Korean films: From must see to worth a look
A list of films in order of must see to worth having a look at.
There are many popular titles missing because I am yet to watch them myself or am not personally interested in watching them.
I have a long list of films to catch up on and will update the list as and when I can
There are many popular titles missing because I am yet to watch them myself or am not personally interested in watching them.
I have a long list of films to catch up on and will update the list as and when I can
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23 titles
- DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsChoi Min-sikYoo Ji-taeKang Hye-jeongAfter 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.One of greatest films ever made, soon to be butchered by hollywood. The film follows the story of one Oh Dae-su, who is locked in a hotel room for 15 years without knowing his captor's motives. When he is finally released, Dae-su finds himself still trapped in a web of conspiracy and violence. His own quest for vengeance becomes tied in with romance when he falls for an attractive sushi chef.
- DirectorKang Je-kyuStarsJang Dong-gunWon BinEun-ju LeeWhen 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.The story of two brothers who are drafted in the South Korean army by force at the outbreak of the Korean War. This film shows the atrocities of war superb cinematography. This is the Koreans "saving private Ryan"
- DirectorJee-woon KimStarsSong Kang-hoLee Byung-hunJung Woo-sungThe 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.Fast action packed western type comedy. This has the good hunting the bad, hunting the weird in a hunt for hidden "treasure" great cinematography, great laughs and great action.
- DirectorLee Jeong-beomStarsWon BinKim Sae-ronKim Tae-hoonA 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.The film follows the story of a pawn shop owner who embarks on a mission to find a little girl that befriended him after the two and her mother are caught up with a dug lord. Turns out he isn't just a moody pawn shop owner and the hunt for the little girl turns into bloody vengeance.
- DirectorJohn H. LeeStarsCha Seung-wonKwon Sang-wooChoi Seung-hyunThe story of student-soldiers trying to protect a middle school during the early days of the Korean War.The film is based on a true story of a group of 71 undertrained and underarmed, outgunned student-soldiers of South Korea during the Korean War, who were mostly killed on August 11, 1950, during the Battle of P'ohang-dong. For 11 hours, they defended P'ohang-dong girls' middle school, a strategic point for safeguarding the Nakdong River, from an attack by overwhelming North Korean forces.
- DirectorRyu Seung-wanStarsRyu Seung-wanLee Beom-suKim Byeong-OkAfter their childhood friend is murdered, a two-man martial arts army beats a path to the perp.The story re-unites three former childhood friends for their friend's funeral, which prompts two vowing to find his murderer. A group of friends as kids have all grown and gone their separate ways as adults two discover the truth about a murdered friend and hunt down their once close friend. A martial arts epic with stylistic scenes reminiscent to kill bill. If your not a fan of kill bill like myself don't worry this is much better.
- DirectorJung Doo HongJee-woon KimStarsLee Byung-hunShin Min-aKim Yeong-cheolThings go wrong for a high ranking mobster when he doesn't follow his boss's orders.Ruthlessly violent, it illustrates the ethical codes in the Korean mob and how they clash with personal morality. When Kim Sun-woo fails to do what was asked of him he finds himself the one in trouble and betrayed by his own boss. explosive scenes of violence mixed with brutal scenes of torture both mental and physical.
- DirectorSang-yoon LimIm Sang YoonStarsSo Ji-seobLee Mi-yeonKwak Do-wonWhen a change of heart moves a well-trained hitman to tender his resignation to his employers, no good comes of it for anyone.Hyeong-do (So Ji-sub) wears a suit and tie like any other rank-and-file white collar worker... except his profession is murder. Seemingly a section chief in the sales division of a metal fabrication company that is actually a front for an organization of hit men, Hyeong-do is regarded as one of the best contract killers in the business and is up for promotion soon. One day, he meets a single mother named Su-yeon (Lee Mi-yeon) and instantly falls in love. Feeling guilty about his bloody past, Hyeong-do tries to quit the "manufacturer" to the surprise of his colleagues and his enemies. Seen as a loose end, he is immediately hunted down by his former employers
- DirectorKang Woo-sukStarsYoo Joon-sangHwang Jung-minYun Je-munThree old friends and rivals get set to face off on a TV program billed as "The Greatest Fight Show on Earth".Action flick with a surprisingly deep and riveting background story. Great action, great score and leaves you on the edge of your seat.
"A moment of bad luck derailed Deok-kyu's Olympic dreams and led him and his friends to jail. Jin-ho got out of jail quickly because of his rich parents, but Deok-kyu, Jae-seok, and Sang-hoon were not so lucky.
