Cinema
South Korean film, directors, and filming locations
South Korean cinema has become a global force—from Parasite and Train to Busan to the works of Bong Joon-ho, Park Chan-wook, and many more. This section explores Korean film, directors, and filming locations while connecting cinema to travel across Seoul, Busan, and the rest of Korea.
Featured Korean films
2019 · Thriller, Drama
Parasite
A poor family infiltrates a wealthy household by posing as unrelated professionals. Bong Joon-ho's Oscar-winning masterpiece explores class inequality in Seoul.
2016 · Horror, Thriller
Train to Busan
A zombie outbreak spreads on a high-speed train from Seoul to Busan. A father and daughter fight to survive the journey.
2003 · Thriller, Drama
Oldboy
A man is imprisoned for 15 years without explanation, then released and given five days to discover why. Park Chan-wook's brutal, iconic revenge thriller.
2016 · Drama, Thriller
The Handmaiden
A Korean con man hires a pickpocket to pose as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress. Adapted from Sarah Waters' Fingersmith, set in 1930s Korea under Japanese rule.
2003 · Crime, Drama
Memories of Murder
Based on Korea's first serial killer case. Two detectives and a forensics expert hunt a murderer in a rural province in the 1980s.
2022 · Romance, Mystery
Decision to Leave
A detective investigating a man's death becomes obsessed with the widow. Park Chan-wook's romantic noir set in Busan and Ipo.
Major Korean directors
Bong Joon-ho
Academy Award-winning director known for Parasite, Memories of Murder, and The Host. His work blends genre with sharp social commentary.
Park Chan-wook
Director of Oldboy, The Handmaiden, and Decision to Leave. Master of psychological thrillers and visually striking cinema.
Kim Jee-woon
Genre-spanning director of A Tale of Two Sisters, I Saw the Devil, and The Good, the Bad, the Weird.
Lee Chang-dong
Acclaimed auteur of Burning, Poetry, and Secret Sunshine. His films explore class, desire, and moral ambiguity.
Na Hong-jin
Director of The Wailing and The Chaser. Known for intense thrillers and horror with deep thematic layers.
Filming locations in Korea
Parasite Filming Locations in Seoul
Where Bong Joon-ho shot Parasite in Seoul: the luxury Park house, the semi-basement neighbourhood, and key streets that defined the film's class divide.
Train to Busan Filming Locations
The KTX from Seoul to Busan and Busan Station feature in one of Korea's most successful zombie films. Here's where key scenes were filmed.
Oldboy Filming Locations in Seoul
Park Chan-wook's Oldboy used Seoul's urban landscape for its iconic fight scenes and moody atmosphere.
The Handmaiden Filming Locations
Elaborate period sets and Korean locations used for Park Chan-wook's The Handmaiden.
Popular Korean movie genres
Recent cinema articles
Best Korean Horror Movies
From supernatural folklore to psychological terror, the best Korean horror films and where they connect to travel in Korea.
Best Korean Thriller Movies
The best Korean thrillers—from crime and revenge to psychological suspense—and their connection to Korean travel.
The Rise of Korean Cinema
How South Korean film became a global force—from the Korean New Wave to Parasite and beyond.
Korean Zombie Movies
From Train to Busan to Kingdom—how Korean zombie cinema redefined the genre and where it was filmed.