Asian cinema: the Koreans
Asian cinema is my favorite of all. Here is a list of Korean films that amazed me and moved me.
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- DirectorLee Chang-dongStarsSol Kyung-guKim Yeo-jinMoon So-riFollowing a man's suicide, time traverses back to reveal six chapters of his life on why he committed suicide.
- DirectorYang Ik-joonStarsKim KkobbiHwan LeeYang Ik-joonA bitter loan shark strikes a friendship with a troubled schoolgirl as he faces his own troubled past with his abusive father.
- DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsChoi Min-sikYoo Ji-taeKang Hye-jeongAfter being kidnapped and imprisoned for fifteen years, Oh Dae-Su is released, only to find that he must track down his captor in five days.
- 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.
- DirectorJee-woon KimStarsLee Byung-hunChoi Min-sikJeon Gook-hwanA secret agent exacts revenge on a serial killer through a series of captures and releases.
- DirectorBong Joon HoStarsSong Kang-hoKim Sang-kyungKim Roe-haIn a small Korean province in 1986, two detectives struggle with the case of multiple young women being found raped and murdered by an unknown culprit.
- DirectorLee Chang-dongStarsSol Kyung-guMoon So-riAhn Nae-sangAn irresponsible and childish ex-con befriends a girl with cerebral palsy and develops a progressively stronger bond with her.
- DirectorHae-sung SongStarsChoi Min-sikCecilia CheungSon Byung-hoA marriage of convenience between a petty gangster and an illegal immigrant he has never met has unforeseen consequences for them both.
- DirectorNa Hong-jinStarsLee Yoo-miHa Jung-wooLee Hee-joonWhen the attempt to kill a professor goes wrong, a series of violent events are triggered which force a taxi driver to run for his life.
- DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsSong Kang-hoShin Ha-kyunBae DoonaA recently laid off factory worker kidnaps his former boss' friend's daughter, hoping to use the ransom money to pay for his sister's kidney transplant.
- DirectorKim Ki-dukStarsKim Ki-dukOh Yeong-suJong-ho KimA boy is raised by a Buddhist monk in an isolated floating temple where the years pass like the seasons.
- DirectorJoon-Hwan JangStarsShin Ha-kyunBaek Yun-shikHwang Jung-minByeong-gu believes that the world is on the verge of an alien invasion, and sets out to save the world.
- 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.
- DirectorKim Ki-dukStarsJung SuhKim Yu-seokCho Jae-hyunWorking at a fishing resort in an idyllic location, but surrounded by various facets of human unpleasantness, a young mute woman falls in love with a man on the run from the law for committing murder.
- DirectorNa Hong-jinStarsKim Yoon-seokHa Jung-wooSeo Yeong-hieA disgraced ex-policeman who runs a small ring of prostitutes finds himself in a race against time when one of his women goes missing.
- DirectorLee Chang-dongStarsJeon Do-yeonSong Kang-hoLee Dong-yongA woman moves to the town where her dead husband was born. As she tries to fit in, another tragic event overturns her life.
- DirectorKim Ki-dukStarsHa Jung-wooPark Ji-yeonBaek Gwang-DooTo save her relationship, a woman puts herself through extensive plastic surgery.
- DirectorJee-woon KimStarsLim Soo-jungYum Jung-ahKim Kap-suAfter being institutionalized in a mental hospital, Su-mi reunites with her sister, Su-yeon, and they return to live at their country home. But strange events plague the house, leading to surprising revelations and a shocking conclusion.
- DirectorKim Ki-dukStarsLee EolKwak Ji-minHan Yeo-reumJae-Young is an amateur prostitute who sleeps with men while her best friend Yeo-Jin "manages" her, fixing dates, taking care of the money and making sure the coast is clear. When Jae-Young falls in love with one of those man she suppresses her feelings towards him in respect of her friend who's jealous.
- 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.
- DirectorHyun-seung LeeStarsLee Jung-jaeJun Ji-hyunMu-saeng KimIn 1999, a voice actor moves from Il Mare, a seaside house, and leaves a Christmas card in its (magical) mailbox. An architecture student receives it in 1997, and a friendship separated by 2 years begins.
- DirectorJung Ji-wooStarsChoi Min-sikJeon Do-yeonJu Jin-moWhen a wife becomes the breadwinner of her family after her husband loses his job, adultery becomes part of her life.
- DirectorKim Ki-youngStarsKim Jin-kyuJeung-nyeo JuEun-shim LeeA composer and his wife are thrown into turmoil when a housemaid becomes more than they bargained for.
- DirectorBong Joon HoStarsSong Kang-hoByun Hee-BongPark Hae-ilA monster emerges from Seoul's Han River and begins attacking people. One victim's loving family does what it can to rescue her from its clutches.
- DirectorJae-young KwakStarsJun Ji-hyunJang HyukKim Soo-roThe heart-warming romance story between Kyungjin and Myungwoo. Even though he has passed away, he will be always with Kyungwoo forever.
- DirectorKim Ki-dukStarsJi-eun LeeHye Eun LeeAhn Jae-moStreetwise Jin-a moves into a boarding house run by a small, close-knit family. But her unacceptable behavior threatens to destroy them all.
