With the onset of projects such asParasiteand Netflix’sSquid Game,The South Korean film industry has cemented its place in the global map of cinema. This feat is the direct culmination of the hard work and dedication shown by the pioneers of the South Korean film industry.
With a penchant for high-end melodrama mixed with themes of violence and satire, the South Korean industry is heavily endowed with multi-faceted filmmakers, responsible for pioneering their own course of cinematic history,
10Im Sang-soo
Im Sang-soo’s films revolve around the themes of misogyny layered with sadomasochistic undertones. The director pairs these elements with pristine and measured cinematography, giving his films a very polished exterior with a tumultuous interior. Sang-soo isn’t just a well-respected name within South Korea, but in Europe as well, having been invited by the prestigious Cannes Film Festival to compete for the Palme d’Or for his filmsThe HousemaidandThe Taste of Money.
9Yoon Ga-eun
Yoon Ga-eun’s films usually center around a child protagonist and reveal the world from their perspective. The filmmaker brilliantly captures the whirlpool of emotions often associated with childhood and presents them withina world of pastel-infused visuals.Along with their childlike visuals, Yoon’s films also have a knack for organically capturing small moments and insights that are seemingly important in childhood but lose their importance as we age.
8Hong Sang-soo
Hong Sang-soocan be described as the South Korean version of Woody Allen and Richard Linklater. The South Korean director’s films have a very distinct style that mainly aims at capturing the unveiling of life in all its glory. Similar to Allen and Linklater, Hong’s films rely on the beauty of everyday eventsthat seem mundane and mediocrefrom the outside, but have a sense of charm and appeal on the inside.
7Im Kwon-taek
In the current context of the modern generation of South Korean filmmakers,Im Kwon-taekis somewhat of a living legend. Having been touted as one of South Korea’s greatest filmmakers of all time, Im Kwon-taek began his filmmaking journey in the ’60s and was one of the key figures in introducing South Korean cinema to the world and the world to South Korean cinema.
Adding to that, the legendary filmmaker also created history by becoming the first South Korean filmmaker to win the Best Director Award at Cannes for his filmPainted Fire,solidifying his reputation and contribution to South Korea’s cinema.
6Kim Jee-Woon
Kim Jee-Woon’s films have an explosive quality to them, heavily relying on shock value by sending ripples of ultra-violence through the screen. Jee-Woon’s films are gripping yet tense and are by no means easy to watch. The Korean director marries the action genre along with sub-genres such as blood and gore, creating a potent cocktail of grade-A violence contained within a well-crafted narrative.
Related:Best Kim Jee-woon Movies, Ranked
5Lee Chang-dong
With films likeBurningandPeppermint Candy,it’s clear thatLee Chang-dong’s cinematic style stands out from the rest of his peers. Lee’s films not only deal with melancholic themes of despair and displacement, but they also touch upon the pertinent question of existentialism without coming across as too preachy or farfetched. Lee’s films rather operate within the narrative framework that identifies and addresses these themes and questions in the most relatable yet daunting way, giving them a distinct aftertaste.
4Kim Ki-duk
With a burning passion for violence and magical realism,Kim Ki-duk’s filmography is full of films that border on being abstract and are not confined to solid interpretation. The Korean filmmaker blendsthe themes of violenceand realism and takes the viewer on a journey where the darkest impulses of human behavior are slowly revealed, heavily garnished with the primal instincts of violence and bloodshed.
Related:Best Kim Ki-duk Movies, Ranked
3Na Hong-jin
With just three features under his belt,Na Hong-jinhas crafted a reputation as one of South Korea’s brightest filmmaking lights. Like Kim Jee-Woon, Hong-jin’s films also massively lean on shock value and the effect it has on the viewer. Hong-jin’s films are fast-paced and thrilling, but also come off as unsettling due to the director’s twisted take on morality and virtue.
2Park Chan-wook
Watching aPark Chan-wookmovie is like strapping into a faulty rollercoaster ride with no assurance of safety, but a complete guarantee of thrill. The legendary filmmakerbehind the revenge phenomenonOldboyandThe Handmaidenis notorious for his plot twists, along with his stylish cinematography making him one of the mostrespected and imitated filmmakers throughout the world.
Related:Here’s a Ranking of All Park Chan-wook Movies
1Bong Joon-ho
Those introduced toBong Joon-ho’s work recently may want to go back a few decades and watchMemories of Murder, Okja, SnowpiercerandThe Hostto really get an idea of Joon-ho’s genius. Like with most intelligent filmmakers, Bong’s films are tethered in society and modern imperialism, which are then further layered with tropes and nuances of different genres such as crime and sci-fi.
The level of detail found in Bong’s workis seldom found in any other director’s films, making him not only the most influential filmmaker in South Korea but also the world.
