South Korean New Wave
A definitive collection documenting the explosive growth of Korean cinema since the late 1990s, characterized by visceral genre-bending, high artistry, and sharp social critique.
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1
Chilsu and Mansu (1988)
A landmark social drama following two young bill posters navigating the class struggles and political disillusionment of 1980s Seoul.
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2
Sopyonje (1993)
A lyrical and tragic exploration of traditional pansori singing, family obsession, and the search for artistic perfection in a changing world.
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3
The Day a Pig Fell into the Well (1996)
A fragmented and non-linear drama interweaving four interconnected stories of urban alienation and failed relationships.
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4
Green Fish (1997)
A gritty and melancholic neo-noir following a young man who is drawn into the criminal underworld after completing his military service.
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5
Christmas in August (1998)
A gentle and profoundly moving drama about a terminally ill photographer who finds a quiet, unexpected connection with a traffic officer.
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6
Shiri (1999)
The first major South Korean blockbuster, a high-octane action thriller focusing on North Korean spies infiltrating the South.
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7
Peppermint Candy (1999)
A devastating reverse-chronological journey tracing a man's life back from suicide to his lost youth during the Kwangju Massacre.
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8
Joint Security Area (2000)
A tense mystery and human drama set at the DMZ, exploring a forbidden friendship between South and North Korean soldiers.
11 more films in this collection
The full ranking of 19 films, with reviews, quotes and trivia for every entry, is available inside the Film Canon app.