Jaehwa Bernardo

Gong Hyo-jin, left, and Lee Min-ho in 'When The Stars Gossip.' Photo courtesy of Netflix

Article (news)

Outer space, aliens: Korean sci-fi titles to stream online

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:958px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1740550829569WTSG2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Gong Hyo-jin, left, and Lee Min-ho in &#x27;When The Stars Gossip.&#x27; <em>Photo courtesy of Netflix</em></span></span></span>South Korea may be well known for its romance dramas, but its sci-fi productions are steadily carving out a niche, offering gripping stories of out-of-this-world adventures and high-tech chaos that keep viewers on the edge of their seats.</div><p>Below, we spotlight some of South Korea’s notable sci-fi series and films that are a must-watch for fans of the genre.</p><div><strong>When the Stars Gossip (2025)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring: </strong>Lee Min-ho, Gong Hyo-jin, Oh Jung-se, Han Ji-eun</p><p><strong>Watch on:</strong> Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OkYT-T500AE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>In the romantic comedy series “When the Stars Gossip,” Lee Min-ho takes on the role of an obstetrician-gynecologist who becomes a prospective son-in-law for a wealthy family. Tasked with a covert mission, he becomes a tourist at a space station, where he encounters Eve Kim, a no-nonsense astronaut played by Gong Hyo-jin. Sparks fly as their worlds collide in zero gravity.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/showbiz/movies-series/2025/1/16/-when-the-stars-gossip-cast-on-filming-zero-gravity-scenes-0720"><strong>READ: Filming zero-gravity scenes a ‘great memory’ for ‘When The Stars Gossip’ cast</strong></a></div><div><strong>Goodbye Earth (2024)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring:</strong> Ahn Eun-jin, Yoo Ah-in, Jeon Seong-woo, Kim Yoon-hye</p><p><strong>Watch on:</strong> Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RazsSoEuO7A?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>“Goodbye Earth” follows the lives of residents in Woongcheon, a once-peaceful city in South Korea now plunged into chaos as the world faces an impending asteroid strike in 200 days. The series focuses on three central characters: a school teacher, an army captain and a priest, each grappling with the end of the world in their own way.</p><div><strong>Parasyte: The Grey (2024)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring:</strong> Jeon So-nee, Koo Kyo-hwan, Lee Jung-hyun</p><p><strong>Watch on: </strong>Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Icq4iPVbe2E?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Based on the hit Japanese manga by Hitoshi Iwaaki and directed by Yeon Sang-ho of “Train to Busan,” “Parasyte: The Grey” unfolds in a world where mysterious parasitic aliens arrive on Earth and begin using humans as hosts. The series follows Jeong Su-in (played by Jeon So-nee), who unexpectedly forms an unusual coexistence with a parasite after it fails to take over her brain.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/3/31/how-parasyte-the-grey-is-different-from-original-japanese-manga-1337"><strong>READ: How ‘Parasyte: The Grey’ is different from original Japanese manga</strong></a></div><div><strong>The Moon (2023)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring:</strong> Sol Kyung-gu, Doh Kyung-soo, Kim Hee-ae</p><p><strong>Watch on:</strong> Viu</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YC6L7G28U4w?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>In this gripping space survival film, Doh Kyung-soo stars as Sun-woo, an astronaut left stranded in space following an accident during a spaceflight, echoing a similar incident from years prior. As Sun-woo struggles to survive, the former director of a space center on Earth strives to bring him back safely.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/07/26/23/working-on-space-film-a-dream-come-true-for-exos-do"><strong>READ: Working on space film a dream come true for K-pop star D.O of EXO</strong></a></div><div><strong>Duty After School (2023)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring:</strong> Shin Hyun-soo, Lee Soon-won, Kwon Eun-bin, Kim Ki-hae, Kim Min-chul, Moon Sang-min, Kim Su-gyeom</p><p><strong>Watch on:</strong> Viu</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U0MOoyI7pIM?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>As mysterious alien spheres begin appearing in the skies worldwide, South Korea’s defense ministry offers high school students incentives for college admission in exchange for enlisting in the reserved forces — a move that thrusts a group of students into a battle for survival as they go against the invaders.</p><div><strong>The Silent Sea (2021)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring: </strong>Gong Yoo, Bae Doona, Lee Joon, Kim Sun-young, Lee Moo-saeng</p><p><strong>Watch on: </strong>Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YHbw5vjYgns?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Set in a near-future Earth plagued by a severe water crisis, the eight-part “The Silent Sea” revolves around a team of space explorers on a daring mission to retrieve samples from an abandoned research facility on the Moon. But upon their arrival, they soon uncover long-buried secrets.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/12/22/21/netflix-to-drop-korean-space-thriller-on-christmas-eve"><strong>READ: Star-studded space thriller ‘The Silent Sea’ is Netflix’s Christmas offering</strong></a></div><div><strong>Space Sweepers (2021)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring: </strong>Song Joong-ki, Kim Tae-ri, Jin Seon-kyu, Yoo Hae-jin</p><p><strong>Watch on: </strong>Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LkcYD0orqsE?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Hailed as South Korea’s first space blockbuster, “Space Sweepers” is about the crew of the spaceship Victory, who stumble upon a highly valuable humanoid robot with the potential for mass destruction. Seeing an opportunity, the crew plans to demand a ransom for their discovery, setting off a high-stakes adventure.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/02/02/21/no-pressure-song-joong-ki-more-excited-over-upcoming-film-space-sweepers"><strong>READ: No pressure? Song Joong-ki more ‘excited’ over ‘Space Sweepers’</strong></a></div><div><strong>Memories of the Alhambra (2018)</strong></div><p><strong>Starring:</strong> Hyun Bin, Park Shin-hye, Park Chan-yeol</p><p><strong>Watch on:</strong> Netflix</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Lcy3XUDd_A?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>Filmed across <a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/entertainment/2024/7/21/around-the-world-with-k-dramas-10-shows-filmed-abroad-1326"><strong>stunning European locations</strong></a>, “Memories of the Alhambra” tells the story of Yoo Jin-woo (Hyun Bin), an investment firm executive who travels to Spain to meet the creator of an augmented-reality game. Instead, he encounters Jung Hee-joo (Park Shin-hye), the game creator’s older sister who owns a hostel. As their paths intertwine, the pair becomes entangled in mysterious events that blur the lines between reality and the virtual world.</p>

<p>South Korea may be well known for its romance dramas, but its sci-fi productions are steadily carving out a niche.</p>

South Korea may be well known for its romance dramas, but its sci-fi productions are steadily carving out a niche.