Korean film has seen a boost in popularity in the last decade, with instant classics like Oldboy, Mother, and the awesomely campy The Host receiving both critical and cult acclaim. Some of these films like Oldboy and My Sassy Girl have even received American remakes (in the case of Oldboy, rumors abound). If you’re a movie buff, going back and familiarizing yourself with the history of Korean cinema is a must.
Now, courtesy of a partnership between YouTube and the Korean Film Archive, you can watch 70 classic films in their entirety, for free.
Working together with the Korean Film Archive, we now have 70 classic Korean films available globally for free on YouTube—complete with English and other translated subtitles. The films are all available at youtube.com/koreanfilm, organized in playlists by decade as well as by director.
YouTube’s new Korean film channel currently has nine playlists, featuring films from the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s, as well as ones from directors Kim Ki-young, Shin Sang-ok, and Im Kwon-taek. Many of these films have been virtually inaccessible outside of Korea for decades.
If you’re worried about the fact that you don’t speak the language, don’t worry. English subtitles are provided by Google. So head on over the the channel and educate yourself on some truly important works of international cinema.