Years later, while running a noodle shop to earn extra money following an accident involving his daughter, Deok-kyu accepts an invitation to join a televised mixed martial arts tournament, Fists of Legend. A group of middle-aged men who used to be called "legends" during their teenage high school days take part in the "real action fighting" reality show, and the winner gets a prize of ₩20 million every round, for a total of ₩200 million (US$183,823). Among the contestants are Deok-kyu's old friends Sang-hoon, currently a manager at a large company who lacks in self-respect after getting passed over for a promotion, and Jae-seok, now a good-for-nothing guy who dreams of becoming a somebody." - DirectorNa Hong-jinStarsKim Yoon-seokHa Jung-wooSeo Yeong-hieA disgraced ex-policeman who runs a small ring of prostitutes finds himself in a race against time when one of his women goes missing.A ex-cop now turned pimp is troubled when he has two of his "girls" go missing. Fearful that they may have left him he goes on search to discover the truth, though thruth maybe much worse. With another girl missing he hopes he can find her in time before its too late. Inspired by a story of a real serial killer
- DirectorSeok-hoon LeeStarsSon Byung-wookSeung-Yeol ChaEun-ju ChoiThe new boy accidentally gets on the wrong side of the high school bully, and is challenged to a fight after school.Goong-dahl, a typical loser billed as the "unluckiest man alive" returned to the school after one year's intense training of reject student's treatments. Now he is up to the challenge of posing him self other than a typical loser. With the leads from his another old fellow mate he started with a new face by threatening and rescuing hot girl "Min-ah" from several oldies in the school. Everything went smoothly up to the plan until one of the bully is happened to be the schools notorious thug "Jae-koo" thus receiving invitation to a grand duel on the roof top after the school. This is a comedy that has the main character day dreaming often like JD from scrubs.
- DirectorHa YooStarsKwon Sang-wooLee Jung-JinHan Ga-inBy "Fist of Fury", Kim Hyun-Soo (Sang-Woo Kwone) addicted to Bruce Lee. Year 1978. Hyun-Soo moved to KangNam, Seoul. Hyun-Soo transferred to JungMoon High, Maljuk Street, Kangnam, Seoul. He goes schooling by No.78 Bus. First day a senior male took Hyun-Soo's collar and made Hyun-Soo being punished inside JungMoon playground because of forgetting collar Hyun-Soo made friends with Kim Woo-Sik (Bruce Lee fan) and Hamburger. Hamburger always bring adult magazines to school and was always being found by the school soldiers. Hyun-Soo father had his own TaeKwonDo Dojo - his wish is to see Hyun-Soo being the top 5 in his JungMoon High class, and got himself promoted to University. One day inside #78 bus, Hamburger and Hyun-Soo met Kang Eun-Ju (EunYang Female High), a female Bruce Lee fan who looks like "Olivia Hussey", whose music favorites are Agaetha (ABBA) and Celsia Chan, Hyun-Soo began to fall in love with Eun-Ju. Hyun-Soo and Woo-Sik became rivals of Cha Jung-Hoon (Triad Head, JungMoon High) when Jung-Hoon took Eun-Ju's schoolbag inside #78 Bus, and Woo-Sik settled everything. Woo-Sik tried flirting Eun-Ju but she refused him because she loves Hyun-Soo. On a Rainy day, Hyun-Soo talked with Eun-Ju in #78 Bus, knew that Eun-Ju keep listening to a midnight radio program, and she had even wrote postcards to that program but it didn't speak out her postcard messages. Hyun-Soo lent Eun-Ju his black Umbrella and ran to home. Eun-Ju ask Woo-Sik to return the umbrella to Hyun-Soo, Hyun-Soo wrote postcard to the radio program and it spoke the message at 2am when Eun-Ju was in #78 bus. Hyun-Soo invited Eun-Ju to listen to his guitar playing. Eun-Ju asked Hyun-Soo to return Woo-Sik's pen. She even wrote her reply to the radio program. Woo-Sik and Hyun-Soo were being punished inside a wardrobe, with the soldier telling them how many Viet Congs he had ever killed in Vietnam War by himself without any comrades to help. Hyun-Soo went to library and heard Eun-Ju's postcard message in the radio program which both Eun-Ju and Hyun-Soo always listened to. Eun-Ju regret asking Woo-Sik to return umbrella and