Don't Miss

Most anticipated S. Korean films of 2015

January 6, 2015

“Gangnam Blues” directed by Yoo Ha and starring Lee Min-ho and Kim Rae-won hits local screens on Jan. 21.
(Courtesy of Showbox, Mediaplex Inc.)

By Jason Bechervaise

Last year saw a number of new filmmakers emerge such as July Jung (“A Girl at My Door”), Lee Do-yun (“Confession”) and Shim Sung-bo (“Haemoo”), but one of the striking features of 2015 is the number of established filmmakers releasing their latest features such as Ryoo Seung-wan, Na Hong-jin and Im Sang-soo.

‘Gangnam Blues’

Among these names also includes Yoo Ha whose filmography includes the acclaimed “Marriage is a Crazy Thing” (2002). Yoo’s latest “Gangnam Blues” is an eagerly awaited action-noir film that shares much in common with his well-received 2006 feature “A Dirty Carnival” owing to its gangster elements. Hitting local screens on Jan. 21, it features Hallyu star Lee Min-ho in his first leading role in a film alongside Kim Rae-won.

The pair play childhood friends who get separated when they get involved in political clashes after their shanty homes are demolished by local thugs amidst the height of political corruption when the now famous and affluent district of Gangnam was being transformed into a developed area in the 1970s.

‘Gokseong’

Looking further ahead, Na Hong-jin who found success both home and abroad following his box office hit “The Chaser” (2008) and then further cemented his reputation as one of Korea’s talented emerging directors with “The Yellow Sea” (2010) is currently working on the much anticipated “Gokseong” (working title) (W/T).

Planned for a release in the first of this year, it’s being backed by Fox International Productions (FIP) and will be distributed by Fox Korea — the third Korean film to be funded by the U.S. studio following “Running Man” (2013) and “Slow Video” (2014).

The film takes place in a village where a detective (Kwak Do-won) and a shaman played by Hwang Jung-min (“Ode to My Father”) seek to investigate a mysterious rumor that continues to spread.

‘No Country for Young Men’

Also being backed by 20th Century Fox is Im Sang-soo’s curious new film “No Country for Young Men” (W/T) that is expected to be released in the second half of 2015. Starring Ryoo Seung-bum (“The Berlin File” (2013)) and Go Joon-hee, it follows four characters who find a significant amount of money by accident, but when one of them is later caught by the millionaire and then brutally assaulted, they seek revenge.

Im’s films tend to travel widely at festivals such as Cannes where “The Housemaid” (2010) and “The Taste of Money” (2012) both competed for the coveted Palme d’Or reflecting his appeal abroad.

‘Veteran’

Looking ahead to the summer, Korea’s action-maverick auteur Ryoo Seung-wan’s (“The Berlin Film”) latest “Veteran” (W/T) is scheduled to hit screens providing audiences with a chance to see his latest audacious action set-pieces. Starring Hwang Jung-min who is also playing the renowned mountaineer Um Hong-gil in “The Himalayas” (working title) that’s due out later this year in addition to the aforementioned “Gokseong,” he’s looking to have another busy year.

In “Veteran,” Hwang plays a detective who pursues a young millionaire called Tae-oh (Yoo Ah-in) — the third-in-line to a large conglomerate — after he beats up a man who helped him on one of his cases.

‘Assassination’

Also planned for a summer release is Choi Dong-hoon’s “Assassination” featuring a stellar ensemble cast including Ha Jung-woo, Jun Ji-hyeon, Lee Jeong-jae, Oh Dal-soo and Cho Jin-woong. Choi’s engaging films consistently attract large numbers as seen with “The Thieves” (2013) that amassed close to 13 million admissions and also starred Jun Ji-hyeon and Lee Jeong-jae.

This film takes place in the Japanese colonial era (1910-1945) where a small band of fighters are ordered by the resistance government to take out a pro-Japanese group in the 1930s.

‘The Throne’

Period films have become an increasingly prevalent feature of Korean cinema especially during the holiday seasons such as the lunar New Year and Chuseok. As such, this coming lunar new year (Feb. 18-20), the sequel “Detective K: Secret of the Lost Land” is due to hit local screens, but more eagerly awaited, perhaps, is Lee Joon-ik’s “The Throne” due for a release in the second half of this year andstarring Song Kang-ho who experienced unprecedented success in 2013 when “Snowpiercer,” “The Face Reader” and “The Attorney” all became huge hits.

Lee Joon-ik has established himself as one of the leading figures in the industry following the success of “The King and The Clown” (2005) and has made a number of period films. His latest one also features Yoo Ah-in (“Veteran”) and Moon Geun-young — her first film in eight years — and is set during the reign of King Yeongjo (Song Kang-ho) that follows the life of Crown Prince Sado (Yoo Ah-in) who is condemned to death by his own father after deemed unfit to rule.

Other films

Other significant local releases this year include the Korean war blockbuster “Western Front 1953″ starring Sol Kyung-gu as well as the crime drama “The Classified File” directed by Kwak Kyung-taek and political drama “Inside Men” starring Lee Byeong-hun.

In addition to “The Throne” there are a number of period films also hitting screens including “Memories of the Sword” starring Lee Byeong-hun and Jeon Do-yeon initially scheduled for a release last year but pushed back. Jeon also stars in the romantic drama “The Shameless” (W/T) along with Lee Yoon-ki’s “A Man and a Woman” (literal title), which are both expected to hit screens this year.

With other films including “The Great Tiger” (literal title) directed by Park Hoon-jung (“New World” (2013)) starring Choi Min-sik playing a hunter searching for the last surviving tiger on the Korean Peninsula during the Japanese occupation also set to attract audiences later this year, 2015 promises to be yet another exciting twelve months for the industry.