The90swere a revolutionary period in pop culture that saw the early booming of what cinema is today. This didn’t just happen in America, though. Across the sea,Koreancinemas emerged with their own brand of art that captured the attention of both local and international audiences with distinctive storytelling and creativity. Think about the top fan-favorite movies from this country, be itOldboy, Parasite,orMemories of Murder.How often does American cinema put out movies that are compelling and original? Now, think of how often they remake these movies for their own audiences.
The movies on this list are a rich compilation of some of the best and most underappreciated movies from one of the most important decades in the film industry. These movies are diverse in storytelling and character work and perfectly exemplify the rise of Korean cinema at the dawn of the modern age. For those who loveSouth Korean movies, here are the top 10 from the 90s.
10Attack the Gas Station
Attack the Gas Stationis about just that: an attack on a gas station. It’s a hammy movie with hijinks and violence, but it is not for everyone. Released around the time of the IMF crisis, this film follows a group of bored teens who decide to rob a gas station for the second time. When they don’t get the money, thanks to the wizened manager, they take him, the staff, and various customers hostage, choosing to make their money by serving the customers and pocketing the money they make.
A lot of insane situations, feuds, and fights take place as the teens ease their boredom by interacting with the assortment of wild and zany characters who make their way to the gas station, kidnapping customers who insult their service, and forcing various hostages to fight one another. The entire movie exudes chaotic energy with its cartoonish characters, providing genuine hilarity without getting bogged down in the insanity, which may be why it’s a cult classic in South Korea.
9The Murmuring
The Murmuringmay be the only documentary on this list, but it is no less a captivating story. As the first in a trilogy,The Murmuringdocuments the enslavement of Korean women during WWII by the Japanese and forced into sexual enslavement. Gripping, devastating, and powerful, this film had a resounding impact not just in Korean theaters, but worldwide as it put light on an issue most have tried to forget.
Lives were transformed forever in this period. Most prefer to look at the Nazis as the enemy of WWII, but there were atrocities on other fronts of the war. Director Young-joon Byun brings a passion and artistic flare that will not let go once it has attention, so it’s definitely worth the watch.
8Green Fish
Green Fishis a drama about a guy who makes the friendship of a girl being mugged. Of course, it’s a noble act, but things start to spin out of control when he learns she is the daughter of a mob boss. Mak Dong has just been released from the army and makes his way home when he comes across a woman being harassed by a couple of goons. He gets his butt kicked, but soon after, the woman finds his contact information when he accidentally leaves his luggage on the train.
He soon learns of and finds himself becoming part of her family in organized crime, forcing him to navigate those treacherous waters. However, the one he has back home is almost as volatile. He still gets his butt kicked regularly, but one of these families could very well kill him. Based on this description,Green Fishsounds like a comedy, but it’s very much a drama with high stakes.
7To the Starry Island
To the Starry Islandis a poignant film from 1993 that, on some level, may have renewed relevance in today’s culture. The story follows a man who ventures to the island of his father’s birth to lay him to rest, as per his final wishes. However, this task isn’t easy as the locals remember his father all too well, as well as his controversial political past at a time of war. Determined to honor his father, the man will fight any fight he needs to bury him.
Meanwhile, in his efforts, he begins to recollect his own history on the island, as well as that of past romance with four local women. His reminiscence paints a vivid picture of his past and life on the island in a poignant exploration of the themes of forgiveness, family, and reconciliation that invites the viewer to consider the effects of the past and political histories.
6A Single Spark
A Single Sparkfollows the efforts of a man fighting for workers' rights in South Korea, an effort that ends in his self-immolation as a form of protest. Tae-il has worked in the harsh conditions of Seoul Peace Market and has seen all manner of abuse. From squalid conditions to cruel bosses, unthinkably long shifts, even to the drugging of his co-workers to keep them working, it’s a way of life that no one deserves, leading to Tae’s efforts for change.
