South Korea is known for making some of the most impactful films across genres such as war, social issues, and crime drama. Much recently, Parasite created history by becoming the first Korean film to win the Best Movie award at the Oscars. In case you have a liking for Korean movies and are looking for absolute marvels from the film industry, we have you sorted.
Here is a list of the best Korean movies of all time with their plotlines, cast, and release date for your viewing pleasure.
Oldboy
This 2003 South Korean psychological thriller film has been directed by Park Chan-wook, the brain behind several super-hit movies in the country. With Choi Min-Sik in the lead as Oh Dae-su, a man who is kidnapped and imprisoned for 15 years without explanation, Oldboy is a classic South Korean flick. When the character is suddenly released, he embarks on a quest for revenge against his captor. Along the way, he discovers a series of shocking secrets and conspiracies that connect him to his past in ways he never could have imagined.
The film is known for its intense violence, complex plot, and powerful performances. It has won several accolades on the global stage as well.
Train to Busan
The story follows a man named Seok-woo and his daughter Su-an as they board the KTX train from Seoul to Busan during a zombie outbreak. Along with other passengers, they must fight to survive as the train becomes overrun with zombies. The film has been appreciated across the board for intense action, strong performances, and social commentary on class division, which have come about to be the elements of most globally-recognized Korean films. It became a commercial success and is considered one of the best Korean films of its release year.
Parasite
This dark comedy-thriller film, directed by Bong Joon-ho, follows the story of a poor family, the Kims, who scheme to become employed by a wealthy family, the Parks. As they become entrenched in their new jobs, the Kims begin to infiltrate the Park family’s lives in a series of unexpected and sinister ways. The film explores themes of class struggle and the blurred lines between the haves and have-nots.
Burning
Psychological film extraordinaire, Burning by Lee Chang-dong is a film based on the short story “Barn Burning” by Haruki Murakami and tells the story of a young deliveryman named Jong-su, who runs into an old childhood friend named Haemi, who introduces him to her new wealthy boyfriend, Ben. As the three of them spend more time together, Jong-su becomes increasingly suspicious of Ben’s intentions and begins to investigate his past.
The film explores themes of class struggle, poverty, and the search for identity, and has been highly praised for its complex narrative and powerful performances. It is one of the most impactful films to come out of South Korea.
The Wailing
The Wailing is a solid horror flick about a police officer named Jong-goo as he investigates a series of mysterious deaths in his small village, which he believes may be connected to a strange Japanese man who has recently moved into the area. As Jong-goo delves deeper into the case, he becomes increasingly convinced that a powerful demon is responsible for the deaths. This is one of the best bone-chilling thrillers to come out of Netflix, with superb actors such as Kwak Do-won and Chun Woo-Hee.
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