Looking for steamy Korean movies to kick off a cosy night with your partner? Featuring gripping plots, sizzling chemistry and pure intimacy between protagonists, we bring you some of the hottest Korean movies that make for great romantic date night choices.
Leading the list is the Kim Hee-jin directorial My Name Is Loh Kiwan. Starring Song Joong-ki in the leading role, this R-rated romance drama focuses on a couple’s forbidden love in a foreign land. One of the best Korean movies to release in 2024, My Name Is Loh Kiwan is based on Cho Hae-jin’s novel I Met Loh Kiwan — the winner of the Shin Dong-yup Prize for Literature in South Korea in 2013. According to Netflix, the film has amassed 5.1 million viewing hours worldwide between 4-10 March 2024. It also ranked #1 in the streaming giant’s global top 10 movies (non-English) category.
Meanwhile, excelling in intimacy with a healthy dose of crime is the Korean romance thriller Decision to Leave. One of the hottest Korean movies by famous director Park Chan-wook, Decision to Leave was the South Korean entry for Best International Feature Film at the 95th Academy Awards.
Not to mention the Lee Yoon-ki directorial A Man and a Woman, which focuses on the story of two strangers who dare to take a chance at love outside marriage. Starring iconic Korean actors Gong Yoo and Jeon Do-yeon, this steamy hot Korean movie was an instant commercial hit and minted over USD 1,419,313 worldwide (via Box Office Mojo).
These hot Korean movies are just what you need on your date night
Directed by: Kim Hee-jin
Cast: Song Joong-ki, Choi Sung-eun, Jo Han-chul, Kim Sung-ryoung
Synopsis: North Korean defector Loh Kiwan (Song) is desperate to survive in the foreign country Belgium. He struggles to make a home in the unfamiliar world by receiving refugee status from the government of Belgium. In the process, he falls in love with Mari (Choi), a former Korean resident, who has lost her will to live.
About the film: Talking about the intimate scenes between the protagonists, director Kim, in a 2024 interview with K-media outlet Newsen, said, “The initial script included even more explicit content. However, I aimed to incorporate the scene without disrupting the film’s flow.” She concluded, “I believe the intimacy in the film feels balanced and well-integrated into the story.”
Directed by: Park Chan-wook
Cast: Park Hae-il, Rebecca Tang, Lee Jung-hyun, Park Yong-woo
Synopsis: Detective Jang Hae-jun (Park) is assigned the case of a man’s unnatural death. As the investigation begins, Hae-jun comes across the deceased man’s wife, Chinese immigrant Song Seo-rae (Tang). Over time, Seo-rae starts making bold moves towards Hae-jun. Soon, a passionate romance ensues, making it difficult for Hae-jun to focus on the case.
About the film: In April 2022, this hot romantic Korean movie competed for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival, eventually earning Park Chan-wook the Best Director award.
Directed by: Park Chan-wook
Cast: Kim Min-hee, Kim Tae-ri, Cho Jin-woong
Synopsis: Con woman Sook-hee (Tae-ri) enters the life of young Japanese heiress Hideko (Min-hee) to steal her fortune. She poses as a handmaiden and starts getting close to Hideko (Min-hee). However, Sook-hee soon starts developing genuine feelings for Hideko, making the former’s task at hand difficult.
Directed by: Lee Yoon-ki
Cast: Gong Yoo, Jeon Do-yeon, Park Byung-eun, Lee Mi-so
Synopsis: When Sang-min (Jeon) comes to Finland for her autistic son’s special camp, she meets Korean architect Ki-hong (Gong) and feels an instant connection. On their way back, Sang-min and Ki-hong spend a night together and decide to go their separate ways the next morning. Days pass and Ki-hong realises she has fallen for Sang-min. She tracks him down only to find him happy with his wife and daughter. Will Sang-min finally choose to move on from Ki-hong?
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Innocent Thing (2014)
Directed by: Kim Tae-kyun
Cast: Jang Hyuk, Jo Bo-ah, Sun Woo-sun
Synopsis: Jun Gi (Jang) is a successful Physical Education teacher at a girls’ high school. One day, he comes across Young Eun (Jo), a student who openly expresses her interest in him. Consumed by desire, Jun begins an intimate relationship with her. But when rumours around the two begin spreading, Jun finds it difficult to continue his relationship with Eun.
