Article: Top 10 Worth-Watching Korean War Movies

War has two main sides- the passion for fighting for the country and its people and the loss of the same people and humanity. The world has seen the invasion, colonizing, and fighting back for independence. South Korea has a history of wars, which won’t be a highlighting event from the global perspective like World Wars, but these Wars meant severe for the civilians, and  Blood is red, and red denotes a signal of danger. South Korea has indulged in wars like Korean War, DMZ Conflict, the Japanese invasion, Vietnam War.

Below is a list of movies to get a Korean perspective on the wars they fought.

1. Taegukgi: The Brotherhood Of War (2004)

Directed by Kang Je-Gyu, this 2004 movie narrates one of the more than a thousand situations of various families stuck and divided because of the Korean War. Revolving around the story of two brothers, who got parted away because of war, the film shows their flashbacks. Then it shows a few years later changed lifestyle, covering war montages like Pyongyang warfare and the intense situation on the 38th parallel hills. Will they bond back together with freedom?

 

2. The Front Line (2011)

The Front Line is incredible in its creation. Portraying not only the war scenes, but it also has a few messages and the struggle of the soldiers from both sides to fight and find out the reason for fighting. The element of brotherhood amongst the army soldiers is notable to know that these were the on-ground feelings that engaged them in do-or-die situations and attachment on the other side.

 

3. Welcome To Dongmakgol / Welkkeom Tu Dongmakgol (2005)

Story plots about two South Korean soldiers, Three North Korean soldiers, a U.S air force pilot, and the Dongmakgol village. Why a village? These soldiers end up together in this village. No wonder they fought to see each other, causing some danger and loss of food storage in the town. They later helped the village to get back on track and care for them as they lived ahead. But the twist arrives when U.S commanders get suspicious that there is a North Korean troop and plans an attack. The lost soldiers then fight back with unity to stop the danger.

 

4. Steel Rain (2017)

Yang Woo-suk released Steel Rain, an action, thriller, and war-based storyline plot, based on a webtoon of the same name. Story indulges in various events in an attempt to stop a nuclear war. The movie would be the best example to understand how North-South negotiations, agents, national security organizations, and missions work. This film has a sequel, released in 2022, ‘Steel Rain 2: Summit.'

 

5. The Long Way Home/Seobu Jeonseon (2015)

Inspired by a true story, The long way home is a fight/war between two soldiers of two opposing countries- North Korea and South Korea. Both are on their way to get home back, after surviving the bombings during the end of the Korean War. Nam-Bok (South soldier) is assigned to deliver a secret document safely according to the time and place but gets attacked by North troops. He misplaces it and ends up in one of the Northern soldier's hands. The story begins then!

 

6. Ode To My Father/Gukjesijang (2014)

Yoon Je-Kyoon's name displays in many movies as a producer. Ode to my Father is his direction movie. Ode to my father is not a wartime setting film, which will show you intense hatred, weapons, and blood. But the nostalgic mentions of the Vietnam War and Korean War can easily make you feel the post-effects of the wars caused emotionally and mentally. It’s a story about an ordinary civilian. There’s a lot to receive from this movie.

 

7. 71: Into The Fire/Pohwa Sogeuro (2010)

71: Into the Fire is about 71 soldier-trainees fighting against the North Korean attack of 1950. The movie showcases the period during the 1950 Korean War, including the battle of Pohang-dong. A group of 71 trainee soldiers struggles to protect the city against hundreds of North Korean Soldiers. Each one has a backstory to convey. The film has been awarded many awards like the ‘Blue Dragon Film Award,’ one of the notable awards in Korea.

 

8. Operation Chromite/Incheon Sangryuk Jakjeon (2016)

This film is about an operation carried out in an alliance between South Korea and the U.S to fight against North Korea. Based on actual events, the movie gives us a simple idea of how the operations get planned and executed to stop or fight back the worst in the army/soldier world. The Squid Game star, actor Lee Jung-Jae is one of the leads in this film. MacArthur, an American General, has reference in the movie. He was involved in the Korean War alliance with South Korea and commanded during WW2 and Japan’s postwar.

 

9. In Love And War/Jeok Gwa-Eui Dong Chim (2011)

Everything is fair in Love & War! To whom would you show your fairness if War and Love were on the same page but had different ends? Not all movies have situations or events-based war stories. In love and war plots around a girl from the South and her village. Dealing with an ordinary life, the villagers find themselves invaded by North Korean troops, whereas the girl discovers many mysterious stories about her family's involvement in the war. And the love is about this small village.

 

10. A Little Pond (2002)

The untold incident in some South Korean corners marked an event in 1950. The reason for the open fire remains- the suspicion regarding North Koreans hiding in between South Korean people. After an open fire incident took place by the American troops on innocent refugees, anti-American terms got stuck in the minds of South Korea. Though the characters are fictional, it talks about the actual Massacre of No Gun Ri.