she promised Hyun-Soo that she won't ever disappoint him anymore. Then, Hamburger became Jung-Hoon's gang member. Woo-Sik tore Hamburger's adult photos, Jung-Hoon challenged Woo-Sik to roof battle. Finally Woo-Sik was defeated and was carried by Hyun-Soo. Woo-Sik even left JungMoon High without contacting Hyun-Soo anymore. Eun-Ju was being rumored to leave with Woo-Sik but later Hamburger found that she had not left with Woo-Sik, but was being suspended one year for bad results. One day, Hyun-Soo met Jung-Hoon's gang. they threatened to remove Hyun-Soo's eyeballs from his eyes. Hyun-Soo decided to train himself for any further struggle with Jung-Hoon's gang. On the day of Hyun-Soo's battle, a classmate threw his milk to Jung-Hoon. Jung-Hoon's gang ran into Hyun-Soo's class and ask who did that. Hamburger tried pacifying Jung-Hoon but failed. Hyun-Soo stood up and challenged Jung-Hoon at roof. Hyun-Soo used his double-stick to hit Jung-Hoon when they went upstairs. Finally, in great resistance, Hyun-Soo won the battle and went downstairs. Soldiers stopped Hyun-Soo, but he escaped, destroyed 2 windows and spoke, "F**k all schools in Korea!" Hyun-Soo father talked to Jung-Hoon's mother but she blame Hyun-Soo for destroying her son's face. Hyun-Soo said sorry to father, father asked Hyun-Soo if Bruce Lee had ever studied into University. Hyun-Soo smiled, father knew no. Hyun-Soo studied in G.E.D. (General Education Diploma) and met Hamburger when Hamburger sold his adult magazines to classmates for 2 bucks. Hamburger told Hyun-Soo that Eun-Ju also studied this GED center. Hyun-Soo waited Eun-Ju but failed, got up to #78 Bus. Hyun-Soo missed Eun-Ju until females said "Bye-bye, Eun-Ju!" Hyun-Soo turned his head and saw Eun-Ju alone. Eun-Ju said that Korea weather is colder than before, Hyun-Soo said yes. Eun-Ju got off in HanNam station. Hamburger ask Hyun-Soo to watch Jackie Chan movie, "Drunken Master" and even said Bruce Lee is already outdated. Hyun-Soo kicked to revenge for Bruce Lee outside the cinema door.Kwon transfers to a new school. He is sent to a bottom-rank class and experiences violence in classroom by a group of gangsters in his class, led by Jong-hoon, who is a stereotypical Korean bully in school. The teachers are also depicted as authoritarian to the students, using violence for the sake of discipline, as did most Korean teachers in the '70s. Hyun-soo, after a failed relationship with Eun-joo, Kwon decides that he will no longer put up with the conduct of Jong-hun and his boys as well as the harsh and violent disciplinary techniques being put up by the teachers, and so starts to train himself in Jeet Kune Do, inspired by his greatest hero Bruce Lee. His father, a master in Tae Kwon Do, frequently resorted to extreme violence to discipline his son.
- DirectorKi-hyeong ParkStarsJung Kyung-hoGo Gyu-pilJang Hie-jinA group of friends form a soccer team and call themselves "Tigers". The group gets into a fight seniors at their school and other students begin to view them differently. One of the friends then becomes interested in the ex-girlfriend of a gang leader at another school. The "Tigers" soon find themselves in a gang war.The film revolves around a group of friends who clash with a gang, the rivalry boils over and clashes become more intense and brutal each time.
- DirectorHun JangStarsSong Kang-hoGang Dong-wonKo Chang-seokA fired South Korean agent and a deserted North Korean spy meet by chance after six years and start a business partnership, each with the intention of stealing information from the other.The story follows Song Kang-ho as Agent Lee Han-gyoo of the National Intelligence Service (NIS) who falls from grace after failing to stop the assassination of a North Korean dissident. The sleeper cell responsible includes relative newcomer Ji-won played by Kang Dong-won, who gets marked as a traitor when the mission goes south. Six years later both men are working different jobs when they bump into each other the form an allegiance with one another knowing each other and thinking the other does not know who he really is. They have an intent to "deal" with one another at some point. A thriller with refreshing light humour injected into it.
