Poster for ‘Train to Busan.’ Photo: courtesy of Han Cinema.
Nobody does disaster thrillers better than Korean cinema. From the zombie-infested gore of Train to Busan to the aftershocks of a deadly volcanic eruption in Ashfall to the high-stakes terror of a plane hijacking in Emergency Declaration, Korean disaster thriller films layer emotional arcs and social commentary onto the adrenaline-pumping genre. If you’re a fan of edge-of-your-seat storytelling, here are some unmissable thrillers to add to your watchlist:
Train to Busan (2016)
For an action-packed Korean disaster thriller that keeps you hooked from start to finish, it doesn’t get better than Train to Busan. The film opens with Seok-woo (Gong Yoo), a workaholic fund manager and absentee parent, who reluctantly decides to take his daughter to Busan for her birthday. They board the KTX (Korea Train Express) 101 alongside passengers from all walks of life, from a pregnant couple to a high school baseball team, each with their own story. Everything seems fine. Until the train departs, and a sudden zombie outbreak erupts on board, throwing everything into chaos. But that’s just the beginning of the nightmare.
Train to Busan makes the best use of a bloody horror narrative to convey sharp social criticism, tackling topics like the importance of family over ambition and the ugly side of capitalism. Director Yeon Sang-ho gets the balance of thrills and emotions just right, pushing you to think: Can power justify the cost of survival? Seok-woo’s relentless fight to save his daughter turns him into a selfless hero who eventually sacrifices himself to keep her alive. The result is an outstanding [K] zombie movie that also strikes a nerve in its portrayal of human contradictions, and the tough choices we’re left with when disaster hits.
Tunnel (2016)
Imagine being buried under a mountain of metal and concrete with nothing but your wits, a phone, two bottles of water, and a birthday cake to cling to. That’s the plight Lee Jung-soo (Ha Jung-woo) finds himself in when a tunnel collapse buries his car. Director Kim Seong-hun turns this harrowing premise into an emotionally charged Korean disaster thriller, using graphic visuals and claustrophobic tension to make the desperation of the situation hit that much harder. While Jung-soo is trapped, scraping for survival and counting the days in hope, rescue leader Kim Dae-kyung (Oh Dal-su) and his team refuse to give up on rescuing him from the wreckage. The camera work is gripping, capturing not just Jung-soo’s helpless panic and suffocation, but also his grit, and the power of empathy and kindness in his darkest hours.
Ashfall (2019)
Ashfall, directed by Lee Hae-jun and Kim Byung-seo, follows the eruption of Baekdu Mountain, which threatens to wipe out all of Korea. Captain Jo In-chang (Ha Jung-woo) is tasked with the critical rescue operation, forcing him to team up with Lee Joon-pyeong (Lee Byung-hun), a North Korean spy, to stop the aftershocks from spiraling out of control. A big draw here is the unlikely friendship that develops between In-chang and Joon-pyeong as the mission unfolds. Ashfall nails the idea that in the worst of times, even sworn enemies can become family, which is exactly what happens when these two heroes from different worlds form an unbreakable bond amid the catastrophic mess. It’s a connection stronger than borders, ideologies, and the tensions between the North and South. The ending does get pretty intense, though (Joon-pyeong’s sacrifice is heartbreaking) but that’s precisely what makes this Korean disaster thriller so powerful.
Emergency Declaration (2021)
A routine flight turns into a high-altitude nightmare when a flight bound for Hawaii is threatened mid-air, prompting officials to declare a state of emergency. High on suspense, twists, and stellar performances from some of the finest Korean actors, this film—helmed by director Han Jae-rim—dives deep into what happens when fear and panic take the wheel. It exposes how catastrophes strip us down to our most primal instincts, bringing out either the best or the worst in us. The tension first builds when detective Gu In-ho (Song Kang-ho) suspects a terror threat on board, and quickly escalates when passenger Park Jae-hyuk (Lee Byung-hun) spots a suspicious individual among them. As the panic spreads, a deadly outbreak erupts mid-flight and fuel begins to run low. While the crew fights to save lives, Minister Kim Sook-hee (Jeon Do-yeon) races against time to help the plane land safely.
Concrete Utopia (2023)
Concrete Utopia depicts a post-apocalyptic Seoul battered to dust by a massive earthquake, sparing only one of its residential buildings. The news spreads like wildfire, and desperate survivors come knocking on its door for refuge, putting the building residents’ safety at risk. Their new leader, Yeong-tak (Lee Byung-hun), steps up to the task, teaming up with Min-sung (Park Seo-joon) and his wife, Myung-hwa (Park Bo-young), to keep outsiders at bay. But as resources run out and tensions rise, the facade begins to crack as much as the unity within. This movie, which made it to our 10 best Korean movies of 2023 list, is a gripping take on fear, anxiety, and crude reality, laced with dark humor. Directed by Um Tae-hwa and based on Kim Sung-nik’s webtoon, it keeps you questioning what you’d be willing to sacrifice to survive—and stay human.