Best International Feature Film Submissions from South Korea to the Academy Awards to Compete for an Oscar Nomination or Win in the Foreign Language Film Category

by CineasticusBorealis • Created 10 years ago • Modified 8 months ago

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1. 12.12: The Day
20232h 21m
7.6 (4.3K)
Following the assassination of President Park in 1979, various military factions wrestle for control during a violent coup in this tense South Korean period action drama.
DirectorSung Soo KimStarsHwang Jung-minJung Woo-sungLee Sung-min
97th ACADEMY AWARDS (2024) ░░░░ Status: submitted
2. Concrete Utopia
20232h 10mNot Rated73Metascore
6.6 (8.2K)
Survivors from a massive earthquake struggle for a new life in Seoul.
DirectorTae-hwa EomStarsLee Byung-hunPark Bo-youngPark Seo-joon
96th ACADEMY AWARDS (2023) ░░░░ Status: submitted
3. Decision to Leave
20222h 19m85Metascore
7.3 (62K)
A detective investigating a man's death in the mountains meets the dead man's mysterious wife in the course of his dogged sleuthing.
DirectorPark Chan-wookStarsTang WeiPark Hae-ilLee Jung-hyun
95th ACADEMY AWARDS (2022) ▒▒▒▒ Status: shortlisted
4. Escape from Mogadishu
20212h 1mTV-1471Metascore
7.0 (8K)
In war-torn Somalia in 1991, the personnel and families of both the South Korean and North Korean embassies share the same goal: to escape from Mogadishu.
DirectorRyoo Seung-wanStarsKim Yoon-seokZo In-sungHuh Joon-ho
94th ACADEMY AWARDS (2021) ░░░░ Status: submitted
5. The Man Standing Next
20201h 54m
7.0 (4.7K)
In the 1970s, Korea is under the absolute control of President Park, who controls the KCIA, the organization with the edge over any branch of government.
DirectorMin-ho WooStarsLee Byung-hunLee Sung-minKwak Do-won
93rd ACADEMY AWARDS (2020/21) ░░░░ Status: submitted
6. Parasite
20192h 12mR97Metascore
8.5 (1.1M)
Greed and class discrimination threaten the newly formed symbiotic relationship between the wealthy Park family and the destitute Kim clan.
DirectorBong Joon HoStarsSong Kang-hoLee Sun-kyunCho Yeo-jeong
92nd ACADEMY AWARDS (2019) ████ Status: won
7. Burning
20182h 28mNot Rated91Metascore
7.4 (82K)
Jong-su bumps into a girl who used to live in the same neighborhood, who asks him to look after her cat while she's on a trip to Africa. When back, she introduces Ben, a mysterious guy she met there, who confesses his secret hobby.
DirectorLee Chang-dongStarsYoo Ah-inSteven YeunJeon Jong-seo
91st ACADEMY AWARDS (2018) ▒▒▒▒ Status: shortlisted
8. A Taxi Driver
20172h 17mNot Rated69Metascore
7.9 (35K)
A widowed father and taxi driver who drives a German reporter from Seoul to Gwangju to cover the 1980 uprising, soon finds himself regretting his decision after being caught in the violence around him.
DirectorHun JangStarsSong Kang-hoThomas KretschmannYoo Hae-jin
90th ACADEMY AWARDS (2017) ░░░░ Status: submitted
9. The Age of Shadows
20162h 20mTV-MA78Metascore
7.1 (12K)
Korean resistance fighters smuggle explosives to destroy facilities controlled by Japanese forces in this period action thriller.
DirectorKim Jee-woonStarsLee Byung-hunGong YooSong Kang-ho
89th ACADEMY AWARDS (2016) ░░░░ Status: submitted
10. The Throne
20152h 5m
7.1 (3.4K)
Set in 18th century Korea, long-ruling King Yeongjo's struggle with his son, Sado, sees the king take extreme measures in order to deal with his heir.
DirectorLee Joon-ikStarsSong Kang-hoYoo Ah-inMoon Geun-young
88th ACADEMY AWARDS (2015) ░░░░ Status: submitted
11. Sea Fog
20141h 51mNot Rated61Metascore
6.8 (4.1K)
A fishing-boat crew takes on a dangerous commission to smuggle a group of illegal immigrants from China to Korea.
DirectorSung-bo ShimStarsKim Yoon-seokPark Yoo-chunHan Ye-ri
87th ACADEMY AWARDS (2014) ░░░░ Status: submitted
12. Juvenile Offender
20121h 47mNot Rated
6.6 (244)
A juvenile offender Ji-gu reunites with his young mom who he thought was dead.
DirectorYi-kwan KangStarsSeo Yeong-juLee Jung-hyunKang Rae-yeon
86th ACADEMY AWARDS (2013) ░░░░ Status: submitted
13. Pieta
20121h 43mNot Rated72Metascore
7.1 (16K)
A loan shark is forced to reconsider his violent lifestyle after the arrival of a mysterious woman claiming to be his long-lost mother.
