Korean Films – Part 2
A Quick Note Before We Begin…
This isn’t a list of the “greatest Korean films of all time”—it’s a list of my personal favourites from the ones I’ve watched so far. That means if you don’t see acclaimed titles like Snowpiercer, Okja, or [insert your favourite here], there are two simple reasons:
1. I haven’t seen them yet (and yes, I’m working on it!), OR
2. I watched them, but they didn’t resonate with me as much as the ones here.
Taste in cinema is deeply personal, and what thrills one viewer might leave another cold. So, think of this as a curated tour of my Korean film journey—not a definitive ranking. If your favorite is missing, please feel free to shout it out in the comments! I’m always hunting for recommendations.
Now, let’s dive in…
The first Korean film I ever watched was Montage (Mong-ta-ju), and it completely blew me away. I remember thinking, “Wow! What kind of filmmaking is this?” The suspense, the airtight plot, the layered character development—all of it built toward a mind-blowing climax that left me stunned.
The story follows a grieving mother whose daughter was murdered 14 years earlier. Under Korean law, unsolved cases expire after 15 years, and with the deadline just months away, the police have all but given up. Then, in a cruel twist of fate, an identical kidnapping occurs, using the exact same method. What unfolds is a razor sharp cat-and-mouse game between the mother and the hidden culprit, leading to a climax that’s as heartbreaking as it is thrilling. (Fun fact: This was remade in Hindi as Te3n starring Amitabh Bachchan, Vidya Balan & Nawazuddin Siddiqui, but the original’s raw intensity remains unmatched!)
2. Parasite (2019)
If there’s one film that perfectly captures the absurdity of class inequality, it’s Parasite. This masterpiece weaves a complex tale of two families—one dirt-poor and full of cunning schemes, the other obscenely wealthy and blissfully ignorant. The poor family cons their way into the rich household with fake degrees, forged references, and deliciously calculated lies.
One of the most memorable moments comes when the son prints a fake university certificate and jokes, “I’m not cheating—I’m going to earn this degree later anyway, I am just printing it in advance!” The humor is dark, the tension is palpable, and just when you think you’ve figured it all out, the film flips the script. Who’s the real parasite here? The poor family, leaching off the rich? Or the rich, exploiting the desperation of those beneath them? The climax is bloody, brutal, and dripping with irony, leaving you questioning the very nature of greed and human morality. (And that Oscar win? Absolutely deserved.)
3. A Hard Day (2014)
A Hard Day isn’t just a crime thriller—it’s a masterclass in tension, dark humour, and sheer unpredictability.
I was watching this film when the doorbell rang. Since I was alone at home, I went to answer it. I thought I must have been watching the movie for at least an hour, but when I checked, only 32 minutes had passed! The film packed so much suspense into such a short time. The film kicks off with Detective Go Geon-soo (Lee Sun-kyun) having the worst day imaginable: he is facing investigation for corruption, his mother dies, he accidentally hits a pedestrian while driving to her funeral, and in a panic, he stuffs the body into his mother’s coffin to hide the evidence.
But things take a sinister turn when a menacing blackmailer (Cho Jin-woong) emerges, pulling the strings from the shadows. What follows is a breathless game of cat-and-mouse, packed with shocking twists and a climax that will leave you gasping. The film’s brilliance lies in its pacing—there’s not a single dull moment—and the way it balances tension with unexpected bursts of humour.
e.g. when the body is still hidden in the coffin of their mother, the sister of detective Go goes to meet a seer! She comes back and asks her brother whether their mom had any affair… She says the seer told her, “That person is right now with the mother!”
4. The Negotiation (2018)
If you love high-stakes psychological thrillers, The Negotiation is a must-watch. The film pits a ruthless arms dealer (Hyun Bin) against a skilled crisis negotiator (Son Ye-jin) in a deadly game of wits. When the criminal takes hostages, he doesn’t demand money—instead, he insists on speaking directly to the negotiator, revealing a deeply personal vendetta.
What unfolds is a pressure-cooker of emotions, with Hyun Bin delivering a chilling performance as the cold, calculating villain, and Son Ye-jin matching him step-for-step as the empathetic but determined negotiator. The tension escalates with every exchanged word, culminating in a climax that’s as emotionally charged as it is thrilling.
5. New Trial (2017)
New Trial is a gripping legal drama based on a real-life case of wrongful conviction. The story follows a teenager who spends 10 years in prison for a murder he didn’t commit. After his release, he teams up with a not-so-successful lawyer (Kang Ha-neul) to clear his name and expose the truth.
What makes this film so powerful is its emotional depth. The courtroom scenes are intense, and the final breakdown—where the truth finally comes to light—is superb. It’s a stark reminder of how flawed the justice system can be, and how one wrongful conviction can destroy lives.
6. The Handmaiden (2016)
Park Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden is a film that defies expectations at every turn. Set during the Japanese occupation of Korea, it tells the story of a conman who hires a pickpocket to pose as a handmaiden to a wealthy Japanese heiress, intending to swindle her out of her fortune. But nothing is as it seems.
