Five Uplifting Korean Films to Watch

Irrespective of the genre a person prefers, feel-good, uplifting movies are among the greatest since they provide a little respite from the mundane affairs of ordinary routine. Also, given that the weekend is around the corner, I recommend relaxing with some of these cool, quirky, and feel-good Korean films listed below.

My Sassy Girl (2001) – Kwak Jae-yong

In addition to catapulting Jun Ji-hyun’s stardom, her portrayal of “the girl” in My Sassy Girl provided us with a movie that reimagined the rom-com subgenre in Korean cinema. The real-life incident that served as the basis for the film was revealed in a series of blog posts by Kim Ho-sik, who then transformed them into a novel. Gyeon-woo (Cha Tae-hyun) and “the girl” (Jun), who meet at a train station, are at the core of the narrative. One day, Gyeon-woo finds her in a trance while she is precariously standing at the edge of the platform and drags her to safety. Subsequently, and throughout the film, the girl repeatedly ridicules him, landing him in trouble multiple times. Even so, the guy is entranced by her.

My Sassy Girl created history in terms of how warmly it was received as a massive smash hit. In fact, it played a significant role in the development of the Korean Wave and helped Korean films gain recognition abroad. It also inspired a plethora of remakes and adaptations.

Miracle in Cell No. 7 (2013) – Lee Hwan-kyung

Based on the true account of a man who was abused and pled guilty to the assault and murder of a nine-year-old girl in Chuncheon, South Korea, in 1972, only to be found not guilty, Miracle in Cell No. 7 tells the tale of his imprisonment and how he was eventually exonerated. The comedy-drama film, starring Ryu Seung-ryong, Kal So-won, and Park Shin-hye, revolves around Lee Yong-gu (Ryu), a mentally impaired person who is unjustly charged with murder. While incarcerated, he makes friends with professional criminals who team up to bring his daughter Lee Ye-sung (Kal) back to him by breaking her into the cell.

The Beauty Inside (2015) – Baek Jong-yeol

The Beauty Inside is a deftly executed romantic comedy that highlights true love with a multitude of joyful yet unforeseen moments. It follows Woo-jin (played by a variety of actors) who awakens on his 18th birthday and is perplexed to discover that his face and body have changed. His mother (Mun-suk) is flabbergasted but regrettably accepts his condition. As the story progresses, she and his best friend (Song-beck) help him deal with the circumstances as Woo-jin – who is now a furniture designer – keeps waking up in a different body day after day, regardless of his or her age, gender, or nationality. He could on occasion be a woman, a man, a child, an adult, or even a foreigner. He is the same on the inside, but he undergoes a change in his outer appearance.

Swing Kids (2018) – Kang Hyeong-cheol

D.O. (EXO) was what initially drew me to Swing Kids, but as it unfolded, the Korean musical drew me deeper. It takes place in the Geoje detention facility during the Korean War in 1951. Roh Ki-soo (D.O.), a wayward North Korean soldier, finds love in tap dancing after meeting Jackson (Jared Grimes), an American officer and former Broadway star entrusted with forming a dance group. Subsequently, the troops at the camp put on a tap-dance show to relieve themselves and the captives from the rigors of war.

Minari (2020) – Lee Isaac-chung

A Korean-American family relocates to a rural farm in Arkansas, hoping to realize their dreams. However, things change when their sneaky, abrasive, but loving grandmother (Youn Yuh-jung as Soon-ja) moves in. Minari is a shining example of the unwavering endurance of familial and kindred bonds in the face of changing circumstances. The movie’s strongest suit is its relatability to the context. It got rave reviews from critics and was nominated for six Academy Awards, with Youn becoming the first Korean to win an Oscar for her sublime performance.