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Trigger is a South Korean action crime thriller series written and directed by Kwon Oh-seung. The Netflix series is set in South Korea, where illegal firearms are banned, but when illegal guns flood into the country, a police officer must do everything he can to save innocent people from their effects. Trigger stars Kim Nam-gil, Kim Young-Kwang, Park Hoon, Gil Hae-yeon, and Kim Won-hae. So, if you loved the thrilling and intense drama and compelling characters in Netflix’s Trigger, here are some similar shows you should check out next.

Karma (Netflix) Credit – Netflix

Karma is a South Korean crime thriller drama series written and directed by Lee Il-hyung. Based on the Kakao webtoon of the same name by Choi Hee-seon, the Netflix series revolves around a group of people as they get embroiled in a toxic and...

Netflix Dominates Baeksang Awards 2025 Night (Photo Credit – Wikipedia/Instagram)

Baeksang Arts Awards celebrated its 61st ceremonial event on May 5, 2025, at Coex in Seoul. It was established back in 1965, the Baeksang Arts Awards is considered as one of the most prestigious award ceremonies for South Korean film and television fraternity. This year’s event was hosted by Suzy, Park Bo-Gum, and Shin Dong-Yup.

Many popular actors and actresses were in attendance, including Song Hye-Kyo, Kim Tae-Ri, Kim Hye-Yoon, Byeon Woo-Seok, Hyunbin, Kim Go-Eun, and the list continues. Everyone looked quite charismatic in their attire. Everyone has been waiting to know who won which award, so we have noted down below the full winners’ list. Scroll ahead to find out.

The Grand Prize in the television category was won by Netflix’s Culinary Class Wars, whereas the Grand Prize in the film category went to the cinematographer of Harbin, Hong Kyung-Pyo. The...

Following the epidemic of high-quality debut features that is spreading in South Korea, director Cha Sung-duk‘s presents her compelling independent film “Youngju”. Her work premiered in Busan and was able to do a jump (even if only a small one) from the festival circuit to the theatre and to be released last November at Gwangju Independent Film Theatre.

Youngju is available from Echelon Studios

A chilling hypothetical conditional over a fried chicken basket introduces unapologetically a young girl named Young-ju (Kim Hyang-gi) and her younger brother Young-in (Tang Jung-sang) on the opening scene. “What if … we could have either mum or dad back? Who would you choose?” The parents of the two siblings have been killed in a car accident five years earlier, leaving Young-ju and Young-in in great difficulty, coping with an adult life they knows nothing about. They are little more than children; Young-ju is 19 and the...

Is Kim Soo-Hyun’s Upcoming Disney+ Series Knock-Off Being Postponed?(Photo Credit –Twitter)

Kim Soo-Hyun is going through a major setback in his career amid the controversy surrounding Kim Sae-Ron’s death. He has lost many coveted brand deals, while his acting career has also been put on hold with no information on new projects. Now, the release of his upcoming drama Knock Off has also been postponed in light of the current situation. Since the controversy unfolded, Disney+ has been facing a massive backlash for not canceling the drama starring the fallen actor. Many have called for him to be replaced as the lead actor or to cancel the premiere altogether.

According to Jazmine Media’s report on March 21, the drama’s production team announced, “After careful consideration, we have decided to postpone the release of Knock-Off.” Although the premiere date wasn’t previously announced, it was...

South Korea’s K-Movie Entertainment is to handle international sales of Thai horror Our House and is introducing the upcoming feature to buyers at Filmart.

It marks just the third non-Korean title to be handled by the Seoul-based firm after animation Synchronize and live-action horror Operation Undead.

The story centres on a successful sales executive and his pregnant wife who find their dream home. But after moving in, strange occurrences begin to happen, while a mysterious connection between the husband and the house next door emerges.

The screenplay is based on a true story that was first told on The Ghost Radio,...

‘Harbin’, the highly anticipated historical action film starring Hyun Bin, has taken the Korean box office by storm, surpassing 1 million viewers in a record-breaking two days. This unprecedented success underscores the film’s powerful resonance with audiences, tapping into a deep-seated national sentiment and igniting a wave of patriotic fervor.

