What To Watch
9 Award-Winning Korean Movies and Series to Stream Now
Among these honorees from South Korea, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
By Tudum Staff
April 7, 2026
Award-Winning Korean Movies and Series to Stream Now - Netflix Tudum
In recent years, South Korean media has been racking up international accolades, with Oscar winners like Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite, Isaac Lee Chung’s Minari, and Maggie Kang’s K-Pop Demon Hunters. Thanks to the country’s own industry prizes, like the Baeksang Arts Awards and the Blue Dragon Awards, there’s even more award-winning content to stream on Netflix right now — some of which you might have never even heard of. Whether you’re in the mood for webtoon-inspired K-Dramas like Karma or goofy POV reality shows like Kian’s Offbeat B&B, there’s a feted movie or series that will make for the perfect weekend plans. Read on to find out more about these shows and films — and the awards they’ve piled up.
Uprising
Director Kim Sang-man (Girl Scout) and writer-producer Park Chan-wook (No Other Choice) teamed up for this South Korean action feature, which invites audiences to travel back to the Joseon era, the final imperial period in Korean history. The film examines how the chaos of war impacts the personal relationship between two childhood friends who become enemies.
At the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, Uprising took home Best Screenplay, Best New Actor (Jung Sung-il), and Best Arts Achievement honors. It also won Best Production Design at the 46th Blue Dragon Film Awards. Along with Jung, the movie stars Gang Dong-won (Broker), Park Jeong-min (Decision to Leave), Cha Seung-won (Believer), Kim Shin-rok (Hellbound), and Jin Sun-kyu (Space Sweepers).
When Life Gives You Tangerines
On Jeju Island in the 1960s, the always dependable Gwan-sik falls in love with gifted but troubled Ae-sun — and, ever since, he’s devoted his life to her. Over the course of several decades, the two fated lovers forge a life together despite the disapproval of Gwan-sik’s family and Ae-sun’s personal setbacks. Starring IU, Park Bo-gum, and Moon So-ri, the sweeping romance series was created by Kim Won-suk (My Mister) and Lim Sang-choon (When the Camellia Blooms).
At the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards, When Life Gives You Tangerines received four honors: Best Drama, Best Screenplay for writer Lim, Best Supporting Actor for Choi Dae-hoon, and Best Supporting Actress for Yeom Hye-ran. At the Blue Dragon Series Awards, it was honored with the Grand Prize, with IU winning for Best Actress and Yeom for Best Supporting Actress.
The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call
Based on the webtoon Trauma Center: Golden Hour by Hansanleega and Hongbichira, the eight-episode medical K-drama stars Ju Ji-hoon as a hotshot surgeon who returns to Seoul after years of practicing combat medicine and discovers his hometown is in desperate need of improved care. He sets out to establish a top-tier trauma center, save lives, and beat the system.
For his role as Baek Kang-hyuk, Ju won Best Actor at the 61st Baeksang Arts Awards and at the 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards, where the drama also won Best Series and Choo Young-woo took home the Best New Actor award for his role as colorectal surgery department fellow Yang Jae-won.
Culinary Class Wars
This sizzling competition series sees 100 talented chefs going apron-to-apron in a dramatic battle for culinary excellence. Among the competitors are hidden masters (aka “Black Spoon” contestants) who challenge star chefs (aka “White Spoon” contestants) to become the best of the best in Korea. The competition show is helmed and judged by restaurateur Paik Jong-won, whose many accolades and television credits include 2021’s Paik’s Spirit, as well as chef Anh Sung-jae of the three-starred Mosu Seoul restaurant. The show took home Best Unscripted Series at the 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards.
Kian’s Bizarre B&B
Kian’s Bizarre B&B is a variety show in which Korean entertainer Kian84 sets up and runs a lovably wacky guesthouse on the island of Ulleungdo, which offers a unique experience for young visitors. There’s no front door and no real beds, but the unpredictable host — with the help of BTS’s Jin (who said he had a “great experience” filming) and Ji Ye-eun — welcomes guests to stay and play in his colorful world as they venture out on surprising excursions and laugh the whole way through. For his hosting gig, Kian84 was honored with Best Male Entertainer at the 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards.
Karma
Directed by Lee Il-hyung (A Violent Prosecutor), this crime series stars Lee Hee-joon (A Killer Paradox) as a man who hatches an extreme scheme in order to quickly repay a dangerous loan shark. But the plan goes awry, creating a ripple effect for him and five other seemingly innocent people. This slow-burn Korean series tracks how these six lives become intertwined in a tangled web of misdeeds.
Based on the webtoon of the same name by Choi See-hun, the six-episode thriller also stars Park Hae-soo (Squid Game), Shin Min-a (Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha), and Lee Kwang-soo (Korea No.1). For the role of Glasses, Lee Kwang-soo won Best Supporting Actor at the 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards.
The Blank Menu for You
Moon Sang-hoon took home Best New Male Entertainer honors at the 4th Blue Dragon Series Awards for this unique talk show that combines celebrity interviews and mouth-watering recipes. In each episode, guests head to a quirky eatery helmed by Culinary Class Season 2 winner Chef Choi Kang-rok, who receives an abstract, off-menu request from the celeb guest and cooks up an imaginative dish while listening to Moon unearth the anecdote that inspired the meal. Guests include K-Pop stars like Jisoo and Sana, as well as actors like Chun Woo-hee and Jung Hae-in and fellow chefs like Kang Leo.
A Killer Paradox
When a hapless college student ends up murdering a stranger, he knows his days are numbered — until he finds out his victim was a serial killer. As he tries to evade suspicion, he can’t shake his new shadow: a pesky homicide detective hell-bent on finding out the truth. Starring SAG Award winner Choi Woo-shik and Baeksang Arts Awards nominees Son Suk-ku and Lee Hee-joon, the K-drama series from Lee Chang-hee (Hell Is Other People) and Kim Da-min (FAQ) follows a wayward young adult as he grapples with the morality of his unintentional murder spree.
At the 23rd Director’s Cut Awards, Lee Chang-hee won Best Director for the series, while Lee Hee-jun won Best Actor, and Kim took home Best New Actor honors.
Hellbound
Is divine justice real, or are the creatures dragging people to hell part of something else entirely? That’s the question for those living in the world of this dark K-drama fantasy from director Yeon Sang-ho (Train to Busan, Revelations) and writer Choi Gyu-seok (The Awl). The series, which stars Kim Sung-cheol, Kim Hyun-joo, Kim Shin-rok, and Moon Geun-young (The Throne), premiered its second season at the 29th Busan International Film Festival. For her role as Ms. Sunshine, Moon won Best New Actress at the 23rd Director’s Cut Awards.
All About When Life Gives You Tangerines
Deep DiveThe series follows a savvy doctor and his dedicated trauma unit.By Ingrid OstbyMay 5
Deep DiveIU and Park Bo-gum star in the romance saga.By Ingrid OstbyMay 5
Deep DiveThe cast and director discuss the action-drama’s epic final sword fight.By Tudum StaffOct. 25, 2024
Deep DiveThe new action drama from Park Chan-wook and Kim Sang-man rises up this fall.By John DiLilloOct. 11, 2024
Shop When Life Gives You Tangerines
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