For those that dared to venture into South Korean cinema years ago, Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite was no surprise, given the country possesses one of the most prolific and vibrant movie scenes in the world. With that being the case, and despite not being the preferred genre for Korean filmmakers, there are plenty of impressive sci-fi productions out there.
South Korean sci-fi films put a different spin on the genre, without many of the tropes present in their Western counterparts. It's precisely what led to the creation of the widely successful dystopian nightmare that is Squid Game, as well as the Netflix sci-fi series Silent Sea. For fans of this culture's take on the popular genre, what else is there to see?
The Host (2006)
This one isn't quite underrated, but it's very easy for The Host to fly past one’s radar considering the nature of Bong Joon-ho’s other films. The Host veers towards the more simplistic side of sci-fi. It concentrates on early failed experiments that would lead to a giant freak monster terrorizing a certain population, much like Godzilla.
What makes The Host special is its intricate mix of political satire and social commentary, a staple of Bong's work. Here, it is seen through the eyes of a Korean version of Little Miss Sunshine’s dysfunctional family, led by one Bong’s preferred actors more recognizable to wider audiences, Song Kang-ho. The Host has mad scientists, political cover-ups, the Park family's hilarious interactions, and a river monster that still looks quite the part in 2022. It pretty much checks all the boxes.
Save The Green Planet! (2003)
Ironically, Jang Joon-hwan's masterpiece does not define itself as hard sci-fi. Instead, it blurs the lines between that genre, horror, comedy and action, presenting itself to viewers as “something they’ve never seen before.” It’s safe to say the film lives up to that premise. The film stars Shin Ha-kyun (Joint Security Area), another well-known South Korean actor, as Byeong-gu, a troubled man who kidnaps a pharmaceutical executive fully convinced that he is the leader of Andromedan aliens seeking to conquer Earth.
For that, he enlists the help of his mentally challenged circus-performing girlfriend to kick off an adventure that challenges viewers that keeps viewers on their toes trying to ascertain what is real and what is not. Save The Green Planet! absolutely bombed when it came out in South Korea, but the film’s unique style and many twists have made it a cult classic for anyone who appreciates Korean cinema.
Young Gun in the Time (2012)
Although lacking the big names commonly associated with many South Korean film exports, Young Gun in the Time is a valiant effort from Oh Young-do to produce a remarkable film that’s easy to love, despite its minuscule $30,000 budget. The one-armed, Hawaiian shirt-wearing private detective Young Gun turns down a case from a woman named Choi Song Hyun. Nonetheless, he’s struck by her beauty and follows her only to witness her death.
The sci-fi twist comes when Song Hyun from three days into the future appears and asks Young Gun to save her life by finding a mysterious watch that could also double as a time machine. Young Gun has three days to save Song Hyun. His adventure proves to be quite the ride, though sadly this is Oh Young-do’s last film to date.
Alienoid (2022)
Lined up to be South Korea's big summer blockbuster this year, Choi Dong-hoon’s seventh film became a rare box office bust for the Tazza: The High Rollers director, although that was largely down to its big production budget. Alienoid does its title justice with plenty of aliens, robots, and time travel, which all add up for a rare modern sci-fi adventure.
Alienoid opened to mixed reception in South Korea, yet it remains a movie very much worth watching once it becomes available for Western audiences, if only for how singular it is among other Korean movies thanks to its worldbuilding. In any case, Alienoid Part 2 has already been greenlit, meaning Choi will get the chance to refine his formula.
The Witch: Part 1. The Subversion (2018) and Part 2. The Other One (2022)
South Korean cinema appears to be somewhat immune to producing endless sequels even to some of its greatest hits. However, Park Hoon-jung’s The Witch surely deserved the chance at second entry for this compelling horror sci-fi. The film starts with a mysterious girl escaping a lab facility, only to then collapse in the Goo’s farm, her new adoptive parents.
The girl, Ja-yoon, develops psychic powers, as well as superhero levels of strength and speed. These powers, once revealed, quickly capture the attention of the media and her former captors, triggering a chase that runs parallel to her own quest to save her family. The sequel, Part 2. The Other One, manages to capture much original’s charm, albeit with a mostly different set of characters.
Honorable mentions: Seo Bok, Doomsday Book, and Nabi.