors gradually form a familial bond with the spirited girl. When her mother is deported, they become her unlikely guardians. This premise might sound pretty dodgy, butPawnactually becomes a moving story about the meaning of family.
There are many heartfelt moments in this one, as well as a lot of comedy in the clashing personalities among this oddball trio. This combination of humor and heart went down well with audiences in South Korea;Pawngrossed a solid $13.6m and quickly gained a reputation as a tearjerker. Much of the credit for this must go to Haw Ji-won, who does a lot to flesh out her character and make her compelling. The conclusion might stumble a little, but, overall,Pawnis solid.
Pawn is currently not available to stream, rent, or purchase in the U.S.
10’Scandal Makers' (2008)
Directed by Kang Hyeong-cheol
Scandal Makersfollows Nam Hyeon-soo (Cha Tae-hyun), a former teen idol turned popular radio DJ whose life is turned upside down when a young woman (Park Bo-young) shows up at his doorstep claiming to be his daughter, along with her son, his grandson (Wang Seok-hyeon). Hyeon-soo is forced to navigate the challenges of sudden fatherhood while trying to keep the scandal a secret from the public. As he adjusts to his unexpected role as a grandfather, comic situations arise, especially as he tries to
The film is a delightful mix of humor and heart, as Hyeon-soo’s interactions with his daughter and grandson reveal his softer side. Plus, much of the comedy stems from his attempts to balance his public image with his newfound responsibilities. It’s one of the better executions of the"reformed playboy turned reluctant parent" trope, anchored by a cool, charming lead performance from Cha. It all builds up to a lively musical finale.
Scandal Makers
9’A Man Who Was Superman' (2008)
Directed by Jeong Yoon-cheol
A Man Who Was Supermantells the story of a cynical documentary filmmaker named Song Soo-jung (Jun Ji-hyun), who encounters Lee Hyun-suk (Hwang Jung-min), a man claiming to be Superman. This Superman doesn’t have superpowers but insists on helping people in his own unique, sometimes comical ways. As Soo-jung films his antics, she learns that the man’s delusion of being Superman stems from a traumatic past, and what starts as a mockumentary slowly transforms into a touching story of hope and healing.
The movie mixes inelements of magical realism, alternating between goofy and poignant. Although it begins lighthearted,it gets more thoughtful and profound as it rolls along, becoming a commentary on modern South Korean society. Some of the third-act scenes get surprisingly emotional, too, with Hwang doing most of the heavy lifting. The film is also solidly written, with memorable lines like “Strength doesn’t open big iron doors, but a small key.”
A Man Who Was Superman
A Man Who Was Superman is currently not available to stream, rent, or purchase in the U.S.
8’Miss Granny' (2014)
Directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk
Miss Grannycenters on Oh Mal-soon (Shim Eun-kyung), a 74-year-old woman who magically finds herself transformed into her 20-year-old self after visiting a mysterious photo studio. Now young again and adopting the name Oh Doo-ri, she decides to enjoy the life she never got to fully live, including pursuing her dream of becoming a singer. But as she navigates her new life, she must keep her identity a secret while rekindling her relationship with her family in unexpected ways.
Miss Grannycombines comedy with a touching exploration of aging, family, and second chances. LikeA Man Who Was Superman, it starts out silly but gets somber and deep. The quirky clever premise and heartwarming narrative struck a chord with audiences, becoming a box office hit in South Korea (it grossed an impressive$58m against a budget of just $3.2m). It has since been thebasis for several international remakes, with an American one currently in development.
Miss Granny
7’Going by the Book' (2007)
Directed by Ra Hee-chan
Going by the Bookis an action comedy about Jeong Do-man (Jung Jae-young), an honest but overly diligent traffic cop who is tasked with playing the role of a bank robber in a police training exercise. What starts as a simple simulation quickly spirals out of control when Jeong decides to play his role with absolute seriousness, turning the exercise into a full-scale hostage crisis that feels all too real. His strict adherence to rules and procedures leads to chaos, with the police struggling to contain the situation.
The resulting heist movie is a satire of law enforcement and conformity. Packed with offbeat and unpredictable moments,the heist film stands outas a peculiar yet refreshing twist on the subgenre.It works thanks to Jeong’s deadpan commitment to his role, highlighting the absurdity of bureaucracy and the unintended consequences of following rules to the letter. He’s just as meticulous at robbing banks as he is at directing traffic.
Going by the Book
6’My Annoying Brother' (2016)
Directed by Kwon Soo-kyung
This comedy-drama explores the strained relationship between two brothers. Doo-young (Doh Kyung-soo), a talented judo athlete, loses his sight in a tragic accident, and his estranged older brother Doo-shik (Jo Jung-suk), is granted parole from prison to take care of him. The two brothers initially clash, but as they spend more time together, they begin to rebuild their connection, leading to moments of comedy and unexpected bonding.
Although there’s humor here,My Annoying Brotherbecomes a full-on tearjerker by the third act.It hits powerfully on themes of family, redemption, and the healing power of love(even if it’s a bit formulaic). The leads deliver strong performances, particularly Doh, a member of the boy band Exo (he even performs a song). Here, he’s believable as a gifted athlete whose promising future is abruptly shattered by a life-changing disability. Doh’s efforts earned him a number of awards in his home country, including Best New Actor.
