5 Korean Films About Disasters That Highlight Heroic Survival Actions

Kapanlagi.com - When disaster strikes, humanity shows its strongest side. This is often highlighted in Korean films with disaster themes—a genre that not only presents action but also depicts the human struggle for survival. Through dramatic narratives and tense visuals, viewers are invited to directly feel the fear and hope amidst destruction.

Various types of disasters, from toxic gas, volcanic eruptions, deadly viruses, to a world devastated by zombies or natural chaos, are all depicted with high intensity. Not only showcasing stunning visual effects, these films also deliver strong emotions, making the audience connect with the characters who are fighting to save their lives.

Here are 5 recommended Korean films that present disaster stories with high intensity and heartwarming survival struggles.

1. Exit (2019): Toxic Gas Disaster in the Heart of Seoul

A thrilling Korean disaster-themed film. (credit: asianwiki)

Yong-nam, a former rock climbing athlete, becomes his family's last hope as a white toxic gas envelops the entire city of Seoul. This gas originates from a terrorist attack that released deadly substances through a truck in the city center.

Starring Jo Jung-suk and Yoona from SNSD. Their actions to save themselves and their families amidst the city's panic become the core of the film's tension.

2. Ashfall (2019): The Eruption of Mount Baekdu Threatening Korea

A thrilling disaster-themed Korean film. (credit: asianwiki)

ASHFALL tells the story of the devastating eruption of Mount Baekdu that threatens to wipe out the entire Korean Peninsula. To prevent total destruction, a team consisting of explosion experts, North Korean officials, and geologists tries to stop this major disaster.

This film features a lineup of top actors such as Ma Dong-seok, Lee Byung-hun, Bae Suzy, and Ha Jung-woo. In its first week of release in Korea, the film was watched by over 4 million viewers and became the highest-grossing film by the end of 2019.

3. Deranged (2012): Terror of a Virus Spreading Through the Han River

A thrilling disaster-themed Korean film. (credit: asianwiki)

The film DERANGED tells the story of a deadly virus spreading from the Han River. The victims are found in a decomposed state without clear physical symptoms, but CCTV footage shows that they jumped into the river before dying.

This situation causes national panic, and the government declares a state of emergency to find the antidote. This film is particularly relevant as it depicts a pandemic situation in a thrilling way.

4. #Alive (2020): Surrounded by Zombies in an Apartment Without Connection

A thrilling Korean disaster film. (credit: instagram.com/netflixid)

This film focuses on Joon-woo (Yoo Ah-in) and Yoo-bin (Park Shin-hye), two people trapped in separate apartments during a zombie attack. They lose internet and communication, isolated from the outside world.

The film was released at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic and premiered on Netflix on September 8, 2020. Within two days of its release, the film ranked number one globally on the Netflix Movies Worldwide Chart.

5. Badland Hunters (2024): Surviving in a Completely Devastated Post-Earthquake World

A thrilling Korean disaster film. (credit: instagram.com/netflixid)

After a massive earthquake devastates Seoul, the city turns into an apocalyptic wasteland without law. Nam San (Ma Dong-seok), Choi Ji-wan, and doctor Yang Gi-su struggle to survive in a world full of chaos, danger, and other human threats.

This film, which will be released on Netflix on January 26, 2024, is an adaptation of the popular webtoon Happy Boy. It features brutal action and the tension typical of a dystopian world with a strong message about survival.

(kpl/vna)