If you're learning Korean and want to dive deeper into the culture (while getting into the holiday spirit), Korean Christmas movies are the perfect way to go. Not only will you pick up some useful everyday Korean slang and phrases, but you'll also get to see how this Western holiday has been beautifully adapted into Korean culture.
In this post, we've handpicked 4 must-watch Korean Christmas films that'll have you reaching for your hot chocolate and tissue box β because let's face it, Korean dramas know how to tug at our heartstrings!
Korean Christmas Words And Expressions
Before diving into our movie picks, let's get familiar with some common Korean Christmas expressions you'll likely hear in these films. During the holiday season, Koreans often use specific phrases to spread Christmas cheer, and spotting these in the movies will definitely make your viewing experience more rewarding!
| Korean Script | Romanization | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| λ©λ¦¬ ν¬λ¦¬μ€λ§μ€ | Meri Keuriseumaseu | Merry Christmas |
| ν볡ν μ±νμ λμΈμ | Haengbokhan Seongtanjeol Doeseyo | Have a Happy Christmas |
| μ λ¬Ό | Seonmul | Gift/Present |
| μ°ν ν μλ²μ§ | Santa Hal-abeoji | Santa Claus (lit. "Santa Grandfather") |
| ν¬λ¦¬μ€λ§μ€ νΈλ¦¬ | Keuriseumaseu Teuree | Christmas Tree |
| μΊλ‘€ | Kaerol | Christmas Carol |
| μ±νμ | Seongtanjeol | Christmas (more formal) |
| μ¦κ±°μ΄ μ°λ§ 보λ΄μΈμ | Jeulgeoun Yeonmal Bonaeseyo | Have a happy end of the year |
| λμ΄ μμ | Nuni Wayo | It's snowing |
| ν¬λ¦¬μ€λ§μ€ μ΄λΈ | Keuriseumaseu Ibeu | Christmas Eve |
You'll notice that while some expressions are direct translations from English (like λ©λ¦¬ ν¬λ¦¬μ€λ§μ€), others have a uniquely Korean twist. For instance, Santa Claus becomes "Santa Grandfather" (μ°ν ν μλ²μ§), showing how Korean culture naturally incorporates respect for elders even in Western holiday traditions.
Korean Christmas Movies
Christmas in August
This touching Korean classic (νμμ ν¬λ¦¬μ€λ§μ€) isn't your typical holiday romance β it's a gentle story that captures what makes Christmas truly special: cherishing moments with loved ones. The Korean film follows Jung-won, a kind-hearted photo studio owner who finds himself in an unexpected situation: he's falling in love while keeping the secret that he only has months to live.
When a bright, friendly parking officer starts visiting his shop regularly to develop photos, their simple everyday chats turn into something beautiful, making each moment feel as special as Christmas morning. It's a heartwarming reminder that sometimes life's most precious gifts don't come wrapped in shiny paper, but in the simple moments we share with someone special.
Keep an ear out for these tender expressions in this heartwarming film:
| Korean Script | Romanization | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| μ¬μ§ μ°μ΄λ릴κΉμ? | Sajin jjigeodeurilkkayo? | Shall I take your photo? |
| λ§μμ λ€μ΄μ | Maeume deureoyo | I like it (lit: It enters my heart) |
| μ€λ κΈ°λ€λ Έμ΄μ | Orae gidaryeosseoyo | I've waited a long time |
| 건κ°νμΈμ | Geonganghaseyo | Stay healthy |
| λ€μ λ§λμ | Dasi mannayo | Let's meet again |
Haepi ero Keurisemaseu
Happy Ero Christmas (ν΄νΌ μλ‘ ν¬λ¦¬μ€λ§μ€) serves up holiday chaos with a side of quirky romance! This playful comedy follows a lovesick police officer who's struck by cupid's arrow when he spots a charming bowling alley worker. But winning her heart isn't going to be as easy as writing a ticket β he's got some serious competition from the neighborhood's smooth-talking gang boss, who's made it his Christmas mission to sweep the same girl off her feet!
What follows is a hilarious holiday showdown complete with wacky schemes, awkward flirting attempts, and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments as our determined cop races against the Christmas clock to win true love.
