South Korea, which has a good status in the history of cinema, made news in recent years with its films receiving awards. Korean cinema, which attracted the attention of the audience after the awards it received, has gained a considerable amount of audience recently.
After the rush of Hollywood movies, we are sure that South Korean cinema will come to you like a medicine. South Korea, which has surpassed itself in the ‘mystery’ category, will force you to solve the puzzle while watching. We would like to remind you that in this list, which appeals to all kinds of audiences, the rate of likes may vary from person to person!
15 South Korean movies you must watch:
- Parasite / Parasite
- Old Boy
- The Handmaiden
- Diary of Murder / Memories of Murder
- Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring
- Deadly Pursuit / The Chaser
- Poetry
- Mother / Mother
- Doubt / Burning
- Forgotten
- Black Magic / The Wailing
- The Outlaws
- Dark Quest / The Age of Shadows
- Gangster, Cop, The Devil
- Gangbyeon Hotel / Hotel by the River
Made me tense while watching: Parasite
- Genre: Drama, thriller
- Year: May 30, 2019
- Cast: Song Kang-ho, Lee Sun-kyun, Cho Yeo-jeong
- Director: Bong Joon Ho
- IMDb: 8.5
Kim-woo, the son of a family living in remote neighborhoods of South Korea, gifts his family the stone “believed to bring luck and wealth” that he brought during a visit to the family of a rich friend. When his friend goes abroad, his position as a private English teacher becomes vacant. Kim-woo, who goes to apply for the vacant position upon the suggestion of his rich friend, starts working as an English teacher to the daughter of a wealthy family, with the help of his sister. Once you enter the house, nothing will be the same.
A matter of revenge: Old Boy
- Genre: Action, drama, mystery
- Year: November 21, 2003
- Cast: Choi Min-sik, Yoo Ji-tae, Kang Hye-jeong, Kim Byeong-Ok
- Director: Park Chan-wook
- IMDb: 8.4
The businessman, who was held captive for 15 years without any explanation, was suddenly released one day. Oh Dae-su, the businessman who was forcibly imprisoned for years, learns that his family was murdered. The man who first sought revenge when he was released is determined to try to learn the plans of the people behind the events. Behind the facts lie other surprising facts.
A con artist with mischievous plans: The Handmaiden
- Genre: Drama, romance, thriller
- Year: May 14, 2016
- Cast: Kim Min-hee, Ha Jung-woo, Cho Jin-woong
- Director: Park Chan-wook
- IMDb: 8.1
In Japanese-occupied Korea, a con artist named “Count Fujiwara” attempts to seduce Japanese heiress Lady Hideko. The Count, who wants her to be locked up in a mental hospital so that he can marry her and then seize her inheritance, hires a swindler looking like a maid to help him in this plan and asks her to persuade Hideko to marry him.
It has one of the most unforgettable final scenes: Memories of Murder
- Genre: Crime, drama, mystery
- Year: May 2, 2003
- Cast: Song Kang-ho, Kim Sang-kyung, Roe-ha Kim
- Director: Bong Joon Ho
- IMDb: 8.1
The movie inspired by a real murder, as a result of the serial killer not being found; It was shot so that the killer would watch the movie and report himself to the police. It is about the first detective assigned to the case making things worse, and a second detective assigned to replace him trying to solve the murder. We are sure that with its striking finale, it will force you to empathize with the detective.
For those who want to find inner peace: Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter… and Spring
- Genre: Drama, romance
- Year: September 19, 2003
- Cast: Kim Ki-duk, Oh Yeong-su, Jong-ho Kim
- Director: Kim Ki-duk
- IMDb: 8
This film, which has many awards, will provide you with inner peace with its blend of silence. You may want to become a monk after watching it, let us tell you! To briefly describe the film: It is about the education given to a small child by a Buddhist with minimum dialogue and maximum silence and the meaning of life.
It will go against your expectations: Fatal Pursuit / The Chaser
- Genre: Action, crime, drama
- Year: February 14, 2008
- Cast: Kim Yoon-seok, Ha Jung-woo, Yeong-hie Seo
- Director: Na Hong-jin
- IMDb: 7.8
Former detective in the past, a man marketing women today. Joong-ho, who markets women due to financial problems, becomes suspicious when the women disappear one day. Thinking that the women have run away, Joong-ho examines the last customers they visited and learns that they all went to the same person.
For those looking for lots of drama and landscape elements: Poetry
- Genre: Drama
- Year: May 13, 2010
- Cast: Yun Jeong-hie, Lee Da-wit, Kim Hee-ra
- Director: Lee Chang-dong
- IMDb: 7.8
A 60-year-old woman suffering from Alzheimer’s disease is barely making ends meet. While she deals with a sick and old man whom she takes care of to make a living, she has to take care of the teenage grandchild left behind by her mother. The woman, who spent most of her life serving others, decided to enroll in the poetry course she saw on the poster; He begins to perform the ‘poem’ that gives the film its name.
