Let us introduce 10 Korean movies scheduled to be released this year.
Directors Park Chan-wook and Choi Dong-hoon are preparing to meet the audience with a new work after a long time. In addition to these two directors, a large number of movies with great directors and actors are set to be released.
1. The Point Men (directed by Lim Soon-rye / starring Hwang Jeong-min, Hyun Bin, etc.)
Hwang Jung-min and Hyun Bin made headlines for starring in a movie based on the 2007 South Korean hostage crisis in Afghanistan. In fact, the filming was legally carried out for two months in Jordan. It is expected to be released this year, but the exact date has not been disclosed.
2. Smugglers (Directed by Ryu Seung-wan / starring Kim Hye-soo, Yeom Jeong-ah, etc.)
A story of a Korean female diver involved in a smuggling crime against the backdrop of the 1970s? Even better, the main characters are portrayed by Kim Hye-soo and Yeom Jeong-ah, what else for us to say? In addition to the two actresses, Jo In-sung, Park Jung-min, and Ko Min-si also appear in the movie. It’s director Ryu Seung-wan‘s new work, which we have no reason not to watch.
3. Brokers (Directed by Kore-eda Hirokazu / starring Song Kang-ho, Bae Doo-na, etc.)
The film drew attention not only for Song Kang-ho, Kang Dong-won, and Bae Doo-na, but also for IU’s big screen debut. This is the first Korean film by Japanese famous director Kore-eda Hirokazu, the winner of the Golden Palm at the Cannes Film Festival.
4. Emergency declaration (Directed by Han Jae-rim / starring Song Kang-ho, Jeon Do-yeon, etc.)
The film starring Song Kang-ho, Jeon Do-yeon, Lee Byung-hun, Kim Nam-gil, Im Si-wan, Kim So-jin, and Park Hae-joon was invited to feature in the 2021 Cannes Film Festival’s non-competitive category. It’s quite interesting to know the connection between each actor’s previous work.
5. Alien (Directed by Choi Dong-hoon / Starring So Ji-seop, Kim Tae-ri, etc.)
Director Choi Dong-hoon‘s new film boasts a huge cast of Yeom Jeong-ah, So Ji-seop, Lee Honey, Kim Woo-bin, Ryu Joon-yeol, and Kim Tae-ri. Nothing is known yet except for its background of the late Goryeo Dynasty when aliens appeared and the famous cast. Hopefully, we can watch it at the theater this year!
6. Wonderland (Directed by Kim Taeyong / starring Tang Wei, Gong Yoo, etc.)
The first appearance of Tangwei, wife of director Kim Tae-yong, in a movie directed by him in 10 years since “Late Autumn,” is already a hot topic, but the movie’s cast members include Gong Yoo, Jung Yoo-mi, Park Bo-gum, Suzy, and Choi Woo-sik. Moreover, Park Bo-gum joined the army after filming this movie in 2020. It would be crazy if the movie is released after April 30th, the day he is discharged from the military this year.
7. Honest Candidate 2 (Directed by Jang Yoo-jung / starring Ra Miran, Kim Moo-yeol, etc.)
Ra Miran played Joo Sang-sook, a third-term congresswoman who is skilled in lying but then suddenly unable to lie in “Honest Candidate.” The actress wrote history by winning Best Actress for a comedy film at the Blue Dragon Film Award for this role. In the follow-up movie, will Joo Sang-sook and assistant Park Hee-chul, who are running for governor, have great chemistry again?
8. High Five (Directed by Kang Hyungchul / starring Ra Miran, Yoo Ahin, Ahn Jaehong, etc.)
The movie tells the story of five ordinary people having different superpowers from superpowers’ organ transplants competing with others who covet their superpowers. Ra Miran, Yoo Ahin, Ahn Jaehong, Kim Heewon, and Lee Jaein with superpowers! What abilities do they each have?
9. Heaven: To the Land of Happiness (Directed by Lim Sang-soo / starring Choi Min-sik, Park Hae-il, Yoon Yeo-jung, etc.)
This movie is raising fans’ expectations just by being the collaboration work of Choi Min-sik and Park Hae-il. Although it was already invited to the official category of the 2020 Cannes Film Festival, it is a pity that there has been no news of its release since the film festival was canceled due to COVID-19. It’s Yoon Yeo-jeong’s seventh work with director Lim Sang-soo since “The Cheating Family.” Choi Min-sik and Park Hae-il are veteran actors who used to play “general Lee Soon-shin.”
10. Decision to Leave (Directed by Park Chan-wook / Starring Tang Wei, Park Hae-il, etc.)
This is definitely the most anticipated work of the year. It is the first Korean movie in six years directed by Park Chan-wook since “The Handmaiden,” and it features Tang Wei, Park Hae-il, as well as Lee Jung-hyun and Park Yong-woo. There is a rumor that it will be released at this year’s Cannes Film Festival, and if so, we think it will be released after June.
In addition to the 10 aforementioned films, “Hansan,” “Noryang,” “Boston 1947,” “Confidential Assignment 2: International,” “The Witch: Part 2,” and “Bogota: City of the Lost” are set to be released in 2022 as well. There are quite a few works that have been delayed due to COVID-19. We think this year will be a year full of quality Korean movies.
