Korean Cinema
Dubbed the 'new Hong Kong', Korean cinema has taken the international film world by storm with its brutal and confrontational style and original political perspectives. Encompassing both the North and South Korean industries it is the films from the south that have become worldwide hits. From border security thriller, 'JSA' to the haunting 'Oasis' to the mesmerising madness of 'Old Boy', Korean cinema is bold, diverse and here to stay.
Pictured: Horror-chiller already slated for an American remake, 'A Tale of Two Sisters'.
The King and the Clown (2005)
7.5/10
Director: Jun-ik Lee
Starring: Woo-seong Kam, Jin-young Jeong, Seong-Yeon Kang, Jun-gi Lee, Hang-Seon Jang, Hae...
South Korea's highest-grossing film of all time (until it was surpassed by 2006's 'The Host') is this period drama-comedy about a group of wandering m... Read more
The Quiet Family (1998)
7.1/10
Director: Kim Jee-Woon
Starring: Kang-ho Song, Min-sik Choi, Park In-hwan, Na Mun-heui
A South Korean black comedy horror about a family who take over the running of Mt Lodge, a hotel in the suburbs. However punters aren't lining up and... Read more
The Red Shoes (2005)
5.9/10
Director: Young-jun Kim
Starring: Hye-su Kim, Seong-su Kim, Yeon-ah Park, Su-heui Go, Ha-rim Seo
Sun-Jae (Hye-su Kim) discovers her husband has been cheating on her and leaves him, moving into a dilapidated building with her young daughter. When... Read more
The Taste of Money (2012)
5.8/10
Director: Im Sang-soo
Starring: Kang-woo Kim, Baek Yun-shik, Yoon Yeo-Jung, Kim Hyo-jin
An ambitious young executive (Kim Kang-woo) thought he had it made when he landed an entry-level job with the corporation owned and run by one of Seou... Read more
The Thieves (2012)
6.8/10
Director: Dong-Hoon Choi
Starring: Simon Yam, Ha-kyun Shin, Hye-su Kim, Yun-seok Kim, Gianna Jun, Hae-sook Kim, Jun...
Five thieves at the top of their game, and the crew is assembling for their biggest job yet. The job's hot, maybe too hot, but who can resist the Tear... Read more
The Tower (2012)
6.5/10
Director: Ji-hoon KIm
Starring: Kyung-gu Sol, Sang-kyung Kim, Ye-jin Son
A freak helicopter accident over a Seoul high-rise apartment complex turns the skyscrapers into a towering inferno. Now the buildings' manager and loc... Read more
The Yellow Sea (2010)
7.3/10
Director: Hong-jin Na
Starring: Yun-seok Kim, Jung-woo Ha
A taxi driver (Ha Jung-woo) goes on the run after an attempt to carry out a hit on a professor (Kwak Do-won) goes terribly awry. Read more
Thirst (2009)
7.2/10
Director: Chan-wook Park
Starring: Hae-sook Kim, Ok-vin Kim, Young-chang Song, Kang-ho Song
Top Korean star Kang-ho Song plays a devout, kind priest whose life (after-life?) is forever changed by a transfusion of vampire blood that unleashes... Read more
Train to Busan (2016)
7.5/10
Director: Yeon Sang-ho
Starring: Jung Yu-mi, Gong Yoo
When a mysterious virus breaks out across the country, the infected turn into the murderous undead. A few terrified travellers find themselves trapped... Read more
Untold Scandal (2003)
7.1/10
Director: Je-yong Lee
Starring: Mi-suk Lee, Do-yeon Jeon, Yong-jun Bae, Hyeon-jae Jo, So-yeon Lee
An excellent Korean adaptation of the French novel, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, set amidst the aristocracy of the 18th century Chosun Dynasty. Lady Cho... Read more