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30 Certified Fresh South Korean Movies To Watch Now

With Parasite‘s historic Best Picture win at the 2020 Oscars, South Korea has now become an intractable contender in the argument for which countries are producing the best movies today. Whether Parasite is your gateway into an international film scene or you’re a seasoned viewer looking to tick off every last classic, we present 30 Certified Fresh South Korean movies to watch now!

Parasite is a great introduction to the South Korean aesthetic, as director Bong Joon-ho has been playing with tone since the early 2000s. His spectacular crime thrillers Mother and Memories of Murder and his acclaimed monster movie The Host helped establish him as one of the country’s most promising filmmakers. Parasite‘s Song Kang-ho, one of Korea’s most versatile and prolific leading men, also starred in the latter two films and serves as the connective tissue between Bong and many of his celebrated colleagues. He’s worked with Oldboy director Park Chan-wook (Thirst, Sympathy for Lady Vengeance), Kim Jee-woon (The Age of Shadows, The Good, the Bad, the Weird), and Poetry and Burning director Lee Chang-dong multiple times.

Once you’ve devoured all of those films, there’s also the quiet, subdued work of Hong Sang-soo (Hotel by the River, On the Beach at Night Alone, Right Now, Wrong Then), whose frequent leading lady Kim Min-hee also starred in Park Chan-wook’s endlessly talked-about 2016 romantic mystery The Handmaiden. And if you’re looking for genre thrills, recent hits Train to Busan and The Wailing, as well as Kim Jee-woon’s A Tale of Two Sisters and I Saw the Devil, will help scratch that horror itch.

Since the turn of the century, South Korea has been a rising force in critic-applauded and genre-friendly moviemaking, with no signs of slowing down after Parasite‘s big wins. Take a look back with 30 Certified Fresh South Korean movies to watch now!

#30 The Housemaid (2011) 69% #30 Adjusted Score: 70.527% Critics Consensus: Im Sang-soo's remake of The Housemaid struggles to escape the shadow of the original, but offers its own unique -- and decidedly sensual -- pleasures. Synopsis: Eun-yi is an innocent young woman who is hired as an upper class family housemaid, and is tasked to take... Eun-yi is an innocent young woman who is hired as an upper class family housemaid, and is tasked to take... [More] Starring: Jeon Do-yeon, Lee Jung-jae, Youn Yuh-jung, Woo Seo Directed By: Im Sang-soo

#29 Pieta (2013) 72% #29 Adjusted Score: 73.329% Critics Consensus: It lacks subtlety and depth of character, but Pieta gets by with committed performances and a darkly ambitious, deceptively simple message. Synopsis: Winner of the Golden Lion at the 2012 Venice Film Festival, Pieta is the acclaimed film from the celebrated and... Winner of the Golden Lion at the 2012 Venice Film Festival, Pieta is the acclaimed film from the celebrated and... [More] Starring: Lee Jungjin, Cho Min-soo, Jo Min-soo Directed By: Kim Ki-duk

#20 Chihwaseon (2003) 83% #20 Adjusted Score: 83.409% Critics Consensus: A fittingly artful biopic about the life of a brilliant painter, Chihwaseon offers an uncommonly compelling look at a singularly creative life. Synopsis: Renowned Korean director Im Kwon-Taek (Chunhyang) tells the story of legendary iconoclastic Chosun Dynasty artist Oh-won (Choi Min-Sik). With little... Renowned Korean director Im Kwon-Taek (Chunhyang) tells the story of legendary iconoclastic Chosun Dynasty artist Oh-won (Choi Min-Sik). With little... [More] Starring: Choi Min-sik, Ahn Sung-kee, You Ho-Jeong, Ho-jeong Yu Directed By: Im Kwon-taek

#18 Chunhyangdyun (2000) 86% #18 Adjusted Score: 86.757% Critics Consensus: Chunhyang brings a classic love story to life with a period romance whose savory visuals are enhanced by a sincerity that transcends folktale formula. Synopsis: Renowned Korean filmmaker Im Kwon Taek offers his own unique take on a classic romantic fable with this 13th century... Renowned Korean filmmaker Im Kwon Taek offers his own unique take on a classic romantic fable with this 13th century... [More] Starring: Yi Hyo-Jeong, Lee Hyo Jung, Seung-woo Cho, Kim Soung-Nyeu Directed By: Im Kwon-taek

#17 3-Iron (2004) 87% #17 Adjusted Score: 89.036% Critics Consensus: A tender and moving romance from Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... And Spring's director Kim Ki-Duk. Synopsis: A battered woman finds her soul mate in a most unusual manner in this drama from Korean filmmaker Kim Ki-Duk.... A battered woman finds her soul mate in a most unusual manner in this drama from Korean filmmaker Kim Ki-Duk.... [More] Starring: Lee Seung-yeon, Gweon Hyeok-ho, Hyuk-ho Kwon, Hyun-kyoon Lee Directed By: Kim Ki-duk

#4 The Wailing (Goksung) (2016) 99% #4 Adjusted Score: 101.516% Critics Consensus: The Wailing delivers an atmospheric, cleverly constructed mystery whose supernatural thrills more than justify its imposing length. Synopsis: The arrival of a mysterious stranger in a quiet rural village causes suspicion amongst the villagers- but as they begin... The arrival of a mysterious stranger in a quiet rural village causes suspicion amongst the villagers- but as they begin... [More] Starring: Kwak Do-won, Chun Woo-hee Directed By: