6 Korean Zombie Shows and Movies to Watch After 'All of Us Are Dead'
Our all-time favorites, from ‘Train to Busan’ to ‘Kingdom.’
All of Us Are Dead is the latest K-drama to hit Netflix, ranking first on the platform’s Global Top 10 list just a day since its release. The show isn’t the first zombie title from South Korea; the country has been praised for its zombie apocalypse-themed films and series over the years. For those who enjoyed watching All of Us Are Dead, we’ve rounded up six titles to add to your binge watchlist.
Our picks include the now-classic Train to Busan, which has received a sequel and even a U.S. remake following its success, as well as Netflix’s Kingdom, set during the Joseon Dynasty. Elsewhere, we’re highlighting more recent releases such as Happiness.
Continue scrolling for some of South Korea’s best zombie movies and TV shows.
Happiness (2021)
Cast: Han Hyo-joo, Park Hyung-sik
Where To Watch: Rakuten
Happiness isn’t your typical zombie show. The series takes place in the near future, where “Next,” a failed cure for COVID-19, sparks a new contagious virus called the “Rita.” The disease causes people to experience extreme rage and bloodlust, leading them to a zombie-like state for a certain amount of time. A reflection of today’s real-life pandemic, residents of an apartment complex are required to follow quarantine measures to contain the outbreak.
#Alive (2020)
Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Park Shin-hye
Where To Watch: Netflix
Joon-woo (Yoo Ah-in) is a video gamer stuck in his apartment alone amid a zombie apocalypse. He manages to get in contact with one of his neighbors, Yoo-bin (Park Shin-hye), who works with him to find food and more survivors in the building. Eventually, they try and make their way to the rooftop to be rescued by the military.
Sweet Home (2020)
Cast: Song Kang, Go Min-si, Lee Do-hyun, Lee Si-young
Where To Watch: Netflix
Sweet Home isn’t necessarily a zombie series — the show is set in an apocalyptic world taken over by mysterious monsters. Based on a webtoon of the same title, it opens with Hyun-soo (Song Kang) moving into an old apartment building. Hyun-soo gets trapped with the rest of the residents after noticing that monsters have taken over the world.
Kingdom (2019)
Cast: Ju Ji-hoon, Doona Bae, Ryu Seung-ryong, Gianna Jun
Where To Watch: Netflix
Kingdom stands out from this list in that it is set during Korea’s Joseon Dynasty. A mysterious plague breaks out, bringing the dead back alive. In the second season of the show, the disease makes its way to neighboring provinces as Prince Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon) tries to contain the outbreak to save his people.
Train to Busan (2016)
Cast: Gong Yoo, Don Lee, Jung Yu-mi, Choi Woo-shik
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video, Netflix
Train to Busan is one of South Korea’s most iconic zombie titles, with its success leading to a sequel titled Peninsula and even a U.S. remake. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho (Hellbound), the film takes place in a high-speed train headed from Seoul to Busan. Seok-woo (Gong Yoo) boards the train with his daughter Su-an (Kim Su-an) only to find out mid-trip that a zombie apocalypse is breaking out in the country.
Seoul Station (2016)
Cast: Ryu Seung-ryong, Shin Eun-kyung, Lee Joon
Where To Watch: Amazon Prime Video
Seoul Station is an animated prequel to Train to Busan that released less than a month after the successful film. The story focuses on three main characters, including Suk-gyu (Ryu Seung-ryong), who is on the search for his runaway daughter Hye-sun (Shim Eun-kyung).
