The 40 most popular 1980s korean movies, ranked. Click any film for ratings, reviews, trailers, and where to watch.


Madame Aema 2
1984 · 1h 42m
country: South Korea
After their divorce, Emma is unable to get over Hyun Woo, and turns down Jae-ha's marriage proposal. She meets Sanghyun on a boat, where he collects butterflies on an island. She also finds her ex-husband, who wants to get back together, but he lives with Elica so she turns him down. Emma recklessly rides a horse across the fields to dispel her loneliness. She encounters Sanghyun again, who comforts her, but she turns down Sanghyun proposal. Emma reaches the conclusion that marriage and love are two different things, and decides to be independent.


Sa Bang-ji
1988 · 1h 34m
country: South Korea
Sa Bangji was an intersex person who according to historical records lived during Korea’s Joseon Dynasty. Taken in by a kindly benefactor, Sa Bangji lives in a monastery that is one day visited by a young widow, Lee So-sa, who is in mourning following the death of her husband. The pair’s meeting seems predestined, with the erotic attraction between Sa Bangji and Lee So-sa soon evolving into something far more transcendent – and dangerous. While aspects of the film – its stylised depiction of female actors and sex – identify it as a product of its time, Sa Bangji is undeniably a milestone in screen representations of intersex people, a film that refuses to shy away from the horrendous stigmatization faced by its titular character.


Sexual Compatibility
1988 · 1h 43m
country: South Korea
Kang Dae-woong, a descendant of a fallen family of four generations, is in danger of overturning his sins through the conspiracy of the richest man, but escapes the crisis with the help of Kim Dae-gam, a former leader of Lee Jo.


Fire and Ice
1983 · 1h 22m
country: United States
The villainous Nekron and his mother, Queen Juliana, plot against the human race from their frigid fortress. Creating mass destruction with huge glaciers, mother and son incur the wrath of Larn, a warrior whose entire village was destroyed by ice. When Nekron's underlings kidnap the beautiful Princess Teegra, Larn sets out to rescue her, assisted by the fierce and enigmatic Darkwolf.


Potato
1987 · 1h 52m
country: South Korea
Innocent Bok-nyeo is sold at 18 years old to an elderly widower who sends her to work in the salt mines. There she is raped by the supervisor. Becoming very cynical about life, Bok-nyeo becomes the mistress of a couple of rich men, Choi and Wang. In this way, she becomes accustomed to the high life. However she panics and takes desperate steps when one of her sources of income is about to cut her off.


Suddenly in the Dark
1981 · 1h 41m
country: South Korea
A wife starts to suspect her husband's infidelity after the arrival of their new, young housekeeper, who carries a mysterious wooden doll with herself.


The Surrogate Womb
1987 · 1h 34m
country: South Korea
A barren noblewoman encourages her husband to take a young peasant as a surrogate to secure the male line.


Inchon
1981 · 2h 20m
country: Ireland
Gen. Douglas MacArthur leads a Korean War campaign, and the war tests a married couple's relationship.


Madame Aema
1982 · 1h 42m
country: South Korea
Oh Su-bi's husband, Shin Hyun-wu, is in jail for involuntary homicide. For the past two years, Su-bi has visited her husband every week. Though she is anguished by Hyun-wu's affairs, Su-bi is unable to divorce him even though everyone thinks she should. While visiting her husband, Su-bi meets Kim Dong-yub, a student of art, and feels his sincerity. One day, Su-bi runs into an old boyfriend, Kim Mun-ho, who lives in the same apartment complex. They engage in an affair. However, Su-bi is unable to bear the perverted sexual preferences of Mun-ho. She goes to Dong-yub and engages in a pure love. Hyun-wu asks for a divorce. When Su-bi is in the country, Dong-yub comes to her and promises to take her to France. However, the day they are supposed to leave for France, Hyun-wu is released from jail on a special pardon. Though she was on her way to Dong-yub, Su-bi finds herself greeting Hyun-wu, unable to free herself from the shackles of marriage.
Maid's Room
Maid's Room
1987 · 1h 45m
country: South Korea
Kwang-yeol is placed in the mental hospital for no reason as soon as he comes back to Korea after studying abroad. He manages to escape from the hospital and the continuing mysterious incidents puts him in the train headed to Yeosu. On the train, Kwang-yeol comes across the detective Yu who shows him the picture of his twin brother Bong-yeol on the newspaper. He attends the Bong-yeol's funeral service and goes into Bong-yeol's house to run into Sul-hi, Bong-yeol's wife. Mystery is solved and Hye-young, the committer of all evil deed, commits suicide.


