When most people think of Korean movies, dramas or entertainment in general, they think about something soft, sweet and most likely romantic. I am one of those people. When you watch a drama and have to wait 8 episodes to see the main characters hold hands, you really think, that’s all there is to their expression of love. But like most things, Koreans know exactly what they are doing: in music, in film and in *cough cough* the bedroom. I always say, Hollywood has got nothing on the Korean movie industry and these 9 sexy Korean movies with scenes as hot as Buldak might just be proof. Whether you’re here for some steamy passion, or you simply want to revel in the brilliance of Korean cinema and storytelling, we’ll tell you one thing. You sure as hell will not be disappointed.
Frozen Flower
Synopsis: When Korea’s homosexual king is unable to father a male heir to the throne with his wife, he tasks his long-time gay lover with the job. A love triangle ensues that threatens a bloody resolution.
Promising Review: A realistic and tragic period drama with a strong plot. There was a plot twist. It shows a love triangle between the king, his queen and the commander, the affection, envy, jealousy and complexity of it. The movie has some nude, explicit sex scenes, but they do not look annoying or disturbing. The actors worked amazingly to make the characters perfect. It’s a touching, heartbreaking story. A really old movie but worth the watch. This drama should win an award.
Eungyo: A Muse
Synopsis: The 2012 South Korean erotic romance film Eungyo, also known as “A Muse” in some regions, is a cinematic adaptation of the same name by novelist Park Bum-shin. A 70-year-old poet in love with a high school girl is motivated to create a short story about her, but his star student steals his creative work out of resentment for the couple.
Promising Review: I thought it was just an Asian version of Lolita (1997) but it was so much more artistically and elegantly done, though the pace is painfully slow. This movie makes one ponder upon our “basic” human morality, which is much based on our ancient animal instinct and biological statistical advantage of survival, yet is also in such sharp contradiction to modern values.
I Saw The Devil
Synopsis: The movie, starring Lee Byung-hun and Choi Min-Sik, centres on NIS agent Kim Soo-Hyun (Lee), whose fiancée is brutally murdered by the psychotic serial murderer Jang Kyung-chul. Kim Soo-Hyun then sets out on a mission of vengeance (Choi).
Promising Review: “I Saw The Devil” doesn’t mess around. It delivers on a whole other level. Talk about pain and suffering manifested in the most horrific and gutwrenching way. I’ve seen my share of revenge films, and many of them lose focus on what’s important, which is the emotions; this film highlights that in a significant way, to a point where you find yourself invested in the story. You expect a certain feeling, you crave it, and the need for satisfaction is overwhelming, what it essentially does is awaken this deep-rooted primal need for revenge that I’m sure that every one of us possesses. It is absolutely amazing to see a film provoke such a reaction from its viewers.
Burning
Synopsis: When Jong-soo runs into Hae-mi, a former neighbour, she asks him to look after her cat while she is away from town. When she gets back, she introduces him to Ben, a travel companion. Ben begins by describing his hobbies to Jong-soo.
Promising Review: The unyielding power that comes from earnest storytelling is one that is ever-present in Korean cinema and which has propelled it to become one of the leading genres globally with an Oscar-winning picture under its belt (albeit it’s Parasite, but we won’t get into that). Burning, in many aspects, embodied this power and took it to a new height. The movie feels like a documentary due to its naked portrayal of the protagonist Jong-Su, from his mundane day-to-day tasks (which usually are captured in long, lingering shots) to his raw emotions and motivations. Burning put us in the driver’s seat with Jong Su and brought us from point A to B, like an immersive VR experience, whereas we came out thrilled and excited but none the wiser. Not in the sense that there was nothing provoking about the movie but the exact opposite, it left us with way more questions to think about. The theme of gender inequality, wealth gap, class division, and coming-of-age angst are all presented in the story yet none is being propped up, like an ugly pretentious statue, but just as how they are in real life, all tangled up and overlapping one another. I honestly looked this movie up because I love Yoo Ah In (유아인) XD but this is pretty phenomenal, and definitely a must-watch!
