🔥 Top 10 Must-Watch Lee Jung-jae Movies (Beyond Squid Game)
Lee Jung-jae didn’t start with Squid Game. Here are his top 10 movies, from mafia thrillers to time-traveling romances, that prove he’s a true Korean cinema legend.
- BackZee
- 3 min read
Lee Jung-jae might have blown up globally as the lead in Squid Game, but trust us—this man has been delivering powerful performances for decades. From romantic dramas to gritty thrillers, he’s the real MVP of Korean cinema.
If you’re only now discovering him, you’re in for a binge-worthy ride. 🎬
⚡️ TL;DR (Because You’re Just Here for the Movie List)
• 🕵️♂️ New World (2013): undercover cop thriller, pure Korean mafia drama energy.
• 💌 Il Mare (2000): time-travel romance that inspired The Lake House.
• 🎯 Assassination (2015): war-time spies + resistance fighters = action and heartbreak.
• 💎 The Thieves (2012): slick heist vibes, think Ocean’s Eleven but messier.
• 🔫 Deliver Us from Evil (2020): Lee Jung-jae goes full scary villain mode.
• 🎥 Plus 5 more iconic roles from romance to political thrillers.
• Bottom line: He’s been killing it long before Squid Game.
🎬 10. The Housemaid (2010)
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Vibe: Dark, elegant, twisted affairs
IMDb: 6.4
A steamy secret between a wealthy man and his housemaid spirals into chaos. Lee plays a dangerously charming husband whose choices destroy his perfect life.
A modern remake packed with class commentary and emotional tension.
🎬 9. Hunt (2022)
Genre: Action, Mystery, Political Thriller
Vibe: ’80s spy drama meets Korean political history
IMDb: 6.7
Lee Jung-jae’s directorial debut = intense spy thriller.
Set during South Korea’s dictatorship, this is all about double-crosses, secret ops, and who you really trust.
K-thriller meets James Bond energy.
🎬 8. City of the Rising Sun (1998)
Genre: Crime, Drama
Vibe: Bro vibes tested by real life
IMDb: 6.6
Two friends (including Jung Woo-sung) hustle to survive, only to clash over money and loyalty.
Raw, messy, and heartbreakingly real.
🎬 7. The Face Reader (2013)
Genre: Historical Drama
Vibe: Game of Thrones, but make it Joseon Dynasty
IMDb: 6.8
A country bumpkin face-reader predicts people’s fates and gets tangled in palace politics.
Think royal betrayals, assassination plots, and fate vs. free will.
🎬 6. An Affair (1998)
Genre: Romance, Drama
Vibe: Forbidden love, but make it artsy
IMDb: 6.8
Two people trapped by social rules fall in love knowing it’ll end badly.
Beautiful, emotional, and Lee’s first major film role.
🎬 5. Deliver Us from Evil (2020)
Genre: Action, Thriller
Vibe: John Wick, but rage-fueled
IMDb: 6.8
Lee flips from hero to terrifying villain.
He’s a relentless force of revenge here — violent, unhinged, and unforgettable.
🎬 4. The Thieves (2012)
Genre: Heist, Comedy, Action
Vibe: Ocean’s Eleven, but with more chaos
IMDb: 6.8
An elite crew of Korean thieves plans a diamond heist, but trust issues wreck everything.
Fast-paced, stylish, and a box-office smash in Korea.
🎬 3. Assassination (2015)
Genre: Action, Thriller, War
Vibe: Resistance fighters vs. colonial Japan
IMDb: 7.2
During Japanese occupation, a secret Korean resistance squad must pull off an impossible assassination.
Lee plays a spy torn between duty and survival.
🎬 2. Il Mare (2000)
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Vibe: The Lake House, but Korean (and better)
IMDb: 7.5
Two lonely people fall in love through a magical mailbox that sends letters across time.
Quiet, beautiful, and deeply emotional.
🎬 1. New World (2013)
Genre: Crime, Thriller
Vibe: The Departed meets Korean mafia
IMDb: 7.5
Lee plays a deep-cover cop torn between loyalty to his boss and the law.
Epic betrayals, tension-filled power struggles, and career-defining acting.
This is peak Lee Jung-jae.
💡 Final Thoughts
Lee Jung-jae isn’t just the guy in the green tracksuit.
He’s a powerhouse who’s played heartbroken lovers, dangerous villains, and tragic heroes.
If Squid Game was your intro, now’s the time to dig deeper.