Top 10 Korean War Movies You Can't Miss

1. The Battleship Island

Experience the gripping narrative of The Battleship Island, where intense and visually stunning action scenes will keep you glued to the screen. The film's standout feature lies in the director's wholehearted dedication to bringing history to life by narrating an incredibly captivating true story without a dull moment.

The Battleship Island is set during World War II, portraying the story of 400 Korean laborers captured by the Japanese as hostages on an island near Nagasaki. Enduring harsh forced labor on Hashima Island, they strive to escape, doing everything possible to return home.

DETAILS:
Director: Seung-wan Ryoo

Some cast: Jung-min Hwang, So Ji-seob, Song Joong-ki

Duration: 2 hours 12 minutes

Release Year: 2017

IMDB: 7.1

2. Snowy Road

Snowy Road portrays the backdrop of the Japanese-Korean war, a period when Korea endured Japanese occupation. The film narrates the story of two young girls living in the same village but with entirely different backgrounds. Jong Boon (played by Kim Hyung Gi) comes from an impoverished and difficult family, while Young Ae (played by Kim Sae Ron) enjoys a privileged and comfortable life.

The fates of these two young girls converge on the same train journey: Jong Boon is abducted, while Young Ae boards the train believing she is going to study in Japan. Little do they know that this fateful train journey marks the beginning of their painful lives as women forced into providing comfort to the soldiers.

DETAILS:
Director: Lee Na-Jeong

Some cast: Hyang-gi Kim, Kim Sae-ron, Jang Young-Nam

Duration: 2 hours 2 minutes

Release Year: 2015

IMDB: 7.2

The commencement of the movie Ballad to My Father unveils a tumultuous scene as refugees escape the Korean War in December 1950. Duk-soo witnesses his destiny change in the blink of an eye as he loses his younger sister.

Subsequently, he ventures into the harrowing coal mines of Germany to earn a living for his family. Here, he reunites with his first love, Youngja. Finally, he is dispatched to the fierce battlefields of Vietnam. Alongside the war scenes, the film illustrates the dedication and sacrifice of a generation striving for a better life during that period.

DETAILS:

Director: Yoon Je-kyoon

Cast: Hwang Jung-min, Yunjin Kim

Duration: 130 minutes

Release Date: 17/12/2014
IMDb Rating: 7.9/10

In the movie The Battlefront, viewers will witness the closing days of the Korean War. Through intense sniper battles and fierce trench warfare, the Front Line portrays the brutality of this senseless war.

The story is set in 1953 during ceasefire negotiations between South and North Korea. In a quest for maximum territory, soldiers on both sides must control the hills along the 38th parallel. Meanwhile, a South Korean officer, Eun-Pyo, is sent to the front lines to investigate a murder case linked to North Korean espionage. There, he uncovers more than what the negotiations bring.

DETAILS:

Director: Jang Hoon

Cast: Shin Ha-kyun, Go Soo

Duration: 133 minutes

Release Year: 2011
IMDb Rating: 7.4/10

Set in a humble village, the film Embracing Dongmakgol offers a different perspective on the people during the Korean War. Alongside combat scenes, the movie provides a hopeful view of how ordinary people overcome the divisions of war.

The story revolves around a U.S. Navy pilot, a South Korean soldier, and a North Korean soldier who accidentally find themselves in a secluded mountain village named Dongmakgol. The village is so remote that its inhabitants are oblivious to the war raging beyond. Eventually, they must collaborate to save the village from being ravaged by the war.

DETAILS:

Director: Park Kwang-hyun

Cast: Jung Jae-young, Shin Ha-kyun

Duration: 133 minutes

Release Year: 04/08/2005
IMDb Rating: 7.7/10

Movie Tae Guk Gi: Bonds of War (soaring martial flag) unfolds against the backdrop of the world during the Korean War in the 1950s. Two brothers, Lee Jin Tae (Jang Dong Jun) and Lee Jin Seok (Won Bin), despite living in impoverished circumstances, share a deep bond. As the war erupts, Jin Seok is forced into the battlefield as a soldier. Jin Tae also joins the South Korean army to oppose the North Korean forces, aiming to protect his beloved younger brother. Jin Tae's actions on the battlefield are driven by the desire for his brother's safe return home, enabling him to pursue a university education to support the family. On the contrary, Jin Seok does not want his brother to face the horrors of war. This leads to a conflict between the two brothers.

Tae Guk Gi: Bonds of War (soaring martial flag) is hailed as an epic tale of the flesh-and-blood bond between brothers during a time of chaotic war, evoking powerful emotions and a profound sense of humanity that deeply moves the audience. It is regarded as one of the best war films in the history of South and North Korean cinema.

DETAILS:

Director: Je-kyu Kang
Some cast: Jang Dong-Gun, Won Bin, Eun-ju Lee
Duration: 2 hours 20 minutes
Year released: 2004
IMDB: 8.0