- DirectorHyun-seung LeeStarsSong Kang-hoShin Se-KyungCheon Jeong-myeongA young assassin is sent to kill a retired mob boss. But things get complicated when she begins to like him.The film is about a hitwoman who struggles with her feelings for the underworld boss who is her target. The film deals with issues of age difference in relationships, and the Korean underworld. The movie stars the ever popular Kang-ho Song (sympathy for Mr.vengeance, The host, The good the bad the weird)
- DirectorLee Joon-ikStarsHwang Jung-minCha Seung-wonHan Ji-hyeDuring a turbulent time when politics, rebellion, and invasion come to a head. A clash stirs between two swordsmen in a violent struggle to seize control of the country they love.Clearly inspired by the great Zatoichi movies director Lee Joon-ik Creates his take on this legend. In the late 16th century, the Joseon kingdom is thrown into chaos by the threat of a Japanese invasion. Royal descendant Lee Mong-hak (Cha Seung-won) and legendary blind swordsman Hwang Jeong-hak (Hwang Jung-min) were once allies who dreamed of stamping out social inequality and corruption, and creating a better world. Persecuted by the court, Lee forms a rebel army in hopes of overthrowing the inept king and taking the throne himself. Lee is willing to kill recklessly and betray former comrades to forge his bloody path to the palace, but Hwang Jeong-hak and the vengeful young man Kyeon-ja stand in the way.
- DirectorBong Joon HoStarsSong Kang-hoByun Hee-BongPark Hae-ilA 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.An Award winning monster flick with plenty of action. A monster emerges from Seoul's Han River and focuses its attention on attacking people. One victim's loving family does what it can to rescue her from its clutches Starring Kang-Ho Song
- DirectorHa YooStarsZo In-sungChun Ho-jinMin Nam-koongA small time thug collecting debts for the local triad is torn between his criminal aspirations and his devotion to family.Byung-du is a 29-year-old career criminal, working for the middle-rank enforcer Sang-chul. Burdened with a terminally ill mother and taking care of younger siblings, Byung-du is feeling financial pressure as a substitute patriarch. When the big boss President Hwang is cornered by a corrupt prosecutor, Byung-du volunteers for a whack job and wins the big man's trust. However, his real trouble begins when friend Min-ho, an aspiring movie director, asks him to be a consultant for the latter's debut film.
- DirectorCheol-hie ParkStarsShin Ha-kyunYun Ji-hyeKim Min-joonA mute hit-man vows to kill only the rude, and save up enough money for tongue surgery.A mute hit-man vows to kill only the rude, and save up enough money for tongue surgery so he can reunite with his childhood friend and tell her he loves her. With typical hitman violence and hints of humour this film is easily lost amongst the heaps of Korean "hitman/gangster flicks" Although not the best film the inner monologue theme throughout the movie is entertaining.
- DirectorCheol-soo JangStarsKim Soo-hyunPark Gi-woongLee Hyun-wooThree elite North Korean sleeper agents live undercover for so long that they believe their cover stories are their real identities. They're shocked when they are ordered to kill one another or face death at the hands of an elite hit team.Three elite North Korean sleeper agents live under cover for so long that it's become a way of life. They are shocked when they are finally given their orders as they are not whats expected they soon find themselves torn between living or carrying out their duty. Great humor contrast with serious consequences and a violent ending.
- DirectorJee-woon KimStarsLee Byung-hunChoi Min-sikJeon Gook-hwanA secret agent exacts revenge on a serial killer through a series of captures and releases.often compared to "Oldboy" this dark thriller about revenge is full of brutal physical and psychological torture. With Soo-hyun on the hunt of his fiancé and unborn childs killer he finds himself becoming more like the monster he hunts. In reference to the comparison to "oldboy" though I saw the devil has similar themes and is a good film, in my opinion its not anywhere near as good. Not for the squeamish and will leave you contemplating if Soo-hyun had gone too far to get revenge
- DirectorPark Hoon-jungStarsLee Jung-jaeChoi Min-sikHwang Jung-minAn undercover cop finds it difficult to play both a cop and a goon.So many twist and turns in this ganster thriller, great acting by the legendary Min-sik Choi, Il-hwa Choi and the ever versitile Jeong-min Hwang (of whom I didn't even recognise until the last scene) This is a long winding story about police planting a mole in a mob a very "infernal affairs" type story arch, although I would not say it was as good as infernal affairs it was certainly a entertaining movie that will have you wondering what's going to happen next.
- DirectorRyu Seung-wanStarsRyu Seung-beomYoon So-yiAhn Sung-kiAs a dorky cop falls in with five Tao masters who admire his c'hi, an ancient foe comes looking for them all.A fumbling comedy with added punch. Sang-hwan is a rookie cop that meets Eui-jin a cute woman with seemingly special powers she takes him home after injuring him to have the six Masters of Tao heal him, They believe him to be the "one" and he trains under them and is desperate to learn the powerful palm blast Eui-jin used on him. The fight scenes are good but the end is bit over the top.