Most of us like movies, especially when we get to see one on a cold winter night. Your girlfriend, boyfriend or spouse on one side and a hot chocolate cup on the other. Even if you are a loner like me. There’s a lot of genres out there to cover our every mood and preference. There is a special place in my movie shelve for korean movies, specially the best korean movies. I know when it comes to preferences there is no right or wrong. But, we can agree that in every genre you can tell the iconic movies from the crappy ones.
So, In my not so humble opinion, I think these Top korean movies are better than so many movies hollywood has produced over the years. Even recently. Let’s not forget Sharknado…Sharknado 2… 3… 4… and as if that wasn’t enough torture, the fifth sharknado movie is about to premiere. That’s enough reason for me to instead of watching that, go back to the best korean movies I find to be amazing. Some of them are more on the romantic side of things, but hey, once a year doesn’t make me queer, right?… RIGHT?!
So, without further ado, here is my pick of the top 10 best korean movies.
Table of Contents
Top 10 Best Korean Movies
#10. Bleak Night (2010)
Bleak Nigth is a film directed and written by Yoon Sung-hyun. The main story of the film deals with friendship, specifically, the friendship relationship between a group of high school friends. Many things happen to these friends over the course of the movie. One of them dies and leaves his friends behind.
The plot develops around the decisions they make and how they cope with what happens to them. Sometimes any kind of relationship hits a point of no return, and friendships are no exception. Check out the IMDB ratings and reviews.
#9. Peppermint Candy (1999)
This one is a must watch. Although you might don’t want to watch it if you are feeling depressed or lonely. It’s a drama. Peppermint Candy revolves around the series of events that lead the protagonist make the ultimate decision. He kills himself on the first minutes of the film.
Also directed by Yoon Sung-hyun. This reverse chronology movie was the opening film for the Pusan International Film in it’s first showing, which was in 1999. The film’s plot was is so interesting and it grasps you until the very end that it won multiple awards there on after.
#8. More Than Blue (2009)
On a brighter note, well, not that bright… at least is about romance. The list of the best korean movies wouldn’t really be complete if there wasn’t at least one romance movie. Although it’s a remake of the Bollywood movie Kal Ho Naa Ho, I really enjoyed it.
You might not be so keen to watch a romance when it’s literal translation from Korean to English is ” A story sadder than sad”, but just watch it. I’m telling, it’s worth it. Check out for the reviews.
#7. My Scary Girl (2006)
Labeled as a dark romantic comedy film, My Scary Girl is the type of movie you want to watch with your girlfriend. Only to point out their similarities to the girl in the movie. She is crazy as can be. The interactions between characters will have you laughing all the way.
Although it has its moments of seriousness, these are overshadowed by the craziness and over the top acting of its cast members. The story develops around the plot of a man that discovers a secret in his girlfriend’s fridge that he might have never wanted to know about. That’s a ridiculous enough story line to get you giggling in by itself.
#6. My Girl and I (2005)
This is not really one of my favorites. Ok. Who am I kidding? I love it. Directed by Jeon Yun-su. It’s a full on romantic film. It will make you cry, not because it’s sad, but because you just know you will never find a relationship like theirs. It’s the remake of a Japanese movie called Crying Out Love, In the Center of the World. Which is in turn adapted from the novel, Socrates In Love, by Kyoichi Katayama.
Ok, ok, I love the movie, but I’m not about to go fill my head with three different versions of it. One is more than enough for my dose of romance. More than that and I would have to go out and head into the woods to fight some wild bears on a hand to hand combat to the death in order to get my manhood back.
#5. A Man Who Was Superman (2008)
The best korean movies are not always romance or drama based films. No matter how you think of it, this is hands down one of the best korean movie. At least in my opinion. A Man Who Was Superman was released in the year 2008.
The plot of the movie is very simple. The main story is about a producer that is making a documentary about his neighbour. Interesting enough, his neighbour thinks he is Superman. So, don’t be surprised when I tell you this one is a comedy film. Watch it whenever you want to laugh until you cry and your belly hurts.
#4. Sympathy For Mr Vengeance (2002)
Here we have a thriller film, filled with action. Sympathy For Mr Vengeance is actually a trilogy. This is the first movie, and the greatest one in my opinion. Directed by Park Kwang-hyun. The main plot of the story revolves around a factory worker whom is deaf and mute.
Not long before being laid off he kidnaps the daughter of his former boss. He wants money and he wants it because his sister kidney is failing and she needs a transplant. It’s a good Saturday evening movie.
#3. Friends (2001)
If there is only one movie you will watch after you read this list. It has to be this one. Gangsters, guns, crime, action. What else do you need? It’s a great film to watch with your friends when you have nowhere to go. It was directed by Kwak kyun-taek. On the day of its release it went on the record breaking books as the most prolific movie of all times in South Korea.
The plot revolves around a group of friends that share their childhood experiences and grow to become part of the mob, gangsters. They continue to see each other, but this time in a different light, a different set of circumstances. I won’t tell you much more, since it would only spoil your experience. Just believe in me when I tell you that this is indeed one of the best korean movies of all times.
#2. Epitaph (2007)
This is a full on horror film. Directed by the brothers Jung Sik and Jung Bum-shik. This movie is set on the 1940’s, right when colonial Japan ruled over South Korean land. The thing I liked about this movie is that it’s divided into three stories. Each story takes you through a journey of different scenarios to finally converge at the end and give you one of the best endings I’ve seen.
It all begins when the Dr. Park Jung-nam finds an old photo album and stares at a picture. This old picture dated back to his days as an intern at the Ansaeng Hospital. The memories of his life rush to him and we are sent back to 1942. His fiancee , whom he had never even met due to their arranged marriage, commits suicide. Then, we can see how he falls in love with a corpse. Soon after, a series of mysterious events keep occurring one after another. And that’s that. I refuse to tell you more. Go watch it. Trust me, you don’t want me to ruin you one of the best korean movies ever made.
#1. Memories Of Murder
I love mystery and drama films. Specially when it alligns with one of my other beloved subjects, Crime. Officially recognized as a crime-drama, this film was directed by Bong Joon-ho on the year 2003. What’s more interesting about this movie is that is based on the first and very real serial killers South Korea ever had. It’s set from 1986 through 1991 in Hwaseoong, on the Gyeonggi Province. The plot revolves, of course, around the many killings that took place in those years. The detectives don’t want to believe they are dealing with a serial killer. They realize that it is in fact one when their predictions of where the serial killer will strike come true. The detectives go crazy wanting to catch this guy. They beat people so they can get confessions out of them. They follow this path until… until you see the movie and actually see what happens, come on, go on now. Type Memories Of Murder on your browser, I’m sure it’ll pop up so you can watch it.
So, how about it? Are you as much of a fan of my top 10 best korean movies as I am? If not, which ones do you like? Tell me wich are the best korean movies, in your opinion. Maybe we can conclude that we all have different needs and likings when it comes to movies. Some of us like bloody and gore films, comedy and then and again maybe we also enjoy a romantic film. Why not? I am pretty sure I managed to keep my manhood.
