One of the best ways to learn Korean is through movies.
And the beautiful thing about Korean movies is that they will not only help you learn the language but also fascinate you with their cinematic splendor.
So, to help you out, we've chosen seven terrific films to get you started—along with all the tips and tactics you'll need to make the most of these treasures. Here's how it works...
"My Sassy Girl" is the number one song (2001)
The director is Kwak Jae-yong.
Please check Amazon for availability.
Let's start with this romantic comedy, a box office success in Asia the year it was released, inspiring an American remake, a Japanese drama, and a prequel.
"My Sassy Girl's" narrative is around a young woman and a man who meet cutely late one night at a train station.
One of them is drunk. (You can probably guess who.)
She pukes on one of the other passengers since she is so intoxicated. Onlookers mistake the hapless boy for her lover, and fellow passengers persuade him to look after the visibly drunk woman. To shorten a long story short, the first night they meet, he ends up carrying her on his back and driving her straight to a motel.
From there, the two begin a hilarious friendship in which the aggressive female (who is never identified in the film) assumes rough control of the situation. They go on unofficial dates, and she finds any excuse to yell at him, smack him on the head, order meals for him, forbid him from breathing, forbid him from wearing high heels in public, and even take him out of his college class by informing the professor that she's pregnant and needs to talk to the lad. (Her favorite phrase is "Would you like to die?")
The submissive guy does all of these things. And along the way, a pleasant twist is gradually revealed—presumably the reason for the prologue. It is imperative that you take Korean language classes for optimum results if you want to be fluent in Korean.
Pay attention to how the girl and boy communicate while you're watching. She is frequently bossy and assumes a senior and superior role in the dynamic, whereas he is submissive and her junior. The Korean language responds extraordinarily well to age-related dynamics. One talks (and moves) quite differently to people of different ages, and "My Sassy Girl" is an excellent video for learning about Korean hierarchy ideas.
"The Host" is ranked second (2006)
The director is Bong Joon-ho.
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We've gone a long way from rom-com to sci-fi thriller. "The Host" shattered box office records in Korea and won several awards, including Best Film at the 2007 Asian Film Awards.
What happens when 200 formaldehyde bottles are dumped into the Han River in Seoul?
Fish do perish.
However, a giant mutant beast rises from the Han River, murdering everyone in its path. Expect a lot of running and bodies tossed around in this one.
"The Host" is a picture that will tug at your heartstrings in unexpected ways—humor amid the mayhem, raw gore, suspense, and even retribution. Imagine being the dad who watches his daughter being stolen alive by a ruthless monster. It tells the story of a father who goes into the monster's lair to save his beloved daughter.
This film is drenched in colorful adjectives. Keep an eye out for descriptives sprinkled throughout the narrative. Repeated viewings of "The Host" will offer vocabulary that will add nuance and vibrancy to your Korean.
3. "The Admiral: Roaring Currents" (2014)
The director is Kim Han-min.
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We've all watched "300," the story of three hundred brave Spartans fighting against the Persian empire's massive army. This Korean film evokes the air of an underdog facing overwhelming odds yet taking place at sea.
The historical drama "The Admiral" is based on the Battle of Myeongyang in October 1597. The combatants are the Japanese and Korean fleets. It tells the narrative of Admiral Yi Sun Sin of Korea and his 12 ships luring the Japanese fleet (with its 330 boats) into a long and narrow strait where their advance was hampered by a torrent and a ready wall of steel chains.
This DVD introduces you to more formal and poetic Korean vocabulary, phrases, and expressions. The terminology employed is generally appropriate for polite company and intellectual situations. This film is at the top of your viewing list if you want to seem proper in your language.
The Thieves (2012)
The director is Choi Dong-hoon.
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The Robbers (2012) With a title like that, you've probably guessed it's a heist movie. Hollywood has "Ocean's 11," but this is about eleven thieves—a team of Korean and Hong Kong crews—out to steal the $20 million diamond "Tear of the Sun." Taking anything significant from the mistress of a violent criminal leader is a very different story.
When it comes to stealing anything from someone known to kill at the drop of a hat, you better have a good plan in place. Throw in thievery's lack of honor, double-crosses, betrayals, and 10 personal agendas, and you've got a particularly combustible concoction.
The language used by the characters is informal, even slang at times. If you prefer to hear dry conversational declarative remarks, this one has plenty of them. It also has question sentence forms that may be checked for correctness.
"Common Security Zone" (2000)
The film's director is Park Chan-wook.
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The film delves into the shaky peace that exists between the two Koreas. It is based on a novel about the DMZ (Demilitarized Zone) and is set along the heavily fortified border.
When a wounded South Korean soldier returns to his side of the border, leaving two North Korean men dead and shot, the situation might soon escalate into a full-fledged military confrontation. So, before we go nuclear, a Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission official is deployed to investigate.
The truth of what happened is revealed through a series of deft interrogations and stunning use of flashbacks. What is shown is an unexpected relationship developed under the most unlikely of circumstances.
Because this film has so many verbs, language learners, especially beginners, will benefit from seeing it several times. And because each word has a vivid context, it will be easier to remember new ones.
"The Lawyer" (2013)
The director is Yang Woo-suk.
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"The Attorney" depicts the story of a tax lawyer who defends a friend's son and other students who government forces have detained on suspicion of treason. He believes the confessions were obtained by torture and sets out to disprove the false claims.
The film is based on the 1981 "Burim Case," in which one lawyer represented 22 students arrested without warrants and charged with supporting North Korea. That lawyer became an outspoken advocate for South Korea's human rights issues, eventually becoming the country's ninth president.
This video is dense with legal, political, and social jargon. Learning these words is beneficial since they will come in handy when you pick up a newspaper or read an online news article. Koreans are outspoken advocates of their government and its initiatives. If you are familiar with political terminology and usages, you can access more detailed knowledge and perspectives that textbook language learners may never have.
"My Girlfriend Has Two Faces,"(2007)
The director is Lee Seok-hoon.
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We conclude with a charming romantic comedy about a man's troubles with his bipolar fiancée.
A wallet is discovered by a 30-year-old man who has never been kissed and has not had a girlfriend since childhood. He goes in quest of its owner and is led to the attractive, sweet, and angelic Ani. They quickly become a great couple and go on countless enjoyable dates. He has no idea Ani has an entirely other personality—an angry, shouting, intoxicated woman who makes the relationship a daily nightmare. Meet Hani, the defect in the otherwise perfect young girl.
This film will acquaint you with the ups and downs of the Korean language. If you want to hear how Koreans talk in everyday situations, the film will provide plenty of examples of the cadences, peaks, and dips of a gorgeous language.