25 very best Korean movies you must see. - IMDb

25 very best Korean movies you must see.

by KimchiDaniel | created - 09 Apr 2013 | updated - 07 Aug 2017 | Public
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1. Oldboy (2003)

R | 120 min | Action, Drama, Mystery

78 Metascore

After being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must find his captor in five days.

Director: Park Chan-wook | Stars: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Kim Byeong-Ok

Votes: 632,590 | Gross: $0.71M

2. Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War (2004)

R | 140 min | Action, Drama, War

64 Metascore

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: 41,009 | Gross: $1.11M

I was in awe in my 1st viewing of this movie by its sheer production level as I was equally taken away by its dramatic turn of events that were impressively told. Two brothers lives are gravely disturbed by the Korean war, and as the war proceeds, our insight into how truly atrocious wars are to mankind becomes evident, as it is poetically depicted through the family of two brothers. The battle scenes are reminiscent of "Saving Private O'Ryan" as well as "Band of Brothers," but in my opinion you will relate to this movie more due to its focus on a family which we can all identify with.

3. The Host (2006)

R | 120 min | Drama, Horror, Sci-Fi

85 Metascore

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: 132,213 | Gross: $2.20M

A monstrous lizard domiciled in the Han River terrorizing its residents didn't do much to stimulate my curiosity, but boy was I glad I saw this movie. It's just a damn well made movie on all levels, must viewing if you fancy giant lizards smashing, eating everything in sight.

4. The Good the Bad the Weird (2008)

R | 130 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy

69 Metascore

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: 37,836 | Gross: $0.13M

5. Memories of Murder (2003)

Not Rated | 132 min | Crime, Drama, Mystery

82 Metascore

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: 214,633 | Gross: $0.01M

Based on a true story of unsolved serial murders from the mid 80's. This movie is as much about incompetency of police officers as it is about the murders. Two aspects of this movie will fuel you with anger, 1st being the cops that are devoid of intelligence, integrity, and moral scruples, 2nd the psychotic killer was never captured. Success of this movie is greatly owed to two very acclaimed actors in Korea, Kang Ho Song does bring some levity in this intense movie, his comedic genius does not disappoint; his counterpart Kwang Rim Kim also does an excellent job as a frustrated city cop doing his best to cope with unorthodox, corrupt countryside cops. The residues of horrific thoughts lingered as I walked out of the theater as I was thinking about the killer never being caught!

6. I Saw the Devil (2010)

Not Rated | 144 min | Action, Crime, Thriller

67 Metascore

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: 145,478 | Gross: $0.13M

This movie was a comeback vehicle for Min-Shik Choi(held in high esteem as one of the best actors in Korea), after 5 yrs of hiatus which he pulled off brilliantly as the unrelenting psychopathic serial killer. The principal driving force behind the killer Kyung Suk's motive for killing(Min-Sik Choi) is merely to satiate his innate desire to kill, there is no act of sublimation with this guy, he just kills, he is the embodiment of pure evil, the film does not delve into the psychological makeup of this killer to explain why he kills, viewers naturally have to draw their own conclusions, one thing is clear, and that is he is a misogynist. One of the most sadistic characters in recent modern cinema, his killing spree is forced into retirement when the Protagonist Soo-hyeon Kim played by Lee Byung Hyun better known to the western fans as storm shadow(GI Joe) exerts equal level of maniacal zeal to hunt down the Kyung Suk to pay retribution for killing his fiancee. Ironically his occupation is a secret service agent, Soo-hyeon captures Kyung-suk with relative ease, rather than turning him over to authorities he let's him loose with intent to capture him again which is made possible by implanting a tracking device in his body without him knowing. As Kyung-Suk invariably acts on his desires to kill another helpless victim Soo-Hyeon conveniently shows up, and tortures Kyung-Suk, and then once again he let's him free with intent of capturing him again for yet another session of torture. I must admit there is an element of guilty pleasure in witnessing this, the good torturing the evil; of course Soo-hyeon's actions are not without repercussions, and this adds another dynamic to the film that will keep you glued to the screen. Your face will turn pallor, lips crimson, you will squirm, quiver and curse, and will have urges to stop watching, I almost did, and had to cover my eyes on few scenes. I think what the director is trying to infer is that even the seemingly sane, innocuous person is capable of most horrendous acts if triggered, that evil lurks in all of us. Do not watch this film with your girlfriends!