Why Has Bodhi-Dharma Left for the East?
1989 · 2h 25m
country: South Korea
About three monks in a remote monastery; an aging master, a small orphan and a young man who left his city life to seek Enlightenment.
Fairy of the Night
Fairy of the Night
1986 · 1h 35m
country: South Korea
In-chul, a scholar of botany, is climbing a mountain for some research when he meets Jin-suk who lives in a forest cottage. At the request of Jin-suk's father, Sang-do, In-chul stays and lives with them. One day, a snake catcher falls under the temptation of Sang-do and is used as a body for dissection. While probing dubious action of Sang-do, In-chul is captured and locked in the basement. He is to become the subject of a live dissection. In-chul had been suspicious of their behavior and investigating when he was caught. In-chul is lying on a surgery table when he escapes with the help of a young hiker and Jin-suk. Sang-do confesses that he had been suffering from nightmares ever since he was dragged off by the Japanese and forced to perform live dissections. These nightmares have made Sang-do a murderer. After his confession, Sang-do kills himself. In-chul and Jin-suk leave the cottage.


Red Cherry 2
1985 · 1h 45m
country: South Korea
No overview available


Between the Knees
1984 · 1h 37m
country: South Korea
Ja-young is a flutist. When her father has a child out of wedlock, her mother regards sex as a sin out of anger towards him. Ja-young grows up under her mother's exceedingly oppressive notions.


Jackie and Bruce to the Rescue
1982 · 1h 30m
country: South Korea
Master Lee founded the Koryo Martial Arts Training Hall in Shanghai. Having a common goal, Master Lee and Master Jang of the Chinese 18 Fighting Skill Training Hall set up an anti-Japanese organization. Major Harada of Japanese Special Operations plans to destroy the anti-Japanese organization. On his way to the Korea-China coalition meeting, Master Lee is cut down by Japanese warrior's sword. When Master Lee's son, Lee So-ryong, attacks a Japanese training hall, Harada asks the Chinese National Security Department to take care of him. Sung-ryong of the National Security Department is suspicious of Hwang Baek-sun. Baek-sun has donated funs to the Korea-China coalition but has not been attacked for it. Also, Baek-sun is close friends with Harada. Harada orders his men to get rid of So-ryong and Sung-ryong but they defeat the Japanese warrior and escape.


Revenge of Drunken Master
1981 · 1h 29m
country: Hong Kong
Accidentally discovering the operations of the Blood Ninja gangsters, a mischievous young man masters the skills of the Drunk Fist and proceeds to fight against them. But the gangsters join forces, vowing to kill him before the young master destroys them all.


Mulberry
1986 · 1h 54m
country: South Korea
Sam-po is a gambler living without concern for how his wife will manage their houselhold without his earning money. In order to get food and provisions, his wife An-hyeob, sleeps with various merchants in the village. One of the few men she does not sleep with, a lustful servant named Sam-dol, decides to reveal her activities to her husband for revenge.


Champ vs. Champ
1980 · 1h 25m
country: Hong Kong
A gang leader targets the daughter of an enemy who's been promised to a local fighter. After losing his leg to a poison arrow, the fighter learns to fight again using a metal leg.
Kyeong-a's Private Life
Kyeong-a's Private Life
1983 · 1h 40m
country: South Korea
One night, prostitute Kyeong-a passes out on the street and is found by Yeong-ha who nurses her back to health. Although she is grateful for Yeong-ha's assistance, Kyeong-a refuses further help and returns to life on the streets.


