Entertainment

Classic Korean Movies Like Piagol to Add to Your Watch List

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Nov 21, 2024 / 9460 Views

Evan Walker

While contemporary Korean movies have become a global phenomenon of late, the classics still hold unprecedented charm. From the all-time fan favourite An Affair to the old romance thriller The Housemaid, these classic movies best define the golden age of Korean cinema. If you are a fan of Korean dramas and movies, check out these classic films that are still widely popular.

Leading the list is Viva Freedom!, the first movie to be made after Korea’s independence from Japan. This classic movie is directed by acclaimed Korean director Choi In-kyu, known for establishing the Korea Film Studio in 1935. Also popular as Hurrah! For Freedom, the movie was declared a Registered Cultural Heritage of South Korea in 2007. Meanwhile, Kang Dae-jin’s 1961 family drama A Coachman became the first Korean movie to win a major international award — the Silver Bear Extraordinary Jury Prize at the 11th Berlin International Film Festival in 1961.

Another title that makes it to our list of Korean classics is Kim Ki-young’s masterpiece The Housemaid. Deemed by critics as one of the best movies ever made, The Housemaid, through its black and white vignettes, tells the story of a manipulative maid unleashing chaos in the lives of a happy married couple.

Not to forget, the Lee Jung-jae starrer An Affair and the Park Chan-wook directorial Oldboy, which are widely considered the best classic Korean movies of all time. The former was a critical hit and won the Best Asian Film award at the 1999 Newport Beach International Film Festival. On the other hand, Oldboy, one of the highest-grossing Korean movies of 2003, made a total of USD 17.1 million worldwide against a budget of USD 3 million, according to Box Office Mojo.

Additionally, the action flick won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. It was also nominated for the Palme d’Or, with jury president Quentin Tarantino applauding the movie’s brilliant portrayal of violence and revenge. Talking about the main theme of Oldboy, director Park said in a press conference (via Art Corporation), “Violence hurts both the abuser and the victim. My job is to broadcast this pain to the audience. The avenger, even when he gets satisfaction, still feels guilty – that’s my main idea.”