Top Six Korean Movies

Living in Korea for several years, the dynamic film culture excited me. Compiling this list, I included personal favorites from Korean movies I have seen. It is not meant to be a comprehensive "best of" list. The movies were chosen specifically to show different points of view about Korean life and history. My goal is to give an introduction to Korean movies and a small window into the culture.

1. Yeopgijeogin geunyeo (My Sassy Girl)
This is a fresh romantic comedy based on real life. Kim Ho-sik wrote an Internet journal about his crazy ex-girlfriend as a way to get over her. It caught the attention of a movie studio and they contacted him to develop the script. I wanted to give up on "My Sassy Girl" half-way through. Funny as the situations and characters were, I wanted to tell him to run from her as fast as he could. Thankfully, the last third of the film took some unexpected turns and won me over. There will be an American remake released sometime this year. Do yourself a favor and watch the original first.

2. Jibeuro (The Way Home)
This film is a tribute to love, family, and grandmothers everywhere. Director Lee Jeong-hyang tells a simple, quiet story that will win your heart. "The Way Home" shows a very different side of Korea from the sprawling, frenetic metropolis of Seoul. A struggling single mother takes her seven-year-old son to live temporarily with his grandmother who is mute. Her home is in a tiny mountain village without running water or electricity. The young boy has never been to the countryside or met his grandmother before. Two different generations from two different worlds must find a way to understand each other. One reason this movie feels so natural is that Lee Jeong-hyang did not cast an actress. He found a woman, Kim Eul-boon, from a rural village to play the role. She had never even seen a film before.

3. Chihwaseon (Strokes of Fire)
This movie is a historical drama based on famous 19th century Korean painter, Jang Seung-up. He was a non-conformist in a very politically pressurized time in Korean history. Choi Min-sik gives a blustery performance as the rebellious, alcoholic, womanizing artist. The wildness and political tension are sharply contrasted in this movie by the poetic beauty of the Korean countryside and tranquil watercolor paintings of wildlife and natural scenes.

4. 2009: Lost Memories
This movie highlights the adversarial feelings still present toward Japan. The historical relationship between the two countries is long and full of conflict. There are people alive today who lived during the Japanese colonization, which ended in 1945. The premise of this sci-fi action thriller is that Japanese agents have created an alternate future. In this new reality Korea is still a colony. When the hero learns the truth he joins the underground resistance fighting to restore the original timeline and regain Korean independence.

5. JSA (Joint Security Area)
This movie is a tense investigative drama about a shooting at the DMZ (demilitarized zone) between North and South Korea. While there have been several incidents of violence there over the decades, the events in this film are entirely fictional. "JSA" resounds with deeper truths about the tragedy and complicated realities of all that divides the two Koreas. The highlight of this movie is the outstanding performance of Song Kang-ho as a North Korean Sergeant.

6. Chingu (Friend)
This dark, violent, Korean gangster movie follows a group of friends growing up in the rough environment of a blue-collar neighborhood in the southern port city of Pusan. One, Jeong-suk, is the son of a gangster and another, Dong-su, is a misfit. As an adult, Dong-su finds his place as an enforcer in Jeong-suk's organization. Events and competing loyalties conspire to test the limits and meaning of friendship for all four friends. Director and writer Kwak Kyung-taek based the movie on himself and several friends he grew up with.

Film is a fun way to experience other cultures, not to mention more affordable than a plane ticket. Watching these Korean movies, you will hopefully gain an appreciation for the resilience, energy, humor and heart of the people. Perhaps they will lead to further exploration to find more great Korean films.