Korean Cinema
by ChristopherEdell | created - 28 Dec 2012 | updated - 01 Dec 2013 | PublicA list of all Korean films I have seen.
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1. Oldboy (2003)
R | 120 min | Action, Drama, Mystery
After being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must track down his captor in five days.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Kim Byeong-Ok
Votes: 634,894 | Gross: $0.71M
A bizarre story that excels in offering constant mystery and intrigue, this film contains many layers of complexity that a single viewing would leave one deprived of its beauty. Stylish and fresh, this films is one of a kind. A favorite of mine, not just in Korean cinema, but of all film in general.
2. Bedevilled (2010)
Not Rated | 115 min | Drama, Horror, Thriller
A woman subject to mental, physical and sexual abuse on a remote island seeks a way out.
Director: Cheol-soo Jang | Stars: Seo Yeong-hie, Ji Seong-won, Min-ho Hwang, Min Je
Votes: 17,022
The variation from typical protagonist momentum allows this story to reach different avenues of emotional impact. A beautifully executed piece that deserves far more praise than the accolades already received.
3. I Saw the Devil (2010)
Not Rated | 144 min | Action, Crime, Thriller
A secret agent exacts revenge on a serial killer through a series of captures and releases.
Director: Jee-woon Kim | Stars: Lee Byung-hun, Choi Min-sik, Jeon Gook-hwan, Chun Ho-jin
Votes: 146,017 | Gross: $0.13M
Dark, disturbing, violent, and a touch of sociopathic socializing peppered in to character motivations to boot. An amazing addition to Jee-woon Kim's existing directorial features.
4. Mother (2009)
R | 129 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
A mother desperately searches for the killer who framed her son for a girl's horrific murder.
Director: Bong Joon Ho | Stars: Kim Hye-ja, Won Bin, Jin Goo, Yun Je-mun
Votes: 71,542 | Gross: $0.55M
Hye-ja Kim's performance was fantastic. Rarely can actors portray characters so bereft and melancholic, yet exude such a beautiful grace that Hye-ja Kim has. Her performance elevated this film from marvelous story to work of art.
5. Memories of Murder (2003)
Not Rated | 132 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery
In a small Korean province in 1986, two detectives struggle with the case of multiple young women being found raped and murdered by an unknown culprit.
Director: Bong Joon Ho | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Kim Roe-ha, Song Jae-ho
Votes: 215,907 | Gross: $0.01M
A historic piece that revolves around Korea's first serial killer case, it does an exceptional job with its cinematography, creating a wonderfully moody feature. Highly recommended.
6. The Chaser (2008)
Not Rated | 125 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A disgraced ex-policeman who runs a small ring of prostitutes finds himself in a race against time when one of his women goes missing.
Director: Na Hong-jin | Stars: Kim Yoon-seok, Ha Jung-woo, Seo Yeong-hie, Kim Yoo-jung
Votes: 72,685
The central serial killer theme takes a backseat to dynamic character development and the political struggle of a Korea's weakened legal system, shooting this story's overall identity far ahead of other counterparts from the West.
7. The Host (2006)
R | 120 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi
A monster emerges from Seoul's Han River and begins attacking people. One victim's loving family does what it can to rescue her from its clutches.
Director: Bong Joon Ho | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Byun Hee-Bong, Park Hae-il, Bae Doona
Votes: 132,573 | Gross: $2.20M
A monster movie, with Korean cinema's uniqueness intact. A great introduction to international films for those who enjoy the creature treatment.
8. Joint Security Area (2000)
Not Rated | 110 min | Action, Drama, Thriller
After a shooting incident at the North-South Korean border DMZ leaves two North Korean soldiers dead, a neutral Swiss and Swedish team investigates what actually happened.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Lee Yeong-ae, Lee Byung-hun, Song Kang-ho, Kim Tae-woo
Votes: 34,154
Although definitely a flawed film, the 2nd Act was wonderfully executed, and is what lingers with you well after viewing. It begins as if it's going to be your typical military action flick, but quickly changes into a more humanistic piece, with humor, joy and sadness mixed in with great impact. For any Chan-Wook fan it's a must see considering it was his first major feature.
9. 3-Iron (2004)
R | 88 min | Crime, Drama, Romance
A transient young man breaks into empty homes to partake of the vacationing residents' lives for a few days.
Director: Kim Ki-duk | Stars: Lee Seung-yun, Jae Hee, Hyuk-ho Kwon, Joo Jin-mo
Votes: 58,234 | Gross: $0.24M
Despite having a bizarre 3rd Act, which I've read lends to a for more metaphorical interpretation, the film achieves a certain charm that is original and leaves a lasting impression on the viewer. The fact that the two major character are never seen speaking (with two exceptions on one character's part) the movie has a rare elegance and uniquely conveys a sense of romance.
