Ever had that late-night craving for a good scare but didn’t know where to look? Trust me, I’ve been there—scrolling endlessly through streaming platforms, desperately seeking something that would genuinely give me goosebumps. That’s when I discovered the terrifying treasure trove of Korean horror movies, and honestly, I haven’t looked back since.
Korean horror films hit different. There’s something uniquely unsettling about them that Western horror often misses. Maybe it’s the perfect blend of psychological terror and supernatural elements, or perhaps it’s the way Korean filmmakers craft stories deeply rooted in their cultural anxieties and folklore. Whatever it is, K-horror has earned its place in the global scare scene.
For my fellow horror enthusiasts in India looking to dive into this world of exquisite terror, I’ve curated this list of the 20 best Korean horror movies available on various OTT platforms. From zombie thrillers to ghost stories that will haunt your dreams for weeks, there’s something here for everyone brave enough to watch.
What Makes Korean Horror Movies Stand Out?
Before we dive into the list, let’s talk about what makes Korean horror unique. Unlike their Hollywood counterparts that often rely on jump scares and gore, Korean horror films excel at creating a pervasive sense of dread that lingers long after the credits roll. They blend psychological horror with social commentary, addressing issues like family dynamics, social pressure, and cultural traditions.
Korean directors aren’t afraid to take their time building atmosphere, developing characters you actually care about before subjecting them to unspeakable horrors. And when they do unleash the terror, they do it with a stylistic flair that’s distinctly Korean.
Now, let’s get to the good stuff—the movies that will keep you up at night (in the best possible way).
20 Must-Watch Korean Horror Movies on OTT Platforms
1. Train to Busan (2016)
Available on: Netflix, Amazon Prime
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Cast: Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Ma Dong-seok, Kim Su-an
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
When a zombie outbreak hits South Korea, a workaholic father and his daughter find themselves trapped on a high-speed train to Busan, fighting for survival alongside other passengers. What makes “Train to Busan” special isn’t just the heart-pounding zombie action (though there’s plenty of that), but the emotional core of the father-daughter relationship.
I still remember watching this for the first time—by the ending, I wasn’t just terrified; I was emotionally wrecked. This film redefined zombie movies for me, proving they could be both horrifying and heartbreaking.
2. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
Available on: Mubi, Tubi
Director: Kim Jee-woon
Cast: Im Soo-jung, Moon Geun-young, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Kap-soo
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
This psychological horror masterpiece follows two sisters who return home from a mental institution to live with their father and cruel stepmother. What begins as domestic tension soon spirals into supernatural terror as family secrets unravel. The film’s dream-like quality and complex narrative will keep you guessing until the shocking finale.
A Tale of Two Sisters is the kind of film that demands multiple viewings—each time you watch, you’ll notice new details that change your understanding of the story.
3. The Wailing (2016)
Available on: Amazon Prime, Apple TV
Director: Na Hong-jin
Cast: Kwak Do-won, Hwang Jung-min, Chun Woo-hee
IMDb Rating: 7.5/10
When a mysterious illness causes violent deaths in a remote village, a police officer must confront dark forces to save his daughter. At 156 minutes, “The Wailing” is a slow-burn horror epic that combines elements of detective thriller, supernatural horror, and religious commentary.
The film’s ambiguous ending has sparked countless debates among horror fans—what really happened? Who was good and who was evil? These questions will haunt you long after watching.
4. Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum (2018)
Available on: Netflix, Shudder
Director: Jung Bum-shik
Cast: Wi Ha-joon, Park Ji-hyun, Oh Ah-yeon
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
A team of YouTubers breaks into the notorious Gonjiam Psychiatric Hospital to film a live stream, hoping to boost their channel’s viewership. As the night progresses, they discover that the asylum’s dark reputation is well-deserved. This found-footage horror film builds tension masterfully, creating genuine scares without relying on cheap tricks.
