7 Korean Netflix Show Recommendations

The video above is a little outdated, with this list I will try to keep it updated as I continue to watch more shows and movies that are provided worldwide through Netflix. Personally I prefer movies to to a drama, usually because of the length. I still have a lot to catch up on, so I will only be including shows and movies that I have watched from start to finish.

Netflix has a great line up of international tv shows and movies and this extends to Korean. The content mentioned in this article should be available in every region, so no VPN required. They also all have audio description(음성 설명) and closed captions, which means you can make the most of your time watching.

For each entry I'll try to give a descrpition about the premise and who might enjoy it. You can see the full list of Korean audio content here. and a full list of content with audio description here. I'll start with TV shows first and remember to share your favourites below so others can find content they might enjoy.

SBS VOD: Watch Korean TV Legally Free (No VPN required)

 

This little known website is great for a couple reasons. Generally you'll find to watch any kind of VODs on Korean tv, MBC and KBS both require you to be a resident of Korea or use a VPN. Alternatively you can view some of their content on YouTube but it is usually broken up into multiple episodes or is just short clips, usually they have English subtitles which you might prefer if that's your style.

However as Korean learners we should be striving to break away from the subtitles and watching and listening to content purely receiving input in it's auditory form. You'll find by doing this you will escape the 'needing subtitles' trap. 

The beauty of this site is that it has a huge base of content going all the way back to the 90s. Older shows can often be hard to find in any form, even illegally. With SBS VOD we get a consistent quality with no episodes missing and autoplay, making it easy to get through hundreds of episodes of your favourite shows. Ranging through Comedy, Sports, Dramas and even documentary/factual shows, there is something for everyone.

Link to the homepage

Where to Watch Digimon Series Korean Dub (디지몬 더빙 다시보기 링크집)

This page is a compilation of various pages and webplayers where you can watch the full series in Korean. It's possible that some of the link may cease to work. I will try to keep it as up to date as possible. Some series may not yet have been posted. I'm unsure if there is anywhere to purchase the DVD copies for the dub, so this is the best we have for now.

You shouldn't need to sign in to any accounts to watch anything. Other than the links being dead you may have to deal with low quality sound and video. If there was a place to watch it in higher quality I would point you there. If it becomes available I will update this page accordingly.

Hopefully digimon lovers, Koreans or Korean learners will find this page so we can all enjoy this series together. I don't have the movies yet but I may search for them later and add them to this post.

Using Audio Description for Language Learning

You may have noticed while changing the language or subtitles on netflix, an option called 'audio description' or even on television programmes, a symbol that says AD which represents that audio description is available. Generally audio description will only be available in the language the TV show was produced in although there may be some exceptions.

The intended use of audio description is to allow blind or visually impaired individuals to understand more of what is happening during the silent and action oriented parts of a show or movie. When this setting is active, a narrator will describe the actions that are taking place, such as 'man with scruffy hair walks down a long corridor.'

Audio description logo on UK television

Watching Media and Using Subtitles to Learn a Language

Related video for extra viewing:

 

A lot of learners often ask questions around the use of subtitles and whether they should be using native subs, target language subs or just foregoing subs altogether. The answer can vary depending on your reasons for watching and also your level. Subtitles are a great resource for learning new words while being able to relax more than pure reading but also have the added visual queue in which to understand the words on screen. Let's go over a few different ways you might consider watching content in your target language

5 Korean Movies Based on Real Life Events

Korean Kino

With a thriving movie industry and the popularity of 봉준호 (Bong Jun-ho)'s 기생충 (Parasite), many people may be left wondering what else the world of Korean cinema has to offer. Although the emotions of a fictional movie with developed characters can be quite high, nothing quite hit's home like a movie based on events that took place in the real world with actual people and real consequences. I have only included movies that I have watched myself, they are listed in order of their abundance of emotion. If you have any recommendations please comment below