Set in 1909, a period of intense Japanese colonial rule in Korea, “Harbin” tells the gripping story of Ahn Jung Geun, a Korean independence activist who dedicated his life to resisting Japanese imperialism. The film masterfully weaves together historical events with thrilling action sequences, creating a cinematic experience that is both emotionally resonant and deeply moving.

Highly Anticipated ‘Harbin’ About Activist Ahn Jung Geun Storms South Korean Box Office To Over 1 Million Viewers In 2 Days

Hyun Bin delivers a powerful and nuanced performance as Ahn Jung Geun, capturing the character’s unwavering resolve, his deep-seated patriotism, and his profound sense of duty to his country.

Netflix quietly released one of the best K-dramas in recent years called Song Of The Bandits in 2023. Netflix is home to many exceptional K-dramas such as its most-watched series of all time, Squid Game, which returns for its highly anticipated second season on December 26, 2024. The rise in popularity of K-dramas and K-pop has produced several global phenomenons in music, film, and television. Some of the K-dramas with the highest budgets are also available to watch on Netflix.

Song Of The Bandits is a historical action western that takes place in the early 20th century. Season 1 of the series spans nine episodes, which were directed by Joon-Jyeok Hwang of Black Dog (2019) acclaim. Song Of The Bandits is set in the tumultuous period of Japanese colonial rule over Korea where a group of people end up in the lawless land of Gando. The Western aspects of the series are some of its most fascinating and immersive qualities.

Korean drama Firefighters rose to the top of the local box office this weekend, despite a swell of political controversy linked to the director’s brother.

The film opened on December 4 and ranked second after its first weekend but has climbed to the top on its second outing, taking $4.38m from just over 657,000 admissions and a 41.9% market share from Friday to Sunday (December 13-15). The 17% uptick in sales from its opening weekend has brought its cume to $11.7m, according to Kobis, the Korean Film Council’s box office tracking service.

Awareness of the film has risen as the brother of...

Korean filmmaker Kwak Kyung-taek has responded to calls to boycott his latest feature Firefighters, sparked by recent political unrest in the country.

The film has come under fire from an angry public as the director’s brother is Kwak Gyu-taek, a member of South Korea’s People Power Party (Ppp), who failed to attend the parliamentary vote to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol.

In a statement, director Kwak said: “Recently, my younger brother, representative Kwak Gyu-taek of the People Power Party, did not participate in the impeachment vote in accordance with the party’s stance, which has led some people to criticise the film Firefighters.

The fascination with legal dramas and lawyer shows is a worldwide obsession, one that has only continued to grow in popularity as TV audiences have shifted to streaming services like Netflix. Series like Law & Order and its many spin-offs, as well as hit comedies like Ally McBeal and Boston Legal, have humanized the public servants who work in the legal system. Whether it’s a murder trial, a sexual assault case, or attempting to take down a mob boss, the dramatic suspense inside a courtroom is just plain undeniable.

Because lawyer shows are such guaranteed crowd-pleasers, there are a plethora of them in various genres across all kinds of networks. Streaming has been a revolutionary medium in how much it’s changed the way people watch TV, so there’s no surprise that Netflix is the king of digital entertainment, including shows about lawyers. Providing not only the classic...

"I must kill that old wolf." Well Go USA has revealed an official US trailer for a Korean historical thriller called Harbin, the latest from director Woo Min-ho. This premiered at the 2024 Toronto Film Festival a few months ago, giving it a chance to shine at a film festival before its debut in theaters in the US & also in Korea this winter. In 1909, several years after Korea is forced into becoming a Japanese colony, freedom fighters plot the daring assassination of Japan’s prime minister during their quest for independence. The film tells the true story of the 1909 assassination of Itō Hirobumi - who was the Prime Minister of Japan and former Resident General of Korea. It's the story of a group of passionate Korean freedom fighters who organized and planned the assassination in opposition to the Japanese rule of Korea. The film stars Hyun Bin, Park Jeong-min, Jo Woo-jin,...