A mother in pursuit of the real killer: Ana / Mother
- Genre: Crime, drama, mystery
- Year: 16 May 2009
- Cast: Hye-ja Kim, Won Bin, Jin Goo
- Director: Bong Joon Ho
- IMDb: 7.7
An unnamed woman living with her mentally disabled son in a small town in South Korea practices unlicensed acupuncture treatment to make a living. His son shows quite aggressive attitudes towards people who make fun of his disability. When her quiet and mentally disabled son is accused of murder and imprisoned, the woman goes after the real killer.
It received full marks from critics at the Cannes Film Festival: Doubt / Burning
- Genre: Drama, mystery, thriller
- Year: 16 May 2018
- Cast: Yoo Ah-in, Steven Yeun, Jeon Jong-seo
- Director: Lee Chang-dong
- IMDb: 7.5
Jongsu, who started taking care of his cat upon the request of his old neighbor Haeimi, whom he likes, believes that this action will strengthen the bond between them since he likes Haeimi. Haemi goes on her dream trip to Africa, entrusting her cat to Jongsu, but when she returns from Africa with a man named Ben, neither of their lives will be the same.
Your brain will burn while trying to solve this mystery: Forgotten
- Genre: Crime, mystery, thriller
- Year: 29 November 2017
- Cast: Kang Ha-neul, Yeon Je Hyung, Mu-Yeol Kim
- Director: Hang-jun Jang
- IMDb: 7.4
Moving into a new house with his family, Jin-Seok goes for a walk with his older brother on a rainy night. At that time, his father was looking for his brother; She tells him to come home, that he needs her for a job. His younger brother, Jin-Seok, who is waiting for his brother where he is, sees his brother being attacked on the road, the attackers kidnap his brother and the police come to the house after the incident, but nothing comes of it. His brother comes home 19 days after his kidnapping with amnesia, but he is not behaving like he used to.
It will be like a cure for those who say “There is no mystery without fear”: Black Magic / The Wailing
- Genre: Drama, horror, mystery
- Year: 12 May 2016
- Cast: Jun Kunimura, Hwang Jung-min, Kwak Do-won
- Director: Na Hong-jin
- IMDb: 7.4
A mysterious disease, which begins with the arrival of a new person in the town, begins to spread rapidly in the town. The townspeople naturally suspect the newly moved man, but the police don’t think so. He is dragged into the incident when the daughter of Jong-goo, one of the local police officers, also gets the same disease. It’s about a police officer trying to solve a mystery to save his daughter.
For those who say “Get action, I’ll sleep”: Bandits / The Outlaws
- Genre: Action, crime, thriller
- Year: October 3, 2017
- Cast: Ma Dong-seok, Yoon Kyesang, Jo Jae-yoon
- Director: Yunsung Kang
- IMDb: 7.2
This movie, which tells about the conflict between South Korean gangs and Chinese gangs, was inspired by real life. The police aim to ensure peace in the neighborhood; It tells about trying to end the tension between two gangs.
If you are interested in Asian history, you must watch: Dark Quest / The Age of Shadows
- Genre: Action, history, thriller
- Year: September 3, 2016
- Cast: Lee Byung-hun, Song Kang-ho, Gong Yoo
- Director: Jee-won Kim
- IMDb: 7.1
The film takes place in Japan under Japanese occupation in the late 1920s. It aims to destroy facilities controlled by Japanese forces in order to gain independence for Korean insurgents. It all starts when something goes wrong when a Korean resistance fighter meets with an antique dealer to raise funds for the war.
A movie that brings police and mafia bosses together: Gangster, Cop, Devil / The Gangster, The Cop, The Devil
- Genre: Action, crime, thriller
- Year: May 15, 2019
- Cast: Ma Dong-seok, Jeon Bae-soo, Heo Dong-won
- Director: Won-Tae Lee
- IMDb: 6.9
Forced to cooperate with the police for a crime he witnessed, the mafia boss enters into a competition with the police to see who can catch the serial killer first. The serial killer acts so carefully that the only witness remains the mafia boss. If you are wondering what will happen if the police and the mafia boss join forces, this movie is for you!
For silent drama lovers: Gangbyeon Hotel / Hotel by the River
- Genre: Drama
- Year: 9 August 2018
- Cast: Ju-bong Gi, Hae-hyo Kwon, Kim Min-hee
- Director: Hong Sang-soo
- IMDb: 6.7
One winter, the poet invites him to the hotel to reunite with his sons. The hotel is also home to a beautiful lonely woman staying with her friend. The poet is attracted to beautiful women and cannot resist their request.
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