Top 5 Must Watch Korean Disaster Movies

How do you define good disaster movies?

Perhaps to find out the answer to “What’s the worst that could have happened next?”, is what makes you sit through the 2 hours of exhilarating journey.

Unlike Hollywood disaster movies, the Korean disaster movie is unique in its way by killing off its heroes, which plays heavily in emotions and often bring the audience into tears. Nonetheless, we will reveal the top 5 must-watch Korean disaster movies.

1. Tidal Wave (2009)

Tidal Wave (Haeundae) is perhaps the very first disaster movies in South Korea that received well attention to the general public.

Photo Source: IMDB

It talks about a marine geologist that recognizes that the Sea of Japan (East Sea) is having a similar activity just like the Indian Ocean back in the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake. Though the Disaster Prevention Agency assures that Korea is at no risk, a mega tsunami is soon formed and travel at 500 MPH destructive force toward the thousands of tourist at Haeundae Beach.

The film itself received 11 million admissions worldwide and was inspired by the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake, where it’s English film name: Tidal Wave, is a reference to a tsunami.

2. The Tower (2012)

Most disaster movies talk about nature but this particular one focuses more on ignorance of humanly made mistakes that ignites a massive disaster.

Photo Source: IMDB

The Tower talks about a Christmas Eve party held on a luxury skyscraper of Tower Sky twin tower buildings in central Seoul, where a small fire outbreak in the kitchen and warning on faulty of the water sprinkler system is disregard by the building owner.

Two helicopters are hired to circle and spray the building with man-made snow during the party, but the amazement atmosphere soon turns into terror when the helicopter loses control and crashes into the building, resulting in a chain of horrific events that threaten the lives of the building residents.

3. The Flu (2013)

Who could forget the horrific events of H5N1 influenza disease that swept the world in terror? What makes it more memorable is when it was made into a film, making it one of the top disaster movies of the century.

Photo Source: IMDB

The Flu, is a Korean disaster movie that talks about a deadly strain of mutated influenza H5N1 disease caused by illegal smuggling activity spread out like wildfire in Bundang. Thousands of residents infected and death within 36 hours, resulting in the city is sealed off.

However, to develop the vaccine for this viral disease, an infectious disease specialist has to go through the closed city to find the blood serum from a case…

4. Tunnel (2016)

Before the tremendous success in Along With the Gods, Ha Jung Woo has participated in one of the unique disaster movies, named Tunnel.

Photo Source: IMDB

It talks about a car salesperson ready to head home for his daughter’s birthday and passes through a poorly constructed tunnel. But the unthinkable happens – the tunnel collapses and he is trapped and buried alone under tons of concrete and debris, with only his cell phone, two bottles of water and his daughter’s birthday cake.

He has to communicate and follow advice from the head of the rescue team in order to survive…

5. Ashfall (2019)

Bringing in the cast from Along With the Gods and Train to Busan comes the epitome of Korean disaster movies, Ashfall (also known as Beakdusan).

Starring with star-loaded actors and actress, from Lee Byung Hun (from Mr Sunshine), Ha Jung Woo (Along With the Gods), Ma Dong Seok (Train to Busan), to famous singer/actress Bae Su Zy and others, this movie is considered as the biggest Korean disaster blockbuster ever.

Ashfall talks about an unexpected eruption of Korea’s tallest volcano, which straddles the China-North Korea border, leave the Korean peninsula in shambles. Seismologists warn this is only the preliminary eruption – A devastating super-eruption is still to come.

The Chief Secretary of the President of South Korea meets renowned Korean-American seismologist Bong-Rae (Ma Dong Seok) which presents a theory that could possibly stop the volcanic explosion. Despite the small possibility of success, it requires the help of Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit of the South Korean Army to participate in the mission.

An accident during a missile dismantling operation leaves In-chang (Ha Jung Woo) in charge of the team before returning home to his wife, Ji-young (Bae Su Zy). In-Chang’s team secretly reaches out to a North Korean elite officer, Jun-Pyong (Lee Byung Hun), who holds the key to the mission to stop the volcanic eruption.