- DirectorKang Woo-sukStarsSol Kyung-guLee Sung-jaeKang Shin-ilA detective plays cat-and-mouse with a banker who brutally murdered his own parents.
- DirectorHun JangStarsSo Ji-seobKo Chang-seokJang Hie-jinA gangster who wants to be an actor; an actor more gangster than anything. Here their paths and lives begin to cross.
- DirectorHa YooStarsKwon Sang-wooLee Jung-JinHan Ga-inBy "Fist of Fury", Kim Hyun-Soo (Sang-Woo Kwone) addicted to Bruce Lee. Year 1978. Hyun-Soo moved to KangNam, Seoul. Hyun-Soo transferred to JungMoon High, Maljuk Street, Kangnam, Seoul. He goes schooling by No.78 Bus. First day a senior male took Hyun-Soo's collar and made Hyun-Soo being punished inside JungMoon playground because of forgetting collar Hyun-Soo made friends with Kim Woo-Sik (Bruce Lee fan) and Hamburger. Hamburger always bring adult magazines to school and was always being found by the school soldiers. Hyun-Soo father had his own TaeKwonDo Dojo - his wish is to see Hyun-Soo being the top 5 in his JungMoon High class, and got himself promoted to University. One day inside #78 bus, Hamburger and Hyun-Soo met Kang Eun-Ju (EunYang Female High), a female Bruce Lee fan who looks like "Olivia Hussey", whose music favorites are Agaetha (ABBA) and Celsia Chan, Hyun-Soo began to fall in love with Eun-Ju. Hyun-Soo and Woo-Sik became rivals of Cha Jung-Hoon (Triad Head, JungMoon High) when Jung-Hoon took Eun-Ju's schoolbag inside #78 Bus, and Woo-Sik settled everything. Woo-Sik tried flirting Eun-Ju but she refused him because she loves Hyun-Soo. On a Rainy day, Hyun-Soo talked with Eun-Ju in #78 Bus, knew that Eun-Ju keep listening to a midnight radio program, and she had even wrote postcards to that program but it didn't speak out her postcard messages. Hyun-Soo lent Eun-Ju his black Umbrella and ran to home. Eun-Ju ask Woo-Sik to return the umbrella to Hyun-Soo, Hyun-Soo wrote postcard to the radio program and it spoke the message at 2am when Eun-Ju was in #78 bus. Hyun-Soo invited Eun-Ju to listen to his guitar playing. Eun-Ju asked Hyun-Soo to return Woo-Sik's pen. She even wrote her reply to the radio program. Woo-Sik and Hyun-Soo were being punished inside a wardrobe, with the soldier telling them how many Viet Congs he had ever killed in Vietnam War by himself without any comrades to help. Hyun-Soo went to library and heard Eun-Ju's postcard message in the radio program which both Eun-Ju and Hyun-Soo always listened to. Eun-Ju regret asking Woo-Sik to return umbrella and she promised Hyun-Soo that she won't ever disappoint him anymore. Then, Hamburger became Jung-Hoon's gang member. Woo-Sik tore Hamburger's adult photos, Jung-Hoon challenged Woo-Sik to roof battle. Finally Woo-Sik was defeated and was carried by Hyun-Soo. Woo-Sik even left JungMoon High without contacting Hyun-Soo anymore. Eun-Ju was being rumored to leave with Woo-Sik but later Hamburger found that she had not left with Woo-Sik, but was being suspended one year for bad results. One day, Hyun-Soo met Jung-Hoon's gang. they threatened to remove Hyun-Soo's eyeballs from his eyes. Hyun-Soo decided to train himself for any further struggle with Jung-Hoon's gang. On the day of Hyun-Soo's battle, a classmate threw his milk to Jung-Hoon. Jung-Hoon's gang ran into Hyun-Soo's class and ask who did that. Hamburger tried pacifying Jung-Hoon but failed. Hyun-Soo stood up and challenged Jung-Hoon at roof. Hyun-Soo used his double-stick to hit Jung-Hoon when they went upstairs. Finally, in great resistance, Hyun-Soo won the battle and went downstairs. Soldiers stopped Hyun-Soo, but he escaped, destroyed 2 windows and spoke, "F**k all schools in Korea!" Hyun-Soo father talked to Jung-Hoon's mother but she blame Hyun-Soo for destroying her son's face. Hyun-Soo said sorry to father, father asked Hyun-Soo if Bruce Lee had ever studied into University. Hyun-Soo smiled, father knew no. Hyun-Soo studied in G.E.D. (General Education Diploma) and met Hamburger when Hamburger sold his adult magazines to classmates for 2 bucks. Hamburger told Hyun-Soo that Eun-Ju also studied this GED center. Hyun-Soo waited Eun-Ju but failed, got up to #78 Bus. Hyun-Soo missed Eun-Ju until females said "Bye-bye, Eun-Ju!" Hyun-Soo turned his head and saw Eun-Ju alone. Eun-Ju said that Korea weather is colder than before, Hyun-Soo said yes. Eun-Ju got off in HanNam station. Hamburger ask Hyun-Soo to watch Jackie Chan movie, "Drunken Master" and even said Bruce Lee is already outdated. Hyun-Soo kicked to revenge for Bruce Lee outside the cinema door.
