AMP's 100+1 Essential South Korean Movies

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Created by Melvelet.

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"South Korean cinema, and particularly the mainstream part, has been developing at an uncanny pace since the beginning of the New Wave, which started during the last years of the 90s, and resulted in the renewed interest of local audiences for local movies. “Shiri” (1999) kickstarted the phenomenon by becoming the first film in South Korean history to sell more than two million tickets in Seoul alone. The success continued with a number of other blockbusters while by the 2000s, and particularly after “Oldboy”, the country’s cinema started to attract significant international attention. The “trend” continued during the next years, and currently, S. Korean film industry is considered among the top in the world, with directors that have shot movies in Hollywood (Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho) actors that have become international stars (Bae Doona, Lee Byung-hun) and awards from most of the top festivals in the world (Lee Chan-dong for “Burning” and Bong Joon-ho for “Parasite”)

However, in terms of inspiration and actual context, the roots of this trend can be traced in the 80s, when the end of the long period of dictatorship resulted in the release of almost two decades of compressed creativity, in another surge that continued until the beginning of the 90s.

Further back, the Golden Age of S. Korean cinema is placed between 1955 and 1972, when a number of films that are considered still among the best (“The Housemaid”, “Aimless Bullet”) were released.

With all that in mind, and on the occasion of the anniversary of 100 years of Korean cinema, we decided to list 100+1 S. Korean films that we believe are among the most notable the local industry has ever produced.

Thankfully, the Korean Film Archive has given us the opportunity to watch a number of films that were produced before the New Wave, dating back to the 1930, thus expanding our view of Korean cinema quite significantly. Unfortunately, we have not managed to watch movies that were produced before the split, and thus, this list is by no means complete regarding the whole history of Korean cinema. Furthermore, 101 is not an adequate number to present every noteworthy film since the 50s and thus, a number of excellent productions were not included (we will not tell you which).

In our effort, we included films not only for their sheer cinematic quality but also for their significance, while a number of titles were included just because we like them (they call it personal taste, I think). At some degree, we also tried to have diversity in the selection, both in terms of directors and context.

Without further ado, here are 101 films that we believe every cinephile should watch."

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  1. 101 new

    Gisaengchung

    2019 — a.k.a. Parasite, in 22 top lists
    Check
  2. 100 new

    Beoning

    2018 — a.k.a. Burning, in 8 top lists
    Check
  3. 99 new

    Taeksi woonjunsa

    2017 — a.k.a. A Taxi Driver, in 1 top list
    Check
  4. 98 new

    Dongju

    2016 — a.k.a. Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet, in 0 top lists Check
  5. 97 new

    Gokseong

    2016 — a.k.a. The Wailing, in 2 top lists Check
  6. 96 new

    Merry Christmas Mr. Mo

    2016, in 0 top lists
    Check
  7. 95 new

    Jug-yeo-ju-neun Yeo-ja

    2016 — a.k.a. The Bacchus Lady, in 0 top lists Check
  8. 94 new

    Asura

    2016 — a.k.a. Asura: The City of Madness, in 0 top lists Check
  9. 93 new

    Bi-mil-eun eobs-da

    2016 — a.k.a. The Truth Beneath, in 0 top lists Check
  10. 92 new

    Ji-geum-eun-mat-go-geu-ddae-neun-teul-li-da

    2015 — a.k.a. Right Now, Wrong Then, in 6 top lists Check
  11. 91 new

    Naneun sseulegida

    2014 — a.k.a. I Am Trash, in 0 top lists Check
  12. 90 new

    Ah-ga-ssi

    2016 — a.k.a. The Handmaiden, in 13 top lists Check
  13. 89 new

    Dohee-ya

    2014 — a.k.a. A Girl at My Door, in 1 top list Check
  14. 88 new

    Moebiuseu

    2013 — a.k.a. Moebius, in 0 top lists Check
  15. 87 new

    Jiseul

    2012, in 0 top lists Check
  16. 86 new

    Han Gong-ju

    2013, in 1 top list Check
  17. 85 new

    Pieta

    2012, in 3 top lists Check
  18. 84 new

    Sinsegye

    2013 — a.k.a. New World, in 1 top list Check
  19. 83 new

    Gwang-hae, wang-i doin nam-ja

    2012 — a.k.a. Masquerade, in 0 top lists Check
  20. 82 new

    A-i-deul...

