Korean Films That Exploded Internationally

Korea has a reputation for being a trendsetter. After all, it has more than a handful of influential cultural exports, such as flashy K-Pop groups, skincare products, delicious BBQ cuisine, and emotional dramas. And Korean cinema is no stranger to crossing geographical boundaries and captivating international audiences either - it boasts many shining gems, from dramas that explore thought-provoking socio-cultural topics to thrillers that mimic the modern-day rush of browsing sites like casinos.com to get the top bonus offers. Let's take a look at five Korean films that deserve your attention.

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"Parasite"

"Parasite" is a hard-hitting example of brilliant cinematography and intense storytelling packaged into a unique film. The movie was so internationally renowned that it won numerous accolades, notably the Palme d'Or at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival, the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 92nd Academy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

The premise of "Parasite" is Romeo-and-Juliet-esque, centering on two families from two sides of the socioeconomic coin. With class issues and identity being such an inherently Korean topic, director Bong Joon-ho chose a golden topic for his masterpiece. The movie presents a blend of dark comedy, thriller, and drama infused into a gripping storyline, initially disguising the film as a comedy about the poor outsmarting the rich. Later on, however, viewers are taken on a ride full of twists and turns that ends with a bang. With its director describing the film as "a comedy without clowns, a tragedy without villains", this one-of-a-kind watch is an experience in itself.

 

"Train to Busan"

If you're a fan of movies like 28 Days Later and World War Z, "Train to Busan" is the ideal addition to your watch list. As the title implies, it mostly takes place on a train (a Korea Train eXpress) from the cosmopolitan city of Seoul to the port metropolis of Busan. It delivers the action-packed zombie warfare and nail-biting suspense you'd expect from a flick in the genre, but it sets itself apart with more robust themes of bravery and the responsibility of looking out for each other. Because it is a Korean film, there's an emphasis on collectivist structures deeply embedded in the culture, such as community and group cohesion.

While the cast of characters is diverse, they can be considered on the nose for a zombie film - a pregnant wife and her hardworking husband, a schoolgirl, a wealthy yet cowardly businessman, and a teen baseball player. Our primary protagonist, however, is Seok-woo, a fund manager and father to Su-an, with whom he has a volatile relationship. Through all the heart-pumping action, we get to invest in the evolving father-daughter dynamic from when Seok-woo previously tried to buy his daughter's love. But if you're not here for the mushy stuff, don't worry - "Train to Busan" is, at its core, still a zombie apocalypse movie. You'll see all sorts of brutal casualties, zombies appearing out of nowhere, and plenty of screams and shrieks.

 

"Oldboy"

"Oldboy" is thrilling - and phenomenally good. It's a 2003 film that follows the main character, Oh Dae-Su, a man who has been kidnapped and imprisoned in an unsettling hotel room for 15 years. If you've ever heard of the urban legend of the Backrooms, the setting will look eerily familiar. He has no idea who captured him or why, and his journey involves violence, revenge, redemption, and questions of morality. The movie is powerful, deep, and cinematic, and it has garnered serious praise from renowned filmmaker Quentin Tarantino while also being placed on a variety of "best-of" lists by official publications.

Interestingly, "Oldboy" is loosely based on the Japanese manga series "Old Boy", a psychological thriller about a man incarcerated in a private prison, searching for his captors and trying to understand his imprisonment. With manga known to have multi-layered and intricate storylines and plenty of dramatic elements, these qualities translated effectively into this movie.

 

"The Host"

Ironically enough, "The Host" was created and directed by none other than the man behind "Parasite", Bong Joon-ho. In contrast to the more grounded nature of "Parasite", however, "The Host" is an experimental monster movie - a highly uncommon genre of film in Korea. But it's clear that Bong knows precisely what he's doing and how to do it well. Despite exploring the potential of literal monsters rather than symbolic ones, "The Host" ended up being the highest-grossing Korean film of 2006.

The movie took inspiration from a true story back in 2000 when an American coroner was convicted of disposing of deadly chemicals into South Korea's Han River. Just like the satisfaction and terror the audience experiences with the Godzilla and Alien movies, we get to watch a terrifying alien-like creature wreak havoc on the city and its people.