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1. Poetry
Poetry is a remarkable film by renowned Korean director Lee Chang-dong. The story revolves around a woman in her sixties who is in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease. She faces the pain, pressure, and guilt after her grandson is involved in the death of a young girl. In her despair, she finds solace in a poetry class, where she learns to embrace forgiveness, regaining faith in life and reconciling with the girl's family in the most heartfelt way.
With its simple yet profound script, Poetry won the Best Screenplay award at the Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the prestigious Palme d'Or. The film also earned the title of Best Korean Film and Best Asian Film of 2010.
Details:
Original Title: Shi
Release Year: 2010
Director: Chang-dong Lee
Starring: Jeong-hie Yun, Da-wit Lee, Hee-ra Kim
Awards: Best Screenplay Cannes (Winner), Ecumenical Jury Award Cannes (Winner), Palme d'Or Cannes (Nominee), Best Director Asian Film Awards (Winner), Best Screenplay Asian Film Awards (Winner), Best Film Asian Film Awards (Nominee), Best Film Korean Association of Film Critics Awards (Winner)
2. Burning
The latest film by Lee Chang-dong, Burning (2018), is based on a short story by renowned Japanese author Haruki Murakami. At first glance, it may seem like a typical Korean love story about a love triangle between Jong Soo, a poor young man, Hae Mi, his childhood friend, and Ben, Hae Mi's new wealthy boyfriend. However, Burning is far from a typical romance. The film presents a dark and wild atmosphere, often suffocating, as if burning, much like the feeling one gets from reading Murakami's works like *Norwegian Wood* or *South of the Border, West of the Sun*. The movie speaks to the disillusionment and uncertainty of youth in South Korea, capturing a similar sense of aimlessness seen in *Norwegian Wood*.
Burning won two awards at the Cannes Film Festival, including the Best Foreign Language Film at the Toronto Film Critics Association Awards, and was nominated for the prestigious Palme d'Or.
Details:
Original Title: Beoning
Release Year: 2018
Director: Chang-dong Lee
Starring: Ah-in Yoo, Steven Yeun, Jong-seo Jun
Awards: Cannes Film Critics' Prize (Winner), Vulcain Prize (Winner), Palme d'Or (Nominee), Best Foreign Language Film Toronto Film Critics Association Awards (Winner), Best Director Asian Film Awards (Winner), Best Film Asian Film Awards (Nominee)
3. Secret Sunshine
One of Lee Chang-dong's earliest internationally acclaimed films is Secret Sunshine (2007), a poignant and understated film that is a hallmark of his delicate, deeply introspective style, seen later in *Poetry* and *Burning*. The film follows the tragic life of Shin Ae, a woman who is devastated by the death of her husband. She moves to Milyang, her late husband's hometown, with her son, hoping to start anew. However, her life takes a darker turn when her son is abducted and murdered. Left with nothing, Shin Ae finds solace in the quiet support of a stranger who helps her overcome her grief and rediscover the meaning of life, like a secret ray of sunshine.
Secret Sunshine won the Best Film Award at the Asian Film Awards and was nominated for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
Details:
Original Title: Milyang
Release Year: 2007
Director: Chang-dong Lee
Starring: Do-yeon Jeon, Kang-ho Song, Yeong-jin Jo
Awards: Best Actress Cannes (Winner), Palme d'Or Cannes (Nominee), Best Film Asian Film Awards (Winner), Best Director Asian Film Awards (Winner)
4. Mother
Mother (2009) is a gripping drama by Bong Joon-ho, the director of *Parasite*. The film centers around an elderly mother whose mentally disabled son becomes the prime suspect in a murder case. Her son, who has always depended on her care, is accused of killing a young woman in an isolated house. Devoted to her son, the mother believes in his innocence and goes to great lengths to investigate the crime and clear his name. The true culprit is eventually revealed in a way that shocks viewers, adding a layer of tragedy to the story.
Released in 2009, Mother earned the title of Best Film in both Korea and Asia, and also won an award at Cannes.