These fun expressions pop up throughout this romantic comedy:
| Korean Script | Romanization | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| λ°μ΄νΈ ν λμ? | Deiteu hallaeyo? | Want to go on a date? |
| κ·μ½λ€ | Gwiyeopda | Cute! |
| λλ λ³Όλ§ μΉ λ? | Narang bolling chillae? | Want to bowl with me? |
| κ²½μ°°μ΄μμ | Gyeongchalieyo | I'm a police officer |
| μΈμ μ’ κ·Έλ§ν΄μ | Ssaum jom geumanhaeyo | Please stop fighting |
The Tower
The Tower (νμ) turns Christmas Eve into a night of survival when a luxurious high-rise celebration goes horribly wrong. What starts as a glittering holiday party at the prestigious Tower Sky complex quickly transforms into a nightmare when flames engulf the building, trapping partygoers and employees inside.
Based on real-life disasters and brought to heart-pounding life by director Kim Joo Hoon, this isn't your typical cozy Christmas movie β it's an edge-of-your-seat thriller that shows how ordinary people become heroes when disaster strikes during the most wonderful time of the year.
These urgent expressions are commonly heard throughout this thriller:
| Korean Script | Romanization | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| λΆμ΄μΌ! | Buriya! | Fire! |
| λμμ£ΌμΈμ! | Dowajuseyo! | Help! |
| μ¬κΈ°μ λκ°μΌ ν΄μ | Yeogiseo nagaya haeyo | We need to get out of here |
| μ΄λ €μ£ΌμΈμ | Sallyeojuseyo | Save me! |
| λͺ¨λ λνΌνμΈμ | Modu daepihaseyo | Everyone evacuate! |
Woojooβs Christmas
Woojoo's Christmas brings this magical "what if" to life in the most charming way possible. After losing her mother, 38-year-old Woojoo starts fresh by turning an old antique shop into a cozy cafe - but this isn't just any ordinary business venture. In a Christmas miracle that could only happen in Korean shows, she suddenly finds herself sharing coffee and conversations with her 19 and 26-year-old selves!
This crazy good story blends the magic of the holiday season with a touching journey of self-discovery, showing us that sometimes the best Christmas gift is getting a chance to understand yourself better - at every age and stage of life.
Listen for these reflective phrases as the three Woojoos interact:
| Korean Script | Romanization | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| λ―Ώμ μ μμ΄ | Mideul su eopseo | I can't believe it |
| κ·Έλλ‘ λμκ°κ³ μΆμ΄ | Geuttaero doragago sipeo | I want to go back to that time |
| νννμ§ λ§ | Huhoehaji ma | Don't have regrets |
| μλ§κ° λ³΄κ³ μΆμ΄ | Eommaga bogo sipeo | I miss mom |
| μ»€νΌ νμ ν λμ? | Keopi hanjan hallaeyo? | Would you like a cup of coffee? |
Learning Korean Through These Christmas Movies
Want to make the most of your movie-watching experience while learning Korean? These films offer more than just entertainment β they're educational for language learners! Christmas movies are especially great for picking up everyday Korean because they often feature both casual conversations and emotional moments, giving you exposure to various speaking styles and expressions.
Here's where Lingopie comes in handy β instead of struggling with regular subtitles, you can watch these movies with interactive language learning features that make understanding so much easier.
Simply click on any word you don't know to see its meaning and save useful phrases to review later. Plus, the dual subtitles feature lets you see both Korean and English text, helping you connect the dots between what you hear and what it means.
Some pro tips for maximizing your learning:
- Pay attention to how characters change their speaking style based on age and social status (especially in "Woojoo's Christmas")
- Listen for seasonal expressions and everyday phrases that come up repeatedly
- Practice mimicking the characters' intonation during emotional scenes
- Use the pause and replay features on Lingopie to break down complex sentences
- Try predicting what characters will say next based on the context
Remember, the best way to learn a language is when you're enjoying yourself β and what better way than curling up with some heartwarming (or heart-pounding!) Korean Christmas films? Start your Korean learning journey today with Lingopie and turn your movie-watching time into an effective language-learning session!
