5 Best Movies to Watch by Oh Man-seok

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1. The Handmaiden, 2016

The 2016 outing of South-Korean auteur director Park Chan-wook (maker of Oldboy and Stoker) once again shifts attention to the dark side of what makes us human: betrayal, violence, and transgression. Based on the 2002 novel Fingersmith by British author Sarah Waters, The Handmaiden revolves around the love of two women and the greedy men around them. Park shifts the novel's plot from Victorian London to 1930s Korea, where an orphaned pickpocket is used by a con man to defraud an old Japanese woman. Routinely called a masterpiece with comparisons made to the likes of Alfred Hitchcock, this is a stylish and meticulous psychological thriller that packs enough erotic tension to put a crack in your screen. If you love cinema, you can't miss this movie. You might even have to watch it twice.

Genre: Drama, Mystery, Romance, Thriller

Actor: Ahn Seong-bong, Bae Il-hyuck, Cho Jin-woong, Choi Byung-mo, Choi Jong-ryul, Eun-hyung Jo, Ha Jung-woo, Ha Si-yeon, Hae-suk Kim, Han Ha-na, In-woo Kim, Jeong Ha-dam, Jeong In-kyeom, Jin-woong Jo, Jo Eun-Hyung, Jung In-gyeom, Jung-woo Ha, Kim Hae-sook, Kim Hae-suk, Kim In-woo, Kim Min-hee, Kim Si-eun, Kim Tae-ri, Kwak Eun-jin, Kwon Hyuk, Lee Dong-hwi, Lee Ji-ha, Lee Kyu-jung, Lee Yong-nyeo, Lim Han-bin, Min-hee Kim, Moon So-ri, O Man-seok, Oh Man-seok, Rina Takagi, So-ri Moon, Tae-ri Kim, Takashi Kakizawa, Tomomitsu Adachi

Director: Chan-wook Park, Park Chan-wook

Rating: Not Rated

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2. Secret Sunshine, 2007

	
For better or worse, death strikes us all, fast and unexpectedly. It’s tough enough if the death is caused by ill health or accidents, but when premeditated by another person– it can be easy to lose faith in a higher power. Secret Sunshine depicts a grieving mother trying to start a new life in the countryside, though certain events make it tough to fit in. There’s a well-meaning, long-term bachelor who’s interested in her, though she’s not ready to reciprocate, and there’s townsfolk that would like to invite her to their church, though she’s reluctant to join. There’s curious, gossipy neighbors ready to comment on her every action. Secret Sunshine reveals a darker layer to the countryside towns we retreat to to cope, but it also examines the ways we grieve, cope, and deal with forgiveness, in a community that would prioritize itself at the expense of what's morally right.Genre: Drama
Actor: Cha Mi-kyeong, Do-yeon Jeon, Go Seo-hee, Jang Hye-jin, Jeon Do-yeon, Jo Young-jin, Kang-ho Song, Kim Jong-soo, Kim Mee-kyeong, Kim Mi-hyang, Kim Min-jae, Kim Yeong-jae, Kim Young-jae, Ko Seo-hie, Lee Dong-yong, Lee Hee-jun, Lee Sung-min, Lee Yoon-hee, Mi-kyung Kim, Oh Man-seok, Park Myeong-shin, Park Myung-shin, Seon Jeong-yeop, Seon Jung-yeop, Shin An-jin, Song Kang-ho, Yeom Hye-ran, Yeong-jin Jo
Director: Chang-dong Lee, Lee Chang-dong
Rating: Not Rated, NR

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3. Miraculous Brothers, 2023

In their ninth drama collaboration, director Park Chan-hong and writer Kim Ji-woo partner again to deliver a murder mystery in Miraculous Brothers. The first few episodes juggle multiple plotlines between the novelist, the amnesiac boy he crashes into, and the serial murders, and at first, it seems unclear what links all of them. However, as the series successfully maintains its suspense for the two driving mysteries, it also makes it easy to root for the main characters – the superpowered empath and the reluctant writer – as they seek justice for crimes committed long before. The series shines best when the two become closer, and when the developing dynamic pushes Yuk Dong-joo closer to admitting the truth.

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

Actor: Bae Hyeon-seong, Jung Woo, Lee Ki-woo, Oh Man-seok, Park Yu-rim

Director: Park Chan-hong

Rating: TV-14

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4. Youth of May, 2021

Youth of May is exactly what it says on the tin. It’s a straightforward spring-set coming-of-age drama where young adults chase after their dreams, if they have any, and try to figure out what they want otherwise. Like plenty of other K-dramas, this usually involves a romance. But in between the ordinary romance, life strikes. Students fight for democracy, and at the time, the government cracked down on them brutally, but because the show spent time getting to know Myung-hee and Hui-tae, the consequences of these events make it all the more poignant. Youth of May reminds us of the humanity behind the brave students that fought for South Korea’s democracy, and the lives that have been tragically cut short for it.

Genre: Drama

Actor: Choi Seung-hoon, Geum Sae-rok, Go Min-si, Heo Jeong-do, Hwang Young-hee, Jang Won-hyuk, Joo Bo-young, Jung Wook-jin, Kim Eun-soo, Kim Won-hae, Kim Yi-kyeong, Lee Do-hyun, Lee Hwang-eui, Lee Kyu-sung, Lee Sang-yi, Oh Man-seok, Park Cheol-min, Park Se-hyun, Sim Yi-young, Uhm Hyo-seop

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5. Queen of Tears, 2024

	
To many people, marrying a rich heiress is the dream, since all that wealth can free a man from the drudgery and struggle of work. It’s also actually possible, with real life conglomerates actually having a similar story. Queen of Tears shows a different side to this modern-day fairytale, as the riches that come with the marriage also come with being controlled, in part by the media that surrounds them and the family whose strict, but strategic moves lead to their rise. Because of this heavy central idea, it’s no wonder the show tries to aim for a more lighthearted tone with some jabs at the ridiculous lifestyle enabled by the wealth of the Queens Group Hong family, and the cast are game to play, but in prioritizing the humor, the series sometimes makes light of certain difficulties that should be given the weight it deserves. Still, Queen of Tears is fairly entertaining, and fans of the leads would like seeing the funny dynamic they share.Genre: Comedy, Drama, Family
Actor: Anzu Lawson, Go Gyu-pil, Hwang Young-hee, Jang Yoon-ju, Jung Jin-young, Kim Ji-won, Kim Joo-ryoung, Kim Jung-nan, Kim Kap-soo, Kim Shin-rock, Kim Soo-hyun, Kim Young-min, Kwak Dong-yeon, Lee Ju-bin, Lee Mi-sook, Lee Su-ji, Lim Cheol-soo, Moon Tae-yu, Na Young-hee, Nicole Fong, Oh Man-seok, Park Jung-pyo, Park Jung-yeon, Park Sung-hoon, Park Yoon-hee, Yoon Bo-mi
Director:  Jang Young-woo, Kim Hee-won

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