Despite using the familiar found-footage format, Gonjiam feels fresh and genuinely terrifying. I still can’t look at certain scenes without getting goosebumps.
5. I Saw the Devil (2010)
Available on: Amazon Prime, Tubi
Director: Kim Jee-woon
Cast: Lee Byung-hun, Choi Min-sik
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
When his pregnant fiancée is brutally murdered by a serial killer, a secret agent embarks on a mission of revenge that blurs the line between good and evil. “I Saw the Devil” is not for the faint of heart—it’s a brutal, unflinching look at the destructive nature of vengeance and the thin line separating man from monster.
This film asks uncomfortable questions: How far would you go for revenge? And at what point do you become the very thing you’re fighting against?
6. The Host (2006)
Available on: Hulu, Netflix
Director: Bong Joon-ho
Cast: Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-bong, Park Hae-il
IMDb Rating: 7.1/10
A monster emerges from Seoul’s Han River and begins attacking people. When it abducts a man’s daughter, he and his dysfunctional family must come together to save her. Directed by Oscar-winner Bong Joon-ho, “The Host” blends horror, comedy, and family drama into a uniquely Korean monster movie.
What I love about this film is how it balances genuinely terrifying monster scenes with moments of unexpected humor and poignant family dynamics.
7. The Mimic (2017)
Available on: Shudder, Amazon Prime
Director: Huh Jung
Cast: Yum Jung-ah, Park Hyuk-kwon, Heo Jin
IMDb Rating: 6.1/10
Based on the Korean urban legend of the “Tiger of Mt. Jang,” this film follows a family haunted by a supernatural creature that can mimic human voices. When they adopt a mysterious girl, strange events begin to escalate. The concept of a creature that can sound exactly like your loved ones is deeply unsettling on a primal level.
There’s a scene involving phone calls that still makes me hesitate before answering my phone at night.
8. The Closet (2020)
Available on: Netflix
Director: Kim Kwang-bin
Cast: Ha Jung-woo, Kim Nam-gil
IMDb Rating: 6.0/10
After moving to a new home following his wife’s death, an architect’s daughter mysteriously disappears into a closet. His desperate search leads him into a supernatural realm where he must confront dark forces to save his child. “The Closet” takes the familiar haunted house trope and gives it a distinctly Korean flavor.
The film explores themes of parental guilt and grief through its supernatural narrative, making the horror feel more personal and affecting.
9. Whispering Corridors (1998)
Available on: Mubi, YouTube Premium
Director: Park Ki-hyung
Cast: Kim Gyu-ri, Lee Mi-yeon, Choi Kang-hee
IMDb Rating: 6.6/10
Set in an all-girls high school, this film explores the aftermath of a teacher’s mysterious death and the dark secrets hidden within the school’s walls. “Whispering Corridors” kickstarted a successful franchise and offers biting commentary on South Korea’s oppressive educational system alongside its ghostly scares.
This film proves that sometimes the most frightening monsters are the human ones—teachers who abuse their power and the institutional cruelty of competitive education.
10. Sleep (2023)
Available on: Netflix
Director: Jason Yu
Cast: Jung Yu-mi, Lee Sun-kyun
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
A newlywed couple’s life is upended when the husband begins exhibiting increasingly disturbing behavior while sleepwalking. As his episodes worsen, his wife must determine whether the threat is psychological, supernatural, or something else entirely. The film uses the vulnerability of sleep as a gateway to explore deeper fears.
What makes “Sleep” particularly effective is how it turns the safety of the marital bed into a site of unimaginable terror.
11. Svaha: The Sixth Finger (2019)
Available on: Netflix
Director: Jang Jae-hyun
Cast: Lee Jung-jae, Park Jung-min, Lee Jae-in
IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
A pastor who specializes in exposing religious cults investigates a mysterious sect after the discovery of a young girl’s body. His investigation leads him to dark connections between the cult and supernatural forces. “Svaha” delves into religious horror with uniquely Korean elements, blending Buddhist, Christian, and shamanic imagery.
