The best Korean films of all time
The top 3 according to 2 votes from people: Oldboy · The Handmaiden · The Housemaid. (Updated Jul 30, 2025.)
The top ten of the Korean Film Archive's 2024 list of 100 Korean films (a poll of 240 film professionals) plus the Korean classics loved by critics and audiences at home and abroad.
Automatically translated (original in 한국어). See the original
Top 20
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1
Oldboy
Park Chan-wook, 2003. Oh Dae-su's revenge after 15 years of captivity; Grand Prix at Cannes.
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2
The Handmaiden
Park Chan-wook, 2016. Sarah Waters' novel transposed to Korea under Japanese rule.
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3
The Housemaid
Kim Ki-young, 1960. A maid brings down a middle-class family; number one in the Korean Film Archive's 2024 list.
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4
Memories of Murder
Bong Joon-ho, 2003. Detectives chasing the Hwaseong serial killer, with Song Kang-ho and Kim Sang-kyung.
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5
Parasite
Bong Joon-ho, 2019. The first Korean film to win both the Palme d'Or and the Oscar for Best Picture.
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6
Aimless Bullet
Yu Hyun-mok, 1961. The tragedy of a family in war-ravaged Seoul.
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7
The March of Fools
Ha Gil-jong, 1975. The drift and frustration of university students under the Yushin regime.
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8
Poetry
Lee Chang-dong, 2010. Yoon Jeong-hee as a grandmother who learns to write poetry while facing her grandson's crime; Best Screenplay at Cannes.
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9
Decision to Leave
Park Chan-wook, 2022. A detective falls for a suspect; Best Director at Cannes.
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10
Christmas in August
Hur Jin-ho, 1998. A terminally ill photographer (Han Suk-kyu) and Shim Eun-ha in a quiet romance.
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11
The Day a Pig Fell into the Well
Hong Sang-soo, 1996. Hong Sang-soo's debut; the crossing lives of four characters.
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12
Burning
Lee Chang-dong, 2018. A mystery based on a Haruki Murakami short story; FIPRESCI Prize at Cannes.
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13
Peppermint Candy
Lee Chang-dong, 1999. Twenty years of a man's life told in reverse.
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14
Secret Sunshine
Lee Chang-dong, 2007. Jeon Do-yeon won Best Actress at Cannes for it.
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15
The Host
Bong Joon-ho, 2006. A family against a monster from the Han River; at the time the highest-grossing Korean film.
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16
Mother
Bong Joon-ho, 2009. Kim Hye-ja as a mother trying to clear her son of murder.
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17
Sopyonje
Im Kwon-taek, 1993. A family of pansori singers and their han; the first Korean film to draw a million viewers in Seoul.
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18
Joint Security Area
Park Chan-wook, 2000. North and South Korean soldiers who become friends at Panmunjom.
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19
Save the Green Planet!
Jang Joon-hwan, 2003. A man who believes aliens are invading kidnaps an executive; a cult classic.
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20
Friend
Kwak Kyung-taek, 2001. Four friends in Busan go their separate ways; a box-office record at the time.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (5)
살인의 추억은 언제 봐도 소름 돋아요.
하녀 1위라니, 김기영 감독 작품을 알아주는 리스트네요.
헤어질 결심 너무 좋았어요. 탕웨이 연기 최고.
올드보이 복도 액션신은 전설이죠.
기생충 3위는 좀 낮은 것 같아요. 칸, 아카데미 다 휩쓸었는데.