8 Korean Zombie Horror Films and Series to Binge While Waiting For 'All Of Us Are Dead'
South Korea has cemented its hold on the zombie horror genre, putting a unique spin on an otherwise saturated niche interest. We check out eight apocalypse thrillers for your viewing pleasure
How would you navigate the world in the face of a zombie apocalypse?
Immersing ourselves in zombie horror mediums almost always leaves us thinking: “What if?” Some of us were introduced to the genre by way of the Resident Evil video games, in which we faced off against pixelated versions of the undead in order to survive. Some of us picked up a copy of The Walking Dead comic or tuned in to the show, where we found ourselves eagerly following the story of former sheriff’s deputy Rick Grimes. Some of us read World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks, a widely talked about novel that made the apocalypse feel all too real.
While these western franchises introduced the genre to the general viewing and gaming public, interest waned over time, mostly due to stale storylines and market saturation. Everything was starting to look the same and sound the same; no matter how terrifying the onslaught of the undead was in theory, even the genre’s biggest fans were exhausted, opting instead to move on to other things.
And then the South Korean writers and filmmakers blew through stagnant waters, reviving the genre through well-thought out films and television series that kept it relevant and fresh, using the zombie war as a means to delve into historical richness, class divides, broken systems, and the general human condition.
When Train to Busan came out in 2016, everyone was back onboard the undead train (pun unintended). This renewed interest paved the way for even more big budget zombie-themed projects, with the wildly popular Joseon Dynasty thriller Kingdom often top of mind.
With the highly anticipated Netflix series All of Us are Dead just right around the corner, excitement for anything undead—on the South Korean front, at least—is back on an all-time high. While we wait for the show to air, why not reacquaint ourselves with the genre by streaming some of the best zombie apocalypse-oriented films and series to hit both the big and small screens?
Swipe through the gallery to check out our recommendations!
8 Korean Zombie Horror Films and Series to Binge
8 Korean Zombie Horror Films and Series to Binge
Train to Busan (2016)
This critically acclaimed film smashed box office records not just in its native South Korea, but in the United States, Canada, and other territories as well, going on to make a worldwide gross of $98.5 million dollars. The premise is simple: workaholic divorcé Seo Sook-woo (Gong Yoo) boards an early train with his daughter (Kim Su-an), who wishes to spend her birthday with her mother in Busan. Unbeknownst to all passengers, an infected woman manages to sneak on to the train, unleashing a plague that has rapidly begun to spread across the peninsula.
Photo Credit: Next Entertainment World
Train to Busan (2016)
A quick Google search will tell you that it takes about two hours and fifty minutes for a high-speed KTX train to reach Busan from Seoul Station. Pair that thought with a handful of passengers going against a fast-turning zombie horde, and you’re in for a claustrophobic, nail-biting, heart-wrenching experience.
Photo Credit: Next Entertainment World
Train to Busan (2016)
What makes Train to Busan such a worthwhile watch is how it critiques Korean society. Aboard the train, it’s every man for himself—which is understandable to an extent. Outside, it’s worse. Instead of prioritizing public safety, a callous government bends to the will of a wealthy businessman. The media isn’t that helpful, either, choosing to side with whoever lines its pockets. The film came out in 2016, but its themes still hold sway in today’s societal climate, both in South Korea and in other parts of the world.
Photo Credit: Next Entertainment World
Peninsula (2020)
Not all sequels live up to their predecessors. Director Yeon Sang-ho’s follow up to Train to Busan falls short in many areas—it's oddly phrased title included—but still merits a mention given how the staunch support for the first film reignited a vested interest in a world struggling under the weight of a zombie apocalypse.
Photo Credit: Next Entertainment World
Peninsula (2020)
The film revolves around former Korean Marine Corps Captain Jung-seok (Gang Dong-won) and his brother-in-law Chul-min (Kim Do-yoon), who are both reeling from the guilt of being unable to save Jung-seok’s sister and nephew from an outbreak onboard a ship. They manage to escape to Hong Kong, where most surviving Koreans fled to after their country was overrun by the horde. Years later, the men are recruited by Chinese mobsters for a mission: return to South Korea—now a wasteland—and retrieve $20 million from a truck. Should they succeed, they will be entitled to half the money.
Photo Credit: Next Entertainment World
Peninsula (2020)
Despite it being a bloated CGI-laden work for the most part, the film does try to paint a picture of what happened to South Korea, now a failed state following the events of Train to Busan. Political overtones float about, but the half-baked manner in which they are explored will leave you wanting. Peninsula attempts to cast a wider net, veering away from the claustrophobic confines of a bullet train to the wastelands of Korea, a gamble that leaves it fraying at the seams.
