The occult mystery Exhuma, which had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival, is the top Korean box office hit of 2024. The historical drama 12.12: The Day became the highest-grossing film of 2023 and swept domestic film festival awards in 2024. Both films skillfully engage with Korea’s traumatic historical memories: Exhuma centers on the horrors of the Japanese colonial occupation, while 12.12: The Day portrays the 1979 rebellion led by the new military regime in stark realism. The regime suppressed the Gwangju Uprising (May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement) through the declaration of martial law in 1980.
Politics is a driving force behind the success of Korean cinema. Much like the candlelight protests, which echo the scale and energy of K-pop concerts, social critique has become a defining characteristic of Korean popular culture. The most widely embraced films of the past two years, such as Concrete Utopia, Smugglers, Veteran 2: I, the Executioner and Escape, further demonstrate the deep social engagement that continues to fuel the Korean film industry, transcending genre boundaries.
The 2025 Korean Film with Lee Hyangjin aims to showcase both the social commentary and the aesthetic achievements of popular cinema. Black Republic encapsulates the central voices of the Korean New Wave, which emerged from the late 1980s to the mid-1990s as the first major cinematic movement in Korea, striving to innovate the national film industry. Veteran and Veteran 2: I, the Executioner exemplify the lasting magic of “division blockbusters” Silmido and Taegukgi: The Brotherhood of War, which set a new benchmark by surpassing the 10 million viewer milestone in 2004, within the action-crime genre. The selected works and invited guest talks highlight the shared historical memory and social empathy that have shaped the nation's film culture, now poised to reach a global audience.
Korean Cinema with Hyangjin Lee 2025
Program:
2/19 (Wednesday) - Capitol Dahlem - OmU베테랑 Veteran (Ryoo Seung-wan, 2015) 2 hour 3 minutes
This film tells the story of a righteous police officer taking on the corrupt and powerful conglomerates that dominate South Korean society. Set in the bustling cityscape of Seoul, Veteran vividly portrays the conflict between justice and corporate power, reflecting contemporary South Korean issues of economic disparity and corporate corruption.
Director: Ryoo Seung-wan (The Unjust, Escape from Mogadishu)
Cast: Hwang Jung-min (as Detective Seo Do-cheol), Yoo Ah-in (as Jo Tae-oh, the chaebol heir), Yoo Hae-jin (as Jo Tae-oh’s manager)
Talk Session:
Join Kang Hye Jeong, CEO of Filmmaker R&K, for an insightful discussion on how Veteran portrays South Korean society and uncover behind-the-scenes stories about the filmmaking process.
2/20 (Thursday) - Capitol Dahlem - OmU
베테랑 Veteran 2: I, the Executioner (Ryoo Seung-wan, 2024) 1 hour 58 minutes
Premiering at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, Veteran 2 follows a team of dedicated detectives as they tirelessly fight crime.
When the mysterious death of a professor is linked to previous murder cases, the nation is thrown into chaos by the presence of a serial killer. As detectives begin their investigation, the criminal taunts them by releasing online videos announcing their next victim, further escalating public fear. To crack the case, Detective Seo Do-cheol recruits rookie officer Park Sun-woo, and the investigation takes an unexpected turn…
Director: Ryoo Seung-wan
Cast: Hwang Jung-min, Jung Hae-in, and more
Talk Session:
Join Kang Hye Jeong, CEO of Filmmaker R&K, as she delves into the societal issues depicted in Veteran 2 and shares insights from the production process.
2/21 (Friday) - Capitol Dahlem - OmU
그들도 우리처럼 Black Republic (Park Kwang-su, 1990) 1 hour 40 minutes
This film provides a powerful depiction of South Korea's social struggles in the 1990s, set in a coal-mining town facing the threat of closure. It addresses pressing issues such as economic hardship, social inequality, and the democratization movement, portraying the realities of working-class communities.
Synopsis:
While on the run from authorities for leading pro-democracy protests, college student Tae-hoon (Moon Sung-keun) takes refuge in a declining coal town, working as a laborer and meeting a variety of characters. Sung-chul (Park Joong-hoon), the son of the factory owner, behaves like a tyrant, mistreating workers and exploiting women. Meanwhile, Young-sook (Shim Hye-jin), a hostess at a local bar, grows weary of Sung-chul’s abuse and finds solace in Tae-hoon. However, as Tae-hoon’s past catches up to him, he is eventually arrested, leading the story to an intense climax.
Director: Park Kwang-su
Cast: Moon Sung-keun (as Tae-hoon), Park Joong-hoon (as Sung-chul), Shim Hye-jin (as Young-sook)
Talk Session:
Engage in an in-depth discussion with Director Park Kwang-su, Chairman of the Busan International Film Festival, about the historical context of the film and its compelling characters.
Admission is free, and no prior registration is required.
We look forward to your participation!
Zeit & Ort
19.02.2025 - 21.02.2025
Capitol Dahlem
Thielallee 36,
14195 Berlin
Weitere Informationen
gyewonbyeon[at]zedat.fu-berlin.de