South Korean horror cinema knows how to keep audiences wide-eyed and glued to their seats. Beyond the usual jump scares, these films tap into age-old superstitions and cultural fears, blending them seamlessly with modern anxieties. If you thought The Wailing had you on edge, recent additions like Exhuma will have you questioning every creak in the floorboards. Here’s a lineup of the most spine-tingling Korean horror films from recent years that promise to haunt you long after the credits roll.
7 New Korean Horror Movies That Aren’t Made For The Faint-Hearted
The Wailing (2016)
Where to watch in India: JioCinema, Amazon Prime Video
Rotten Tomatoes: 99%
Na Hong-jin’s The Wailing is a slow-burn masterpiece that lures you in with a police investigation in a remote village before turning your blood cold. The story unfolds like a tragic opera, filled with mysterious deaths, demonic possession, and shamanistic rituals that will have you doubting every character’s motives. It’s eerie and unsettling, and when the ritual drums start beating, you’ll feel the tension creeping right under your skin .
Exhuma (2024)
Where to watch in India: Amazon Prime Video
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Think The Wailing, but turn up the volume on the occult. Directed by Jang Jae-hyun, Exhuma follows a shaman’s desperate fight to rid a Korean American family of a generational curse. When an ancient spirit is unearthed, things go sideways fast, like, demonic-fireball-fast. With performances that dive deep into trance-like terror and rituals that feel too real for comfort, this film solidifies its place in the pantheon of Korean horror. Plus, seeing Choi Min-sik battle evil spirits while covered in ritual paint is an experience you won’t soon forget
Train to Busan (2016)
Where to Watch: JioCinema
Rotten Tomatoes: 94%
No Korean horror list is complete without this modern zombie classic. Yeon Sang-ho’s Train to Busan takes the high-speed setting of a train and fills it with relentless zombies, creating a claustrophobic survival scenario that’s impossible to look away from. Unlike your average undead flick, Train to Busan hits you right in the feels with its story of a father trying to protect his daughter while society crumbles outside the train windows. It’s as heart-wrenching as it is terrifying, making every zombie encounter feel like a punch to the gut .
The Call (2020)
Where to Watch: Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes: 79%
Time travel takes a turn for the sinister in The Call, where a phone line connects two women across different timelines, and one of them is a little too comfortable with violence. Directed by Lee Chung-hyun, the film morphs from an intriguing mystery into a full-blown psychological horror as past and present clash with deadly consequences. Its nail-biting twists and Lee Jong-seo’s unnerving performance will keep you questioning who’s really pulling the strings until the last frame.
Peninsula (2020)
Where to Watch: Zee5
Rotten Tomatoes: 55%
The spiritual sequel to Train to Busan, Peninsula dials up the action without sacrificing the eerie vibe. Set four years after the original outbreak, it’s more Mad Max than a haunted house, but still offers plenty of intense zombie encounters. Yeon Sang-ho ups the ante with sprawling cityscapes full of danger, creating a world where survival depends on navigating both zombies and desperate humans. It’s a different flavour from Train to Busan, but still packs a punch when it comes to high-octane horror.
Svaha: The Sixth Finger (2019)
Where to Watch: Netflix
Rotten Tomatoes: 74%
If you like your horror with a side of cult mysteries, Svaha: The Sixth Finger will hit the spot. Directed by Jang Jae-hyun, the film follows a pastor who investigates a suspicious new religious group, unearthing secrets that tie back to an ancient evil. It’s a slow burn, but the atmosphere is rather drenched in unease, and the final revelations are worth the wait. Expect a creeping sense of dread and moments that make you feel like you’ve stumbled onto something truly sinister.
Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018)
Where to Watch: Currently unavailable in India, but might return on OTT soon
Rotten Tomatoes: 91%
If found-footage horror is more your speed, Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum offers the perfect dose of DIY scares. The story follows a group of YouTubers looking to livestream from a famously haunted asylum, only to realize that some places are better left unexplored. With its realistic camera work and clever use of the building’s eerie architecture, the movie puts you right in the middle of the terror, making it a standout entry in the genre
