If You Liked Parasite, You Should Watch These 20 Korean Thrillers

The Housemaid (1960)

Think classic Korean cinema, but make it deviously twisted. The Housemaid (1960) is a psychological thriller that doesn’t just creep under your skin – it takes up permanent residence. Directed by Kim Ki-young, this black-and-white masterpiece is a cautionary tale about the dangers of temptation, desire, and, well, hiring a housemaid who might just unravel your entire life. The film follows a music teacher (played by Kim Jin-kyu) who hires a young woman (Lee Eun-shim) to help around the house, only for things to spiral into a nightmarish mess of manipulation, seduction, and murder. It’s tense, theatrical, and absolutely unhinged in the best way possible. If you thought Parasite had sharp social commentary, The Housemaid practically built the foundation. And that ending? Chilling. It’s no wonder Bong Joon-ho himself has cited this as a major influence. | © Kim Ki-young Production

Joint Security Area (2000)

Before Park Chan-wook gave us Oldboy, he delivered Joint Security Area (2000), a gripping thriller that mixes mystery, politics, and an unexpectedly emotional core. The film centers on an investigation into a deadly shooting at the DMZ, the heavily fortified border between North and South Korea. Enter Lee Byung-hun and Song Kang-ho (yes, the same legend from Parasite), playing soldiers on opposite sides of the border with a shared secret that could shatter diplomatic relations. With Swiss-Korean investigator Sophie Jean (Lee Young-ae) piecing together the truth, the film peels back layers of tension, brotherhood, and tragedy. Unlike the high-octane action thrillers that often define military stories, JSA thrives on atmosphere, suspense, and gut-punch revelations. It’s Park Chan-wook at his most restrained, but make no mistake – the emotional impact hits just as hard as a hammer to the head. | © Myung Films

Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)

If Parasite was a descent into class warfare, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002) is a full-blown freefall into the abyss of human suffering. The first entry in Park Chan-wook’s Vengeance Trilogy (yes, it gets darker from here), this film stars Shin Ha-kyun as a deaf factory worker desperate to save his sick sister. His plan? Kidnap his former employer’s daughter for ransom. What could go wrong? Well… everything. Enter Song Kang-ho (again proving why he’s a national treasure) as the grieving father out for blood, and you’ve got a movie that pulls no punches – literally and emotionally. Brutal, poetic, and devastating, this isn’t a thriller for the faint of heart. But if you like your revenge stories soaked in sorrow, moral ambiguity, and gallons of fake blood, this one’s for you. | © CJ Entertainment

Oldboy (2003)

You can’t talk about Korean thrillers without Oldboy (2003). It’s the movie that put Park Chan-wook on the global map, won the Grand Prix at Cannes, and gave us one of the most legendary hallway fight scenes in cinema history. Choi Min-sik stars as Oh Dae-su, a man who’s mysteriously imprisoned for 15 years without explanation, only to be released just as suddenly. What follows is a mind-bending, stomach-churning quest for revenge that makes John Wick look like a friendly sparring match. But Oldboy isn’t just about the action – this film hits you with plot twists so shocking they should come with a warning label. The less you know going in, the better. Just prepare yourself for live octopus consumption, hammer fights, and an ending that will leave you staring at the screen in horrified awe. | © Show East

Memories of Murder (2003)

Before Bong Joon-ho won an Oscar for Parasite, he perfected the art of the slow-burn thriller with Memories of Murder (2003). Based on the real-life case of South Korea’s first confirmed serial killer, the film follows two detectives – played by Song Kang-ho (yes, again) and Kim Sang-kyung – as they desperately try to catch a murderer terrorizing a rural town. But this isn’t your typical whodunit. Bong Joon-ho ditches easy answers for moral dilemmas, human error, and an overwhelming sense of dread. The tension is unbearable, the cinematography haunting, and the performances? Absolutely top-tier. The film builds to one of the most unsettling final shots in movie history, proving that sometimes, the scariest thing isn’t what we know – it’s what we don’t. | © CJ Entertainment

Lady Vengeance (2005)

Revenge is a dish best served cold, but Lady Vengeance (2005) proves it’s even better served with immaculate style, eerie classical music, and a splash of blood-red lipstick. The final chapter in Park Chan-wook’s Vengeance Trilogy (after Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance and Oldboy), this one follows Lee Geum-ja, played by the ever-mesmerizing Lee Young-ae (Jewel in the Palace fans, rejoice!). After spending 13 years in prison for a crime she didn’t commit, Geum-ja steps out with one goal – meticulously dismantling the man who ruined her life. Unlike its predecessors, Lady Vengeance blends brutality with unexpected grace, delivering a protagonist who’s both terrifying and tragic. It’s poetic, operatic, and packed with so much visual beauty that you might momentarily forget you’re watching one of the most cold-blooded revenge plots in cinema history. | © CJ Entertainment

Mother (2009)

