Must-See South Korean Cinema

“★★★★★ – unmissable” – Financial Times. Bong Joon Ho’s 2003 crime drama is based on the real life story of South Korea’s first ever serial killer. In a small Korean province in 1986, two detectives struggle with the case of multiple young women being found raped and murdered, and face a race against time before the unknown culprit strikes again.

“★★★★★ – A superlative thriller and a deeply erotic character study” – Empire. A milestone of LGBT cinema in ultra-conservative South Korea, Park Chan-wook’s acclaimed erotic psychological thriller is a tale of deceit and desire set in the 1930s. When a pair of petty criminals attempt to con a Japanese heiress, feelings start to get in the way and it’s unclear exactly who is being conned.

★★★★ – Empire. South Korea’s first zombie movie is delirious fun, mixing elements of classic zombie horrors with Snowpiercer survivalism and great action sequences. People board the fast train from Seoul to Busan, unaware that a virus is spreading through the carriages, slaughtering those onboard.

“★★★★★ – a daring study of class conflict and sexual longing that blazes with mystery” – Telegraph. Director Lee Chang-dong explores toxic masculinity in this incendiary thriller. Budding writer Jong-soo is a loner, but he begins a relationship with old school friend Hae-mi. When Hae-mi returns from a trip away with Ben (Steven Yeun) in tow, Jong-soo’s suspicions spiral into paranoia and delusion.

“★★★★★ – A beautifully blood-spattered modern classic” – Guardian.  An undisputable must-see, the middle of Park Chan-wook’s ‘Vengeance Trilogy’ weaves a web of conspiracy and violence, offering a breath of fresh air from formulaic Hollywood thrillers.  Years before Parasite, Oldboy set the benchmark for South Korean cinema.

“★★★★★ – A gasp-inducing masterpiece” – Observer. Director Bong Joon-ho displays Hitchcockian mastery with his seventh feature, an Oscar-winning satirical thriller about a poverty-stricken family who begin to infiltrate a wealthy household. If you haven’t seen this yet, the big question is…why not?!