The best K-drama series can charm audiences with compelling conflicts and plot lines, but it all depends on how well the cast fits the characters. The K-dramas, like passionate romances and emotional storylines, risk falling flat when the actors aren't the right fit for the show. Incredible K-drama actors can elevate the show with their portrayals of their characters. From heartbreaking tragedies to action-filled thrillers, masterclass acting in K-dramas is essential to making the series believable and engaging.

K-drama actors and their performances are a major factor in whether a series is a hit or a flop. Not even immaculately planned and executed masterpiece K-dramas can be salvaged if the main cast's acting ability isn't compelling or doesn't quite match what the story needs. Ranging from lighthearted romantic comedies to thrilling crime dramas, shows with skilled actors and remarkable and authentic acting have skyrocketed the popularity of K-dramas.

Twenty-Five Twenty-One...

Is Hyun Bin making a comeback with Harbin? ( Photo Credit – Instagram )

The South Korean film industry has repeatedly delivered good historical fiction stories. The themes are often about patriotism, valor, freedom struggle, etc. These movies familiarise viewers with the country’s history and transport them to a time when things were starkly different from the present. Actors in the South Korean industry have been well-noted for their roles in period dramas.

Hyun Bin is one of the most celebrated actors in the South Korean film industry. He is known for roles in dramas and movies like Crash Landing on You, Secret Garden, The Negotiator, Confidential Assignment 1 & 2, and The Point Men. Now he is set to return to the screen after pausing Crash Landing on You. He will be seen as the lead in the upcoming historical fiction period drama Harbin. Woo Min Ho, known for movies like Inside Men and The Drug King,...

South Korea’s Acemaker movieworks has revealed a first look at supernatural thriller Gory: A Horror Tale, which it will introduce to buyers at the Asian Contents & Film Market in Busan this weekend.

The film is directed by Hong Won-ki, whose credits include 2020 series Goedam and its spin-off feature Urban Myths, horror anthologies based on popular Korean urban legends that feature K-pop idols.

The cast includes Yoo Jae-myung of period action film Harbin, which premiered at Toronto, and Moon Chae-Won of TV series Payback: Money And Power and features Fengshui and Mood Of The Day.

Also part of the ensemble...

South Korea’s Acemaker movieworks is set to launch international sales on horror thriller Gory: A Horror Tale and romantic comedy Dreams Of You at the upcoming Asian Contents & Film Market in Busan.

Gory: A Horror Tale is directed by Hong Won-ki, whose credits include 2020 series Goedam and its spin-off feature Urban Myths, horror anthologies based on popular Korean urban legends that feature K-pop idols.

The feature stars Yoo Jae-Myung of period action film Harbin, which premiered earlier this month at Toronto, and Moon Chae-Won of TV series Payback: Money And Power and features Fengshui and Mood Of The Day.

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Korean cinema returns to the Toronto International Film Festival with director Woo Min-ho's latest effort Harbin, starring Hyun Bin as the Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun. The period piece, which is told as a spy thriller, follows Jeung-geun's planned assassination of It Hirobumi, the first Japanese Resident-General of Korea. Aside from the gorgeous visuals, the story rests on the tenacity of Korea's Righteous Army in the face of their oppressor's onslaught of colonization.

Hyun Bin leads an all-star cast in Harbin, including Decision To Leave's Park Jeong-min, Jo Woo-jin, Vincenzo's Jeon Yeo-been, Yoo Jae-myung, and the perennially popular Lee Dong-wook in a memorable special appearance. Hyun himself has been at the top of the Korean entertainment industry for two decades, ever since he first skyrocketed to fame with the Bridget Jones' Diary-esque drama My Lovely Sam Soon. More recently, he made...

“Harbin,” the South Korean spy action thriller that debuted this week at the Toronto International Film Festival, has been picked up for North American release.