7. 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: 74,604 | Gross: $0.01M

Yes, the theme of this movie is very cliche, but this will not even minutely detract the movie viewing experience. You are immediately in sync with the emotions and the minds of the characters as we vicariously partake in the explosive retribution campaign launched by Tae-Sik's character as he annihilates the evil doers to rescue a motherless girl; whom he bonded whilst leading an isolated life as a pawn shop owner. This movie has many parallels to Denzel Washington's "Man on fire".

8. Joint Security Area (2000)

Not Rated | 110 min | Action, Drama, Thriller

58 Metascore

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: 34,018

Before "OldBoy" there was JSA(Joint Security Area) by Chan-Woo Park. A movie about friendship that was nurtured among North Korean Soldiers, and South Korean Soldiers at the border. There is a great element of melancholy beauty as we observe the friendship that commences between them, for viewers can only anticipate the invariable outcome of such prohibited relationships. For me this movie was a commentary on the beauty, purity, and how kindred spirited we are with one another, but despite our inborn nature, our actions are drawn from the duties we hold, and the dogmas that are subconsciously embedded in our minds. A great movie about about human intellect vs emotions vs innate nature.

9. Nowhere to Hide (1999)

R | 112 min | Action, Crime, Drama

55 Metascore

Detective Woo is on the trail of the mysterious gangster Sungmin, a master of disguise who always manages to elude his pursuers. Eventually, the cop tracks down and confronts the master-criminal in the suburbs of a coal-mining town.

Director: Lee Myung-se | Stars: Joong-Hoon Park, Ahn Sung-ki, Jang Dong-Gun, Choi Ji-woo

Votes: 2,211 | Gross: $0.02M

Fighting scenes should be duly noted, the slow motion scenes are nicely complimented by the music as well. Movie is about the hunter, and the hunted. This is the very movie that transcended the Korean heartthrob Jang Dong Gun as a serious actor.

10. A Bittersweet Life (2005)

Not Rated | 119 min | Action, Crime, Drama

Things go wrong for a high ranking mobster when he doesn't proceed by 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: 42,803

A gang leader assigns his most trusted henchman(Sun Woo) to keep vigil on his girlfriend while he is gone. During Sun Woo's watch, he discovers that the girlfriend has an auxiliary boyfriend on the side. Sun Woo reports back with discretion to protect the girl, this very decision unleashes what seems to Sun Woo a cascade of unwarranted, irrational behavior towards him by his boss. The whole movie is established on the premise of SunWoo seeking his boss to uncover the dark truth...this truth which reveals itself at the very end of the movie is quite shocking, and disturbing as it highlights the infinitely complex makeup of human psychology.

11. No Blood, No Tears (2002)

TV-MA | 116 min | Action, Comedy, Crime

She drives a cab on the night shift and meets every scum there is. Gyung-sun lives a scant life day by day, but she used to be a professional safecracker that earned her the nickname, "... See full summary »

Director: Ryu Seung-wan | Stars: Jeon Do-yeon, Lee Hye-yeong, Jeong Jae-yeong, Shin Goo

Votes: 700

12. Save the Green Planet! (2003)

Not Rated | 118 min | Comedy, Crime, Drama

70 Metascore

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: 8,679 | Gross: $0.01M

13. Public Enemy (2002)

Not Rated | 138 min | Action, Comedy

A detective plays cat-and-mouse with a banker who brutally murdered his own parents.

Director: Kang Woo-suk | Stars: Sol Kyung-gu, Lee Sung-jae, Kang Shin-il, Kim Jeong-hak

Votes: 2,366

14. Friend (I) (2009)

Not Rated | 155 min | Drama, Fantasy, Mystery

Biswarup Mukherjee a boy in his teens loved to dream about an extra terrestrial creature. His father scientist Avirup Mukherkee after his long and continuous effort successfully able to ... See full summary »

Director: Satabdi Roy | Stars: Tapas Pal, Satabdi Roy, Soumitra Chatterjee, Sabyasachi Chakrabarty

Votes: 27

15. Masquerade (2012)

Not Rated | 131 min | Drama, History

A look-alike commoner is secretly hired to take the place of a poisoned king to save his country from falling into chaos.