Protectors of Universe
1983 · 1h 10m
country: South Korea
In the far reaches of space a new star comes into being, bringing a greedy and ambitious bionic human, Alfred, whose first port of call in his quest to conquer the universe is Antarichi, a planet of peace and perfection. Kanaan, King of the city of Orion, seeks the help of Earth, who gather together a mighty force of robot warriors, the Protectors of the Universe, to put a stop to Alfred's plans for galactic destruction.


Sadae Shaolin Temple
1984 · 1h 30m
country: Hong Kong
A general goes on a search for a book that reveals the names of revolutionaries in the area, leading to a showdown at a Shaolin temple where he faces off against the revolutionaries.
Y's Experience
Y's Experience
1987 · 1h 51m
country: South Korea
X's unconditional love for fascinating writer Y starts during her high school days. X, who left her hometown after her mother's remarriage begins to work in a dress shop. Her affections for Y lead her to give herself to him. On the year baby Y' turns 5, she reunites with Y on his birthday but he does not remember her. When baby Y' dies from illness, X sends Y an account of her 12 year love and ends her life.
No Woman Is Afraid of the Night
No Woman Is Afraid of the Night
1986 · 1h 50m
country: South Korea
A man is paid to seduce the wife of a powerful stockbroker but realizes that he is being set up for a murder charge.


Chilsu and Mansu
1988 · 1h 49m
country: South Korea
An aimless young man and his sign-painter friend draw a crowd when they climb to the top of a high-rise billboard.


Manager Of The Shaolin Hall
1982 · 1h 23m
country: South Korea
Mang-wol, a master of martial arts, has doubts about the life he has led. Taking Yong, the son of Pak who he had nearly killed in a fight, Mang-wol disappears. As time passes, Mang-wol teaches Yong martial arts. Yong becomes an adult. He goes into the city to get medicine for Mang-wol. Yong runs into Nan-si, a woman of the Shaolin training hall, who takes all his gold. Yong is unable to defeat Paeng's fighting skills but Mang-wol saves him from his predicament. Paeng knows that Mang-wol is the enemy who killed Yong's father. Paeng searches out Mang-wol. Yong deceives Mang-wol and goes to see Nan-si. Yong becomes the manager of the Shaolin Hall but Paeng cruelly beats him up and Yong returns to Mang-wol. Mang-wol tells Yong the truth about his past and dies in a fight with Paeng. Yong practices the new fighting technique he's developed and fights Paeng.


Master Of Guangdong Hall
1983
country: Unknown
The evil Dong Won has unbeatable kicking legs and proudly travels the land proving his expertise. But when a young man loses his foster parent to Won's deadly kick, he seeks out an old drunken master to learn a way to defeat the Master of the Leg.


Woman of Fire '82
1982 · 1h 55m
country: South Korea
Intrigue and murder on a small poultry farm outside of Seoul when a young maid starts working on the farm and is seduced by the local farm hand.
Grudge of Women
Grudge of Women
1981 · 1h 33m
country: South Korea
Dr Yoshimura has been conducting experiments in “facial transplants” to help burn victims. The limited success of his experiments requires him to have a steady supply of face donors--regardless of whether or not they are willing to “donate”.
Daughter of a Ghost
Daughter of a Ghost
1983 · 1h 30m
country: South Korea
In a valley village in Hwanghae-do province, there is a legend about an old wolf that has lived there for a thousand years and takes the form of a woman to make trouble. Ok-hwa is the only daughter of Kim Jwa-su. She loses her parents to the plotting of Wol-sun, her stepmother. Unjustly accused of being a 'mad wolf,' Ok-hwa is sentenced to death. The ghost of Ok-hwa's mother, Kang, tries to save her poor daughter. The ghost of Kang punishes the evil Wol-sun and her lover, Choi Si-baek for their sins. However, Buddhist monk Mu-ryang teaches her that the life and death of humans as well as emotions like joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure are transient. He takes Ok-hwa's hand and they leave. Sixty years later, a descendent of Si-baek is at a small Buddhist temple in Mt. Gu-wol when he sees Si-baek and Wol-sun's…


The Snake Strikes Back
1980 · 1h 22m
country: South Korea
A fool Sui wants to learn the art of the Absolutes Kung Fu and become master , a title with prizes including the secret book of the Invincible Snake Fist, and a secret weapon called a mega belly (I kid you not). Sui keeps on having to fight the same people over and over again to gain control of the book.