Well Go USA, a specialty distributor which has a long track record of handling commercial film titles from Asia, has licensed the rights for the U.S. and Cananda. It has confirmed to Variety that it will give the film a theatrical release, but did not confirm a schedule.

Directed by Woo Min-ho, who previously helmed 2015 hit “Inside Men” and “The Man Standing Next,” the film dramatizes pivotal events in the arduous struggle for Korean sovereignty.

In 1905, Japan forced Korea to sign the Eulsa Treaty, stripping the nation of its diplomatic rights and reducing the entire Korean peninsula to a Japanese colony. By 1909, when “Harbin” begins, Korea’s small but tenacious Righteous Army militia is deep into a campaign of armed resistance against the Japanese.

Hidden beneath a fencing mask lies mystery. In the South Korean thriller No Way Out: The Roulette, an unknown criminal mastermind enthralls the public with horrifyingly lucrative offers—rewards in the billions of won for those who carry out violent acts against others. Spinning his personalized roulette wheel on social media livestreams, this enigmatic ‘Masked Man’ sets the stakes for each deadly game he plays.

Directed by Choi Kook-hee and written by Lee Soo-jin, the series wastes no time hurtling us into its twist-filled premise. We meet Detective Baek Joong-sik, expertly portrayed by Cho Jin-woong, as he uncovers the grisly truth behind a man having his ear severed for cash.

The victim was one of the Masked Man’s targets, with the assailant paid handsomely after mutilating him as the wheel decreed. Yet the real intrigue is just beginning—for who exactly lies behind that eerie fencing mask, and what...

The heinous Kim Guk-ho, a serial murderer and rapist, is released after 13 years behind bars. Upon his release, a streamer known as Masked Man proposes a murder game with a 20 billion won bounty for Kim Guk-ho's life. Chaos erupts as threats surround Kim Guk-ho. Meanwhile, conflicts arise between those trying to protect him and exploit him. [Source: Disney+]

Directed by Choi Kook-hee (known for his movies Life is Beautiful and Default) and scripted by Lee Su-jin (who also wrote the movie The Devil's Deal), this 8 episode series features a star-studded cast of veterans Cho Jin-woong, Yoo Jae-myung, Yum Jung-ah supported by Kim Moo-yeol, Lee Kwang-soo, Sung Yoo-bin, Kim Sung-cheol as well as Taiwanese actor Greg Hsu Kuang-han. No Way Out: The Roulette is currently streaming on Disney+ globally and on Hulu for the US.

Kim Soo-hyun's role in Queen of Tears propelled him to superstardom as South Korea's highest-paid actor with a stellar career ahead. Knock Off, his upcoming black comedy K-drama, promises a fresh spin from Queen of Tears, showcasing his comedic talents and chemistry with Jo Bo-ah. The star-studded cast of Knock Off, including Lee Jung-eun and Woo Do-hwan, adds to the anticipation of this highly anticipated series.

Kim Soo-hyun has just announced his next K-drama following the success of Queen of Tears, and it could not be more perfect. Though it initially started with modest ratings, Queen of Tears quickly found domestic and international success, breaking Crash Landing on You's record as Tvn's most-watched drama of all time and easily becoming one of the best K-dramas of 2024. Kim Soo-hyun's role as the lawyer Baek Hyun-woo played a large part in the show's overwhelming success, which has earned him a...

The lack of a long-term plan hurt The Legend of Korra's storytelling structure and overall potential. Romantic relationships in The Legend of Korra feel disappointing and lack satisfying development, especially upon a rewatch. The Legend of Korra falls short of its predecessor in several ways, and its story and ending can feel bittersweet.

It's hard to believe The Legend of Korra ended 10 years ago, and rewatching the series today brings up some harsh realities about The Last Airbender sequel. Set 70 years after the events of The Last Airbender, The Legend of Korra follows the Avatar after Aang — and her journey to mastering her powers is far different from his. Korra lives in a world that's more unified and technologically advanced than the one Aang inhabits in Atla. However, there are still threats she must contend with, pushing her to learn the four elements and fully embrace being the Avatar.

