korean movie recommendations, by a european cinephile: a thread

disclaimer: narrowing it down to 10 movies but I have many more recs. some of these are in all the "all-time best korean movie" lists but they're worth mentioning every single time. also I'm no expert, I just love how they do movies

oldboy 올드보이 (2003), dir. park chan wook 박찬욱

a modern korean classic. very violent and twisted but beautiful in its way too

poetry (2010), dir. lee chang dong 이창동

incredibly moving, showing the wonderful relationship between people and words

the wailing 곡성 (2016), dir. na hong jin 나홍진

I'm haunted by this movie to this day, amazingly done

train to busan 부산행 (2016), yeon sang ho 연상호

possibly the best zombie movie out there?

memories of murder 살인의 추억 (2003), dir. bong joon ho 봉준호

based on a true crime! if I had to choose, my favorite from director bong

I'm a cyborg, but that's ok 싸이보그지만 괜찮아 (2006), dir. park chan wook 박찬욱

literally the cutest movie of all time, not exaggerating

burning 버닝 (2018), dir. lee chang dong 이창동

murakami adaptation taken to another level. also, steven yeun is a worldwide treasure

pieta 피에타 (2003), dir. kim ki duk 김기덕

controversial in all the ways possible

the host 괴물 (2006), dir. bong joon ho 봉준호

the king of genre movies doing a monster film? hell yes

3-iron 빈집 (2004), dir. kim ki duk 김기덕

I like strange romance movies, sue me