If you thought Parasite showcased Bong Joon-ho’s talent for making everyday life feel unsettling, Mother (2009) cranks that up to eleven. Here, the legendary Kim Hye-ja – who’s mostly known for playing sweet Korean moms – completely flips the script as a mother willing to do anything (and I mean anything) to prove her son’s innocence in a murder case. The film takes you on a slow, methodical descent into desperation, as secrets unravel and morality gets murkier by the second. Bong Joon-ho’s signature dark humor is sprinkled throughout, but make no mistake – this is an emotional gut-punch of a movie. And that final shot? It’ll sit with you long after the credits roll. Basically, if Mother had a motto, it’d be: “Don’t mess with moms. Ever.” | © CJ Entertainment

I Saw the Devil (2010)

Revenge thrillers don’t get much darker – or more vicious – than I Saw the Devil (2010). This is a film where the title alone warns you exactly what you’re in for. Starring Lee Byung-hun (Squid Game: Season 2 incoming!) as a secret agent whose fiancée is brutally murdered, the film turns the revenge genre on its head by making him just as monstrous as the serial killer he’s hunting, played by Choi Min-sik (Oldboy himself). But don’t expect a clean-cut hero vs. villain story – this is pure, sadistic chaos, where justice quickly spirals into madness. The violence is relentless, the tension unbearable, and the moral lines? Completely obliterated. It’s the kind of film that makes you question your own sanity for watching it – and loving it. | © Showbox

The Man From Nowhere (2010)

Take John Wick, add a brooding Korean action hero, throw in a kidnapped child, and dial the intensity up to 100 – that’s The Man From Nowhere (2010) in a nutshell. Won Bin, in his last acting role before vanishing from the spotlight like his character, plays a mysterious pawn shop owner with a very particular set of skills. When the only person he cares about – a young girl played by Kim Sae-ron – is abducted by a human trafficking ring, he unleashes absolute mayhem. Think knife fights so slick they’d make Jason Bourne jealous, emotional depth that sneaks up on you, and a final showdown that cements Won Bin’s place in the “coolest action heroes ever” hall of fame. It’s stylish, brutal, and surprisingly heartfelt – who knew an action thriller could make you cry? | © CJ Entertainment

Confession of Murder (2012)

What happens when a man waltzes onto national TV claiming to be a notorious serial killer – right after the statute of limitations on his crimes expires? Well, in Confession of Murder (2012), it leads to absolute media hysteria, frenzied public adoration, and a whole lot of questions about justice, fame, and whether this guy is even telling the truth. Jung Jae-young (Castaway on the Moon) plays the detective who spent years chasing the killer, and now he’s got to figure out if this cocky, bestselling-author-turned-serial-confessor (played by Park Si-hoo) is the real deal or just a master manipulator. Twists? Plenty. Action? Oh, absolutely. Social commentary? Just the right amount. Confession of Murder is one of those thrillers that keeps you second-guessing everything – right up until the jaw-dropping finale. | © Showbox

Helpless (2012)

If you think ghosting someone is the worst way to disappear, Helpless (2012) is here to make you reconsider. Based on Miyuki Miyabe’s novel All She Was Worth, this psychological thriller starts with a simple premise: a man (played by Lee Sun-kyun – yes, the same charismatic dad from Parasite) and his fiancée stop at a rest area. He goes inside for a minute, and when he comes back, she’s gone – along with every trace of her existence. What follows is a chilling deep dive into identity theft, secrets, and the terrifying realization that the person you love might not be who they say they are. This isn’t a high-octane thriller, but its slow-burning tension will keep you on edge until the very last revelation. Oh, and just a warning – watching this might make you reconsider how much you trust the people around you. | © CJ Entertainment

Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013)

Imagine being raised by five ruthless criminals, each specializing in different types of crime. Sounds like the ultimate antihero origin story, right? Well, in Hwayi: A Monster Boy (2013), it’s a nightmare wrapped in a coming-of-age thriller. Yeo Jin-goo – who has since become a K-drama heartthrob – plays the titular Hwayi, a boy who has spent his entire life trained to be a killer by his adoptive crime-lord fathers, including the ever-intense Kim Yoon-seok (The Chaser). But when a job goes sideways, Hwayi is forced to question everything he’s been taught, leading to a brutal and tragic reckoning. This is the kind of film that punches you in the gut with its action and emotion – because nothing hits harder than realizing your whole life is a lie. | © Showbox

The Handmaiden (2016)

Park Chan-wook doesn’t just make movies – he crafts sensual, suspenseful, mind-bending experiences, and The Handmaiden (2016) is proof of that. Inspired by Sarah Waters’ novel Fingersmith but infused with Park’s signature flair, this psychological thriller takes us to Japanese-occupied Korea, where a cunning con artist (Ha Jung-woo) and a young pickpocket (Kim Tae-ri) scheme to swindle a wealthy heiress (Kim Min-hee). But the film isn’t content with just one con – it’s a multi-layered, seductively twisted ride where every character has an agenda, and nothing is what it seems. Oh, and let’s not forget the stunning cinematography, intricate set designs, and tension so thick you could cut it with a katana. If Parasite left you craving more deception, betrayal, and class warfare, The Handmaiden is here to deliver – wrapped in silk and laced with danger. | © CJ Entertainment

