It shines a spotlight on both landmark films and deepcuts from the 1950s to the ‘00s. This survey is simply a guide, a sample platter of the delectable works in Korean film history. By the new millenium, Korean crime films became stranger, bloodier, and more uncontainable, rivaling Hong Kong and Japan for singular genre output. That’s not all these tales of crime and woe frequently mutate, becoming something else, mixing their DNA with strands of action, thrillers, police procedurals, comedy, and that staple of Korean cinema: melodrama. Expect investigations proceeding on rainslick streets at night elaborately choreographed gun duels and all-out brawls with everyday items and entangled relationships among friends, lovers, and enemies. South Korean crime films, in particular, are an arsenic-laced delight. Of course, these types of movies most assuredly overlap as well. There is the art house fare winning accolades at international festivals the steady flow of mainstream, industry-approved movies filling theaters and the boundless riches of a genre cinema that never ceases to astound. If you want a list of movies based on genres like romantic-comedy, Korean war, action, or historical ones, you can also check out our separate article about Korean movies.South Korean cinema is a wild, confounding hydra. These are just a few of our favorite picks. Many other South Korean films can help you improve your Korean. They definitely take plenty of time and energy!
Feel free to only follow these steps some of the time or only for certain scenes or phrases you want to learn.
Keep in mind these steps are just recommendations for getting the most out of the studying part of watching a film. At this point, you should understand most (if not all) of the conversation in the film with no help from subtitles. If you can’t read Hangeul yet, it is possible to learn Hangeul in just ninety minutes, so what are you waiting for? 4th viewing: Turn off all subtitlesĪfter watching a South Korean film scene with English subtitles, try turning the subtitles off and watch the scene without any subtitles at all. This can be extremely helpful as not all of the Korean words you hear will be the word you expected them to be. Not only are you listening to the Korean words being spoken, but you’re also matching them to how they’re written in Hangeul as well. Most learners have an easier time reading the English translation first, then match the subtitles to the Korean words, so give that a shot first. This will let you appreciate the film for what it is before diving into the language-learning portion.
Start by watching the movie without subtitles.
However, there are a couple of things you can do to set yourself up for success.
You’ll still have fun doing it, of course. Watching some fine South Korean films with the intent of learning or practicing Korean is different from watching a movie for leisure.
Along with the Gods: The Two Worlds (신과함께)Ĭast: Ha Jung Woo, Cha Tae Hyun, Ju Ji Hoon, Yu Jun SangĬan't read Korean yet? Click here to learn for free in about 60 minutes! How to Watch a Korean Movie We’ll be adding more to this list so stay tuned!Ĭast: Song Kang Ho, Lee Sun Kyun, Cho Yeo JeongĬast: Lee Byung Hun, Choi Min sik, Jeon Gook Hwan, Kim Kap SooĬast: Seung Yun Lee, Hee Jae, Hyuk Ho KwonĬast: Song Kang ho, Kim Sang Kyung, Kim Roi HaĬast: Yoo Ah In, Steven Yeun, Jeon Jong SeoĬast: Uhm Tae Goo, Jeon Yeo Been, Cha Seung Wonĩ. The list below features movies to start with if you want to familiarize the language.
South Korea’s films definitely have lots to offer.