It is fair to say that the last few years haven’t been too kind to South Korean cinema. While there have been some productions that have lit up the box-office, even if few and far between, films that leave a significant impact on the landscape of the country’s cinema has pretty much missing from the scene. Even works that hold immense entertainment factor or rewatch value seem uncommon, with the days of multiple truly great films from the country in a single calendar year seeming a thing of the past.
It does not help that some of the country’s great directors take a long time to mount a project for fans to get excited about. With that said, this year does seem to hold some promise in that regards, with some absolute bigwigs of South Korean cinema making their eagerly awaited returns. Without wasting further time, let’s have a look at some of the most anticipated South Korean films that should see a release in 2026. Please note that while we do try to include films that we are almost certain should see a release this year, delays are possible and this is not a definitive list in that regard.
The King’s Warden (dir. Jang Hang-jun)
Opening the year is director Jang Hang-jun’s “The King’s Warden”. South Korean filmmakers love a good story from Joseon and Jang goes all the way back to the 15th century to tell the interesting tale of Danjong, the sixth monarch of Joseon who was forced to abdicate and exiled by his uncle, ending his short two-year reign and ultimately having him killed at the young age of 16. The feature focuses on Danjong’s relation with Eom Heung-do, a loyal civil servant under his rule and is scheduled to release in South Korea on February 4th, 2026.
HUMINT (dir. Ryoo Seung-wan)
Another hotly anticipated title, “HUMINT” sees director Ryoo Slung-wan return to the spy thrills that he displayed so well in his 2013 feature “The Berlin File”. With the title being an acronym for “human intelligence”, the real-world spy tactic of collecting information from human sources, the feature promises to be a stylish, fast-paced, big-budgeted and high stage thriller depicting North and South Korean secret agents clashing while investigating crimes occurring on the Vladivostok border. Ryoo Seung-wan reunites once again with Jo In-sung, after “Escape from Mogadishu” and “Smugglers”, and with Park Jeong-min after “Smugglers”, while Shin Se-kyun and Park Hae-joon round up the cast. The film is set to release in South Korean cinemas on February 11th, with a wider international release anticipated imminently.
Colony (dir. Yeon Sang-ho)
Sure, Yeon Sang-ho’s return to the zombie genre may not have been as fruitful as his first outing, the immensely successful “Train to Busan”, but that is not stopping the man from trying his hand on it once again with “Colony” this year. What makes this project even more special is that “Colony” marks the long-awaited return to the big screen for Jun Ji-hyun, who will be seen in a theatrical release for the first time since 2015’s “Assassination”. The story is centred in a building as it is being sealed off by an unidentified virus, and the infected evolves into unpredictable forms, threatening the survivors. Joining Jun Ji-hyun is Ji Chang-wook, while both Shin Hyun-been and Koo Kyo-swan return yet again to work with director Yeon Sang-ho once again after multiple collaborations.
Pig Village (dir. Lee Sang-yong)
Before the next Roundup or he steps into the world of Netflix’s “Extraction” with “TYGO”, Ma Dong-seok is expected to check into “Pig Village” this year. While predominantly a Hollywood production, “Pig Village” is notable and gets its place on this list for starring Ma Dong-seok and for being directed by Lee Sang-yong, who worked with the actor previously on “The Roundup” and “The Roundup: No Way Out” and will be at the helm for both the aforementioned upcoming features as well. The story unfolds as professional bare-knuckle boxer ‘Hammer’ and criminals with different goals gather at a suspicious location in San Diego, on the border between the United States and Mexico. Joining Ma on the starcast will be Michael Rooker (“Guardians of the Galaxy”) and Colin Woodell (“Fly Me to the Moon”).
The Journey to Gyeongju (dir. Kim Mi-jo)
Female-led ensemble pieces are getting rarer and rarer in South Korean cinema, and even more so when it comes to revenge drama, but that hasn’t stopped “Gull” director Kim Mi-jo for her sophomore directorial. This time bolstered by a strong starcast including Lee Jung-eun, Gong Hyo-jin, Park So-dam and Lee Yeon, her new work “The Journey to Gyeongju” follows a mother and her three daughters as they go on a revenge-themed road trip out of Gyeongju after the death of the family’s youngest sister.
Possible Love (dir. Lee Chang-dong)
If this is not among your most anticipated films of 2026, you are doing cinema wrong! Let’s put this into context: director Lee Chang-dong has given nothing but phenomenal films with each of his six works thus far. In a directorial career spanning almost 30 years, this is only his seventh feature, with his last work “Burning” releasing eight years ago to become the rated film at the Cannes Film Festival. The last time he worked with actress Jeon Do-yeon, she ended up winning the Best Actress award at Cannes. Sol Kyung-gu too is no stranger to working with him, having led two of his most memorable films in “Peppermint Candy” and “Oasis”, while he also starred alongside Jeon Do-yeon in his production “Birthday”, with both actors giving phenomenal performances there too. So the fact that all three of these artists are finally coming back with a new production together should be reason enough for any fan of cinema to be very, very excited indeed, even if practically nothing of the storyline or of the production (besides the fact that Jo In-sung and Cho Yeo-jeong also star) is known so far.
Revenge Ghost (dir. Hong Eui-jung)
“An interesting choice for this list”, some might wonder about this entry. A horror thriller, “Revenge Ghost” is about Yoon-ha, who, after dying, becomes a ghost and teams up with a ‘goblin’ who has dreamed of becoming human for 400 years to save her younger sibling, who is in grave danger. The starcast is also half-decent, with Kim You-jung, Park Ji-hwan, Cho Yeo-jeong and Yoo Jae-myung headlining. What makes “Revenge Ghost” noteworthy though that it is director Hong Eui-jung’s second feature, 6 years after the excellent debut that was “Voice of Silence”.
