10 unforgettable Korean films featuring brilliant storytelling and thought-provoking themes

The world has been enthralled by Korean cinema because of its cinematic excellence, and frequently surprising turns. These ten Korean film classics will undoubtedly live up to your expectations if you enjoy stories that capture your attention from the very beginning and stick with you long after the credits have rolled.

1. Parasite

Bong Joon Ho’s dark comedy thriller Parasite won an Oscar which begins as a deft satire but quickly develops into a horrifying and violent story that masterfully illustrates the class divide in society.The film centers on the impoverished Kim family, who deftly enter the wealthy Park family’s life, causing shocking and terrifying outcomes.

2. Oldboy

Park Chan Wook’s film Oldboy is a violent and surreal tale of retribution and atonement. The story of the film centers on a man who is kidnapped for no apparent reason, held captive for fifteen years, and then unexpectedly released. He then sets out on a perverse journey of retribution and sorrow in an attempt to track down his kidnapper.

3. Memories of Murder

Memories of Murder, a riveting crime thriller helmed by Bong Joon Ho, redefined Korean cinema. It is based on a true account of the first serial killings in South Korea during the 1980s. It centers on two detectives who are having a difficult time figuring out why multiple women in a small town have been brutally and mysteriously killed.

4. A Tale of Two Sisters

Kim Jee Won’s spine-tingling psychological horror film A Tale of Two Sisters will leave you speechless with its unexpected plot twist. It tells the tale of two sisters who leave a mental hospital and return home. When they return, they have to deal with the ghost of their late mother and their evil stepmother, which sets off a series of unsettling incidents.

5. The Handmaiden

The Handmaiden, a seductive and painstakingly crafted thriller based on Sarah Waters’ novel Fingersmith, is another masterwork by Park Chan Wook. set in Korea in the 1930s It centers on a young con artist hired as part of a crafty plot to serve as a wealthy Japanese heiress’ handmaiden during the Japanese occupation.

6. Train to Busan

Yeon Sang Ho’s riveting zombie thriller Train to Busan is a classic in modern Korean cinema. A man and his daughter’s routine train ride from Seoul to Busan becomes a horrifying nightmare when an unexpected zombie outbreak breaks out in the nation. Their struggle for survival with the other travelers results in a suspenseful, dramatic, and terrifying story.

7. I Saw the Devil

Kim Jee Won’s intense and violent story of revenge, I Saw the Devil, successfully redefined the thriller genre. The movie tells the tale of a secret agent who falls in love with a serial killer and has her killed. Using cunning, he forces the murderer to swallow a GPS tablet before playing a crazy game of cat and mouse with him to exact revenge.

8. The Wailing 

The Wailing, directed by Na Hong Jin, is a brilliant fusion of mystery, terror, and otherworldly elements. The movie centers on a small village that, after a stranger moves in, becomes afflicted with an unknown illness. Dark secrets and old curses are uncovered as a local police officer begins looking into the mystery surrounding the outbreak, leading to startling discoveries.

9. Forgotten

Jang Hang Jun’s psychological thriller Forgotten defies merecomprehension. The movie tells the tale of a man who, after his brother is abducted, returns home after 19 days but doesn’t remember anything. He discovers startling details about his past that completely upend his life as he attempts to uncover the truth about the kidnapping.

10. Mother

Mother, a moving and thrilling story of maternal love and sacrifice, is another one of Bong Joon Ho’s masterworks. The movie tells the tale of a loving mother who, after her son is charged with murder, sets out to clear his name. She learns disturbing facts about her son and the neighbourhood as she continues the investigation.