South Korea is a country of movie lovers, and its film industry is gaining massive success worldwide. Hollywood, a popular term used for the South Korean film industry and the Korean wave phenomenon. Further, South Korean movies are emotionally captivating and well-crafted, making them one of the biggest movie industries in the world. While directors like Park Chan-wook, Bong Joon-ho, and Kim Jee-Woon are popular and successful figures of the industry, their movies are increasingly getting the attention of the foreign audience.
Here are the ten most famous and legendary South Korean film directors to watch.
1. Bong Joon-Ho
Born on September 14, 1969, Bong Joon-ho is a South Korean movie director, screenwriter, and producer. Joon-ho's director debut movie, the black comedy Barking Dogs Never Bite (2000), made him famous among the audience. He is known for creating an unforgettable cinematic experience through movies like Memories of Murder (2003), The Host (2006), and Snowpiercer (2013). At the same time, the black comedy thriller Parasite (2019) is among the highest-grossing movie in the South Korean movie industry.
2. Park Chan-Wook
One of the most famous filmmakers globally, Park Chan-wook, is a movie director, producer, screenwriter, and former film critic. He is a genuine auteur who is famous for movies like Joint Security Area (2000), Thirst (2009), and The Handmaiden (2016). The Vengeance Trilogy – Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (2002), Oldboy (2003), and Lady Vengeance (2005) made him the best modern and successful South Korean director.
3. Kim Jee-Woon
Kim Jee-Woon is a famous movie director and screenwriter of South Korea. The movie that gave him success and recognition was A Tale of Two Sisters (2003). This movie won many awards, including the Fant-Asia Film Festival. His films portray a mix of entertainment and artistry.
4. Hong Sang-Soo
In 1996 Hong Sang-soo came up with his directorial debut, The Day a Pig Fell into The Well. Interestingly, the movie introduced him as a famous and respected director in the South Korean film industry. Meanwhile, he also gave back-to-back hits with movies like Woman is the Future of Man (2004) and Tale of Cinema (2005).
5. Im Sang-Soo
Im Sang-soo is a talented and confident director who earned a cult following with The President's Last Bang (2005). While Sang-soo's movie Good Lawyer's Wife was a major South Korean box-office success, he continued to gain the hearts of his fans when he remade The Housemaid (2010). The movie competed for the Palme d'Or at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival.
6. Lee Chang-Dong
Lee Chang-dong is one of those wise directors whose debut movie, Green Fish (1997), made him popular among South Korean fans. Later, he created exciting films like Pepperment Candy (1999), Oasis (2002), and Secret Sunshine (2007). Later, he made Burning (2018), which won Fipresci International Critics Award at the Venice Film Festival (2002).
7. Na Hong-Jin
South Korea's famous director Na Hong-jin's directorial debut The Chaser (2008) is one of his fans' favorites. The movie made him win Best Director at the Korean Film Awards and Grand Bell Awards. At the same time, movies like The Yellow Sea (2010) and The Wailing (2016) get screened at the Cannes Film Festival.
8. Im Kwon-Taek
Im Kwon-taek is one of the well-known directors of South Korea who has received a significant amount of box-office success. The movie Chihwaseon (2002) made him famous as a great storyteller. At the Cannes Film Festival, he went on to win Korea's first Best Director Award. Further, at the Berlin Film Festival (2005), he was awarded an Honorary Golden Bear Award.
9. Lee Joon-Ik
Lee Joon-ik had made an exciting debut with the movie Kid Cop (1993). At the same time, fans loved the movie Once Upon a Time in a Battlefield (2003). While movies like Sunny (2008), Hope (2013), and The Throne (2015) made him successful, his movie King and the Clown (2005) is one of the highest-grossing movies in the history of South Korea.
10. Kim Ki-Duk
After debuting with the successful movie Crocodile (1995), Kim Ki-Duk became popular among South Korean fans. While his movie Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter. Critics praised spring. Meanwhile, he gets awarded at the Venice Film Festival for 3-Iron (2004). He also got rewarded for Samaritan Girl (2004) at the Berlin International Film Festival.
