KaptainKrunk posted:

S Korea has been one of the biggest success stories in film over the past 20 years. Although the overall quality has dipped a little bit lately as they're putting out more "content" you still have:

Housemaid (1960) - It is insane that this movie was made in 1960.
Shiri (1999) - Korea's take on "two dudes square off in a pseudo-futuristic action feature" that was so popular in the 90s in America. Not great but entertaining.
Attack the Gas Station (1999) - Probably the greatest Korean comedy film of all time.
Save the Green Planet (2003) - Imitation Miike with a twist.
President's Last Bang (2005) - Dark political comedy
The Chaser (2008)

Lee Chang Dong's work: All of it is worth watching. Very heartfelt. Start with Peppermint Candy.
Park Chan Wook's work: Visually gorgeous, with only a few missteps (Stoker).
Kim Ki Duk's stuff kinda sucks, like discount Takashi Miike in a lot of ways, but Spring, Summer, Fall and 3-iron are excellent. Sucks he was a rapist shithead.
Kim Jee-won had a string of great films (A Bittersweet Life, A Tale of Two Sisters) before disappearing. I Saw the Devil is great if a bit formulaic.
Hong Sang-soo makes the same film over and over again, but man is it usually pretty engaging. Just about men and women

There's also a bunch of Korean War films which are about reconciliation. I don't remember any of them being particularly good.