The science fiction feature is from the director of ‘The Battle: Roar To Victory’.

South Korea’s K-Movie Entertainment is to launch big-budget science fiction feature Seeking The King at the Asian Contents & Film Market (Acfm) in Busan this week.

The feature is directed by Won Shin-yeon, the filmmaker whose previous film was award-winning historic action drama The Battle: Roar To Victory. He has teamed with Wysiwyg Studios, the visual effects specialists behind hit features Space Sweepers and Hansan: Rising Dragon.

The cast include Koo Kyo-hwan of hit Netflix titles D.P. and Kill Boksoon, Yoo Jae-myung, Girls’ Generation singer and...

The science fiction feature is from the director of ‘The Battle: Roar To Victory’.

South Korea’s K-Movie Entertainment is to begin sales on big-budget science fiction feature Seeking The King at the Asian Contents & Film Market (Acfm) in Busan this week.

The feature is directed by Won Shin-yeon, the filmmaker whose previous film was award-winning historic action drama The Battle: Roar To Victory. He has teamed with Wysiwyg Studios, the visual effects specialists behind hit features Space Sweepers and Hansan: Rising Dragon.

The cast include Koo Kyo-hwan of hit Netflix titles D.P. and Kill Boksoon, Yoo Jae-myung, Girls’ Generation...

Song of the Bandits is a historical action-drama series directed by Hwang Jun-hyeok from a screenplay by Han Jeon-hoon. The Korean series is set in the 1920s and revolves around Japan’s colonial rule over the Korean people and the subsequent insurgence that followed. The series tells the story of a soldier in the Japanese army, who is seeking atonement for his deeds. When he travels to Gando he finds a former righteous soldier and together they create a ruthless gang of bandits who work hard to protect and provide for their countrymen. Song of the Bandits stars Kim Nam-gil, Seohyun, Yoo Jae-Myung, Lee Hyun-Wook, and Lee Ho-Jung. So, if you loved the Netflix series here are some similar options you check out next.

The Dirty Black Bag (AMC+ & Prime Video Add-On) Credit – AMC+

Synopsis: A story over eight long days describes the encounter and clash between two men: McCoy,...

"Song of the Bandits" is a new live-action adventure TV series directed by Hwang Jun-hyeok, starring Kim Nam-gil, Seohyun, Yoo Jae-myung, Lee Hyun-wook and Lee Ho-jung, streaming September 22, 2023 on Netflix:

".... set in the 1920's, during a turbulent period, the people of 'Joseon' have been deprived of their place of living. 

Those who headed to 'Gando', a land of lawlessness with different stories, unite as one to protect the homeland..."

Click the images to enlarge...

It’s only taken 7 years, but Choi Dong-hoon is finally back! The blockbuster hitmaker, both of whose last two releases “Assassination” and ”The Thieves” sit comfortably in the top 10 highest-grossing Korean films of all time, isnt one to shy away from challenges and for his latest work, the two-part “Alien”, he is taking on the sci-fi genre head-on to provide the kind of spectacle so far unseen in Korean cinema.

Synopsis

During the Goryeo dynasty, Taoists try to take a mysterious sword. In the present day, aliens appear on Earth. A time door soon appears between late Goryeo dynasty period and the present day. Due to this, a chaotic situations occur.

Choi has always managed to attract a big-name starcast for his projects and ”Alien” is no different, with Ryu Jun-yeol, Kim Tae-ri and Kim Woo-bin headlining the project. Additionally, the auoporting cast is equally impressive, with So Ji-sub, Lee Ha-nee,...

Let’s be honest: 2021 was one of the worst years Korean cinema had in recent times. One would’ve hoped that they would have built upon the brilliant couple years that 2019 ad 2020 were but sadly that wasn’t to be. The pandemic situation did not help, with many production houses deciding to pull scheduled releases, halting production or waiting on things to calm down before releasing some projects that have big money riding on them. Even on the indie cinema front, which actually thrived in 2021 due to the lack of mainstream releases, did not manage to impress with what little out there was.