- DirectorHa YooStarsZo In-sungChun Ho-jinMin Nam-koongA small time thug collecting debts for the local triad is torn between his criminal aspirations and his devotion to family.
- DirectorSung-ho KimStarsYoo Ji-taeKim Myung-minHye-na KimAn ex-cop, now working as a security guard in a shopping mall, tries to uncover the secret behind a series of mysterious deaths linked to mirrors.
- DirectorJee-woon KimStarsPark In-hwanNa Moon-heeSong Kang-hoA family opens a mountain inn where their first guest commits suicide. Suddenly all their guests befall horrible fates.
- DirectorPark Jin-PyoStarsSol Kyung-guKim Nam-juGang Dong-wonOne day, the only son of famous news anchor HAN Kyung-bae, disappears without a trace. Soon, the kidnapper calls the mother demanding a $100,000 ransom. The police assign a veteran inspector to the case and assemble a top-notch task force to work under his command. But the kidnapper constantly outwits the police and continues calling the parents with yet more instructions for the money drop.
- DirectorKwang-Hyun ParkStarsJeong Jae-yeongShin Ha-kyunKang Hye-jeongSoldiers from both sides of the Korean divide live among villagers who know nothing of the war.
- DirectorHong Sang-sooStarsChoo Sang-miYe Ji-wonGeorge GeorgiouActor Kyung Soo leaves Seoul to visit an old classmate. The reunion with his friend does not amount to much, but the trip does lead to some romantic encounters. He gets involved with two women, first a young college student whom he leaves without a moment's thought and then a woman whom he deems his fated partner. As Kyung Soo becomes increasingly invested in this second relationship, he begins to notice certain coincidences and similarities that recall past pairings, blurring his conception of exactly which woman, which relationship, he is so desperately holding on to.
- DirectorWon Shin-yeonWon Sin YunStarsLee Byung-joonOh Dal-suKyung Ho JungOn a day trip through countryside, aspiring opera singer In-jeong flees to woods to escape advances of her lecherous professor and mentor, Yeong-sun.
- DirectorKyung-taek KwakStarsJang Dong-gunLee Jung-jaeLee Mi-yeonA modern-day pirate plans a massive attack on North and South Korea.
- DirectorYong-gyun KimStarsKim Hye-suKim Seong-suYeon-ah ParkA woman who finds a pair of pink high heels on a subway platform soon realizes that jealousy, greed, and death follow them wherever they go.
- DirectorPark Kyung-JinJohn H. LeeKim Tae-WonStarsJung Woo-sungSon Ye-jinJong-hak BaekA young couple's enduring love is tested when 27-year-old Su-jin is diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer's disease.
- DirectorSu-chang KongStarsKam Woo-seongSon Byung-hoLee Sun-kyunDuring the Vietnam War, a South Korean base receives a radio transmission from a missing squad, presumed dead, and sends a platoon to rescue the lost squad from the R-Point.
- DirectorKang Je-kyuStarsJang Dong-gunWon BinEun-ju LeeWhen two brothers are forced to fight in the Korean War, the elder decides to take the riskiest missions if it will help shield the younger from battle.
- DirectorYun-hyeon JangStarsHan Suk-kyuShim Eun-haJang Hang-seonLieutenant Cho, a cop on the edge, is mourning his mother's recent death while under investigation for graft; on top of that he is suddenly put in charge of a seemingly-impenetrable mystery.
- DirectorKim Sung-suStarsJung Woo-sungAhn Sung-kiJu Jin-mo1375. Nine Koryo warriors, envoys exiled by Imperial China, battle to protect a Chinese Ming Princess from Mongolian troops.
- DirectorKang Je-kyuStarsHan Suk-kyuChoi Min-sikYunjin KimSouth Korean agents Ryu and Lee are tracking a female assassin from North Korea who has mysteriously disappeared. With new killings and the theft of a deadly bomb, time is running out to catch her.
- DirectorIm Kwon-taekStarsChoi Min-sikAhn Sung-kiYoo Ho-jeongIn a time of political and social unrest in nineteenth-century Korea, an uncouth, self-taught painter explores his natural talent amidst the repressive world around him.
- DirectorLee Jeong-beomStarsSol Kyung-guJo Han-sunNa Moon-heeAlong with a partner, a small-time crook arrives at the hometown of his mentor's killer to seek revenge, but gets caught in a fix upon befriending the killer's mother.
- DirectorTae-gyun KimStarsCha In-pyoMyeong-cheol ShinSeo Young-hwaAbout a young boy in North Korea who wants to find his father who is forced to become a refugee in South Korea.
- DirectorSung-Hong KimStarsHeo Gi-hoMin-hee HaEun-jeong Hwang(Korean with English subtitles) Inspired by the real story of a Korean serial killer, Missing is one woman's intense journey into the dark den of depravity. Hyeon-jeong ventures to a small countryside village in search of her missing sister. When she finally gets a lead and arrives at the local recluse's house, her worst nightmares is about to begin.