K-Drama

8 highly anticipated Korean blockbusters in 2023 

These 2023 movies promise exciting and wide-ranging watching experiences for K-movie enthusiasts. 

Concrete Utopia

“Concrete Utopia” is a post-apocalyptic movie starring Lee Byung Hun, Park Seo Joon and Park Bo Young. The movie is directed by Uhm Tae Hwa, who directed “Vanishing Time: A boy who returned” in 2016. Based on the webtoon “Pleasant Bullying” part 2 by Kim Soong Cheop published in 2014, the movie tells the story of the survivors of an earthquake that destroyed Seoul who gather at the last standing Hwang Goong Apartment. 

Concrete Utopia

Lee Byung Hun plays Young Tak, protector of the Hwang Goong Apartment from intruders. He receives help from the gentle and sincere Min Sung (Park Seo Joon). Park Bo Young plays Myung Hwa, Min Sung’s wife and a former nurse. A strong, independent person filled with warmth, she takes care of the injured from the earthquake. 

The Moon

 Sci-fi blockbuster “The Moon” is directed by Kim Yong Hwa, the man behind the 2009 “Take off.” The movie tells the story of a man left behind in the vast space of the universe after an accident. He is left alone there while others figure out a way to bring him home. The movie stars Seol Kyung Gu, Do Kyung Soo and Kim Hee Ae. Dexter Studio is in charge of the VFX, the same team that worked on “Along With The Gods.” 

the moon

Smuggling

“Smuggling” is the comeback movie project for Ryu Seung Wan after “Escape from Mogadishu” in 2021. Taking place in a peaceful seaside village in 1970, the movie follows two women who are involved in a smuggling operation. The movie stars Kim Hye Soo, Yum Jung Ah, Jo In Sung and Park Jung Min.

Smuggling

Wonderland

“Wonderland” is a sci-fi fantasy movie about a virtual world of the same name where people are provided with a chance to meet with someone they might never meet again through the operation of AI. In the movie, Bae Suzy and Park Bo Gum transform into a young married couple in their 20s who become distant when Park Bo Gum’s character falls into a coma. For that reason, his wife, a woman in her 20s, makes her choice to step into “Wonderland” to be able to connect with him again. 

wonderland thumbnail

On the other hand, Gong Yoo plays a husband in his 40s, who misses his wife dearly and wants to have a chance to reunite with her again in the virtual world. 

Apart from Bae Suzy, Park Bo Gum and Gong Yoo, Tang Wei, Choi Woo Shik and Jung Yu Mi also appear in the movie as coordinators of the virtual world. 

Kidnapped

“Kidnapped” is Kim Seong Hun’s comeback to the big screen after the his work for the Netflix’s “Kingdom.” The movie is narrated by Ha Jung Woo and Ju Ji Hoon and tells the story of the Korean victims of kidnapping in Beirut, Lebanon in the 1980s. Ha Jung Woo and Ju Ji Hoon previously worked together in “Along With the Gods” and joined the TVing’s reality show “Bros on Foot”  in January this year.  

Kidnapped

Dream

The man behind “Extreme Job,” Lee Byeong Heon, returns with the sports comedy-drama called “Dream.” The movie follows a group of homeless people who strive for the annual international soccer event called “Homeless World Cup.” Park Seo Joon plays Yoon Hong Dae, the coach of the team and a professional football player under a disciplinary probation. 

Park Seo Joon IU

IU plays Lee So Min, a documentary director who dreams of a successful documentary of Hong Dae’s soccer team. Lee Hyun Woo also appears as one of the soccer players. 

Boston 1947

“Boston 1947” is a sports-themed movie that retells the touching stories of Korean athletes in the 1947 Boston Marathon. This was also the first international marathon event organized after the Second World War. The movie gathers a stellar cast that includes Im Si Wan, Park Eun Bin, Ha Jung Woo and Baek Seung Woo. The movie is directed by Kang Je Gyu. 

Boston 1947

A Man of Reason 

“A Man of Reason” is Jung Woo Sung’s directorial debut. In the movie, Jung Woo Sung plays Soo Hyuk, a man wanting to lead a normal life after 10 years in prison for his boss. After getting out of prison and meeting up with his former girlfriend, he learns that he is the father of a baby girl. He tries to cut ties with the gang but the boss has already hired a notorious hitman to kidnap his daughter. Soo Hyuk decides to take his revenge. The movie gathers stars such as Park Sung Woong and Kim Nam Gil. 

A man of reason

2023 is also filled with promising installments such as “Veteran 2” by Ryu Seung Wang with Jung Hae In in his new villain role and “Noryang: The Sea of Death,” the last part of the trilogy by director Kim Han Min on Yi Sun Sin’s sea battles. 

Soure: K14

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