Details:
Original Title: Madeo
Release Year: 2009
Director: Joon-ho Bong
Starring: Hye-ja Kim, Won Bin, Goo Jin
Awards: Un Certain Regard Cannes (Winner), Best Foreign Language Film Toronto Film Critics Association (Nominee), Best Foreign Language Film Chicago Film Critics Association (Nominee), Best Film Asian Film Awards (Winner), Best Screenplay Asian Film Awards (Winner), Best Film Korean Association of Film Critics Awards (Winner), Best Screenplay Korean Association of Film Critics Awards (Winner)
5. The Host
The Host (2006) is South Korea's first monster film, directed by Bong Joon-ho. The movie is inspired by the legend of the Chimera, a terrifying creature living in the Han River and sewer systems, known for preying on humans. While it might seem like a standard monster flick, The Host earned critical acclaim and is ranked among the Top 10 Best Korean Films of All Time. Through its intense struggle for survival against grotesque monsters, the film also delivers a strong political critique, particularly addressing the lingering consequences of the American military presence in Korea. It also carries a powerful family-oriented message, with the narrative emphasizing humanism and family values. Often compared to Stephen King's *The Mist*, this film has a similarly bleak and thought-provoking tone.
Despite its monster premise, The Host won Best Film at the Asian Film Awards and received a nomination at the Cannes Film Festival.
Details:
Original Title: Gwoemul
Release Year: 2006
Director: Joon-ho Bong
Starring: Kang-ho Song, Hee-Bong Byun, Hae-il Park
Awards: C.I.C.A.E Award Cannes (Nominee), Best Film Asian Film Awards (Winner), Best Cinematography Asian Awards (Winner), Best Actor Asian Awards (Winner), Best Asian Film Hong Kong Film Awards (Nominee)
6. Memories of Murder
Memories of Murder (2003) is another standout film by Bong Joon-ho. While *The Host* deals with a real-life monster, *Memories of Murder* brings to life a different kind of monster— the disturbing, twisted psyche of a serial killer. Based on the true events of a shocking murder case in South Korea between 1986 and 1991, when several young women were brutally murdered in a small village, the film follows three detectives determined to find the killer. As they delve deeper into the investigation, they uncover the criminal’s grotesque mindset and the complex psychological profile of the murderer.
Beyond being a detective story, *Memories of Murder* explores the psychology of crime, revealing a darker side to a country known for its romanticized idol dramas. Behind the glossy image lies a brutal and terrifying truth about the murder case that rocked the nation in the late 80s and early 90s.
*Memories of Murder* was named the best Korean film of 2003 and earned Bong Joon-ho the Best Director award at South Korea's top film awards.
Details:
Original Title: Salinui chueok
Release Year: 2003
Director: Joon-ho Bong
Starring: Kang-ho Song, Sang-kyung Kim, Roe-ha Kim
Awards: Best Film Korean Association of Film Critics Awards (Winner), Best Director Korean Association of Film Critics Awards (Winner), Asian Film Award Tokyo International Film Festival (Winner), Best Director Busan Film Critics Association (Winner)
7. Train to Busan
The final film on this list is Train to Busan (2016), South Korea's first major zombie movie. This film helped elevate Asian cinema to blockbuster status, putting it on par with Hollywood hits. Directed by Yeon Sang-ho, who previously made the animated film *Seoul Station* that served as a prequel, *Train to Busan* tells the story of a father and daughter on a train to Busan as the zombie outbreak sweeps through Seoul. The train becomes a refuge for those trying to escape the chaos, but as the infection spreads, the passengers must fight for survival while trying to reach Busan, the last safe city.
With its tense narrative, well-executed special effects, and emotional storyline, *Train to Busan* became one of South Korea's highest-grossing films. The film also subtly references the Korean War, as the situation mirrors the historical flight to Busan, where civilians sought safety from a surprise attack by North Korean forces.
Despite the presence of other critically acclaimed Korean films such as *The Chaser* and *Ayla: The Daughter of War*, *Train to Busan*, with 32 awards and international recognition, rightfully earns its spot among the Top 10 Korean films of all time.
Details:
Original Title: Busanhaeng
Release Year: 2016
Director: Sang-ho Yeon
Stars: Yoo Gong, Yu-mi Jung, Dong-seok Ma
Awards: Best Actor Asian Film Awards (Nominee), Best Visual Effects Asian Film Awards (Nominee), Best Asian Blockbuster International Film Festival (Winner), Most Popular Film Chunsa Film Art Awards (Winner), Best Film Technique Korean Association of Film Critics Awards (Winner)
8. Oldboy
Regarded as one of the greatest films in Korean cinema and Asian cinema as a whole, Oldboy (2003) is directed by Park Chan-wook and adapted from the manga of the same name.
The film follows the story of Oh Dae-su, who wakes up one day imprisoned in a dilapidated room after a drunken night out. He has no recollection of why he was kidnapped, believing it to be a simple ransom scheme. However, he is held captive for 15 years. During this time, he learns that his wife has been murdered, and, after a period of mental and physical decline, he eventually escapes. His mission is to find the mastermind behind his captivity and the murderer of his wife. Along the way, he is aided by Mi-do, a young woman who works at a restaurant. The twist in the film's conclusion is one of the most shocking in cinema, delivering not one, but two unexpected blows.