The film’s complex exploration of faith and fanaticism elevates it beyond standard cult horror fare.
12. Peninsula (2020)
Available on: Amazon Prime
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Cast: Gang Dong-won, Lee Jung-hyun
IMDb Rating: 5.5/10
Set four years after “Train to Busan,” this sequel follows a soldier sent back into zombie-infested Korea on a retrieval mission. What he finds is a lawless land where survivors are often more dangerous than the undead. While not as tightly focused as its predecessor, “Peninsula” offers a more expansive look at a zombie apocalypse.
The film shifts from the claustrophobic terror of the train to a more action-oriented approach, showing how society might evolve after a zombie outbreak.
13. #Alive (2020)
Available on: Netflix
Director: Cho Il-hyung
Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Park Shin-hye
IMDb Rating: 6.2/10
A gamer struggles to survive when a mysterious infection creates zombie-like creatures outside his apartment. Trapped in his home with dwindling supplies, he must find ways to stay alive and sane. This film gained particular resonance during the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting anxieties about isolation and confinement.
The way #Alive portrays the psychological effects of isolation alongside physical threats makes it particularly effective horror for our current times.
14. The Red Shoes (2005)
Available on: Tubi, Shudder
Director: Kim Yong-gyun
Cast: Kim Hye-soo, Kim Sung-soo
IMDb Rating: 5.8/10
Based loosely on the fairy tale, this film follows a woman who finds a pair of cursed red shoes that unleash a vengeful spirit. As death and obsession follow the shoes’ owners, she must uncover their bloody history. “The Red Shoes” transforms a familiar fairy tale into something uniquely terrifying with distinctly Korean supernatural elements.
The imagery of the red shoes against stark horror backgrounds creates a visual motif that’s hard to forget.
15. Death Bell (2008)
Available on: Amazon Prime, YouTube Premium
Director: Yoon Hong-seung
Cast: Lee Beom-soo, Yoon Jung-hee
IMDb Rating: 5.9/10
Elite high school students are trapped in their school during an exam period when a mysterious voice announces that they will be killed one by one unless they solve difficult puzzles. “Death Bell” combines the pressure of academic excellence with deadly consequences, reflecting real anxieties in Korea’s competitive educational system.
The film taps into universal fears about test anxiety and academic pressure, making its horror relatable even while its death scenes are extreme.
16. The Wrath (2018)
Available on: Netflix, Shudder
Director: Yoo Young-sun
Cast: Seo Young-hee, Son Na-eun
IMDb Rating: 5.4/10
Set during the Joseon Dynasty, this period horror film follows a woman who marries into a noble family only to discover it’s cursed by vengeful spirits. The historical setting gives this ghost story a unique flavor, drawing on traditional Korean folklore and period-specific fears.
The period costumes and settings create a visually stunning backdrop for supernatural terror, proving that ghosts are just as frightening in historical settings as in modern ones.
17. The 8th Night (2021)
Available on: Netflix
Director: Kim Tae-hyung
Cast: Lee Sung-min, Park Hae-joon
IMDb Rating: 5.5/10
An ancient evil spirit is unleashed after 2,500 years, beginning a quest to open seven gates that will bring darkness to the world. A monk who has prepared his entire life for this moment must team up with a detective to stop the entity. “The 8th Night” blends religious mythology, detective work, and supernatural horror.
The film’s visual representation of evil—using red and black eyes as motifs—creates memorable imagery that sticks with you.
18. Hide and Seek (2013)
Available on: Amazon Prime
Director: Huh Jung
Cast: Son Hyun-joo, Moon Jung-hee
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
A successful businessman searches for his estranged brother only to discover mysterious symbols marking apartments in a rundown building. As he investigates, he uncovers a hidden community of squatters and a terrifying secret that threatens his own family. “Hide and Seek” transforms urban anxieties about home security into genuine horror.