Tristes Tropiques (dir. Park Hoon-jung)
A new Park Hoon-jung feature is often a cause for excitement and the release of his latest work “Tristes Tropiques” is no different. The story this time follows a group of young assassins who are affiliated with the organization “Tristes Tropiques,” specialists in jungle warfare and trained by The Master, the absolute ruler of the rainforest, are struggling with mutual distrust while they vow to carry out bloody revenge following an incident that shakes their very existence. “The promise of an ultra-violent feature “Tristes Tropiques” promises some good ultra-violence set in the jungles and is headlined by Kim Myung-min, Lee Sin-young, Park Yu-rim and Park Have-soo. Following its premiere at the SITGES Film Festival late last year, it is expected to have a wide theatrical release some point this year.
HOPE (dir. Na Hong-jin)
10 years since his last masterpiece “The Wailing”, Na Hong-jin is finally set to return this year with a new feature film! A man who has given nothing short of masterpieces with all three of his features so far, his latest film “HOPE”, which has been a long time in the making (it featured in producer/distributor Plus M’s “Teaser of Upcoming 2024 Korean Movies” video”) and is among South Korea’s costliest productions, “HOPE” is a mystery thriller about a story that takes place in Hopo Port, an isolated port village, and tells the story of residents fighting when the village is on the verge of being destroyed by an unknown existence. While little else is known about the story, it is speculated to be a sci-fi thriller. The star studded international cast includes Hwang Jung-min (returning to work with Na Hong-jin after “The Wailing”), Jo In-sung, Jung Ho-yeon, Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, Taylor Russell and Cameron Britton. No further release delays are expected and a 2026 release was finally confirmed last year!
Assassin(s) (dir. Hur Jin-ho)
Following his brief stint with the family drama/thriller genre in “A Normal Family”, melodrama maestro director Hur Jin-ho returns to historicals with his latest work “Assassin(s)” (translated title). The narrative revolves around the failed August 15th, 1974 assassination attempt on then-president Park Chung-hee, which resulted in the death of the First Lady instead, and its aftermath, as followed by a senior inspector of the Central Police station (played by Yoo Hae-jin), the head of a newspaper’s social affairs department (with Park Hae-il in the role) and Lee Min-ho as a rookie reporter in the newspaper. An excellent starcast with a excellent director makes “Assassin(s)” one to especially look out for.
Dora (dir. July Jung)
It took July Jung 9 years to move from her directorial debut, the superb “A Girl at My Door”, to its superb second feature “Next Shoe”. Mercifully, the gifted writer-director is wasting no time with her follow-up, which comes this year in the form of “Dora”. A story about a girl with physical and mental pain who meets another woman and is healed, set in a seaside village, “Dora” sees July Jung move away from Bae Doona, the leading lady of her first two features, but she is not moving to anything less extraordinary, with “Dora” starring none other than Japanese actress extraordinaire Sakura Ando in her Korean film debut alongside Kim Do-yeon. Consider us very keen!
White Blast (dir. Park Sun-woo)
A thriller by debutant director Park Sun-woo, “White Blast” is noticeable for its starcast, which includes Kim Yun-seok, man-in-demand Koo Kyo-hwan and Roh Yoon-seo, an actress who has swiftly been making big strides towards the limelight following her work on the small screen. The story revolves around stationmaster Gap-su (Kim Yun-seok) on his last day at work, following years of service, who awaits the arrival of his replacement when he receives news of an overturned prison bus and the escape of all the prisoners, following which a mysterious young man (Koo Kyo-hwan) turns up at the station, claiming to be the replacement Gap-su has been waiting for.
The Hole (dir. Kim Jee-woon)
That is correct, Kim Jee-woon goes back to an English-language film this year! But there are reasons enough to include this production in this particular list. In addition to Kim Jee-woon directing, the film is adapted from the award-winning namesake novel by Korean writer Pyun Hye-young and is a story set in South Korea. It follows Owen, a successful professor living abroad in South Korea, who is bedridden after a devastating car accident that killed his wife, Sandy. He is left under the care of Yuna, his Korean mother-in-law, but when she starts to unravel the devastating truth behind Owen and Sandy’s marriage, and Owen himself, his road to recovery is threatened. Theo James, of “The Gentlemen” series fame, stars as Owen, and Christian Slater features as well, whereas the Korean starcast comprises of “Squid Game” fame Jung Ho-yeon and excellent supporting actress Yeom Hye-ran. Production wrapped last year and the feature has already bee picked up for worldwide distribution.
Canvas of Blood (dir. Jang Hoon)
Director Jang Hoon makes his long awaited return to the director’s chair, 9 years after enthralling with the Song Kang-ho starrer “A Taxi Driver”. This time, he goes further back into history to the Joseon dynasty with “Canvas of Blood”, a feature about the painting “Dream Journey to the Peach Blossom Land” commissioned by Grand Prince Anpyeong, after he described a utopian landscape he saw in a dream. As the painting enchants, two royal brothers, Anpyeong and Grand Prince Suyang, find themselves chasing the throne with opposing dreams of power and paradise. This interesting premise will be led by Park Bo-gum, who plays Anpyeong, and Kim Nam-gil, who features as Suyang.
Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub (dir. Choi Kook-hee)
Yes, the last two entries in the “Tazza” may not have set the box-office alight like the first one, but there’s no denying that there’s a certain charm to these narratives that revolve around the world of gambling, in various forms. For the fourth outing, director Choi Kook-hee (“Default”) is at the helm and the focus is on the world of high-stakes poker. Based on a comic of the same name, “Tazza: The Song of Beelzebub” stars Byun Yo-han, Roh Jae-won and Japanese actress Ayaka Miyoshi.
