Recommended korean movies
These movies are a good watch, ranging across different genres and target audiences. These are my personal favourites.
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- DirectorJoon-Hwan JangStarsKim Yoon-seokYeo Jin-gooCho Jin-woongA boy with five fathers who is attached to the criminal underworld. A sinister past is about to be revealed as he is forced to join the killing spree.This is quite an intriguing yet haunting film. I didn't know whether to sympathise with or hate hwayi, all that I know was that I loved the film. To others he is perceived as a regular high school student, but in actual fact he doesn't even go to school - yet he wears a uniform. It can be considered that he wants to belong and be like other teenagers; even having art as a hobby. Being raised in a lie amongst his gangster fathers, completly destroys him. It's a sad yet bitter movie with a small hint of romance.
- DirectorSong Il-gonStarsSo Ji-seobHan Hyo-jooKang Shin-ilA love story centered on ex-boxer Chul-min and a blind telemarketer Jung-hwa.If this isn't considered a beautiful romantic movie, I'll cry and retaliate. This is defiantly a must watch if you want to shed a tear. This is love between a blind woman and an ex-boxer who has hit a low point in his life.
- 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.At first when it started I thought this was a very cheesy yet oddly funny movie about an undercover n.korean spy. Boy was I wrong, the plot takes a 180 degree turn and becomes serious. This is truely an amazing movie.
- DirectorTae-gyun KimStarsHyun BinYong-joon ChoPark Jin-youngJae-Kyung (Hyun-Bin ) is a tough guy, who is a high school senior,If he turns 19 years means, he could be a millionaire by inheriting his deceased grandfather's wealth. Unfortunately his family lawyer informs Jae-Kyung about the will from his grandfather. In his will grandfather stated he can only become a millionaire after he graduates from Boram High School,a countryside local school. He has no other choice to avoid. Life became worse there and he can't use his money or make friends. In his class, he meets Eun-Hwan (Lee Yeon-Hee)a pretty girl. She's some kind of different from others. Things change Jae-Kyung's mind and became close to their new friends. Eventually he fell in love with Eun-Hwan and things become strong after he knows about her secrets.Another beautiful movie to watch. It shows how even the typical rich jerk can change, to what extent he can become selfless and challenge the love he has for a girl that could slip away at any given second.
- DirectorJae-young KwakStarsSon Ye-jinZo In-sungCho Seung-wooA college student finds a diary detailing a long-ago love triangle involving her mother, her future father, and his best friend.A big romantic movie across two generations, like the 2012 korean drama Love Rain. I was reluctant to watch this at first but I gave it a try and I loved it.
- DirectorChoi Jin-sungStarsShi-hoo KimMoon Chang-gilPark So-damA dark secret hidden surrounds a mysterious girl who is an outcast the entire village alienates and a boy who tries to get close to her who has a tragedy of his in his past. As romance blossoms so do rumours.I found this weird in a good way. The ending of the movie is implied yet it still seems open-ended so you can interpret it for yourself. It's romance is haunting, actually the movie itself is very haunting, almost eerie - not in a frightening horror way though.
- DirectorHwang Dong-hyukStarsGong YooJung Yu-miKim Hyeon-sooBased 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.This is such a good movie that's based on a true story. I think that's what makes it very effective.
- DirectorWon Tae-yeonStarsKwon Sang-wooLee Bo-youngLee Beom-su"K" loves Cream but has terminal cancer so he keeps his love for her secret and tries to find a mate for her before he dies so she will not be alone after he dies.This movie is confusing when watching it. I watched it three times before understanding what on earth was going on. But with every viewing I was always an emotional mess and heart warmed. It's an amazing love story showed through the three character's perspectives.
- DirectorHeo In-mooStarsKwon Sang-wooHa Ji-WonKim In-kwonKyu-sik is a seminary student, who one day falls during a church service, dropping a precious, pope-blessed relic. As punishment, he and his comic relief friend Seon-dal are sent away to a small church in rural Korea to work in a sort of 'priest limbo' until they get their act together. Upon his arrival, Kyu-sik ends up in an awkward position with a groggy Bong-hee, a pretty girl who just flew in from America to visit her uncle-the priest of the rural church. However, Bong-hee's true reason for coming is to see her beloved boyfriend, but things don't go terribly smoothly and she is stuck in the church without a way home. Of course, all while she and Kyu-sik are slowly testing each other's nerves. Hate soon amounts to affection and the film gradually moves from playfully mean situations to the cute fuzzy ones banking on Kwon Sang-woo's and Ha Ji-won's endearing chemistry.This a good-light-watch easygoing movie, challenging the feelings of a refined soon to be priest and an outgoing girl. I really enjoyed this movie and it isn't so deep like most of the movies on this list.
- DirectorShin Jae MyungKim Su-Jin-IHa YooStarsZo In-sungJu Jin-moSong Ji-hyoA historical drama set in the Koryo dynasty and focused on the relationship between a king and his bodyguard.Beautiful beatiful movie. It's popular too and I can see why. The main character grows up with the soon to be king and has a relationship with him. The king loves him and his queen despises that. However the king can't produce an heir so he lets his most trusted servant, the male lead, to produce one with his wife. There are sex scenes, but it's the emotion presented between the characters where you can see a change that is followed by a secret Love.
