I took a Korean film course about three years ago on the strength of Old Boy and company and I haven't felt driven to see any since. Still, there were some good ones:
I heard good things about Thirst, Park Chan-Wook's vampire film, but I'm a Cyborg But That's OK wasn't really worth watching. posted by 23 at 7:26 PM on June 13, 2012
3-Iron and most everything else Kim Ki-Duk has done is worth watching. posted by cazoo at 7:34 PM on June 13, 2012 [4 favorites]
Oh man, I really loved Castaway on the Moon. Funny and charming and strangely poignant. And if you have Netflix Instant Watch, you can currently find it there. posted by Narrative Priorities at 7:34 PM on June 13, 2012 [6 favorites]
I also liked The Host.
Slightly more than 10 years old, but JSA (Joint Security Area) was good. posted by rmd1023 at 7:36 PM on June 13, 2012
My Left Eye Sees Ghosts is funny and clever. Starts kinda choppy, but picks up speed after it establishes characters and exposition. posted by IAmBroom at 7:43 PM on June 13, 2012
I very much like Lee Chang-dong's movies, notably Oasis and Secret Sunshine (I also like Green Fish, but haven't yet seen Peppermint Candy).
Lee is a very humane, empathetic and shrewd storyteller, and I love how he captures the details of everyday life. posted by KokuRyu at 8:23 PM on June 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
I second Take Care of My Cat! posted by nicebookrack at 9:01 PM on June 13, 2012
I was bawling my eyes out after Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring. Also seconding The Host. posted by tully_monster at 9:04 PM on June 13, 2012
The Housemaid (2010)
Mother (2009)
Old Partner (2008)
3-Iron (2004)
Oldboy (2003)
Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring (2003)*this movie deserves another mention posted by hedonic.muse at 9:25 PM on June 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
One Fine Spring Day was heart wrenching for me. posted by gadget_gal at 9:59 PM on June 13, 2012
Seconding "The Man From Nowhere." posted by Hobo at 10:00 PM on June 13, 2012
Tale of Two Sisters.
I'm A Cyborg, But That's Okay. (AMAZING, seriously)
Also, Windstruck (or: "I'd Like To Introduce You To My Girlfriend"). And if you liked that, and like smart or weird or creepy Korean rom-coms, let me know. I watch them endlessly. They're so gloriously fantastic. posted by corb at 10:05 PM on June 13, 2012 [1 favorite]
The same actor in "Castaway on the Moon" also stars in "Going by the Book," which I personally loved (quirky heist film).
My tastes run more towards "My Sassy Girl" than "Oldboy," so keeping that in mind, here's what I've enjoyed recently:
Cyrano Dating Agency
Penny Pinchers
Punch/Wandeuki
Architecture 101 posted by paisley sheep at 10:08 PM on June 13, 2012
Anarchists from 2000 is rip-roaring (largely pseudo-) historical action. posted by Abiezer at 10:18 PM on June 13, 2012
Attack the Gas Station!
Seriously, Attack the Gas Station!
Please watch Attack the Gas Station! posted by jsturgill at 10:40 PM on June 13, 2012
I'll have to third "The Man from Nowhere", which I just watched, indirectly due to this thread. In a lot of ways it's a standard revenge-motivated actioner, so something like Oldboy (with its share of gore), but also like Oldboy it has this un-Western sentimental B story that drives the action. It's been (as I was unsurprised to learn) optioned for Hollywood, and I was imagining someone like Clive Owen in the role. There are intermittent flashes of brilliant cinematography, too, although most of it is simply stylish yet efficient storytelling. posted by dhartung at 11:08 PM on June 13, 2012
I really liked the movie Blind (2011). posted by ichomp at 11:54 PM on June 13, 2012
Korean film director Lee Chang-dong has already been mentioned. But not his film Poetry (2010). "It tells the story of a suburban woman in her 60s who begins to grow an interest for poetry while struggling with Alzheimer's disease and her irresponsible grandson. Yoon Jeong-hee stars in the leading role, which was her first role in a film since 1994. The film was selected for the main competition at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Best Screenplay Award." Remarkable, absorbing. posted by Mister Bijou at 12:20 AM on June 14, 2012
Castaway on the Moon is one of the better movies I've seen from any country in the past few years. posted by Stacey at 2:46 AM on June 14, 2012 [1 favorite]
THIRST (Priest turns into a vampire after a failed drug trial in Africa)
THE CHASER (pimp chases serial killer who took one of his girls - loosely based upon a real case) posted by fso at 4:52 AM on June 14, 2012
seconding save the green planet. one of the best movies even made. posted by Infernarl at 6:40 AM on June 14, 2012
Hansel and Gretel. And nthing I Saw the Devil (best creepy-violent movie since Oldboy), The Host, Mother, and Save the Green Planet. posted by Gortuk at 7:38 AM on June 14, 2012
posted by birdherder at 7:24 PM on June 13, 2012 [8 favorites]