Mother
Synopsis: A widow (Kim Hye-Ja) makes a meagre income by selling medicinal herbs in a small South Korean village where she lives with her mentally handicapped son (Won-bin). The discovery of a murdered little girl’s body sends mother and son into a nightmare. The son is implicated by circumstantial evidence, and during the shoddy police investigation, he is the main suspect. The mother takes the law into her own hands to clear her son’s name after feeling betrayed by the justice system.
Promising Review: It’s a masterpiece. So many characters give the movie depth, some might even find the plot development slow as a result. I felt it showed the director’s mastery of creativity. Location, sounds and movie score all lend a view to his attention to detail. There was a lot to offer on Korean culture: alcohol, transportation, the legal system and portrayal of ineffective policing, the schools, the spices, buildings, restaurants, mourning sessions, even Korean mobile phones and Korea’s weird obsession with beauty. The mother herself is brilliant, I swear she carries the movie right from the beginning, and I actually believed her acupuncture skills. There were numerous silent gasps throughout. A rare gem, silky as it gets, nothing flashy like western movies, there were gaps left unexplained but as a whole, the movie was believable, and at points, shots to the heart.
The Concubine
Synopsis: Hwa-Yeon joins the king’s concubines to escape a life of squalor, and two men fall in love with her.
Promising Review: I have viewed this movie every year since 2012. That is 6 times. The aesthetics were thrilling. Beauty everywhere. But it is not just a chick movie. The violence was startling. If a flower is blooming in somebody else’s yard, leave it alone! The message is: There is poison in beauty. It is a MUST WATCH!
Obsessed
Synopsis: In the summer of 1969, a South Korean colonel starts having an affair with a captain’s wife. How long will it last before they’re caught?
Promising Review: Loved this movie. The story was so amazing & Direction and script were solid as most Korean movies are. The lead male actor (Song)‘s acting was too good. I have watched many Hollywood erotic movies but none were as good as this movie. I felt excited, emotional, drained & heartbroken. A must-watch movie.
Emperor of Lust
Synopsis: A brilliant general distinguishes himself by protecting the dynasty’s borders while keeping an eye on one of the sons of the king.
Promising Review: I honestly watched this film because of Jang Hyuk. He played a supporting role in this dark film, but it was still worth the watch for me. This vengeance film was both dark and hyper-sexual. Despite that, there was a sad love story intertwined with a war story that some viewers might find interesting.
Handmaiden
Synopsis: With help from an orphaned pickpocket (Kim Tae-Ri), a Korean con man (Ha Jung-woo) devises an elaborate plot to seduce and bilk a Japanese woman (Kim Min-hee) out of her inheritance.
Promising Review: Since I know the calibre of the director and cinematographer, this film really shows their perfect chemistry. The narrative style is so exquisite, the screenplay is genuinely beautiful, and the cinematography deserves commendation. The musical score, editing, and lighting all magnified the intensity and beauty of the film. The actors are all amazing, especially the two ladies. How they show their passion and moving romance are so pure and beautiful. The nude scenes are aesthetically shot, done by amazing camerawork and Cinematography. Personally, as a woman, I never felt offended, awkward and exploited while watching this film. As a whole, the movie is deeply erotic and full of shocking revelations that will treat the audience to a roller coaster ride of emotions of love, betrayal, hatred, deceit, lust, and agony while delivering a sense of morals and ethics. This is the second film that I could say that “every frame is a painting”.
The Housemaid
Synopsis: Hae-ra and her husband, Hoon, hire Eun-yi to look after their daughter. When Hoon gets Eun-yi pregnant, Hae-ra tries to kill the child. Soon, Eun-yi decides to seek revenge for the betrayal.
Promising Review: A decent story about a housemaid who starts working for a wealthy family and has an affair with the husband. She’s what you would call a “home wrecker”, though the blame goes both ways as the husband was the instigator and she was the immature reciprocator. The film is shot well with a good cast and nice locations and the food looks tasty as hell. Pretty wild ending too.