*Oldboy* caused a sensation in South Korea and around the world, earning praise from filmmakers such as Quentin Tarantino, who pushed for the film to win the prestigious Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Although it didn’t win the Palme d'Or, it did take home the Grand Prix from the jury. In Asia, *Oldboy* won Best Film at the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards and Best Film at the Hong Kong Film Awards, two of Asia's most prestigious film honors. Unfortunately, the Asian Film Award had not yet been established (2007), otherwise, *Oldboy* would certainly have taken home the top prize.
With these accolades, *Oldboy* undoubtedly deserves its place at the top of the Top 10 Korean films of all time.
Details:
Original Title: Oldeuboi
Release Year: 2003
Director: Chan-wook Park
Stars: Min-sik Choi, Ji-tae Yu, Hye-jeong Kang
Awards: Grand Prix Cannes Film Festival (Winner), Palme d'Or Cannes Film Festival (Nominee), Best Director Asia-Pacific Film Festival (Winner), Best Asian Film Hong Kong Film Awards (Winner), Best Film Korean Association of Film Critics Awards (Winner), Best Film Busan Film Festival (Winner)
9. Parasite
Parasite (2019) is the latest masterpiece by Bong Joon-ho, one of South Korea's most celebrated filmmakers. Premiering at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival before its official release, the film made history by winning the coveted Palme d'Or, the highest honor at Cannes. This marks the first time a South Korean film has won the Palme d'Or, a feat that even *Oldboy* never achieved. The president of the jury, renowned director Alejandro G. Iñárritu (Birdman, The Revenant), praised the film highly.
While much of the plot remains under wraps, *Parasite* focuses on a poor family living on the fringes of Seoul. The son of the family fakes a university degree and infiltrates a wealthy household as a tutor in hopes of escaping the poverty trap. The film explores themes of class inequality in a developed society like South Korea, drawing comparisons to Japan's *Shoplifters*, which also won the Palme d'Or the previous year for its critique of class divides.
With its groundbreaking success at Cannes and numerous other prestigious awards on the horizon, *Parasite* is poised to become the first South Korean film nominated for an Academy Award, and it even stands a strong chance of winning Best Foreign Language Film. Should it win, *Parasite* could surpass *Oldboy* to claim the title of the Top 10 Korean Films of All Time.
Details:
Original Title: Gisaengchung
Release Year: 2019
Director: Joon-ho Bong
Stars: Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, Yeo-Jeong Cho
Awards: Palme d'Or Cannes (Winner)
10. The Handmaiden
The Handmaiden (2016) is the latest film from Park Chan-wook, the director behind *Oldboy*. This movie is based on the novel *Fingersmith* by Sarah Waters.
The story is set during Japan's occupation of Korea. It follows Sook-Hee, a young woman assigned to be the maid of the wealthy Hideko. Sook-Hee has secretly made a deal with a man posing as Count Fujikawa, planning to marry Hideko and steal her fortune. The plan involves taking Hideko back to Japan after their wedding, where the two conspirators aim to drive her insane and have her committed to an asylum. However, the plot takes a surprising turn when Sook-Hee herself is sent to the asylum in Hideko's place, and the true nature of the conspiracy begins to unfold. Like *Oldboy*, *The Handmaiden* features shocking twists and unexpected moments, but it has a more satisfying ending that leaves the audience fulfilled.
While *The Handmaiden* did not win Best Film at the Korean Association of Film Critics Awards or the Asian Film Awards, it earned significant acclaim in the West. It won Best Foreign Language Film at the Toronto Film Critics Association Awards and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) Awards—one of the four most prestigious film awards alongside the Oscars, Cannes, and the Golden Globes. At the Cannes Film Festival, *The Handmaiden* was nominated for the Palme d'Or but did not win.
Details:
Original Title: Ah-ga-ssi
Release Year: 2016
Director: Chan-wook Park
Stars: Min-hee Kim, Jung-woo Ha, Jin-Woong Cho
Awards: Best Foreign Language Film BAFTA (Winner), Vulcain Prize Cannes (Winner), Palme d'Or Nominee Cannes, Best Foreign Language Film Chicago Film Critics Association (Winner), Best Production Design Asian Film Awards (Winner), Best Foreign Language Film Toronto Film Critics Association Awards (Nominee)
