Must see South Korean cinema
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- DirectorKim Ki-dukStarsYang Dong-geunMin-jung BanKim Young-minRomances end in blood and the frail hopes of individuals are torn apart in a vile karmic continuity of colonialism, civil war and occupation. After surviving Japanese colonization, Korea became the first war zone of the Cold War. The legacy of war remains today in this divided country.
- DirectorHong Sang-sooStarsPark Choong-seonKim Eui-sungJo Eun SookAbout desires and lives of four characters in diverse circumstances. A poor novelist, a cheating wife, a mysophobic husband and a ticket girl.
- DirectorChan-sang LimStarsSong Kang-hoMoon So-riLee Jae-eungFollows a president's barber, his wife, and their only son through four decades of tumultuous Korean history.
- DirectorSoon-rye YimStarsKim Tae-riRyu Jun-YeolMoon So-riA young woman grows tired of life in the city and returns to her hometown in the countryside.
- DirectorKyung-Mo YangStarsIm Si-wanJin GooPark Byeong-eunA group of professional con artists scam poor, unsuspecting citizens with fraudulent bank loans.
- DirectorYoung-Sung SohnStarsHa Jung-wooPark Hee-soonJang HyukElite attorney Kang Seong-Hee goes up against a top prosecutor over a case involving a man accused of killing his wife.
- DirectorHo-Young KwonStarsJi Jin-heeLee Jong-hyukYun Se-ahAfter his wife is brutally murdered, a judge discovers that his life bears an eerie resemblance to that of a long-ago predecessor.
- DirectorIn-je ParkStarsChoi Min-sikKwak Do-wonShim Eun-kyungFor the first time in Korean history, the mayor of Seoul attempts a third term in office.
- DirectorJeong-Yeol ChoiStarsMa Dong-seokPark Jeong-minJung Hae-inTwo boys are becoming real adults during a turbulent time as they experience a world that doesn't go their way.
- DirectorHur Jin-hoStarsChoi Min-sikKim Seung-hunHan Suk-kyuOne of the most important figures of Korean royal history King Sejong develop a 20-year relationship with engineer and inventor Jang Yeong-sil, a truly remarkable scientist based on their common interest in astronomy.
- DirectorJK YounStarsHwang Jung-minYunjin KimOh Dal-suAmid the time of Korean War, a young boy's vow to take care of his family marked the beginning of a lifelong promise spanning 60 years.
- DirectorLee Joon-ikStarsLee ReSol Kyung-guUhm Ji-wonStory of an 8-year-old girl who faces a horrible rape that damages her internally and affects her emotionally, trying to overcome all the obstacles following the incident with the good support of those around her.
- DirectorGeun-shik JoStarsLee Byung-hunSoo AeOh Dal-suOnce in a Summer (Hangul) is a 2006 South Korean melodrama/romance film directed by Jo Keun-shik. The film stars Lee Byung-hun and Soo Ae. It won Best Film and Best Director (for Jo) at the 15th Chunsa Film Art Awards in 2007.
- DirectorTae-hwa EomStarsGang Dong-wonShin Eun-sooLee Hyo-JeFive children go to the mountains; magically, one comes back a man.
- DirectorKang Hyeong-cheolStarsYoo Ho-jeongShim Eun-kyungJin Hee-kyungSeven girls become good friends in high school, then events pull them apart for 25 years. When one of the friends lies dying in a hospital, she wishes to see each of them one last time.
- DirectorKang Woo-sukStarsAhn Sung-kiSol Kyung-guHuh Joon-hoBased 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 island of Silmi; for two years they are subjected to maximum mental and physical abuse before the mission is cancelled and the unit terminated.
- DirectorJung Ji-wooStarsKim Go-eunJung Hae-inPark Hae-joonIn 1994 during the IMF crisis, two people meet while exchanging stories on a radio program. They fall in love, but can't quite seem to get the timing right.
- DirectorKang Woo-sukStarsJeong Jae-yeongPark Hae-ilYoo Joon-sangA mysterious person calls a young man and informs him that his estranged father has died in a country village. The curious son travels to the town to discover what happened. From there out the audience is led on a thrilling and hauntingly atmospheric journey into the history of the father and the truth about his relationship to the threatening and violent locals. The film is 2h40m, long even for Korean standards, but it is the magically haunting and at the same time threatening atmosphere in the film that sustains the audience interest. Let yourself be carried away...
- DirectorSong Il-gonStarsSo Ji-seobHan Hyo-jooKang Shin-ilA love story centered on ex-boxer Chul-min and a blind telemarketer Jung-hwa.
- DirectorPang Eun-jinStarsRyu Seung-beomLee Yo-wonCho Jin-woongBrilliant math teacher formulates the perfect cover-up, after his neighbor murders her abusive ex-husband.
- DirectorYoon-Chul JungStarsHwang Jung-minJun Ji-hyunKang Ae-shimA snobbish producer makes a documentary about the extraordinary behavior of her neighbor who believes himself to be Superman.
- DirectorKyu-Jang ChoStarsLee Sung-minKim Sang-hoJin KyungAn ordinary man witnesses a cruel murder and becomes entangled in circumstances out of his control.
- DirectorPark Hoon-jungStarsHitanshu BarikKim Hong-paPark In-SooWhile the Kingdom of Korea is under occupation by the Japanese, an old and experienced hunter is challenged by the hunt of the last tiger.
