Korean action films
A list of Korean flicks (of various genres, but with strong action elements,) worthy of your time.
Notes: no particular order; maybe some rare gems among the sine qua nons; I've not seen every single South Korean film ever made!
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1. Bar Legend
Korean Movie - 2006
(Also known as, Three Fellas) A true classic!
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2. Arahan
Korean Movie - 2004
An excellent wuxia/fantasy flick that really did deserve a sequel.
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3. The Man from Nowhere
Korean Movie - 2010
If you haven't seen it already...
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4. Fighter in the Wind
Korean Movie - 2004
A Korean take on a Sonny Chiba film that's totally different and, dare I say it...? A whole lot better!
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5. Volcano High School
Korean Movie - 2001
Out there... but great entertainment.
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6. The Divine Move
Korean Movie - 2014
The tone's a little off in places, but you can overlook it for the sheer entertainment.
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7. Extreme Job
Korean Movie - 2019
Hikarious and butt-kicking. What more do you want?
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8. The Divine Move 2: The Wrathful
Korean Movie - 2019
A worthy, stand-alone sequel to a tremendous film.
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9. The Warriors
Korean Movie - 2001
Titled, Musa the Warrior, on my DVD, this is probably one of my all-time favourite films.
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10. The Villainess
Korean Movie - 2017
She kicks arse!
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11. 2009: Lost Memories
Korean Movie - 2002
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12. A Special Lady
Korean Movie - 2017
Not so special a film, but you could see plenty that are worse... and by a lot.
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13. Rough Cut
Korean Movie - 2008
A gangster wants to fight an action film star... for real.
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14. A Company Man
Korean Movie - 2012
I quit!
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15. Commitment
Korean Movie - 2013
Probably for the younger crowd.
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16. Silmido
Korean Movie - 2003
Could it have been more? What's shocking is the idea behind it (apparently based on real events).
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17. The Admiral: Roaring Currents
Korean Movie - 2014
I cannot recommend this film highly enough!
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18. Soo
Korean Movie - 2007
Some highlights, but otherwise, this one just about claws its way into this list.
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19. The Target
Korean Movie - 2014
Personally, I wouldn't really recommend it, but my friends thought it was great.
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20. No Mercy for the Rude
Korean Movie - 2006
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21. Better Tomorrow Than Today
Korean Movie - 2015
The pointless remake of a classic you don't need to see, but you will just because of John Woo and Chow Yun Fat's superb original.
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22. Old Boy
Korean Movie - 2003
Because, like, The Man From Nowhere, it simply belongs on lists.
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23. The Berlin File
Korean Movie - 2013
Pretty intense throughout.
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24. Confidential Assignment
Korean Movie - 2017
Very enjoyable while it lasts.
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25. The Thieves
Korean Movie - 2012
Damn, I loved this flick!
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26. Believer
Korean Movie - 2018
As good as, and thankfully, different to, the Johnnie To original (Drug War).
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27. War of the Arrows
Korean Movie - 2011
Cool.
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28. The Divine Weapon
Korean Movie - 2008
If you're in the mood for swords and you've seen all the better ones already...
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29. The Great Battle
Korean Movie - 2018
A shame that the tone's off, as it could have been truly amazing.
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30. Train to Busan
Korean Movie - 2016
I don't like zombie films but everyone in the room enjoyed it.
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31. Two Guys
Korean Movie - 2004
Pretty funny.
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32. Public Enemy
Korean Movie - 2002
Off-beat. Watch it and make up your own mind.
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33. Open City
Korean Movie - 2008
"You've gotta pick a pocket or two, boy / You've gotta pick a pocket or two" (sorry, I couldn't resist).
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34. Yesterday
Korean Movie - 2002
Overly ambitious but since when has that been a bad thing?
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35. Marine Boy
Korean Movie - 2009
Aquatic gangster flick.
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36. Geochilmaru
Korean Movie - 2005
Painfully under-rated. Especially recommended to martial arts pracitioners.
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37. The Chaser
Korean Movie - 2008
One of the best Korean films ever made.
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38. Natural City
Korean Movie - 2003
Korean Bladerunner... kind of.
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39. A Bittersweet Life
Korean Movie - 2005
A classic for a reason.
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40. Crying Fist
Korean Movie - 2005
Long before that American UFC film and a hell of a lot better.
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41. Wild Card
Korean Movie - 2003
Amazing... and criminally obscure.
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42. The City of Violence
Korean Movie - 2006
Relentless action. Oh, and Baseball Furies!
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43. The Front Line
Korean Movie - 2011
"War, huh, come on yeah / What is it good for?"
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44. Tae Guk Gi: The Brotherhood of War
Korean Movie - 2004
Emotional.
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45. Confession of Murder
Korean Movie - 2012
Do not read reviews - a spoiler will ruin this entirely!
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46. Hwayi: A Monster Boy
Korean Movie - 2013
A frightening concept.
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47. The Host
Korean Movie - 2006
Best monster film ever?
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48. Rampant
Korean Movie - 2018
Much better than the overly similar Korean TV series.
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49. The Good, the Bad, the Weird
Korean Movie - 2008
Korean western?
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50. Veteran
Korean Movie - 2015
Top film!
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51. A Dirty Carnival
Korean Movie - 2006
Do Korean gangsters really all fight tae kwon do style?
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52. The Suspect
Korean Movie - 2013
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53. Sword in the Moon
Korean Movie - 2003
Wuxia from Korea.
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54. Daisy
Korean Movie - 2006
Cute and quirky with an action-packed ending. Why were there never more films like this?