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. 82 new

    A-i-deul...

    2011 — a.k.a. Children..., in 0 top lists Check
  2. 90 new

    Ah-ga-ssi

    2016 — a.k.a. The Handmaiden, in 13 top lists Check
  3. 79 new

    Ang-ma-reul bo-at-da

    2010 — a.k.a. I Saw the Devil, in 3 top lists Check
  4. 20 new

    Angae maeul

    1983, in 1 top list Check
  5. 94 new

    Asura

    2016 — a.k.a. Asura: The City of Madness, in 0 top lists Check
  6. 22 new

    Babo seoneon

    1983 — a.k.a. Declaration of Fools, in 1 top list Check
  7. 15 new

    Babodeuli haengjin

    1975 — a.k.a. The March of Fools, in 3 top lists Check
  8. 37 new

    Bakha satang

    1999 — a.k.a. Peppermint Candy, in 5 top lists Check
  9. 76 new

    Bakjwi

    2009 — a.k.a. Thirst, in 2 top lists Check
  10. 18 new

    Balambuleo joheun nal

    1980 — a.k.a. A Windy, But Pleasant Day, in 2 top lists Check
  11. 58 new

    Baramui paiteo

    2004 — a.k.a. Fighter in the Wind, in 0 top lists Check
  12. 100 new

    Beoning

    2018 — a.k.a. Burning, in 8 top lists
    Check
  13. 93 new

    Bi-mil-eun eobs-da

    2016 — a.k.a. The Truth Beneath, in 0 top lists Check
  14. 57 new

    Bin-jip

    2004 — a.k.a. 3-Iron, in 9 top lists Check
  15. 67 new

    Biyeolhan geori

    2006 — a.k.a. A Dirty Carnival, in 1 top list Check
  16. 49 new

    Boksuneun naui geot

    2002 — a.k.a. Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, in 4 top lists Check
  17. 55 new

    Bom yeoreum gaeul gyeoul geurigo bom

    2003 — a.k.a. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring, in 13 top lists Check
  18. 80 new

    Bumchoiwaui junjaeng: Nabbeunnomdeul...

    2012 — a.k.a. Nameless Gangster: Rules of the Time, in 0 top lists Check
  19. 47 new

    Chihwaseon

    2002 — a.k.a. Painted Fire, in 3 top lists Check
  20. 27 new

    Chilsu wa Mansu

    1988 — a.k.a. Chilsu and Mansu, in 4 top lists Check
  21. 43 new

    Chingoo

    2001 — a.k.a. Friend, in 1 top list Check
  22. 61 new

    Chinjeolhan geumjassi

    2005 — a.k.a. Lady Vengeance, in 3 top lists Check
  23. 17 new

    Choihui jeungin

    1980, in 1 top list Check
  24. 34 new

    Chorok mulkogi

    1997 — a.k.a. Green Fish, in 1 top list Check
  25. 9 new

    Chou

    1966 — a.k.a. Green Rain, in 1 top list Check
  26. 71 new

    Chugyeokja

    2008 — a.k.a. The Chaser, in 2 top lists Check
  27. 13 new

    Chungyo

    1972 — a.k.a. The Insect Woman, in 3 top lists Check
  28. 77 new

    Ddongpari

    2008 — a.k.a. Breathless, in 0 top lists Check
  29. 28 new

    Dharmaga tongjoguro kan kkadalgun

    1989 — a.k.a. Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?, in 6 top lists Check
  30. 89 new

    Dohee-ya

    2014 — a.k.a. A Girl at My Door, in 1 top list Check
  31. 98 new

    Dongju

    2016 — a.k.a. Dongju: The Portrait of a Poet, in 0 top lists Check
  32. 81 new

    Dwae-ji-ui wang

    2011 — a.k.a. The King of Pigs, in 1 top list Check
  33. 1 new

    Eunmyeongui son

    1954 — a.k.a. The Hand of Destiny, in 1 top list Check
  34. 42 new

    Failan

    2001, in 0 top lists Check
  35. 7 new

    Gaetmaeul

    1965 — a.k.a. Seashore Village, in 2 top lists Check
  36. 19 new

    Ggobangdongne saramdeul

    1982 — a.k.a. People of the Slum, in 2 top lists Check
  37. 33 new

    Ggotip

    1996, in 3 top lists Check
  38. 25 new

    Gilsoddeum

    1986, in 2 top lists Check
  39. 101 new

    Gisaengchung

    2019 — a.k.a. Parasite, in 22 top lists
    Check
  40. 44 new

    Go-yang-i-leul boo-tak-hae

    2001 — a.k.a. Take Care of My Cat, in 3 top lists Check
  41. 97 new

    Gokseong

    2016 — a.k.a. The Wailing, in 2 top lists Check
  42. 23 new

    Golae sanyang

    1984 — a.k.a. Whale Hunting, in 2 top lists Check
  43. 41 new

    Gongdong gyeongbi guyeok JSA

    2000 — a.k.a. Joint Security Area, in 3 top lists Check
  44. 83 new

    Gwang-hae, wang-i doin nam-ja

    2012 — a.k.a. Masquerade, in 0 top lists Check
  45. 65 new

    Gwoemul

    2006 — a.k.a. The Host, in 11 top lists Check
  46. 64 new

    Haebaragi

    2006 — a.k.a. Sunflower, in 0 top lists Check
  47. 73 new

    Hahaha

    2010, in 1 top list Check
  48. 86 new

    Han Gong-ju

    2013, in 1 top list Check
  49. 5 new

    Hanyo

    1960 — a.k.a. The Housemaid, in 8 top lists Check
  50. 30 new

    Hayan chonjaeng

    1992, in 1 top list Check
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Last updated on Feb 13, 2021; source