10. Architecture 101 (2012)
G | 118 min | Drama, Romance
A 20-year-old architecture student, falls in love with a music student. However, he fails to confess his feelings to her, and they grow apart. 15 years later, she reappears before him and asks him to design her house.
Director: Lee Yong-ju | Stars: Uhm Tae-woong, Han Ga-in, Lee Jehoon, Bae Suzy
Votes: 4,098
Love stories are frequently lost on me, but there are some which sneak through the emotional cracks. Personally, they must go beyond the boy/girl archetypes to offer unique circumstances and well thought out character development. This film did exactly that.
11. Doomsday Book (2012)
Not Rated | 115 min | Comedy, Drama, Fantasy
The First Chapter of The Anthology Film- In A Brave New World, a mysterious virus brings the city to ruins and zombies flood the streets of Seoul. The Chapter 2, The Heavenly Creature, a ... See full summary »
Directors: Jee-woon Kim, Pil-sung Yim | Stars: Lee Bong-gyu, Choi Deok-moon, Ma Dong-seok, Bae Doona
Votes: 3,566
12. My Sassy Girl (2001)
Not Rated | 137 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A young man sees a drunk, cute woman standing too close to the tracks at a metro station in Seoul and pulls her back. She ends up getting him into trouble repeatedly after that, starting on the train.
Director: Jae-young Kwak | Stars: Cha Tae-hyun, Jun Ji-hyun, In-mun Kim, Song Wok-suk
Votes: 50,457
Despite its seemingly common plot-line, this variation on the theme is well complimented by the Korean structure. The acting left something to be desired in the humor department (when compared to American counterparts), but fortunately the story's originality shines through and makes it a fun watch.
13. Castaway on the Moon (2009)
PG-13 | 116 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A failed suicide attempt leads a heartbroken man to live a life in the wilderness.
Director: Lee Hae-jun | Stars: Jeong Jae-yeong, Jung Ryeo-won, Yeong-seo Park, Yang Mi-kyeong
Votes: 19,700
I have an urge for black bean noodles.
14. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002)
R | 129 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
A recently laid off factory worker kidnaps his former boss' friend's daughter, hoping to use the ransom money to pay for his sister's kidney transplant.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Shin Ha-kyun, Bae Doona, Lim Ji-eun
Votes: 75,070 | Gross: $0.05M
The first installment of Chan-Wook's Vengeance trilogy, now overshadowed by it's successor, Oldboy. Heavily criticized for its extreme violence upon release, it's now considered an important film that shows that Chan-Wook's intent (as seen with his later films) was far more complex than at first glance.
15. Lady Vengeance (2005)
R | 115 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller
After being wrongfully imprisoned for thirteen years and having her child taken away from her, a woman seeks revenge through increasingly brutal means.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Nam-mi Kang, Jeong-nam Choi, Hye-Sook Go, Bok-hwa Baek
Votes: 86,007 | Gross: $0.21M
Although weakened in rating when compared to its predecessor, Oldboy, standing alone it is still a well thought out film adhering to the vengeance motif. Chan-Wook continues to impress.
16. Sunny (2011)
PG-13 | 124 min | Comedy, Drama
Seven girls become good friends in high school, then events pull them apart for 25 years. When one of the friends lies dying in a hospital, she wishes to see each of them one last time.
Director: Kang Hyeong-cheol | Stars: Yoo Ho-jeong, Shim Eun-kyung, Jin Hee-kyung, Kim Min-yeong
Votes: 6,549
A fun, girl-power character study that definitely has its comedic moments.
17. I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK (2006)
Not Rated | 107 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance
A girl who thinks she is a combat cyborg checks into a mental hospital, where she encounters other psychotics. Eventually, she falls for a man who thinks he can steal people's souls.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Lim Soo-jung, Rain, Park Byeong-eun, Kim Byeong-Ok
Votes: 25,878
18. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)
R | 114 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
After being institutionalized in a mental hospital, Su-mi reunites with her sister, Su-yeon, and they return to live at their country home. But strange events plague the house, leading to surprising revelations and a shocking conclusion.
Director: Jee-woon Kim | Stars: Lim Soo-jung, Yum Jung-ah, Kim Kap-su, Moon Geun-young
Votes: 68,222
19. Hansel and Gretel (2007)
TV-14 | 117 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
After meeting a mysterious girl on an dark stretch of road, a young salesman is invited to a beautiful house with bizarre secrets and no way to escape.