What makes this film so effective is how it takes ordinary apartment buildings—places meant to be safe—and turns them into sites of paranoia and danger.
19. Goedam (2020)
Available on: Netflix
Director: Various
Cast: Han Seung-yeon, Lee Hyun-joo
IMDb Rating: 5.6/10
This anthology series features eight short horror stories inspired by Korean urban legends and folklore. From haunted schools to vengeful spirits, each segment offers a different flavor of Korean horror. The anthology format makes “Goedam” perfect for viewers who want diverse scares in bite-sized portions.
My personal favorite segment involves a ghostly figure appearing in the background of photos—I genuinely checked all my recent photos after watching it.
20. The Medium (2021)
Available on: Shudder, Amazon Prime
Director: Banjong Pisanthanakun
Cast: Narilya Gulmongkolpech, Sawanee Utoomma
IMDb Rating: 6.9/10
Shot as a mockumentary, “The Medium” follows a documentary crew filming a shaman in rural Thailand who becomes concerned when her niece begins showing signs of possession. The film is a Thai-Korean co-production that blends elements from both cultures’ horror traditions. The documentary-style filming lends an unsettling realism to the increasingly terrifying events.
The final act of this film contains some of the most disturbing possession footage I’ve ever seen in horror cinema.
Where to Stream Korean Horror Movies in India
Finding these Korean horror gems is easier than ever for viewers in India. Here’s where you can stream them:
- Netflix India: Has the largest selection of Korean horror, including Train to Busan, #Alive, The 8th Night, and Svaha
- Amazon Prime Video: Offers titles like I Saw the Devil, Peninsula, and Hide and Seek
- Shudder: Available in India through Amazon Prime channels, specializing in horror with titles like The Medium and Gonjiam
- Mubi: Features more artistic Korean horror films like A Tale of Two Sisters
- Disney+ Hotstar: Occasionally adds Korean horror titles to their international selection
Most of these platforms offer English subtitles, making them accessible to Indian audiences unfamiliar with the Korean language.
Why Korean Horror Resonates with Indian Audiences
There’s a surprising affinity between Korean horror and Indian viewers. Both cultures have rich traditions of ghost stories and supernatural beliefs, making the spiritual elements in Korean horror feel somewhat familiar despite the cultural differences. Additionally, the emphasis on family dynamics and social pressures in Korean films resonates with similar themes in Indian society.
The technical excellence of Korean cinema—from cinematography to sound design—also appeals to Indian audiences accustomed to high production values in their own film industries.
Getting Started with Korean Horror: Recommendations for Beginners
If you’re new to Korean horror and not sure where to begin, I’d recommend these entry points:
- For zombie fans: Start with “Train to Busan” – it’s accessible, action-packed, and emotionally engaging
- For psychological horror lovers: “A Tale of Two Sisters” offers complex chills without excessive gore
- For found-footage enthusiasts: “Gonjiam: Haunted Asylum” provides familiar format with fresh scares
- For those who enjoy supernatural themes: “The Wailing” blends detective work with folk horror elements
These films offer a perfect introduction to what makes Korean horror special while remaining accessible to newcomers.
Final Thoughts: Why Korean Horror Deserves Your Attention
Korean horror cinema represents some of the most innovative and genuinely frightening filmmaking in the world today. The genre’s willingness to take creative risks, address social issues, and prioritize atmospheric dread over cheap thrills makes it essential viewing for any serious horror fan.
As streaming makes these films increasingly available to Indian audiences, there’s never been a better time to explore the haunting world of Korean horror. Just be prepared—these movies might leave you sleeping with the lights on for weeks.
Ready to start your Korean horror journey? Pick a film from our list, dim the lights, and prepare for an unforgettable scare. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you about the nightmares that might follow!
What’s your favorite Korean horror film? Have you watched any from this list? Share your thoughts and recommendations in the comments below!