However, broken promises and deceit eventually end in him making the ultimate sacrifice. At a different time, Yeong-soo is another activist who lives his life on the run as he continues Tae’s fight by telling his story. Considering the subject matter and scene of immolation, this may be a tough watch for most modern viewers. However, if nothing else, it’s a masterpiece of its time and will help viewers appreciate the working conditions many fight for that all too often are taken for granted.
Related:South Korean Movies That Will Disturb You For Days
5The Quiet Family
At number five is the debut family of director Kim Jee-woon, the director of such films asI Saw The Devil, A Tale of Two Sisters, and theblood-saked revenge tragedyA Bittersweet Life. In the 1998 dark comedy,The Quiet Family, a family purchases a lodge in a remote hiking area hoping to turn their fortunes around, but this does not go as planned when their first customer commits suicide on the property. Hoping to sweep the incident under the rug, the family tries to quietly dispose of the body.
Their luck only continues to plummet when even more bodies start to turn up, making for a masterfully macabre yet hilarious situation.The Quiet Familyis a masterful blend of humor and dark storytelling that even today serves as a masterclass in cinematic experience, featuring some of what would go on to be South Korea’s brightest talent.
4Black Republic
Black Republicis a poignant exploration of a student activist’s journey in a small mining town while hiding from the law. Under the false identity of Kim Ki-young, the student seeks work and refuge in the village’s harsh conditions. However, he remains haunted by his past despite the bonds he forges. As he falls into the daily struggles of the community, he eventually befriends a group of separately troubled individuals. But it’s his friendship with Young-Sook that changes both of their lives for the better.
Black Republicis a delicate story of self-transformation in a land abandoned by its country’s fast development. And what’s more, it does so without sounding preachy. At its heart, it is an organic story with a powerful message without one interfering with the other.
3Christmas in August
Here’s one of the most romantic and emotional films from this decade with a legacy that continues to grow to this day.Christmas in Augustfollows a young parking agent who falls in love with the owner of a photo shop. They bond quickly, and it’s almost as if they are meant for each other. There’s just one problem: he was recently diagnosedwith a terminal illness, cutting his life short. Despite this, the two try to find joy together.
This movie is yet another piece of storytelling that leaves both its main characters forever altered by their experiences. One of the best aspects of this film is the way it captures both their attitudes toward death and its inevitability in a realistic manner without dramatic twists or devices. It’s no wonder why it remains so endearing. And yes, it does count as a greatKorean Christmas movie.
Related:10 Amazing South Korean Movies That Will Make You Cry
2Seopyeonje
In a step away from soulful romance and comedy,Seopyeonjefollows a family torn apart by an obsession with the traditional music of Pansori. As a former Pansori prodigy, the aged Yu-bong despises the more modern music of his current generation and seeks to pass down his skills to his children. However, this isn’t something they’ve asked for, and the obsession with forcing his passion onto them soon turns him into a hostile alcoholic. His son, Dong-ho, eventually leaves the house having had enough but returns years later to find his sister.
Seopyeonjeis as heartbreaking as it is powerful and perfectly captures the power of the Pansori as their musical performances capture the depth of their sadness. This film marked a turning point in Korean cinema from emulating Western styles to capturing stories unique to Korean culture. Fans are thankful for it because Korean cinema has a huge fanbase in the West.
1Peppermint Candy
Shindo Films
In the number one spot on this list is the darkest Korean movie of the 90s, but also the most poignant and relevant for today.Peppermint Candyis a deep dive into the haunting suicide of a former police officer and the effects his life has on those left in his wake. It starts with the death itself before rewinding on an emotionally charged journey through the events and choices that led to his unfortunate decision.
The character of Yong-ho is deeply flawed and displays reprehensible behavior throughout his life, which draws a stark contrast between our empathy for him and our repulsion, challenging the viewer’s moral perspective. While the film explores this man’s life and the events that led to his ending, it also parallels significant events in the history of South Korea, intertwining the country’s struggles with Yong-ho’s in a compelling fashion.
What viewers today can learn about mental health and suicide is that taking one’s life is not based on a singular event but the culmination of a lifelong struggle.Peppermint Candyis a thought-provoking story that will stay with the viewer forever.