Director: Pil-sung Yim | Stars: Cheon Jeong-myeong, Eun Won-jae, Shim Eun-kyung, Jin Ji-hee
Votes: 4,943
20. Three... Extremes (2004)
R | 125 min | Horror
An Asian cross-cultural trilogy of horror films from accomplished indie directors.
Directors: Fruit Chan, Park Chan-wook, Takashi Miike | Stars: Bai Ling, Lee Byung-hun, Kyoko Hasegawa, Pauline Lau
Votes: 20,857 | Gross: $0.08M
21. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2003)
R | 103 min | Drama, Romance
A boy is raised by a Buddhist monk in an isolated floating temple where the years pass like the seasons.
Director: Kim Ki-duk | Stars: Kim Ki-duk, Oh Yeong-su, Jong-ho Kim, Kim Young-min
Votes: 86,755 | Gross: $2.38M
Despite having beautiful cinematography, the subject matter makes it a difficult recommendation. With the plot being a glimpse into the life of a monk, each chapter separated by many years in the attempt to show the seasons of the monk's life from child to old man, the slowness and minimal dialog bring the film to an act of meditation itself.
22. A Bittersweet Life (2005)
Not Rated | 119 min | Action, Crime, Drama
Things go wrong for a high ranking mobster when he doesn't follow his boss's orders.
Directors: Jung Doo Hong, Jee-woon Kim | Stars: Lee Byung-hun, Shin Min-a, Kim Yeong-cheol, Hwang Jung-min
Votes: 42,895
An homage to American gangster films, with Scorsese references scattered throughout. If you're a fan of gang-related action flicks, this will certainly be enjoyable. But, if you're looking for an original story and great character development, continue your search.
23. The Man from Nowhere (2010)
R | 119 min | Action, Crime, Drama
A quiet pawnshop keeper with a violent past takes on a drug-and-organ trafficking ring in hope of saving the child who is his only friend.
Director: Lee Jeong-beom | Stars: Won Bin, Kim Sae-ron, Kim Tae-hoon, Kim Hee-won
Votes: 74,789 | Gross: $0.01M
A fun film, although nowhere near as complex in character or storyline when compared to many of the other stellar Korean films abound.
24. Thirst (2009)
R | 134 min | Drama, Fantasy, Horror
Through a failed medical experiment, a priest is stricken with vampirism and is forced to abandon his ascetic ways.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Kim Ok-bin, Choi Hee-jin, Seo Dong-soo
Votes: 51,366 | Gross: $0.30M
An interesting take on the vampire tale. I desperately wanted Chan-wook Park to reinvent the mythology, but felt that it was just another instance in the endless surplus of the genre. Regardless, Chan-wook Park does a good job as always.
25. Spider Forest (2004)
R | 112 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery
A recently widowed TV producer is drawn to an isolated cabin in a mysterious woods.
Director: Song Il-gon | Stars: Kam Woo-seong, Jung Suh, Kang Kyung-hun, Jang Hyun-sung
Votes: 2,257
26. Save the Green Planet! (2003)
Not Rated | 118 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
Byeong-gu believes that the world is on the verge of an alien invasion, and sets out to save the world.
Director: Joon-Hwan Jang | Stars: Shin Ha-kyun, Baek Yun-shik, Hwang Jung-min, Lee Jae-yong
Votes: 8,698 | Gross: $0.01M
27. A Moment to Remember (2004)
PG-13 | 117 min | Drama, Romance
A young couple's enduring love is tested when 27-year-old Su-jin is diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease.
Directors: Park Kyung-Jin, John H. Lee, Kim Tae-Won | Stars: Jung Woo-sung, Son Ye-jin, Jong-hak Baek, Lee Seon-jin
Votes: 25,546
Everything below this point are unseen films on my TODO list.
28. Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004)
R | 140 min | Action, Drama, War
When two brothers are forced to fight in the Korean War, the elder decides to take the riskiest missions if it will help shield the younger from battle.
Director: Kang Je-kyu | Stars: Jang Dong-Gun, Won Bin, Eun-ju Lee, Kong Hyeong-jin
Votes: 41,062 | Gross: $1.11M
29. Oasis (2002)
133 min | Drama, Romance
An irresponsible and childish ex-con befriends a girl with cerebral palsy and develops a progressively stronger bond with her.
Director: Lee Chang-dong | Stars: Sol Kyung-gu, Moon So-ri, Ahn Nae-sang, Ryu Seung-wan
Votes: 10,384
30. Welcome to Dongmakgol (2005)
Not Rated | 133 min | Comedy, Drama, War
Soldiers from both sides of the Korean divide live among villagers who know nothing of the war.