Photo Credit: Next Entertainment World
The Wailing (2016)
Few horror films blend a hodgepodge of genres as successfully as Na Hong-jin’s The Wailing, a 2016 Out of Competition Cannes Film Festival showing that went on to receive critical acclaim. It mixes several horror elements—a ghost, a demon, a shaman, and, yes, a zombie-esque plague—with procedural cop show dynamics and sprinkles of black comedy, resulting in an unnerving, tastefully directed piece of cinema.
Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox
The Wailing (2016)
The arrival of a Japanese man disturbs the peace in the small mountainous village of Gokseong, unleashing an infection that causes its inhabitants to go insane, trying to eat the flesh of the living and killing their family members through violent means. As the bodies begin to pile up, local police officers Jong-goo (Kwak Do-won) and Oh Seong-bok (Son Gang-gun) can no longer dismiss rumors about the mysterious Japanese man and his supernatural abilities. They decide to take matters into their own hands and conduct their own investigation after Jong-goo’s daughter begins to fall victim to the strange curse.
Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox
The Wailing (2016)
The film in its totality is evocative and unsettling. There’s just something fascinatingly eerie about all this madness taking place in such a tranquil setting, where a strange exorcism ritual takes centerstage. Rarely do zombie apocalypse franchises tread the path of lingering horror and sustained agony—especially if the undead move the way they do in Max Brooks’ world—but The Wailing elects to go that route, and director Na makes it work.
Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox
Kingdom (2019)
Bold, brazen, and utterly binge-worthy, the Kingdom saga ingeniously redefines both the zombie horror and sageuk genres, merging them to cook up a compelling small screen drama worth digesting in one sitting. Having debuted on Netflix in January 2020, this Joseon Dynasty masterpiece served as a genuine reflection of a world suddenly caught in the throes of a plague that came out of left field—one so novel and terrifying that even the experts had no answers.
Photo Credit: Netflix
Kingdom (2019)
The story opens with the kingdom of Joseon rife with rumors of the king’s death. The king is, in fact, deathly ill, but his advisers remain tightlipped. As soon as he passes, he inoculates with a strange resurrection plant, which turns him into a mindless, flesh-eating monster. This dangerous charade is all a part of the scheme to keep heir apparent Crown Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) off the throne. Chief State Councillor Lord Cho Hak-ju (Ryu Seung-ryong) is determined to conceal the king’s death from the public until his own daughter, the Queen Consort (Kim Hye-jun) gives birth to her son, who will then have a much stronger claim to the crown than Lee Chang, the son of a concubine. Denied permission to see his father, Lee Chang searches for the doctor who last treated his father, discovering the harrowing truth behind the disease ravaging the land.
Photo Credit: Netflix
Kingdom (2019)
The show is densely packed, but the plot moves at a breakneck pace, making it impossible to look away from your screen. The historical setting adds an extra oomph, with the living pushing back against the undead with swords, sickles, and bows and arrows, all impeccably garbed in period-accurate costumes. The consequences of class inequalities and power struggles amidst the political turmoil are equally engaging, leaving you wanting more. (Seriously, Netflix—when do we get the third season?)
Photo Credit: Netflix
Kingdom: Ashin of the North (2021)
Set before the events of Kingdom’s first season, this film length feature introduces viewers to Ashin (Jun Ji-hyun), the mysterious Jurchen woman Lee Chang’s group encounters during their travels north in the second season finale. It’s a vital part of the saga, explaining not just the character’s relevance to the overarching plot, but the origins of the mysterious resurrection plant and the outbreak itself.
Photo Credit: Netflix
Kingdom: Ashin of the North (2021)
The only survivor of a village massacre instigated by the Pajeowi tribe, Ashin crosses the border to where the Joseon army is stationed and approaches Chupajin Group Deputy Commander Min Chi-rok (Park Byung-eun), begging for a chance to avenge her family. She is placed in a military settlement, where she performs odd jobs while undergoing training. Not all is as it seems, though, and Ashin uncovers a scheme concocted by the army that has her reassessing her plan of action.
Photo Credit: Netflix
Kingdom: Ashin of the North (2021)
Any Kingdom fan will agree that Ashin of the North is necessary viewing, both as a supplement to the main storyline and as a standalone feature. An emotionally nuanced story of revenge, it’s just as riveting as the first two seasons of its origin franchise, anchored on a solid plot, brilliant cinematography, and actress Jun’s stellar performance as the titular lead. Due emphasis is placed on how the Jurchens are regarded as second class citizens by both the Joseon government and the Pajeowi tribe, and how Ashin herself becomes a victim of exploitation and a pawn for propaganda.
