Top 5 Classic Korean Movies to watch
Regardless of all the Hollywood movies overflowing all over the world, South Korea is one of the few countries where people watch more domestic films than foreign films. For being such a small country, Koreans are very much into their own music, movies, dramas, and celebrities. Certainly, South Korea has been highly influenced by many other countries for many reasons. Of course, influence of Western culture has brought a lot of changes via food, language, etc. In particular, in the movie scene, it is quite amazing that Koreans have a huge collection of Korean movies even though it is such a small country.
It definitely was part of the Korean wave, Hallyu, which means growing popularity of South Korean culture. It began in the late 1990s. K-dramas and K-pop, and Korean movies were part of the ‘Hallyu’. Way before ‘Psy’ became famous for Gangnam style, in some parts of the world, Korean culture scene was already growing. Even though most of the dramas or films that are popular tend to be romantic or romantic comedy, there are classic Korean movies that you cannot miss.
- Snowpiercer (설국열차)
This is a sci-fi movie directed by Bong Joon-Ho. The whole world is frozen except for the train, the Snowpiercer. The harsh weather kills all the human beings on the planet except for the survivors in the train that travels around the world. However, within the train, they create their own class and economy system. A group of lower-class citizens decide to revolutionize and get to the front of the train. It is one of the movies that would make you wonder and question about the world you live in. Maybe it is a destiny that we cannot avoid natural diseases that are happening in the world.
- The way home (집으로)
The director of the movie is Lee Jeong-hyang. It is a story about a grandmother and her grandson. The grandson, raised in the city, goes to stay with his mute grandmother in the country side. You may think that the grandson may just seem like an immature little urban boy. But, it is such a heartwarming story that reminds you of the kind of unconditional love you get from your grandmother. It is a cute little story that shows the country side of Korea and how grandmothers’ love is the same no matter where you are from.
- Marathon (말아톤)
This Korean movie is based on a true story directed by Jeong Yoon-Cheol. The movie is about the struggle of a young man who has autism who finds his passion for running and his mother who never gave up on him and was determined to prove that her son is just like everyone else. It will definitely make you smile.
- Friend (친구)
This movie was one of the most famous Korean movies that achieved various film awards. It is about four friends who grow up together in the 70s in South Korea. As the time passes, each person takes a different path in life. As you look back on your life and your childhood friends, we start to grow apart and miss the olden days of our innocent youth.
- Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter … and Spring (봄 여름 가을 겨울 그리고 봄)
It is a beautiful story about a Buddhist monk’s life as he goes through different phases of his life. As he grows up seasons and years passing by, he leaves his master and experiences his life. Eventually, he goes back to the master. What I love the most about the movie is the beautiful scenery of nature. Even though the movie is being specific towards the Buddhist and a little boy growing up as a monk, it is comparable to nature of humans’ growing up and we repeat the cycle of experiences and lessons we learn.
