With the spread of the COVID-19, many people continue to enjoy movie nights at the comfort of their homes cozied up in their beds. 

Today we're going to introduce the top 10 Korean horror movies that were ranked by the Korean Film Council to give you nightmares for days! 

It's going to give you a few more reasons to stay home! Add these movies to your movie list and invite your friend over for a movie night.

Trust me, you don't want to watch these alone!

10. Black House (2007)
검은 집

Source: 중앙일보

Running Time: 104 minutes

Director: Shin Terra

Cast: Hwang Jung-min, Yoo Sun, Kang Shin-il

Black House (검은집) is an adaptation of the popular Japanese novel, Kuroi ie by Yusuke Kishi. The Japanese film was released in 1999 titled The Black House.

The film follows the story of Jeon Joon-oh, an agency detective that suspects a family killed their own son to claim the insurance money.

The plot is very exciting and thrilling but focuses more on the clues of the story rather than the horror aspect. So we recommend this for those that want something more mysterious!

9. Shadows In The Palace (2007)
궁녀

Source: fareastfilm

Running Time: 118 minutes

Director: Kim Mi-jung

Cast: Park Jin-hee, Yoon Se-a, Seo Young-hee, Im Jung-eun

Shadows in the Palace (궁녀) revolves around a group of Sang-Goong, during the Joseon Dynasty. 

It's mainly about the rivalry and the dynamics of the people at the palace. The plot begins with a royal concubine who gives birth to a son.

The queen's mother wants the queen to adopt the child but the concubine hesitates as she fears she will be disposed of after her son is adopted from her.

Then, one of the maids is found dead hanging from the palace of the roof. A murder is questioned and the spirits return to get revenge. 

As the movie is set many years ago in the past, it makes the atmosphere even more terrifying!

8. The Red Shoes (2005)
분홍신

                                                           
Source: cine21

Running Time: 103 minutes

Director: Kim Yong-gyun

Cast: Kim Hye-soo, Kim Sung-soo, Park Yeon-ah

The Red Shoes (분홍신) is a film about a woman who is separated from her unfaithful husband and lives with her daughter in an old apartment. 

Things get worse as she takes a pair of pink high heels found in the subway that turns out to be cursed. She takes it home and nightmares begin to haunt her resulting in hysteria and theft.

From then on, she has to fight for her and her daughter's lives.

Anyone who loves mystery and ghosts will love this film!

7. Death Bell (2008)
고사: 피의 중간고사

Source: undertheradarmag

Running Time: 88 minutes

Director: Chang

Cast: Lee Beom-soo, Yoon Jung-hee, Nam Gyu-ri, Kim Beom

Many of you may have already seen the film Death Bell (고사: 피의 중간고사) before. The plot revolves around students in an elite class that are preparing for the university entrance exam.

After some strange incidents that happen, a student and two of their teachers are nowhere to be found.

A voice is heard through the speakers at their school announcing that questions will be given to the class, and failure to answer them in time will lead to their death.

This is a very thrilling movie that will have your eyes glued to the screen. There is also a second movie that was released in 2010 titled Death Bell 2: Bloody Camp (고사: 두번째 이야기 교생실습).

6. R-Point (2005)
알포인트

 Source: leaders

Running Time: 107 minutes

Director: Kong Su-chang

Cast: Kam Woo-sung, Son Byung-ho, Lee Sun-kyun

R-Point (알포인트) is a film about the Korean soldiers of the Vietnam War.

When the South Korean base receives word that their missing platoon was presumed dead, they extract the missing soldiers from Romeo point (R-Point) in a week. 

Upon arriving, they immediately discover a Vietnamese woman and a corpse. 

But while waiting for help from other units, the soldiers are gradually found dead one by one. 

It's a mystery movie full of suspense that you have to watch until the end!

 5. Wishing Stairs (2003)
여고괴담 3: 여우계단

Source: livejournal

Running Time: 97 minutes

Director: Yun Jae-yeon

Cast: Song Ji-hyo, Park Han-byul, Jo An

Wishing Stairs (여고괴담 3: 여우계단) is a horror film about two best friends who compete with another for a ballet scholarship. 

With a strong desire to win, one of the girls decides to climb the staircase that leads to the school's dormitory. Legend has it that if a person climbs the twenty-eight steps and finds the twenty-ninth step, then a fox spirit will grant their wishes.

Her friend gets chosen for the scholarship instead. But she gets into an unfortunate accident that makes her no longer able to dance and she ends up taking her own life.

What will happen next? You'll have to watch the movie to find out!

4. Whispering Corridors (1998)
여고괴담 시리즈

Running Time: 105 minutes

Director: Park Ki-hyung

Cast: Choi Kang-hee, Kim Gyu-ri, Lee Mi-yeon, Yoon Ji-hye

Whispering Corridors (여고괴담 시리즈) is one of Korea's top horror movie series! 

The plot takes place in an all-girl high school. There are many rumors and mysterious voices that linger around the school's corridors.

A teacher with a dark past is strangled by an unknown figure and the students are all horrified to find out the truth behind her death.

It's a very haunting story that is a classic within the Korean film industry!

3. Phone (2002)
폰

Running Time: 103 minutes

Director: Ahn Byeong-ki

Cast: Ha Ji-won, Kim Yoo-mi, Eun Seo-woo

Phone (폰) is about a journalist who receives threatening calls after publishing a series of articles about a pedophilia scandal. 

She tries to change her number and moves into a new home but the threat doesn't stop. 

One day, her friend's daughter accidentally answers the phone and its haunting story begins to unfold. 

The movie has jump scares, mystery, and disturbing deaths. If you enjoy watching horror movies, we highly recommend this one!

2. A Tale Of Two Sisters (2003)
장화, 홍련

Running Time: 114 minutes

Director: Kim Jee-woon

Cast: Im Soo-jung, Moon Geun-young, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Kap-soo

A Tale of Two Sisters (장화, 홍련) is a psychological horror film which tells a story about two siblings who return home after a healing process from a long illness.

Upon arriving, they meet their new resentful stepmother who often keeps them locked up in a closet.

As the girls try to go back to their normal lives, a series of disturbing and strange events occur which leads to a shocking conclusion. 

1. Hide And Seek (2013)
숨바꼭질

Running Time: 107 minutes

Director: Huh Jung

Cast: Son Hyun-joo, Moon Jeong-hee, Jeon Mi-seon

Ranked the highest on the list is the film Hide and Seek (숨바꼭질).

Although it's not a movie about ghosts and spirits, it's a haunting thriller that takes place in a shabby apartment where a mysterious person is discovered to be living without the owner's knowledge.

One day, the main lead Sung-soo receives news that his brother is missing. He heads over to his brother's apartment and finds strange symbols carved into every door of the apartment. 

It's a thrilling fast-paced movie full of plot twists that tap into our fears of our privacy being invaded. Squeals and shocks are guaranteed to fill your living room!

That concludes the top 10 horror movies selected by the Korean Film Council!

Which ones have you watched? Did you have nightmares for days?

If you've cleared the list, consider our zombie movie/drama recommendations!