Director: Kwang-Hyun Park | Stars: Jeong Jae-yeong, Shin Ha-kyun, Kang Hye-jeong, Ha-ryong Lim
Votes: 7,534
31. Peppermint Candy (1999)
Not Rated | 129 min | Drama
Following a man's suicide, time traverses back to reveal six chapters of his life on why he committed suicide.
Director: Lee Chang-dong | Stars: Sol Kyung-gu, Kim Yeo-jin, Moon So-ri, Se-beom Park
Votes: 10,804
32. Silenced (2011)
Not Rated | 125 min | Drama
Based on real events, this film depicts the story of a school for the hearing-impaired where young deaf students were sexually assaulted by the faculty members over a long period of time.
Director: Hwang Dong-hyuk | Stars: Gong Yoo, Jung Yu-mi, Kim Hyeon-soo, Kim Jee-young
Votes: 21,607
33. Breathless (2008)
Not Rated | 130 min | Crime, Drama
A bitter loan shark strikes a friendship with a troubled schoolgirl as he faces his own troubled past with his abusive father.
Director: Yang Ik-joon | Stars: Kim Kkobbi, Hwan Lee, Yang Ik-joon, Jeong-soon Park
Votes: 5,553
34. The Good the Bad the Weird (2008)
R | 130 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
The story of two outlaws and a bounty hunter in 1940s Manchuria and their rivalry to possess a treasure map while being pursued by the Japanese army and Chinese bandits.
Director: Jee-woon Kim | Stars: Song Kang-ho, Lee Byung-hun, Jung Woo-sung, Yun Je-mun
Votes: 37,914 | Gross: $0.13M
35. Time (2006)
Not Rated | 97 min | Drama, Mystery, Romance
To save her relationship, a woman puts herself through extensive plastic surgery.
Director: Kim Ki-duk | Stars: Ha Jung-woo, Park Ji-yeon, Baek Gwang-Doo, Jung Gyu-woon
Votes: 12,874 | Gross: $0.01M
36. Windstruck (2004)
123 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama
The heart-warming romance story between Kyungjin and Myungwoo. Even though he has passed away, he will be always with Kyungwoo forever.
Director: Jae-young Kwak | Stars: Jun Ji-hyun, Jang Hyuk, Kim Soo-ro, Lee Ki-woo
Votes: 7,707
37. Judgement (1999)
26 min | Short, Drama
Two different families claim the body of a woman killed in a catastrophe.
Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Hak-rak Choi, Gi Ju-bong, In-bae Ko, Myeong Sun-mi
Votes: 1,560
38. The President's Last Bang (2005)
102 min | Comedy, Drama, History
A look at the life of President Park Chung-hee and the events leading up to his assassination.
Director: Im Sang-soo | Stars: Han Suk-kyu, Baek Yun-shik, Song Jae-ho, Kim Eung-soo
Votes: 1,568 | Gross: $0.01M
39. Shiri (1999)
R | 125 min | Action, Thriller
South Korean agents Ryu and Lee are tracking a female assassin from North Korea who has mysteriously disappeared. With new killings and the theft of a deadly bomb, time is running out to catch her.
Director: Kang Je-kyu | Stars: Han Suk-kyu, Choi Min-sik, Yunjin Kim, Song Kang-ho
Votes: 8,573 | Gross: $0.10M
40. Night Fishing (2011)
30 min | Short, Fantasy
A fisherman becomes entangled in his line when he catches something unexpected.
Directors: Park Chan-wook, Chan-kyong Park | Stars: Oh Gwang-Rok, Lee Jung-hyun
Votes: 1,146
41. Into the Mirror (2003)
Not Rated | 113 min | Action, Fantasy, Horror
An ex-cop, now working as a security guard in a shopping mall, tries to uncover the secret behind a series of mysterious deaths linked to mirrors.
Director: Sung-ho Kim | Stars: Yoo Ji-tae, Kim Myung-min, Hye-na Kim, Gi Ju-bong
Votes: 3,615
42. Deranged (2012)
Not Rated | 109 min | Drama, Sci-Fi, Thriller
People binge eat and suffer from extreme thirst, which leads them to go crazy for water. They cannot control themselves because they are brainwashed by a parasite.
Director: Jeong-woo Park | Stars: Kim Myung-min, Moon Jeong-Hee, Kim Dong-wan, Lee Hanee
Votes: 3,263
43. Scary Hair (2005)
106 min | Drama, Horror
In Seoul, Su-Hyeon is terminal with leukemia, and bald due the treatment of chemotherapy. Her sister Ji-Hyeon buys a long-haired wig, but she does not disclose the truth about Su-Hyeon's ... See full summary »
Director: Won Shin-yeon | Stars: Min-seo Chae, Jung-sung Lee, Kyeong-bin Rah, Hyeon-jin Sa
Votes: 1,353
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