Directed by: Kim Dae-woo
Cast: Song Seung-heon, Im Ji-yeon, Yoo Hae-jin, Ohn Joo-wan
Synopsis: Colonel Kim Jin-pyeong (Song) is happy to return to his wife in South Korea after the Vietnam War. One day, he meets Jong Ga-heun (Im), the wife of his new subordinate, and is immediately intrigued. Soon, a steamy affair begins between the Colonel and Ga-heun, posing a threat to their marriages.
Directed by: Jung Ji-woo
Cast: Kim Go-eun, Park Hae-il, Kim Mu-yeol
Synopsis: Eun Gyo (Kim Go-eun) is working a part-time job cleaning the home of Lee Jeok-yo (Park), a successful national poet in his 70s. Over time, Jeok-yo falls for Eun Gyo and writes a short story about how he fantasises about her. However, Jeok-yo’s student Seo Ji-woo (Kim Mu-yeol) gets jealous of the relationship and decides to pursue Eun Gyo himself.
About the film: A Muse is a 2012 South Korean film adaptation of author Park Bum-shin’s erotic romantic novel Eun-gy.
Directed by: Kim Dae-woo
Cast: Ryu Seung-beom, Cho Yeo-jung, Kim Joo-hyuk, Oh Dal-soo
Synopsis: Bangja (Kim) is a loyal servant who works for a socially awkward aristocrat Lee Mong-ryong (Ryu). One day, he accompanies his master to a local pleasure house. There, Mong-ryong takes a liking to a woman named Chunhyang (Cho) and orders Banja to arrange for a meeting with her. In the course of time, while Chunhyang sticks by Mong-ryong for his wealth, her heart desires Bangja.
About the film: This historical romantic comedy is based on the popular South Korean folktale Chunh Yang.
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A Frozen Flower (2008)
Directed by: Yoo Ha
Cast: Zo In-sung, Joo Jin-mo, Song Ji-hyo
Synopsis: In the Yuan Kingdom, the king (Joo) and queen (Song) of Goryeo are unable to have a successor to the throne. Moreover, the king is in love with his general Hong Rim (Zo). However, pressured by people’s expectations, the king asks his lover Hong Rim to sleep with the queen. Things take a drastic turn when Hong Rim and the queen fall for each other.
Directed by: Im Sang-soo
Cast: Jeon Do-yeon, Seo Woo, Lee Jung-jae, Park Ji-young
Synopsis: Hae-ra (Seo) and her husband Hoon (Lee) hire housemaid Eun-yi (Jeon) to look after their daughter. However, Eun-yi falls for Hoon and the duo starts a passionate affair. Soon Eun-yi gets pregnant and becomes the target of Hae-ra, who plans to kill the unborn child.
About the movie: This Korean movie starring Jeon Do-yeon competed for the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 2010. It is a remake of the 1960 South Korean movie of the same name.
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The Scarlet Letter (2004)
Directed by: Byun Hyuk
Cast: Lee Eun-joo, Han Seok-kyu, Uhm Ji-won, Sung Hyun-ah
Synopsis: Detective Lee Ki-hoon (Han), who is fed up with his meek cellist wife Han Soo-hyun (Uhm), begins a passionate affair with a sultry jazz singer Choi Ga-hee (Lee). Ki-hoon soon starts leading a double life by moving back and forth between these two women, unbeknownst to the fact that they are schoolmates from high school.
About the film: The Scarlet Letter premiered as the closing Korean film of the Pusan International Film Festival (now called Busan International Film Festival) in 2004. It is based on novelist Kim Young-ha’s short stories A Meditation On Mirror and Photo Shop Murder.
(Hero and Featured Image: Courtesy IMDb)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What is the hottest Korean movie?
Some of the hottest Korean movies to watch are The Handmaiden, The Housemaid, Decision to Leave, Lies, Obsessed, My Name is Loh Kiwan, A Muse and The Scarlet Letter.
– Which K-dramas have hot scenes?
Korean dramas with some of the hottest scenes are Her Private Life, What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, Something in the Rain, Business Proposal, King The Land, The World of the Married and Nevertheless.
– Do Korean movies have kissing scenes?
Yes, Korean movies do include kissing scenes.
