Common Sense Media Review
By Tom Cassidy
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Zombie animated prequel is bleak, intense, gory, and sweary.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Seoul Station
What's the Story?
In SEOUL STATION, outsiders try to survive a zombie outbreak that turns people into fast-moving, bloodthirsty monsters. Amid the chaos, runaway Hye-sun (voiced by Shim Eun-kyung) and her boyfriend, Ki-woong (Lee Joon), become separated and try to make their way through Seoul to reunite against all odds.
Is It Any Good?
This South Korean animated zombie film is part of the The Train to Busan series and acts as a prequel to 2016's live-action movie. Seoul Station lacks Train to Busan's compelling "zombies on a train" premise but shares its intensity. While the live-action movie was relentless in its zombie action, this animated affair instead pushes a bleak social realism that focuses on society's outcasts and left behinds, with strong social commentary about discrimination. This makes for some chilling drama, punctuated by frantic, gory zombie action. Disturbing for its human side, its standout scenes are bleak character moments and chilling twists. In one harrowing scene, two adults wail in despair in an underground train tunnel as their bleak pasts, presents, and futures overwhelm them. Train to Busan was a fun thrill ride but its prequel is a much darker journey.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Seoul Station. Did you think it was over the top or do you expect intense, gory scenes in a zombie movie like this? Did the fact that it was animated make it less impactful? Why, or why not?
Discuss the language used in the movie. Did it seem necessary, or excessive? What did it contribute to the movie?
How did the film represent unhoused people and people living with mental illness? What do you think the filmmakers were trying to say about people who often find themselves marginalized by society? Why representation matters in kids' media.
Discuss the relationship between Hye-sun and Ki-woong. How did it change throughout the course of the movie?
Did you find the movie scary? What was most scary about it? What's the appeal of horror movies?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : July 25, 2017
- Cast : Eun-kyung Shim , Seung-ryong Ryu , Joon Lee
- Director : Sang-ho Yeon
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : FilmRise
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 92 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : December 5, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate