.png){kind=logo}
It's easier to find some movies than others. You've definitely seen movies like Parasite, Love and Leashes, and Space Sweepers on your home page, but unless you look for them specifically, some hidden gems typically require a lot more research. However, if you're not up for the task, we can assist. Below, we've listed 15 underappreciated Korean films that you may not have seen but that you should.
1. Crazy Romance
The main character of the movie, Sun-young, breaks things off with her unfaithful ex only to develop love for her coworker Jae-hoon. However, there's a catch: Jae-hoon is still emotionally attached to his ex from their previous relationship. The couple must successfully navigate their way out of the office rumor quagmire in order to stay together as their relationship grows stronger.
2. On Your Wedding Day
When Woo-Yeon meets Seung-hee, a transfer student who is a new entry to his school, it is love at first sight for him. Seung-hee is obliged to have Woo-Yeon pose as her phony lover even though she initially has no interest in him because of the school's steady stream of suitors vying for her attention. Their phony connection gradually develops into a genuine one, but chaos ensues when Seung-hee abruptly leaves town one day, leaving Woo-Yeon, unavoidably, with a broken heart. However, life gives them a second chance, and their paths once more cross.
3. Cheer Up Mr. Lee
Chul-soo has the most ideal physique, yet he is unfortunate to have mental impairments. However, his life completely changes when he meets his daughter—a person he had no idea even existed—and they develop a loving relationship while traveling to Daegu. Undoubtedly, this is one of the most underappreciated Korean films.
4. New World
The protagonist of New World is Lee Ja-sung, an undercover police informant who works at the highest ranks of the criminal organization Goldmoon. The death of the leader of the criminal group upends his entire inquiry. The struggle for dominance among those seeking to succeed the current rulers and the fast mobilization of the factions to take over the criminal empire both began with this episode.
5. Peppermint Candy
The story of the film is told totally backwards, and we begin with the tragic death of the lead actor Kim Young-ho, who is standing in front of a train as it approaches him, much to the horror of many longtime friends who are out for a picnic. The story then proceeds to describe the past 20 years of happenings and what finally led to the character's demise.
6. Veteran
The hilarious but slightly insane cop in Veteran fights for justice when a friend of his is viciously attacked and dangerously close to dying by a playboy-like CEO turned mafia. As the cat-and-mouse game progresses, the cops and the gangsters are allowed equal screen time to depict themselves as human beings, albeit ones with vastly different moral perspectives.
7. The Way Home
The protagonist of the tale is Sang-woo, a little 7-year-old child. While his mother seeks for employment, he is sent to live with his mute, old grandmother. His Grandmother's way of life—without electricity or running water in her home—is inconceivable to a modernized Seoul child who spends much of his time holding his Gameboy.
Sang-woo is a wild, spoiled child who frequently misbehaves in an effort to get his way when he first meets his grandmother. But she never tells him to change his behavior; instead, she chooses to use basic approaches to try to win his favor.
8. The Day A Pig Fell Into A Well
The four protagonists of The Day A Pig Fell Into A Well progressively separate as a result of their unique situations and tremendous mental pain, which helps to explain the title. The sense of helplessness that results from being caught in a metaphorical well, writhing around, and feeling helpless as you look up at the rest of society is finally symbolized by it.
9. Lady Vengeance
Since Lee Geum-Ja (Lee Young-ae) was jailed for a murder she didn't commit, 13 years had passed. She has fantasized about getting even with everyone who has wronged her, including the policeman (Nam Il-u) who forced her to confess and a suspect teacher (Choi Min-Sik) with whom she had a tumultuous past. After being released, she teams up with a group of eccentric friends she made while incarcerated and embarks on a mission to clear her record and find the daughter she was forced to leave behind.
10. The Housemaid
Hae-Ra and her husband, Hoon, appoint Eun-Yi to look after their daughter. When Hoon makes Eun-Yi pregnant, Hae-Ra tries to murder the child. Eun-Yi wants to exact revenge for the treachery as quickly as possible. One of the most underappreciated Korean films of all time, without a doubt.