The Wailing (2016)

If you like your thrillers soaked in supernatural dread and rural paranoia, The Wailing (2016) is your kind of nightmare. Directed by Na Hong-jin (The Chaser), this horror-thriller hybrid stars Kwak Do-won as a bumbling cop investigating a string of bizarre, violent deaths in his small village. Things get even weirder when his own daughter starts showing signs of possession, leading him to seek help from a mysterious shaman (Hwang Jung-min, in one of his most chilling roles). But don’t expect easy answers – this film thrives on ambiguity, slow-building terror, and the creeping realization that evil might not have just one face. The final act? Pure, mind-melting insanity. If Parasite was a masterclass in social horror, The Wailing is a PhD in existential dread. | © 20th Century Fox Korea

Forgotten (2017)

If you love plot twists – the kind that make you pause the movie and question your entire life – then Forgotten (2017) is an absolute must-watch. Kang Ha-neul (who normally charms audiences in rom-coms) takes a hard left turn into psychological thriller territory as a man whose brother is kidnapped and returned with no memory of what happened. But that’s just the beginning of the mystery, because as he starts piecing things together, he realizes that he might not be who he thinks he is either. This movie is like Shutter Island and Oldboy had a secret love child – packed with mind games, eerie tension, and a gut-punch of a climax. Trust me, you’ll want to rewatch it immediately just to catch all the hidden clues you missed the first time. | © Megabox Plus M

Lucid Dream (2017)

If Inception and Taken had a Korean sci-fi thriller baby, it would be Lucid Dream (2017). Go Soo stars as a desperate father searching for his kidnapped son – not through detective work or car chases, but by diving into his own dreams. Sounds cool, right? Well, it gets even trippier when he enlists the help of a neurologist (Kang Hye-jung, from Oldboy) and a detective (Sol Kyung-gu, a veteran of Korean thrillers) to uncover buried memories and hidden clues within his subconscious. This film takes the concept of lucid dreaming to the next level, blending mystery, action, and just the right amount of sci-fi weirdness. If you love thrillers that mess with your perception of reality, this one’s got you covered – just don’t be surprised if you start questioning whether your dreams are hiding something. | © Next Entertainment World

Burning (2018)

Slow-burning psychological thrillers don’t get better – or more unsettling – than Burning (2018). Directed by Lee Chang-dong (Poetry, Secret Sunshine), this hypnotic mystery follows a struggling writer (Yoo Ah-in) who reconnects with a childhood friend (Jeon Jong-seo), only to find himself caught in a bizarre love triangle with an enigmatic rich guy (played by none other than The Walking Dead’s Steven Yeun, oozing quiet menace). What starts as a seemingly simple story about class tension and unspoken desires gradually unravels into something much darker, with one of the most ambiguous endings in modern cinema. It’s eerie, thought-provoking, and leaves you with a lingering sense of dread – kind of like Parasite, but with fewer basements and more metaphorical fires. | © CGV Arthouse

The Call (2020)

Ever wished you could call your past self to fix your mistakes? Well, in The Call (2020), that idea takes a horrifying turn. Park Shin-hye (#Alive) plays a woman who answers an old phone in her childhood home, only to find herself talking to someone from 20 years ago – except this isn't some fun time-travel chat; it's a full-blown nightmare. The person on the other end, played by Jeon Jong-seo (Burning), goes from lonely girl to unhinged serial killer real quick, and before you know it, the two women are locked in a deadly battle across time. The twists come fast, the tension is unbearable, and the film proves once again that you should never, ever pick up unknown calls – especially if they’re from the past. | © Next Entertainment World

Midnight (2021)

Imagine a killer stalking you through the city, and now imagine being unable to hear or speak while trying to escape. That’s the terrifying premise of Midnight (2021), a nerve-wracking thriller starring Jin Ki-joo as a deaf woman who accidentally witnesses a murder and becomes the next target of a sadistic killer, played by Wi Ha-joon (Squid Game's charming yet terrifying cop). Unlike most thrillers that rely on loud jump scares, Midnight cranks up the suspense by dropping us into the protagonist’s silent world, making every chase scene ten times more intense. The cat-and-mouse game between the killer and his potential victim is relentless, and you’ll probably find yourself holding your breath more than once. If you loved Parasite for its nail-biting tension, Midnight delivers that in pure, heart-pounding form. | © CJ Entertainment

Decision to Leave (2022)

Park Chan-wook is back, and this time, he’s serving up a thriller so elegantly crafted it feels like a deadly love poem. Decision to Leave (2022) stars Park Hae-il as a detective investigating a man’s suspicious death, only to become dangerously infatuated with the prime suspect – his mysterious widow, played by the ever-mesmerizing Tang Wei (Lust, Caution). What follows is a slow-burning mix of romance, obsession, and moral ambiguity, with Park Chan-wook’s signature visual flair painting every frame like a masterpiece. The film constantly keeps you guessing: Is she a grieving wife or a femme fatale? Is he solving the case or falling into a trap of his own making? By the time the final act hits, you’ll be as hypnotized as the detective himself. | © CJ Entertainment