When it comes to zombie cinema, Hollywood may have quantity, but South Korea has quality. Over the past decade, Korean filmmakers have taken the zombie genre and reshaped it into something fresh, emotional, and unpredictable.
Is it just that it’s a foreign language and feels more exciting somehow? I don’t believe it’s just that, but it certainly gives it an edge over many of the zombie-film tropes I’ve seen so many times, and that’s without getting into the countless shows we’ve all seen on repeat.
So, if you haven’t given South Korean zombie movies a chance, now is your time to try.
7
Train to Busan (2016)
Watch Train to Busan on Netflix
It’s impossible to have a list of the best South Korean zombie films without the all-time classic Train to Busan. This is one of the most popular zombie movies of the past few years from any country, let alone just South Korea, and it’s remained a firm favorite since its 2016 release.
The premise is deceptively simple: passengers trapped on a speeding train during a sudden zombie outbreak. What makes it unforgettable isn’t just the relentless action, but the way it weaves in themes of family, sacrifice, and class struggle. Gong Yoo’s portrayal of a workaholic father trying to protect his daughter is heartbreaking, and the supporting cast each brings emotional weight that goes far beyond typical zombie fare.
I like the relentlessness of Train to Busan. It’s tense and claustrophobic, with ultra-fast zombies tearing through the train and its surroundings. And when it stops in stations, the fear level ramps up again.
So, if you’re just getting into South Korean zombie films, I strongly suggest you start here: you won’t be disappointed.
6
Peninsula (2020)
Watch Peninsula on Netflix
If you love Train to Busan, you’ll be really pleased to know that there is a standalone sequel, also set in post-apocalyptic Korea. Peninsula is a different type of zombie movie from the original, though. Instead of focusing on a single outbreak event, Peninsula dives into what society looks like after zombies have already overrun the country. It follows a group of survivors tasked with retrieving money from Seoul, only to encounter not just zombies, but also ruthless human factions.
It’s still packed with big-budget action scenes, and actually probably feels closer to a Hollywood zombie movie than the original. However, many critics believe it lacks what made Train to Busan special, with less emotional and character development and more focus on raw entertainment. Still, worth a watch if you want to flesh out the world.
5
Seoul Station (2016)
Watch Seoul Station on The Roku Channel or Prime Video
Another entry in the Train to Busan series? You’d better believe it. Seoul Station is great, actually, for a couple of reasons.
One, it’s a prequel to Train to Busan, so it really adds to the backstory in that world, explaining more about how the outbreak originally began and what led to the eventual breakdown of society. It doesn’t share characters with the original, but for me, it captures a similar sense of dread and urgency, making it a great watch.
Second is the animation style. I really liked how stark some aspects of Seoul Station are, really bringing some of the action and horror scenes to life with grit and darkness.
If you liked Train to Busan, Seoul Station really is a must-watch that helps to keep the story going. I’d also advise watching the original before the animated version. It just makes sense, despite the in-universe timeline.
4
#Alive (2020)
Watch #Alive on Netflix
Moving away from the Train to Busan universe brings us slap-bang into another one of my favorite South Korean zombie films: #Alive.
Part of the reason I love this K-zombie flick is that it was released right in the middle of COVID-19, and like audiences worldwide, it really struck a chord. I’m far from unique in that, but the premise was poignant at the time.
The setup feels painfully familiar: a young man (played by Yoo Ah-in) finds himself trapped in his apartment as a zombie outbreak spreads rapidly outside. Cut off from the world, with dwindling supplies and no communication, he must figure out how to survive when every trip outside could be his last.
What makes #Alive stand out is its focus on isolation and loneliness, which felt particularly relevant during lockdowns. The film plays less like a traditional zombie action movie and more like a survival thriller with bursts of intense horror.
Again, due to the time of launch, the strong focus on smartphones and social media also felt strongly relatable. Given that most of us were in lockdown at some point or quarantined due to the virus, #Alive reflected the real world at the time.
3
The Wailing (2016)
Watch The Wailing on Amazon Prime Video
I’m sure K-zombie afficionados will question my inclusion of The Wailing on this list; it’s not a straight-up zombie movie by any stretch. Some would argue that the premise of The Wailing doesn’t even warrant it being anywhere near a list of zombie films.
I disagree, at least in part. While The Wailing isn’t a classic zombie movie, it features a mystery illness causing what appear to be supernatural possessions with rabid, disturbing behavioral changes. And while the characters aren’t outright zombies, I feel it straddles the line and is worth including in this list.
At the very least, it ranks among my list of foreign-language horror films and is definitely worth watching if you enjoy unsettling, slow-burning nightmares.
2
The Odd Family: Zombie On Sale (2019)
Watch The Odd Family: Zombie on Sale on Prime Video
Shaun of the Dead is obviously one of the best zombie-comedy movies of all time. There aren’t many that can come close to it. And while I’m not saying that The Odd Family: Zombie On Sale matches it, it’s a fun watch that takes the edge off of the typical doom and gloom associated with this genre.
It follows the story of a dysfunctional rural family that discovers a zombie in their midst. Instead of panicking, they hatch a plan to exploit him for profit, with some playful, comedic moments.
I like that The Odd Family switches up the zombie genre from apocalyptic despair to lighthearted family comedy, with the film revolving around the idea that it’s just an unwanted houseguest, and not a flesh-eating mutant that could kill them instantly.
1
Rampant (2018)
Watch Rampant on Prime Video
Most zombie movies are set in the modern day, when the terror of society crumbling around us hits home. However, Rampant eschews that and brings zombies back to the Joseon dynasty in South Korea (specifically, the 17th Century, given this dynasty spanned hundreds of years).
The result is a thrilling mash-up of period drama, martial arts epic, and zombie horror, following the story of a disgraced prince who returns to Korea to face a zombie outbreak threatening the kingdom.
Of all the K-zombie films on this list, Rampant is the most visually engaging. It’s full of period costumes, candlelit palaces, and sprawling battle scenes that give a grandeur rarely seen in zombie films.
Rampant’s zombies are also fast-moving and pretty devastating, but seeing them up against sword-wielding warriors is a really pleasant break from the regular zombie movie tropes.
It’s not just movies—watch these K-zombie dramas, too
South Korea is making a name for itself in the world of zombie films. But it’s not just movies that are catching the eyes and delivering the human-eating goods.
If you want some longer-form, binge-worthy watches, you should also check out All of Us Are Dead on Netflix, which follows a group of teenagers trying to navigate a world freshly populated with Z. It’s a great watch, full of zombies and gratuitous violence, and it has two whole seasons you can blow through.
Oh, and if you like Rampant, I’d suggest you give Kingdom a watch, also available on Netflix. It also comprises two series and takes you back into the Joseon dynasty once more. Like Rampant, Kingdom manages to blend political intrigue with a deadly disease outbreak that swiftly devolves into flesh-eating zombies and tightly packed battles.
And finally, don’t skip Happiness, another Korean zombie TV show on Netflix. This is on the darker side compared to All of Us Are Dead, and focuses on the aftermath of an experimental drug release that fills people with rage—but it has a really interesting twist in the premise that makes it worth a watch.