    2011 — a.k.a. Children..., in 0 top lists Check
  21. 81 new

    Dwae-ji-ui wang

    2011 — a.k.a. The King of Pigs, in 1 top list Check
  22. 80 new

    Bumchoiwaui junjaeng: Nabbeunnomdeul...

    2012 — a.k.a. Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time, in 0 top lists Check
  23. 79 new

    Ang-ma-reul bo-at-da

    2010 — a.k.a. I Saw the Devil, in 3 top lists Check
  24. 78 new

    Hwanghae

    2010 — a.k.a. The Yellow Sea, in 1 top list Check
  25. 77 new

    Ddongpari

    2008 — a.k.a. Breathless, in 0 top lists Check
  26. 76 new

    Bakjwi

    2009 — a.k.a. Thirst, in 2 top lists Check
  27. 75 new

    Shi

    2010 — a.k.a. Poetry, in 7 top lists Check
  28. 74 new

    Madeo

    2009 — a.k.a. Mother, in 9 top lists Check
  29. 73 new

    Hahaha

    2010, in 1 top list Check
  30. 72 new

    Kimssi pyoryugi

    2009 — a.k.a. Castaway on the Moon, in 4 top lists Check
  31. 71 new

    Chugyeokja

    2008 — a.k.a. The Chaser, in 2 top lists Check
  32. 70 new

    Joheunnom nabbeunnom isanghannom

    2008 — a.k.a. The Good the Bad the Weird, in 1 top list Check
  33. 69 new

    Yeong-hwa-neun yeong-hwa-da

    2008 — a.k.a. Rough Cut, in 0 top lists Check
  34. 68 new

    Milyang

    2007 — a.k.a. Secret Sunshine, in 9 top lists Check
  35. 67 new

    Biyeolhan geori

    2006 — a.k.a. A Dirty Carnival, in 1 top list Check
  36. 66 new

    Ssa-i-bo-geu-ji-man-gwen-chan-a

    2006 — a.k.a. I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK, in 2 top lists Check
  37. 65 new

    Gwoemul

    2006 — a.k.a. The Host, in 11 top lists Check
  38. 64 new

    Haebaragi

    2006 — a.k.a. Sunflower, in 0 top lists Check
  39. 63 new

    Mang zhong

    2005 — a.k.a. Grain in Ear, in 0 top lists Check
  40. 62 new

    Jumeogi unda

    2005 — a.k.a. Crying Fist, in 0 top lists Check
  41. 61 new

    Chinjeolhan geumjassi

    2005 — a.k.a. Lady Vengeance, in 3 top lists Check
  42. 60 new

    Nae meorisokui jiwoogae

    2004 — a.k.a. A Moment to Remember, in 2 top lists Check
  43. 59 new

    Taegukgi hwinalrimyeo

    2004 — a.k.a. Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War, in 3 top lists Check
  44. 58 new

    Baramui paiteo

    2004 — a.k.a. Fighter in the Wind, in 0 top lists Check
  45. 57 new

    Bin-jip

    2004 — a.k.a. 3-Iron, in 9 top lists Check
  46. 56 new

    Janghwa, Hongryeon

    2003 — a.k.a. A Tale of Two Sisters, in 5 top lists Check
  47. 55 new

    Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom

    2003 — a.k.a. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring, in 13 top lists Check
  48. 54 new

    Jigureul jikyeora!

    2003 — a.k.a. Save the Green Planet!, in 4 top lists Check
  49. 53 new

    Oldeuboi

    2003 — a.k.a. Oldboy, in 34 top lists Check
  50. 52 new

    Silmido

    2003, in 0 top lists Check
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Last updated on Feb 13, 2021; source