- DirectorKim Dae-seungStarsLee Byung-hunEun-ju LeeYeo Hyeon-sooTwo soulmates find each other only to be torn apart by tragedy. However, not even death can keep them apart...but can destiny?At first it seems to be an average romance korean movie until tragedy happens. The male lead loses contact with his first love and his life goes on. He becomes a teacher and is put in an odd position when one of his male students shares simular attitudes of his true love. The movie is centred around the idea of reincarnation and soulmates. I think that's why it is one of my favourite movies.
- DirectorHo-Young KwonStarsKim Kang-wooKim BumEsomA little girl is kidnapped and murdered in the jurisdiction of gang buster detective Yang Chun-dong, who fights against the gangs for three years now. Also the case of the murdered girl is up to him. During the case, he realizes the crime scene is the same as the mysterious wall paper he saw once on the street. He starts tracking down the painter, a young man called Joon. But when Chun-dong is arresting Joon, he realizes that this boy has the so-called 'psycho-metry' ability to see the past by touching someone or something with his right hand. His whole life he had lived alone because he thought about his ability as a curse. So, as a monetary, he tried to help to solve crimes. However, for the police Joon is the main suspect for the murder case. But Detective Yang believes Joon and that is only witness of the murder. Or in other words: the only chance to find the true killer before he strikes again.I haven't watched this in ages but I know I loved It. A young man can see someone's past by coming into contact with that person's hand. An investigator comes across him spray painting and later finds out it depicted the crime scene of a kidnapping. A child is missing and it's a matter of trying to find out where this girl is.
- DirectorHyun-Jong LeeStarsJoo WonKim Ah-jungPark Chul-minHot-shot police detective Lee is out to get a hit-and-run driver. He discovers the driver is his long lost girlfriend from ten years ago. As her crime-record accumulates he tries to protect her.This a light romantic comedy that I adore. In the past the male lead wasn't very confident but he fell in love with a reckless girl who got arrested. He became a police officer because that's what she liked. She becomes a major wanted theif and wanted for manslaughter. He discovers her identity when he finds her and tries to keep it a secret. Trying to help her, he becomes wanted though his identity is undetermined by his colleagues.
- DirectorLee Hyeong-minStarsKim Jae-joongHan Hyo-jooOh Jung-WonJaejoon, isn't your ordinary postman, he delivers letters to Heaven from those missing their loved ones.Even though it has a KPOP idol, it is still a beautiful movie.
- DirectorHae-sung SongStarsLee Na-youngGang Dong-wonYoun Yuh-jungA suicidal girl started to visit a convicted murderer awaiting execution every Thursday.This has got to be my favorite korean movie.
- 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.Very very very brilliant movie.
- DirectorJeong-kwon KimStarsYoo Ji-taeKim Ha-neulHa Ji-WonTwo students, separated in time, are somehow able to talk to each other using amateur radio, one in 1979 and the other in 2000.I don't remember this movie much but the reason I put it on this list was because I wanted to watch more movies like this. It is simular to another korean movie, Il Mare.
- DirectorGi-hoon JeongStarsGo SooHan Hyo-jooLee Dong-kyuWhen a doctor gets sued for misdiagnosing a patient, she reaches out to a dedicated firefighter to be a character witness for her. An unlikely romance sparks between the two of them.This is a funny film involving a one sided love and denial.
- DirectorSung-hee JoStarsSong Joong-kiPark Bo-youngYeong-ran LeeSummoned by an unexpected phone call, an elderly woman visits the country cottage she lived in as a child. Memories of an orphan boy she knew 47 years ago come flooding back to her.So his werewolf form made me laugh because he looks like he stuck a fork in a PowerPoint but it's still a good watch. Its a sweet romance rather than a deep one with lots of hurdles. The ending is beautiful, bitter-sweet.
- DirectorJong-chan YunStarsLee JehoonHan Suk-kyuOh Dal-suStory about a gangster who wants to be a tenor singer in South Korea.I watched this without subtitles and still enjoyed it immensely.
- DirectorTerra ShinStarsKang Ji-hwanSung Yu-riLee Soo-hyukDetective Cha, a filthy and smelly cop must become a model to investigate the drug trafficking case around runway business. Can he change himself to solve the case?Funny, enjoyable movie. The romance stemming from school days. The male lead is a filthy, fat and dirty cop. The female lead is a fashion designer and in need for a model. Due to circumstances, she makes him over into model quality.
- DirectorJK YounStarsJeong Jun-hoJeong Woong-inUn-taek JeongIgnorant Do-shik has to finish high school before taking over the family gangster business. He starts at a private co-ed high school in GangNam, Seoul. Disguised as a 19 year old, he gets bullied.Funny movie, a crime boss goes back to highschool, his gang never seems to get anything right, he becomes a victim of a school bully and he falls in love with his seatmate.