Bioman
1989 · 1h 37m
country: South Korea
Scientist Young-il saves the life of his brother Do-il by transforming him into a cyborg which grants the latter superhuman powers. The brothers then team up with agents from Interpol to track down Ban-ji, the man who had nearly killed Do-il and who has kidnapped their father.


Son of a Man
1980 · 1h 50m
country: South Korea
A detective searching for the cause of a young man's death uncovers a melodramatic story involving prostitutes and religion.


Martial Monks of Shaolin Temple
1983 · 1h 26m
country: South Korea
When the Great Master of the Shaolin Temple had just been murdered, a disciple decides to avenge him.
Deul-byung-ie
Deul-byung-ie
1989 · 1h 51m
country: South Korea
Myeon-hwa is sold by her family to a wealthy man as his concubine, but she runs away with his servant. The servant does not treat her any less cruelly than his master had and Myeon-hwa is forced to weigh her options.


Woman's Wail
1986 · 1h 35m
country: South Korea
Ok-bun had been sold into marriage to the family of Lee Kyung-jin, a family in ruin. On the wedding night, Ok-bun's husband, Myung-kyu dies of odd circumstances. Ok-bun finds out that her sister-in-laws Kyung-ran and Young-suk, who've married Myung-kyu's brothers, were also widowed on their wedding nights. Meanwhile, Wol-ah appears from the grave. She murders Shin and takes his form. Wol-ah goes into the household of Lee Kyung-jin and from that day on, strange happenings occur in succession. Kyung-ran and Young-suk are murdered. Ok-bun goes to Wol-ah's grave and tries to tell her this but it is too late. Wol-ah tries to kill Ok-bun too. But she tells the hardships and sorrows of low-class people and moves Wol-ah's heart. Ok-bun barely escapes with her life.


Now, We're Going to Geneva
1988 · 1h 38m
country: South Korea
A mildly tragic story of how the Vietnam war has bad and good ramifications on the characters lives.


Madame Aema 3
1985 · 1h 45m
country: South Korea
No overview available
Evil Spirit
Evil Spirit
1981 · 1h 40m
country: South Korea
Mi-ryeong marries Ji-kwang and takes him to live at her mansion. He soon seems to fall ill and he requests that his friend, Yeo-ok be hired on to nurse him. However, Yeo-ok and Ji-kwang are really lovers and together they manage to fake Ji-kwang's death. They next torment Mi-ryeong with visions of his 'ghost'. Mi-ryeong dies of fright and Yeo-ok and Ji-kwang marry--but their happiness is short-lived as their nights are interupted by the vengeful spirit of Mi-ryeong.


Shaolin Teenage Heroines
1982
country: Unknown
Valuable scriptures are stolen from the Shaolin Buddist Temple by Eagle Han after he had carried out his orders from the Imperial Court and assasinated the Abbott of Shaolin. A strong force of beautiful oriental girls is assembled to get the scriptures back


Savior of the Earth
1983 · 1h 9m
country: South Korea
Acts of terrorism are happening in the USA, Japan, France and the Pacific Ocean. The man behind these events is Dr. Butler, who tries to rule the world with his powerful computers. To save mankind, Dr. Kim, Sheila and Keith, known as "Saviors of the Earth", are summoned. The last battle, the Deadly Game, will take place inside a computer.
The 1980s codified the blockbuster — high concept, wide release, heavy merchandising — while home video quietly built a second life for films that flopped in theaters. Practical effects hit their peak just before CGI arrived.
South Korean cinema spent the 2000s building a reputation for genre films that refuse to stay in their lane — thrillers that turn into family dramas, revenge stories with slapstick. Parasite's Best Picture win in 2020 confirmed what festival audiences had known for two decades.