Things however do seem to be on the up with this year, as a few postponed releases are finally getting rescheduled and seeing theatrical releases. New releases are also being talked about and promotional material for some long gestating projects is also being circulated. Without further ado,...

Byun Sung-hyun’s trajectory as a director has been an interesting one. Starting off with the low-key drama “The Beat Goes On”, he moved on with the sex comedy “Whatcha Wearin’?” Changing gears yet again, he directed the crime thriller “The Merciless”, which of course had its premiere and Cannes and was generally well-received by the audience. Cue four years later and his next project, the long-awaited “Kingmaker” is finally gearing up for a release in December, 2021, once again starring his “The Merciless” star Sol Kyung-gu, alongside Lee Sun-kyun.

Synopsis

A politician dreams of changing the world with an excellent campaign strategist behind.

Dreaming of changing the world, Seo Chang-dae takes part in Kim Woon-bum’s political campaign. To resist the current dictatorial ruling party, Seo adopts very aggressive propaganda campaign and it makes Kim become the strongest candidate in the opposition party. When ambitious Seo believes that unjustified means is necessary in politics,...

Chang-bok (Yoo Jae-Myung) and Tae-in (Yoo Ah-in) sell eggs from the back of a truck in the country. It’s honest work but hardly pays the bills. So rather than go home when they change their clothes, they drive to an old, abandoned warehouse. Now donning ponchos, they spread plastic sheets below the only thing it can be hanging above: the body of a tied-up man, beaten and confused. If they’re being honest, this gig acting as set-up and clean-up crew for a local cartel doesn’t pay that much either. It’s consistent work, though, and the boss seems to like them enough to offer a couple side jobs. One such request has just been delivered.

They don’t like the task when asked and like it even less when they discover some details were left out. The boss merely stated that he wanted them to watch somebody for a couple days.

Victims of sexual assaults may report the crime against them to the police, but often the perpetrators walk away unscathed, never caught. The victims try to push forward with life as best as they can, never really forgetting what happened to them but trying to lock up the incident in a remote part of their minds. But what happens if, years later when the victim has seemingly moved on, they find out that the perpetrator has been caught? This is the central idea behind Park Sun-woo’s debut film “Way Back Home” (not to be confused with the Jeon Do-yeon starring 2013 film of the same name), which premiered at Busan International Film Festival.

“Way Back Home” is screening in Hong Kong Arts Centre on Friday 22/5 at 7:30 pm

as part of Women Direct. Korean Indies! – Korean Women Independent Film series, under the signature programme of the Hong Kong Arts Centre,...

Tae-in (Yoo Ah-in) and Chang-bok (Yoo Jae-myung) are partners in crime, but not in the exciting way you might expect. They work as cleaners, tidying up crime scenes after the fact to make sure the police never find them. It's a job, and they don't have a lot of choice, living in a poor rural community. Occasionally they do other bits and pieces on the side. When a dangerous crime boss asks them to look after a kidnapped girl, both men feel out of their depth, but they don't have enough power to have any choice, so they take the girl, Cho-hee (Moon Seung-ah) to Tae-in's house, and that's where things begin to go in an unexpected direction.

Cho-hee's first reaction upon seeing the place is one of shock. Coming from a very different world, she can't quite believe that anyone lives in such a small, squalid place - let alone.

After his films “Broken” and “Bestseller”, Korean filmmaker Jung-ho Lee has directed a remake, or rather re-imagination of the French thriller “36th Precinct” by Olivier Marchal. While there are certain similarities between the two titles, Lee has made quite a different film within the specific cultural background of his home country. Besides telling a story about corruption his movie takes a look at the steps a person is willing to take if the reward is a promotion, a raise in one’s salary or, simply put, the idea of superiority in a world where power and influence is the ultimate currency.

“The Beast” screened at Fantasy Filmfest – White Nights 2020

Following a series of brutal murders of young women, the Incheon police department is under public pressure to quickly apprehend whoever is responsible. Within its police force, Unit One and Unit Two might work together on paper, but given the possibility...