Category: Reviews

I come to you, extremely tired, from a PC room.
I made a promise to myself to keep blogging, so I put 10,000₩ (about £7) on my PC room membership. Although I am extremely tired, I owe it to myself (and you guys!) to keep blogging!

Please check out my list series here.

The list that I have decided to make today is, what I think are the 10 must watch Korean movies.
When I first became interested in Korean culture, it was actually movies that drew me in. Korean cinema has remained my favourite part of Korean media! So I have a lot of opinions on this category!
I will try to keep this post short, but I can’t promise! I will also try to involve all genres of film!

1. Miracle in Cell No.7 (7번방의 선물, 2013)Drama/Comedy
   

   Drama/Comedy

   

   This movie stars my favourite actress, Park Shin-hye (박신혜), as a lawyer for her mentally ill father who was imprisoned for murder. I don’t want to give away too much of this story, so I will not give you any more plot information. However, I will say that this film made me laugh and cry like a baby. Excellent acting, a great story line and emotion filled.

2. Memories of Murder ( 살인의 추억, 2003)
   

   Drama/ Mystery

   

   This is an older movie, maybe the oldest in my list. It is based on the true events of Korea’s first serial murders on record. The movie follows two detectives trying to solve the crimes. After watching this movie, I found myself looking for all information on Korea’s first serial murders. I also found myself watching other dramas and another movie (Confessions of Murder, 2012) based on the same serial murders. This is the best of the movies I watched. (Some of the dramas were great but I will make a post about that another time!)
   What captured me about this movie which was actually recommended to me by a friend, is that I didn’t know any of the actors, so I could focus on their acting skills. They were great actors and I think the movie is also well directed.
   If you like drama/crime/thriller/mystery movies, check this movie out!

3. The Wailing (곡성, 2016)
   

   Drama/Romance

   

   This movie was also recommended to me by another friend, and to be honest, I don’t know if I am thankful!
   Whenever I think about this movie I get scared. It is so disturbing. The first time I watched this movie, there were no English subtitles. At the time my Korean wasn’t the greatest, so I thought to myself, “what on earth is happening?!”…
   I watched it a second time, with English subtitles. I thought to myself, “what on earth is happening?!”…
   If you like horrors, this movie is for you.
   If you like thrillers, this movie is for you.
   If you like mysteries, this movie is for you.
   If you like movies like inception and the prestige this movie is for you.
   Watch this movie.
   (Plus, it stars one of my favourite actors, Hwang Jung-min (황정민)!!)

4. Always (오직 그대만, 2011)
   Drama/Romance

   

   This movie…
   I don’t really like romantic movies. They make me feel so lonely and I lose hope in love! But this movie, had such a gripping story line, I had to watch it. I am very glad that I did. Although, the tissues that were used that night probably don’t feel the same.
   I’ll just give you a short preview of the plot.
   The extremely handsome So Ji-sub (소지섭) is an ex-boxer.
   The beautiful Han Hyo-joo (한효주) is blind.
   Of course, they fall in love but it’s never easy in romantic movies.

5. Spellbound (오싹한 연애, 2011)
   

   Comedy/ Romance/ Horror

   

   I thought that this movie was going to be a horror, but it was a comedy. It had a few jumpy scenes, but overall it is a funny movie! I also do not like comedies much, but this movie had me laughing!
   If you like horror comedies, this is a great movie for you!

6. Memoir of a Murderer (살인자의 기억법, 2017) 
   

   Drama/Action

   

   This movie had me guessing the whole time! It has been a while since I have seen such a good thriller movie. Thriller is my favourite genre of movie. So, I have tried to watch as many thrillers as possible. This is one of the movies that I always think about when someone asks me for a recommendation.
   An interesting story of a serial killer who has Alzheimer’s disease.
   This movie is bound to keep you guessing about the truth.

   Based on the best-selling fiction book A Murderer’s Guide to Memorization by Kim Young-ha (김영하)

7. Poetry (시, 2010)
   

   Drama/ Tragedy

   

   I actually watched this movie when I was at home in London. I was shocked that there was a Korean movie available on Sky Movies, so I just decided to watch it.
   It was a great find.
   This movie is a tragedy.
   I think one of the things that I appreciate about Korean movies is that they are very good at showing emotions and making the audience feel sympathy for the actors.
   An elderly woman, who suffers from Alzheimer’s disease, is raising her grandson.
   This movie shows what a grandma would do to protect her grandson, even if he does not deserve it.
   It is a controversial topic and while I do not agree with the grandma helping the grandson, it is a movie. I tried to watch this movie while focusing on a grandmothers love as apposed to protecting people who have done something wrong.
   A greatly tragic movie.

8. The Chaser (추격자, 2008)
   

   Crime/ Thriller

   

   I’m not sure why, but I thought I wrote a blog on this movie. I didn’t.
   A great crime thriller movie which is inspired by Korean serial killer, Yoo Young-Chul (유영철). I had heard about this serial killer before I had watched the movie, but it didn’t connect until I had watched the movie and researched it after. (I know I do things a bit backwards.)
   While I was watching this movie, I found myself really hating the main character. The film has excellent acting! This movie also had me guessing what was going to happen next.
   If you like watching movies or documentaries based on true crime, you may find this movie interesting.

9. Forgotten (기억의 밤, 2017)
   

   Mystery/ Thriller

   

   I think you guys can tell by now, I really like thriller movies.
   I watched this movie because it popped up as a suggestion on my TV. While I was watching it, I thought I knew what the story line was…
   I was left shocked because it wasn’t what it seemed like.
   A great watch which is action packed from the start.

   I have saved my favourite movie for last, so I hope you are still with me!

10. Hide and Seek (숨바꼭질, 2013)
    

    Mystery/ Thriller

    

    I have watched this films multiple times. I never get bored of it!
    Every time I watch this movie, I am just so amazed at how good of an actress Moon Jeong-hee (문정희) is! She is amazing!
    This movie also had me wondering what was going on the whole time! This was one of the first Korean thrillers I had watched. It is still my favourite!
    I suggest everyone watches this movie and while you are watching, please pay attention!

Well, there you have it! My top 10 Korean movies.
Of course, there are many more movies that I would like to suggest to you guys! However, for today, I tried to do my favourite movies that I think have not been seen by many of my international friends and followers.

Who knows, maybe there will be a part 2!