Director: Chang-min Choo | Stars: Lee Byung-hun, Ryu Seung-ryong, Han Hyo-joo, Kim In-kwon

Votes: 7,414 | Gross: $0.92M

16. Sunflower (2006)

Not Rated | 117 min | Action, Crime, Drama

Released from prison, Taesik goes to live with an adopted mother. He takes a job and tries to live a quiet life with his new family. His efforts are threatened when a politician seeks to knock the family restaurant down to build a mall.

Director: Seok-beom Kang | Stars: Kim Byeong-Ok, Ji Dae-han, Park Eun-hye, Jeong Eun-pyo

Votes: 2,467

17. The Chaser (2008)

Not Rated | 125 min | Action, Crime, Drama

64 Metascore

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: 72,448

18. Take Off (2009)

137 min | Comedy, Drama, Sport

Five men go for the gold as members of Korea's national ski jumping team.

Director: Yong-hwa Kim | Stars: Ha Jung-woo, Sung Dong-il, Kim Ji-seok, Kim Dong-wook

Votes: 1,006

19. Sunflower (2006)

Not Rated | 117 min | Action, Crime, Drama

Released from prison, Taesik goes to live with an adopted mother. He takes a job and tries to live a quiet life with his new family. His efforts are threatened when a politician seeks to knock the family restaurant down to build a mall.

Director: Seok-beom Kang | Stars: Kim Byeong-Ok, Ji Dae-han, Park Eun-hye, Jeong Eun-pyo

Votes: 2,467

20. The Thieves (2012)

Not Rated | 135 min | Action, Comedy, Crime

75 Metascore

After a heist in South Korea, a gang of 5+1 fly to Hong Kong to look into a heist, in a Macau casino, of a $30M diamond, planned by someone unreliable. He brings in HK thieves as well. Can anyone be trusted?

Director: Dong-hoon Choi | Stars: Kim Yoon-seok, Lee Jung-jae, Kim Hye-su, Jun Ji-hyun

Votes: 11,501 | Gross: $0.69M

21. Silmido (2003)

Not Rated | 135 min | Action, Drama

Based on a true story of 1968 Korean Republic Army plan to assassinate North Korean president Kim Il-Sung. 31 criminals and death row inmates are recruited into secret training on the ... See full summary »

Director: Kang Woo-suk | Stars: Ahn Sung-ki, Sol Kyung-gu, Huh Joon-ho, Jeong Jae-yeong

Votes: 4,709

22. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)

R | 114 min | Drama, Horror, Mystery

65 Metascore

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: 68,038

23. The Berlin File (2013)

PG-13 | 120 min | Action, Thriller

54 Metascore

Jong-seong, a North Korean ghost agent, interrupts an illegal arms sale in Berlin. A notorious North Korean agent tests the loyalties of everyone involved as Jong-Seong prepares to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Director: Ryu Seung-wan | Stars: Ha Jung-woo, Han Suk-kyu, Ryu Seung-beom, Jun Ji-hyun

Votes: 7,610 | Gross: $0.67M

The movie is worth watching for 1 reason, and 1 reason only, the fighting scenes. The director is up to par with what movie fighting should look like, the fighting scenes are reminiscent of "Bourne Identity", without the incoherent close ups, also it contains some never seen coolest moves that will leave an indelible impression on all action fans alike. You just have to overlook the obvious small budget, and bad English speaking acting. Hollywood really should get with the program, and incorporate some of these types of fighting scenes in their movies.

24. Pieta (2012)

Not Rated | 103 min | Crime, Drama, Thriller

72 Metascore

A loan shark is forced to reconsider his violent lifestyle after the arrival of a mysterious woman claiming to be his long-lost mother.

Director: Kim Ki-duk | Stars: Jo Min-soo, Lee Jung-Jin, Woo Ki-hong, Eunjin Kang

Votes: 15,724 | Gross: $0.02M

25. All About My Wife (2012)

121 min | Comedy, Drama, Romance

Du-hyeon can't stand his wife anymore. He wants a divorce but he's weak. He hires a Casanova to seduce her and make her leave him. Will he succeed?

Director: Kyu-dong Min | Stars: Jo Han-chul, Park Hee-bon, Kim Jeong-tae, Kim Ji-yeong

Votes: 1,742



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