DirectorKim Ki-dukStarsJo Min-sooLee Jung-JinWoo Ki-hong
85th ACADEMY AWARDS (2012) ░░░░ Status: submitted
14. The Front Line
20112h 13mNot Rated59Metascore
7.3 (7.4K)
A drama centered on the Korean War's final battle that will determine the border between north and south.
DirectorHun JangStarsShin Ha-kyunGo SooRyu Seung-su
84th ACADEMY AWARDS (2011) ░░░░ Status: submitted
15. A Barefoot Dream
20102h 1mNot Rated
7.1 (429)
After a series of pipe dream ventures go belly up, retired pro soccer player Kim Won-kang happens to visit East Timor, where he finds children playing the game barefoot on rocky pitches. Sensing a new business opportunity on finding the country doesn't have a single sporting goods store, he embarks on a scheme to get rich quick by purveying athletic shoes to the unshod youngsters. Sadly, no one there can afford to pay $60 for a pair of shoes, even on a generous installment plan, and before he knows it, he is reduced to coaching a team of ragged 10-year-olds and prospects are looking grim.
DirectorTae-gyun KimStarsPark Hee-soonKo Chang-seokGabriel Da Costa
83rd ACADEMY AWARDS (2010) ░░░░ Status: submitted
16. Mother
20092h 9mR79Metascore
7.7 (77K)
A mother desperately searches for the killer who framed her son for a girl's horrific murder.
DirectorBong Joon HoStarsKim Hye-jaWon BinJin Goo
82nd ACADEMY AWARDS (2009) ░░░░ Status: submitted
17. Crossing
20081h 46m
7.5 (1.3K)
About a young boy in North Korea who wants to find his father who is forced to become a refugee in South Korea.
DirectorTae-gyun KimStarsCha In-pyoMyeong-cheol ShinSeo Young-hwa
81st ACADEMY AWARDS (2008) ░░░░ Status: submitted
18. Secret Sunshine
20072h 22mNot Rated84Metascore
7.5 (10K)
A woman moves to the town where her dead husband was born. As she tries to fit in, another tragic event overturns her life.
DirectorLee Chang-dongStarsJeon Do-yeonSong Kang-hoLee Dong-yong
80th ACADEMY AWARDS (2007) ░░░░ Status: submitted
19. The King and the Clown
20051h 59mPG-13
7.3 (6.2K)
Two clowns living in Korea's Chosun Dynasty get arrested for staging a play that satirizes the king. They are dragged to the palace and threatened with execution but are given a chance to save their lives if they can make the king laugh.
DirectorLee Joon-ikStarsKam Woo-seongJung Jin-youngKang Seong-yeon
79th ACADEMY AWARDS (2006) ░░░░ Status: submitted
20. Welcome to Dongmakgol
20052h 13mNot Rated
7.6 (7.8K)
Soldiers from both sides of the Korean divide live among villagers who know nothing of the war.
DirectorKwang-Hyun ParkStarsJeong Jae-yeongShin Ha-kyunKang Hye-jeong
78th ACADEMY AWARDS (2005) ░░░░ Status: submitted
21. Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War
20042h 20mR64Metascore
8.0 (42K)
When two brothers are forced to fight in the Korean War, the elder decides to take the riskiest missions if it will help shield the younger from battle.
DirectorKang Je-kyuStarsJang Dong-gunWon BinLee Eun-ju
77th ACADEMY AWARDS (2004) ░░░░ Status: submitted
22. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring
20031h 43mR85Metascore
8.0 (89K)
In the midst of the Korean wilderness, a Buddhist master patiently raises a boy while teaching wisdom and compassion through experience and endless exercises.
DirectorKim Ki-dukStarsKim Ki-dukOh Yeong-suJong-ho Kim
76th ACADEMY AWARDS (2003) ░░░░ Status: submitted
23. Oasis
20022h 13m79Metascore
7.8 (11K)
An irresponsible and childish ex-con befriends a girl with cerebral palsy and develops a progressively stronger bond with her.
DirectorLee Chang-dongStarsSul Kyung-guMoon So-riAhn Nae-sang
75th ACADEMY AWARDS (2002) ░░░░ Status: submitted
24. Chunhyang
20002h 17mR79Metascore
7.1 (1.9K)
A governor's son falls in love and marries a beautiful girl, the daughter of a courtesan. Their marriage is kept a secret from the governor who would immediately disown him if he found that his son married beneath him.
DirectorIm Kwon-taekStarsHyo-jeong LeeCho Seung-wooSeong-nyeo Kim
73rd ACADEMY AWARDS (2000) ░░░░ Status: submitted
25. 301, 302
19951h 40mUnrated
6.4 (1.2K)
Two women, a chef and an anorexic writer, are neighbors in an apartment building. The chef.
DirectorCheol-su ParkStarsPang Eun-jinHwang Sin-hyeChu-Ryun Kim
68th ACADEMY AWARDS (1995) ░░░░ Status: submitted