The film is a labyrinth of deception, erotic tension, and shocking betrayals. The relationship between the handmaiden (Kim Tae-ri) and the heiress (Kim Min-hee) evolves in ways you’d never predict, and the twists are so audacious they’ll leave your jaw on the floor. Visually stunning and thematically rich, The Handmaiden is a feast for the senses—though definitely not for the faint-hearted.
7. Perfect Number (2012)
Adapted from Keigo Higashino’s novel The Devotion of Suspect X, Perfect Number is a cerebral thriller about love, sacrifice, and the perfect crime. The story centers on a mild-mannered math teacher (Ryoo Seung-bum) who orchestrates an airtight alibi for his neighbor (Lee Yo-won) after she kills her abusive ex-husband in self-defense.
The brilliance of the film lies in its meticulous plotting. The teacher’s plan—which involves disposing of the body underwater and later murdering a homeless man to misdirect the police—is chilling in its precision. But the real kicker comes in the final act, when his former classmate, now a detective, begins piecing together the truth. The confrontation between the two is a masterclass in tension, culminating in a heartbreaking revelation about the nature of love and obsession. (The Hindi remake, Jaane Jaan, is decent, but the original’s grittiness is unmatched.)
8. Poetry (2010)
Poetry is a quiet, devastating film about a grandmother (Yoon Jeong-hee) who begins writing poetry while grappling with the early stages of Alzheimer’s. Her life takes a tragic turn when she discovers her grandson was involved in the gang rape of a classmate, who later took her own life.
The film’s power lies in its restraint. Yoon’s performance is achingly real—she won Best Actress at Cannes for a reason—and the way the film explores themes of guilt, memory, and redemption is profoundly moving. The ending, where she reads her final poem, is a moment of such raw emotion that it’s impossible to forget. This isn’t just a film; it’s an experience that lingers long after the credits roll.
9. The Admiral: Roaring Currents (2014)
For fans of historical epics, The Admiral: Roaring Currents is a must-watch. The film dramatizes the legendary Battle of Myeongnyang (1597), where Admiral Yi Sun-sin (Choi Min-sik) led 12 ships to victory against a Japanese fleet of 330.
The battle sequences are nothing short of spectacular, with Choi Min-sik delivering a commanding performance as the brilliant but beleaguered admiral. The film’s climax—a nail-biting, tide-dependent showdown—is one of the most exhilarating naval battles ever put to screen. It’s a testament to courage, strategy, and the indomitable human spirit.
10. Memories of Murder (2003)
Long before Parasite, Bong Joon-ho made Memories of Murder, a chilling true-crime thriller about Korea’s first documented serial killer. Set in the 1980s, the film follows two detectives (Song Kang-ho and Kim Sang-kyung) as they bumble their way through an investigation plagued by incompetence and corruption.
The film’s genius lies in its ambiguity. Unlike most crime dramas, there’s no neat resolution—just a growing sense of frustration and despair. The final shot, where Song Kang-ho’s detective stares directly into the camera, is haunting, especially when you learn the real case remained unsolved for decades.
11. Confessions of Murder (2012)
Imagine a serial killer publishing a memoir, only for another man to claim he’s the real murderer. That’s the premise of Confessions of Murder, a twisty thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end.
The film is a rollercoaster of vigilante justice, media frenzy, and detective work, culminating in a live TV showdown that’s as chaotic as it is thrilling. The action sequences are top-notch, and the moral ambiguity—who’s really the villain here?—adds layers to an already gripping story.
12. Broker (2022)
From the director of Shoplifters comes Broker, a bittersweet tale about found family and moral gray areas. Song Kang-ho stars as a laundryman who steals babies from a church dropbox to sell on the black market. But when a young mother (Lee Ji-eun) tracks him down, the trio embarks on a road trip to find her baby a “good” home.
The film is warm, funny, and heartbreaking in equal measure, with standout performances from its entire cast. The ending, though quiet, packs an emotional punch that’ll leave you thinking for days.
13. Oldboy (2003)
No list of Korean cinema is complete without Oldboy, Park Chan-wook’s brutal revenge saga. The story of a man imprisoned for 15 years without explanation, only to be released and given five days to uncover why, is as shocking today as it was two decades ago.
The film’s infamous hallway hammer fight (shot in one take!) and its jaw-dropping twist ending have cemented its place in cinematic history. But beyond the violence lies a tragic tale of love, betrayal, and the cyclical nature of vengeance.
Final Thoughts
Korean cinema doesn’t just entertain—it wounds you. Whether it’s Kim Ki-duk’s silent cruelty or Bong Joon-ho’s razor-sharp social commentary, these films leave scars. They’re bold, unflinching, and utterly unforgettable.
Which ones have you seen? Any favourites I missed? Let me know!
— Prasad Sovani
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