- DirectorKwang-shik KimStarsNam Joo-hyukZo In-sungPark Sung-woongA historical film about the siege of Ansi Fortress and the epic eighty-eight day battle that Yang Man-chun and his Goguryeo troops fought against 500,000 invading Tang dynasty men to defend it.
- DirectorCheol-soo JangStarsSeo Yeong-hieJi Seong-wonMin-ho HwangA woman subject to mental, physical and sexual abuse on a remote island seeks a way out.
- DirectorKim Sung-suStarsJang HyukSoo AeMin-ah ParkChaos ensues when a lethal, airborne virus infects the population of a South Korean city less than 20 kilometers from Seoul.
- StarsSon Ye-jinJung Hae-inJoo Min-KyungWhen a single career woman reunites with her best friend's younger brother after he returns from three years of working abroad, their efforts to reconnect grow into romance.
- DirectorJong-suk LeeStarsHyun BinSon Ye-jinLee Joo-youngAn ace crisis negotiator faces off against a cold-blooded hostage taker. Over the course of 21 hours, she attempts to crack his unusually calm demeanor and force him to reveal his motivations.
- DirectorKim Hong SunStarsChang Jung LimDaniel ChoiOh Dal-suA thriller about the passengers with different objectives on board a cruiser headed for China, being chased over and over again and unexpected happening of things.
- DirectorHyeong-Hwang KimStarsByeong-Ryong ChoeOk-hui KimSeol-ja KimJang-hwa and Hong-ryeon, the daughters of Officer Bae, die an unfortunate death from their step-mother's abuse. Jang-hwa's soul is unable to rest at peace, she appears in front of the district magistrate pleading for justice in her case.
- DirectorKyu-maan LeeStarsKim Myung-minYoo Joon-sangKim Tae-wooDue to inadequate use of anesthetics, a young boy experiences "intra-operative awareness" during his own heart surgery, hearing every sound and movement of the procedure. The little boy is severely traumatized from this horrific accident. As a result, he ends up brutally murdering a young girl soon after the incident...
- DirectorHong Chang-PyoStarsShim Eun-kyungLee Seung-giKim Sang-kyungI princess who is skilled in martial arts dismisses her four potential suitors and journey's to find a man worthy of her hand in marriage.
- DirectorJeong-hyang LeeStarsYoo Seung-hoEul-boon KimHyo-hee DongThis is the story of a 7-year-old boy, Sang-woo, born and raised in the big city, and his mute grandmother, who has spent her whole life in a small rural village.
- DirectorShin Sang-okStarsKim Hee-raGeorge TakeiRi-na KangFormer Minister of National Security, Park Jin-wook, is kidnapped from the US by South Korean agents because he was about to reveal secrets concerning the rise of the military dictatorship of the 1980's.
- DirectorJeong-Yeol ChoiStarsJi SooSuhoRyu Jun-YeolFour friends on a trip rescue a woman who is being beaten by a man, only to be pursued by the police. One of them lapses into unconsciousness following an ensuing car accident and the other three are arrested on suspicion of murder.
- DirectorSeok-Hyun JoStarsYoo Ho-jeongPark Sung-woongPark Dae-WonThe movie revolves around Jang Mi and her daughter. Myeong Hwan, Jang Mi's ex-boyfriend and an elite doctor. Jang Mi and Myeong Hwan broke up but he reunites with Jang Mi and her daughter and gives them help.
- 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.
- 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.
- DirectorYong SooStarsSol Kyung-guCho Jin-woongPark Bo-kyungTwo people in rather difficult situation than likely duo make things work out for the best
- DirectorLee HanStarsJung Woo-sungKim Hyang-giJang Young-namA man either committed suicide or he was murdered. An autistic girl is the only witness.
- DirectorSeok-beom KangStarsKim Byeong-OkJi Dae-hanPark Eun-hyeReleased 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.
- DirectorHong Sang-sooStarsKim Min-heeKwon Hae-hyoLee Eun-miWhile her husband is on a business trip, Gamhee meets three of her friends on the outskirts of Seoul. They make friendly conversation but there are different currents flowing independently of each other, both above and below the surface.
- DirectorHong Sang-sooStarsKim Min-heeJoobong KeeAhn Jae-hongIn a small Café, Min-hee Kim plays a guest who prefers to observe but not interact with the other guests herself.
- DirectorYu Hyun-mokStarsMu-ryong ChoiJin Kyu KimJeong-suk MoonA pressured accountant, his war veteran brother and their dysfunctional family struggle with integrating into post-War Korean society.
- DirectorLee Man-heeStarsJeong-suk MoonGyu-seon RyuMin-ja Lee
- DirectorSeong-han LeeStarsYang Hee-myoungSon Ho-joonYoo Jae-myungJjang-gu joins "Monster", a violent organization at his high school. As a rite of passage, he learns a lesson about being a man while following the course.
- DirectorJeon Go-WoonStarsEsomAhn Jae-hongJae-Hyun ChoiWhiskey and cigarettes, the only ways of keeping her dignity in this city.
- DirectorJe-yong LeeStarsYoun Yuh-jungNash AngHyun-jun ChoiThe Bacchus Lady looks into the issue of elderly prostitution in South Korea. So-Young, an elderly lady who provides sex services to the male senior citizens using the pretext of selling Bacchus (an energy drink) to them. When So-Young picks up a Korean-Filipino boy named Min-Ho from the clinic she visits after Min-Ho's mother stabs the doctor (Min-Ho's father), she takes care of him while seeking a living through prostitution. From her interactions with her former clients, she finds that the golden age in their silver years may not be that bright after all.