Photo Credit: Netflix
#Alive (2020)
There’s something about #Alive that makes it feel like a shared experience—likely because the protagonist, Oh Joon-woo (Yoo Ah-in) decides to hunker down in his apartment as soon as he hears about the mysterious disease that causes the infected to attack and feast on those otherwise. He’s a gamer with hardly any life skills, home alone because his parents have already left for work. He decides to sit and wait for the situation to improve, but he knows he can’t stay locked in forever.
Photo Credit: Lotte Entertainment
#Alive (2020)
As the zombie horde sweeps the city, all his creature comforts—access to food, water, and the internet—wink out one after another, leaving him hopeless. Close to his breaking point, he changes his mind upon getting acquainted with Kim Yoo-bin (Park Shin-hye) living in the apartment across from him. The relationship that forms between the two becomes the heart of the story, but the bliss doesn’t last for long. Outside, the undead are clawing at the walls—and these ones retain some measure of skill.
Photo Credit: Lotte Entertainment
#Alive (2020)
#Alive resonated with audiences because Joon-woo being shut inside his home was a parallel to what we were experiencing at the height of the lockdowns. While certain zombie horror cliches are still very much present, it doesn’t take away from how engaging the film is, due in large part to how well its two leads portrayed their characters, as much of the story rests on their shoulders.
Photo Credit: Lotte Entertainment
Rampant (2018)
This zombie horror flick suffers the misfortune of comparison against Kingdom, mainly due to a similar premise that is bogged down by inconsistency, predictability, and poor pacing. But since we’re on the subject of zombie horror, it may still be something worth keeping on your radar if you’re curious about seeing how the Koreans handle the genre. You can at least enjoy a decent dose of gory goodness, picturesque Joseon Dynasty visuals, and pre-Crash Landing On You era heartthrob Hyun Bin in the lead role.
Photo Credit: Next Entertainment World
Rampant (2018)
The current king is overly deferential to the Qing emperor, which doesn’t sit well with his son, the crown prince, who hatches a plot to drive away the Qing. Part of this plan involves acquiring arms from a European trader, which quickly backfires when he realizes that they brought zombies—referred to as “night demons” in the film—in cages. One of the soldiers gets bitten, triggering a dangerous domino effect. The crown prince commits suicide, but not before entrusting his pregnant wife to his younger brother Lee Chung (Hyun Bin), who was left out of the Joseon succession order and was raised in the far more prosperous Qing.
Photo Credit: Next Entertainment World
Rampant (2018)
If this sounds like a lot, it’s definitely a lot. The set-up is long-winded and the writing is all over the place—what magic writer Hwang Jo-yoon brought to Oldboy is curiously absent here. Still, there’s something oddly satisfying about seeing well-choreographed action scenes performed amidst a visually arresting Joseon era backdrop, making Rampant a serviceable watch at best.
Photo Credit: Next Entertainment World
Happiness (2021)
A bonafide game-changer—even in the South Korean zombie horror sphere—this apocalyptic thriller takes place in a world that has been overrun by Covid-19. The release of a failed treatment drug called “next” has led to the existence of a new pandemic known as the Rita Virus, which causes its victims to suffer from short but violent bouts of insanity and bloodlust before becoming fully-fledged zombies. It causes a rift between the military, who make use of authoritative force to control the spread of the virus, and civil rights groups, who believe that the infected can still be saved.
Photo Credit: tvN, Viu
Happiness (2021)
The show introduces us to a bevy of characters residing in a fictional apartment complex, each of whom respond to the ongoing crisis in different yet thoroughly relatable ways. You have the paranoid shut-ins, those who brave the outside to earn a living wage, the selfish ones who take advantage of others, and, of course, the apocalypse equivalent of the Karens. At the center of it all are Yoon Sae-bom (Han Hyo-joo), a member of a Special Operation police squad; Jung Yi-hyun (Park Hyung-sik), a detective who went to school with Sae-bom; and Han Tae-seok (Jo Woo-jin), a lieutenant colonel with the health service command who holds a key to the outbreak.
Photo Credit: tvN, Viu
Happiness (2021)
The undead aside, there’s a light smattering of romance that cleanly ties into the plot. For Sae-bom to secure an apartment in the luxurious new complex, she must be married. She talks Yi-hyun into becoming her fake husband, and he agrees, all without knowing that he’s harbored feelings for her for a while now. It’s all very cute without interfering with the action, with their relationship even driving the tightly written script forward.
Photo Credit: tvN, Viu
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